If you're anything like me, maybe…
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You've always had an interest in natural medicine, made some teas, or even tried some tinctures, but you weren't sure if it was actually working for you.
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You’ve watched enough survivalist shows to know you can use wilds herbs or food, but you're afraid you might poison yourself if you use the wrong one.
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You’ve spent years binge-watching DIY videos on YouTube, reading online articles on holistic healing, and collecting a plethora of herb books that you don’t really know how to use.
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You’ve dabbled with yoga, gotten a massage or two, tried to eat "cleaner".​
But it feels like something's missing.
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You know there's so much more that you don’t know and you're ready to go deeper in your understanding of the body.
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You want...
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something that is all encompassing,
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something that doesn’t preach a dogma that "this is the only way…",
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something that truly connects the dots between different healing modalities.
But are you overwhelmed by all the holistic information out there?
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Do you worry that you don’t have the time to really sit down and sort through it all by yourself?
I bet you've...
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Wanted to become an herbalist, but many of your family & friends think it's weird, or they feel like your time could be better spent pursuing a “real career” instead of a “passion” or “hobby”.
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Looked into herbal programs, but they all are too far away, and your just not ready to uproot your whole life right now. Even more, you want to know the plants of YOUR area, not the plants from across the country!
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Considered finding a mentor, but you don't want someone who acts like a “guru” or lives in a bubble where all they do is live off the wild in some Amazon rainforest -- sounds nice but it’s not YOUR reality. You need someone down to earth and easy to learn from.​
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Thought about online courses, but it’s not the same as in person because you don’t get the 1 on 1 support from the teacher, or your burnt out on watching video replays and not getting to really be a part of a supportive learning environment.
It feels like learning herbal medicine is what you have always wanted to do, but:​
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You feel stuck that you'll never get to follow your true calling,
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You don’t really know where to start.
You wish you...
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Had the time, money, or energy to pursue your passions,
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Were more connected to the earth and its natural cycles,
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Knew how to really take care of your body on a daily basis,
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Had a real mentor to hold your hand through the learning process,
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Were a part of a community of inspiring, holistic-minded people,
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Had the ability to contribute or make a real difference in your community.​​
I know how hard it is to find your path on your own.
That's why I've created the Herbal Apprentice Program to not only become an herbalist to help your family and friends, but to learn how to become a "healed healer", to truly heal yourself first to make a bigger impact in your community.
I’m Emily Watson and since 2014, I’ve helped many herbalists turn their passion for healing others and the earth into profitable, sustainable businesses.
Through my own personal healing experience, I learned the healer’s journey starts with exploration and finding out how to truly heal yourself FIRST.
So often healers get caught in a cycle of overworking with little or no boundaries and get burnt out by trying to help other people.
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At the Artemisia Academy, we not only train you to be an incredible and successful herbalist, but we also focus on teaching you how to nourish your body and fill your own cup first, so you can truly heal the world outside of you.
If that’s what you want, then your journey starts with the Herbal Apprentice Program.
A 150 Hour Hands-On Program designed to help you learn how to heal yourself first with herbs and natural remedies so that you can truly be the best healer for those around you.
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The program consists of 5 modules, to cover all the basics of herbalism & holistic healing, broken down into an easy-to-learn format that is truly approachable and applicable for everyday use.
Module 1: Herbs For The Body
In this class, we use an experiential approach to touch, see, and feel how our bodies function, and how to assist its natural processes. You will get to develop a deeper relationship not just with your own body, but also with your personal herbal allies.
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This class comes with the Herbs for the Body - Herb Kit, where, you sample 60 different local & commercial herbs, and learn how they affect your body. Each week you will get to taste & experience them for yourself to find the herbs that truly work best you!
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From this class you will:
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Be able to define herbs by herbal actions, energetics, body systems, and uses,
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Have the fundamentals of human anatomy & physiology for the home herbalists,
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Learn the key essentials to implementing self-care on a daily basis.
Module 2: Medicine Making For Beginners
We have been making medicine with herbs for thousands of years, long before the invention of television, internet, smartphones, and cars. So can it really be that hard?
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In this class we will take things step by step and hold your hand through the entire process. Learn the essential skills to make herbal remedies at home and start to build your own an apothecary. With our easy to follow how to guides and recipes, you will become a confident medicine maker in no time!
Each week we will walk you through several basic preparations. You will get a Medicine Making For Beginner Herb Kit, and supply lists for easily accessible items from the grocery store. Before class starts you have all that you need to follow along with our live demos in your own kitchen. By the end of the class you will have a whole range of remedies to help your family and friends.
From this class you will:
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Have the basics for infusions, decoctions and blending herbs,
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Be able to make tinctures, oils, salves, syrups, oxymels and more!
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Learn how to make your own remedies for everyday ailments.
Module 3: Holistic Nutrition
Holistic nutrition simply means how to listen to and nourish the WHOLE body from the inside out. I always say, "If the underlying cause of a symptom is a nutrient deficiency, it doesn’t matter what herb you throw at it." Only nourishing the underlying deficiency will truly fix it.
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Since food is such a personal preference, this class helps you explore what feels best for your body and to be your own best expert. Each week we share our experiences, trials and revelations with food, while learning how to create a food plan for your tastes, time, and budget. Walk away with simple food and lifestyle hacks to optimize your own nutrition!
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From this class you will:
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Be aware of the most important nutrients for your specific body to focus on,
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Have the essentials to transform your energy levels, regulate blood sugar, improve mood stability, and reduce pain & inflammation in the body,
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Learn the true causes behind weight gain, high blood pressure & cholesterol, and the hidden dietary issues behind autoimmune issues, asthma & allergies.
Module 4: Intro To Case Studies
I call this the "cherry on top" for the program, where you go from feeling, "I'm not sure what to do with all this," to "I can't believe I've learned how to do so much!" This course brings all the knowledge you have learned through the whole program together into a final project.
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Each week we go through the different aspects of herbal intakes, researching, formulating, and fine tuning formulas for the individual's body types. The last day of class you will present your "case study" in a clinical round table where you can get feedback from your teacher & peers, and walk away with a comprehensive wellness plan for a friend or family member.
From this class you will:
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Be able to develop a wellness plan using lifestyle, nutrition, and herbs,
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Learn the energetic effects of the 5 flavors, and how they affect different body types,
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Have the fundamentals for conducting an herbal intake, clinical research, and herbal formulation for specific conditions.
Module 5: Intro to Plant ID
Have you ever wanted to know the names of the plants, mountains and rivers of your area?
Explore common plant communities of Southern California and meet the herb allies in your own backyard. Each week we will discover a new set of plants on different trails, and create a Plant ID journal to use as a resource for years to come.
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As herbalists, we are the storytellers of the land, and voices for the plants. In this class you will learn our story of California: The story of our land, our water, and the natural cycles. Learn how to build a two-way relationship with the plants and become part of a community committed to protecting this land.
From this class you will learn:
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Over 50 medicinal, edible & poisonous plants and their uses,
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The basic botanical terms used describe leaves, trees, & flowers,
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10 of the safest and most deadly poisonous common plant families,
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Key features of the ecosystems in southern California & beyond,
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The principles of ethical wild harvesting and protecting native plants.
The Herbal Apprentice Program is a Hands-On program, designed so you can ask questions, get live feedback, and receive personalized coaching every step of the way. With live online classes, you get both the accountability and personal connection of a real live classroom, with also the flexibility of an online program to better fit your creative lifestyle.
This includes:
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12 weeks of LIVE online lectures via Zoom
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Tuesday & Wednesday afternoons (1-5pm PST).
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6 weeks of digital plant walks
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PLUS, a weekly LIVE class via zoom on Wednesdays from 5-6pm PST,
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Detailed plant ID videos & descriptions of over 50 plants so that you still get to meet the plants we cover,
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You also have guided homework to visit your own local trails to personally get to know the plants and ecosystems of your area.
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A weekly LIVE office hour via Zoom
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Wednesday evenings (5:15-6pm PST),
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To ask questions and get one-on-one support from your instructors,
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To help cover makeup material (if you miss a class),
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Specially designed for those who work during the day in mind, to continue to get support and accountability to keep up with classes.
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Downloadable Class Workbooks & Handouts
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Dozens of Recipes & Medicine Making How to Guides
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Lifetime access to video recordings of each Live class, with the option to download the audio to easily listen to the classes over and over again on the go.
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Plus, you will also get
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Access to our online student community forum,
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Over detailed 50 Plant ID videos,
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Special Invite to join California Herbal Medics Community Events & Workshops,
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Discounted Membership to join the United Plant Savers
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And with that membership, you can get discounts on Herb Orders from Mountain Rose herbs & as well as many other perks!
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Students that complete the program will get a certificate of completion, and 150 hours that can be counted towards (but does not complete) the American Herbalist Guild Education Requirements to become a Registered Herbalist.
This program does not qualify you to become a clinical herbalist or to practice herbalism in a job or career. However, this is the first step on your journey meant to build the foundation of a sustainable lifestyle and herbal practice to help you be of service to your family and friends.
Emily Watson
Emily is the Director & Founder of the Artemisia Academy, and has been studying holistic health for over 15 years. She is a Certified Clinical Herbalist and Clinical Nutritionist from the North American Institute of Medical Herbalism, and Certified Massage Therapist from Santa Barbara Body Therapy Institute. She apprenticed at the Herb Pharm, in Williams, Oregon. Her hope is to pass on the knowledge of sustainable living with practical entrepreneurial skills so that herbalists can create thriving practices that fully support themselves, their land, and their community.
Nicole Iaquinto
Nicole's lifelong passion for nature, cultivated since childhood while playing amidst woods and cornfields, led her to explore herbal medicine, beginning her studies in 2018. Now, as the Apothecary Manager and Herb Walk Instructor at Artemisia Academy, she shares her expertise in the field. Alongside her herbal work, Nicole serves as an ordained Reverend in the American Baptist tradition, leading a local congregation. When not tending to her apothecary duties or pastoral responsibilities, she indulges in acting, hiking, gardening, cozy video games, and spending time with her two cats.
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Jiling Lin
Jiling Lin is a Licensed Acupuncturist (L.Ac), herbalist, and yoga teacher in Ventura, CA. She regularly writes for Mountain Rose Herbs, and directs “Tea Talks with Jiling” on the Herbal Radio podcast. She apprenticed with 7song at the Northeast School of Botanical Medicine, studied at the Colorado School of Clinical Herbalism, then graduated with a Master’s of Science in Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (M.S.AOM) from Alhambra Medical University.
Enrollment for Spring 2024 is closing on April 5, 2024!
​Steps to enroll:
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Push the "Apply Now" button above.
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Fill out an application.
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Schedule your interview.
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Pay your deposit to hold your spot in the program!
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Space is limited to 12 NEW students per quarter to keep class size small and to give more personal attention to each student.
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Enrollment for the Spring Session ends on April 5, 2024 so be sure to sign up soon!
PLUS, you get over $600 in Bonuses!!!
Fill Up Your Own Cup -
Self Care Assessment for Healers (valued at $39)
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Take an inventory of where you are at before you start the program!
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We will cover all the bases here, and help you see where you have room to grow on your own healing journey.
Put Your OWN Oxygen Mask On FIRST -
A Guide to Becoming a Healed Healer (valued at $87)
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Learn the Essential Self Care First Model for becoming an herbalist with self-sustainability in mind.
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We will point out the warning signs of burnout and how to build up your own energy reserves instead of depleting them!
Start Your First Apothecary -
Resource Guide (valued at $127)
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Learn the essentials that you will need for medicine making and where to ethically source organic herbs and medicine making supplies.​
Our Class Cookbook -
Recipes from HAP Students (valued at $49)
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Walk away with an cookbook packed with flavor written by your own classmates!
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Each year we add to it with fabulous new additions!
Monthly Healed Healer's Self-Care Roadmap -
A Workbook for Living an Inspired Life (valued at $300)
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6 monthly of emails to keep yourself on track with your own healing journey by continuing to put your self-care FIRST!
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See your own healing & self-care habits skyrocket with real accountability!
By the end of the program you will...
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Have the confidence to use over 60 herbs for healing common ailments,
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Understand how to nourish your body with healthy foods and support your body's natural cycles,
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Have a mini-apothecary of herbal remedies to help your family and friends,
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Know the names uses of the plants around you, and have a personal connection with your herbal allies,
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Understand your role as healer, and develop healthy boundaries and self-care practices on a daily basis,
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Be a part of a community of holistic healers that are dedicated to healing through sustainable living.
Imagine a few years from now after you have completed your herbal training.
You feel confident about your knowledge to help your friends and your family. You are living a more sustainable life, more aligned with the natural cycles of the earth and the timing of the seasons. You know the plants that grow around you. You know the names of all the mountains and creeks in your big backyard. The hills here are a collection of your healing herbal allies, and finally, walking along the tails, you feel like your home, you are right where you belong.
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You are a part of an incredible community of healers & herbalists, all working together to help heal our community and build a future for all our children. You realize, this is it. You are finally living your dream. You are a part of something bigger than yourself, and that something is nourishing and fulfilling your life on every level. You have arrived in the future that you always dreamed of.
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All this and more is possible with a teacher that will support you along the entire way, and a school that nurtures you right where you are at, one step at a time.
“I loved watching my world totally transform from this class, where common weeds on the side walk have become nourishing and healing allies. My own flower garden has transformed into not only something beautiful to look at, but a medicinal foraging grove, ready to heal scrapes, burns, and belly aches. Its safe to say I will never see the natural world around me in the same light because of this class, and that is more than I could have hoped for. I'm so thankful for Emily and this wonderful age old story of herbs.” -- Chante
"You make learning about herbs & herbalism fun & easy. Your down-to-earth style of teaching is a pleasure to experience. You made the classroom a safe place to ask questions & you shared your personal journey. You're not just teaching about things you learned in a book or in lectures. Rather you teach from experience: both personal & those of your clients. Office hours have been super helpful for me as well as attending herb walks & seeing the plants up close & in person." -- Kris
"I loved the Herbal Apprenticeship! It was very helpful to learn the herbal actions and body systems side by side. I loved being able to begin a relationship with the plants by trying them in different forms, as we were learning about them. I feel I have a great base to start my herbal journey, and I'm confident that what I learned will allow me to start helping myself and my family and provide better health." -- Brook
"Emily uses a down-to-earth and accessible approach to learn how plants can heal and improve your life. Emily is thorough and knowledgeable as she goes through the body systems. Plus, we go see the herbs in their local habitat, making for an easily accessible medicine." -- Sean
Q: What level of competency do I need to take this course?
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This program is specific for beginners with no experience in herbal medicine or human anatomy at all.
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However, many students have had some prior healing knowledge before taking these courses and have found it comprehensive enough to learn new materials and find a more cohesive understanding of the body & plant medicine.
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Q: What is time commitment?
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Students have reported back that they learned more in just a few months than what they have tried to learn on their own for years. So although it is a time commitment, it saves hundred of hours versus trying to learn it on your own.
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Generally, students take about 3-6 hours a week outside of class time to spend on reading and homework assignments. We do not do busy work or have graded tests in this course.
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Many students work full time jobs, and/or are parents as well.
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Q: What if I have a hard time learning?
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This course is specifically created for us creative mind types of people. We cover all the learning styles; visual, auditory, hands on and experiential.
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Also, since all of our courses are recorded live, students can go back and listen to the audio, or watch the video again anytime. Students will have lifetime access to these course materials, so they can re-watch the videos for years to come.
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Q: What if I don’t do well with online classes?
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Most online classes are prerecorded and don’t involve student involvement.
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Our classes are designed to feel like an in-person class in the comfort of your own home. Students get to talk with one another, ask questions, and get real feedback during the live class.
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Q: What if I work during the time classes are offered, can I still take the class?
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We have many students that have time commitments during class hours who still join the class.
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These students watch the live recordings, and then we set up a special “OFFICE HOUR” each week for those students to check in and ask questions.
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Q: What if I cant make the live classes?
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All of our classes are recorded so that students can have access to the classes they missed.
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Students have lifetime access to all of the course materials (audio, video, and hand outs).
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Q: Can I join if I don’t have access to herbs?
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We provide ALL the herbs for students that they need for this course. Additional herbs and supplies can also be purchased through the Artemisia Academy.
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Students will also be given extensive resource lists so that they will have local and online options to find herbs and supplies.
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Q: What if I don’t have special equipment at home to make herbal remedies?
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All of our courses are set up so that students can follow along with normal kitchenware they have at home. Supply and tool lists will be sent out ahead of time so that students can be prepared in case they don’t have something at home.
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Students also have the option to purchase a Medicine Maker’s Supply Box for all the special bottles and items they may not have at home.
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Q: I am really looking for the spiritual connection piece. Do you talk about plant spirit medicine?
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We talk both about Plant Spirit Medicine and Herbal Energetics through sitting with EACH plant in our Herbs for the Body class. However, we focus MORE on the physiological effects of herbs, with only a sprinkling of the spiritual effects. In other words, we like to cover the sciences, and just a tad bit of woo-woo.
We try our best to keep it well balanced and down to earth so as to apply herbalism to people of all backgrounds. If you are looking to focus mainly on plant spirit medicine, this may be too clinical of an approach for you.
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Q: How is an online class hands-on?
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We believe that learning herbs needs to be hands-on in order to truly learn it the most.
All of our classes expose you to multiple ways to interact with herbs for a hands-on approach, including tasting herbs, making medicine, watching videos, interacting with class mates, hearing stories, and feeling your own body's senses.
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Q: I really want to touch & feel the plants. How can I connect to nature more over the internet?
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In our Intro to Plant ID class, we get to go out into nature every week to connect with the plants in person.
Even if students are participating online, they still have to hike in the field because no video or picture will replace an in-person experience with the plants.
We give suggestions on where and how to go on a herb hike, and detailed instructions to go out and make REAL connections with the plants!
"Emily, you are a wonderful teacher! You are so open and excited. I feel comfortable to share and ask questions. You made the container of the group feel safe and accepting.
I love how passionate you are for this subject, and I can't wait to go out on the trails with you and see the plants in their habitat." -- Torrey
"Emily's knowledge of herbal medicine is so impressive and inspiring. Through this course I've truly reconnected with my body and nature around me." -- Marina
