3-Day Autumn Harvest Herbal Intensive:
Learn, Forage, Create
Nestled in the breathtaking beauty of Sandpoint, we invite you to a transformative experience this autumn. From garden to wild, discover the power of plants during our immersive “Maker’s Days” intensive. This is a time to deepen your connection with the natural world, master invaluable hands-on skills, and nourish your mind, body, and spirit amidst the peak of the harvest season. Join us for three days of active learning, vibrant community, and the profound joy of working directly with the earth’s healing bounty.
The Autumn Harvest Experience
Summer is bowing out, and the plants are concentrating their energy into seeds, fruits, and roots. This intensive is designed for those eager to learn, create, and connect. You will transition from being a consumer of herbal products to becoming a steward of your own health. You’ll return home with a complete working apothecary for mind, body, and soul, featuring a bountiful harvest of handcrafted remedies that serve as a physical bridge to the lessons learned in the field.
What You’ll Experience…
This intensive is designed for those eager to learn, create, and connect. You’ll spend healing time in nature, actively participate in harvesting, and craft your own potent herbal remedies and build your healing apothecary. Highlights Include:
- Herbs in the Garden: Explore our extensive gardens, learning the materia medica of currently ripe and ready herbs.
- Wildcrafting & Foraging: Discover the art of ethical wildcrafting with guided foraging opportunities in the abundant wild landscapes surrounding us.
- Hands-On Remedy Making: Learn to prepare a variety of herbal remedies, building your apothecary for winter wellness and everyday health.
- Farm-to-Table Dinner: Collaborate with fellow students and instructors to create a delicious, wholesome dinner on Saturday evening, featuring foraged herbs and fresh vegetables from our gardens and fresh fruit from our orchards. Gluten and dairy-free options, as well as meat and non-meat proteins, will be provided.
- Deep Immersion: This “Maker’s Days” focused intensive ensures you’ll be deeply impacted by the information, the vibrant community of like-minded people, and the sheer joy of hands-on learning.
- Healing in Nature: Enjoy dedicated time for meditation and quiet reflection amidst the serene beauty of the Cedar Mountain Herb School Farmlet and surrounding wild spaces.
Itinerary
Curriculum Sneak Peek!
Friday, September 18th (9 am – 5 pm)
The Thorny & The Helpers
We begin with the powerful medicine of Devil’s Club. Revered for its deep physical and spiritual healing properties, you’ll learn how to identify, harvest, and prepare this thorny yet generous plant with respect and care.
In the afternoon, we shift to Practical Herbal First Aid. Using plants you will gather yourself, including Herb Robert and Fir, you’ll learn to create a wound care remedy for common scrapes, stings, and burns. You will walk away with a ready-to-use toolkit of plant-based remedies to support yourself and your community.
Saturday, September 19th (9 am – 7 pm)
Garden Bounty & The Farm-to-Table Feast
A day of deep immersion at the Cedar Mountain Farmlet. We will participate in a Willow hydrosol distillation and craft potent remedies for winter wellness.
- The Harvest: Pick Hops from the vine, dig Horseradish for fire cider, and gather Coltsfoot, Horehound, and Yarrow.
- Winter Health: Master the physiology of dry and wet coughs and congestion, and create a Wild Cherry bark remedy. You’ll also work with the vibrant medicine of Serviceberries and Elderberries.
- Craft & Connection: Explore the culinary uses of Oregano, Thyme, and Sage, and craft White Sage and Mugwort bundles. We will also make herbal infused vinegars and honeys to stock your kitchen for the cold months ahead.
- The Feast: We conclude with a special Farm-to-Table Dinner. We’ll collaborate to create a wholesome meal featuring foraged herbs and fresh produce from our gardens and orchards. (Gluten-free, dairy-free, and both animal and plant protein options provided).
Sunday, September 20th (9 am – 4 pm)
Resins, Roots, and Ritual
We head into the wild for a final day of harvesting, focusing on the powerful medicine of the forest and the transition into the darker half of the year.
- Cedar: The Master of Boundaries. Cedar teaches us the medicine of protection and clear communication—knowing when to say yes and how to say no. We will harvest Cedar to craft traditional smudge bundles, using them to help define personal space and clear stagnant energy from our lives.
- Pine: The Breath of the Mountains. We’ll harvest Pine needles to craft a traditional whisk broom, a tool for both physical and energetic clearing. We will also dive into the medicine of Pine resin, a profound drawing agent for infections and splinters, and a warming circulatory stimulant for cold, stagnant conditions.
- Oregon Grape & The Science of Bitters. During the Oregon Grape harvest, we’ll explore the world of alkaloids and how bitters work to create vibrant health. We’ll discuss how these roots support the liver and lymphatic system to build a robust immune defense.
- Herbal Beads and Medallions. We will work with the aromatic and structural gifts of the forest to craft herbal beads and medallions. These handmade pieces serve as wearable medicine—a physical anchor to the intentions and lifestyle shifts we’ve discussed throughout the weekend.
BEYOND THE PLANTS
Throughout our days, we weave in lessons on anatomy and physiology. You’ll learn how these plants that are ready to harvest in autumn impact the nervous and immune systems and how to integrate real-world strategies for a resilient, healthy winter.
Important Event Policies
Camping & Lodging: Onsite camping is $35 for the entire event. Campers may arrive on the Cedar Mountain Herb School farmlet on Thursday evening after 4 pm. An indoor bathroom is available for showers, though we ask to limit use to conserve resources. Tents, etc are not provided, so be prepared to bring your own camping gear. Those who be traveling to the event, but want a more comfortable lodging situation can take advantage of the many vrbo, airbnb and hotels that are available.
Meals: Students will need to provide their own meals with the exception of the special Saturday evening dinner. Several grocery stores, restaurants, and a health food store are conveniently located nearby.
Weather: Sandpoint autumns are beautiful but crisp. Highs in the 50s, lows in the 30s. Please bring a warm jacket and sturdy boots.
Registration: Limited to 20 students. All attendees must be registered.
Environment: This is a recreational drug and alcohol-free (as a beverage) event. We focus on the clarity of the wild.
Don’t miss this unique opportunity to connect with nature, learn invaluable herbal skills, and become part of a vibrant community of plant lovers! As we are a working farmlet with animals and equipment, we ask that students please leave dogs and kids at home for everyone’s safety and so every student can have the luxury of learning without distraction. As space is limited, each attendee, including helpers, must register for the event.
What to bring:
Jars & Containers
- (12) 8 oz jars (half-pint)
- (6) 16 oz jars (pint)
- (6) 4 oz jelly jars
- Rectangle shaped container with lid (for carrying herbal beads)
- Box or basket to carry your finished remedies
Menstrua & Liquids
- 1 quart of honey
- 1 quart of raw apple cider vinegar
- 2 pints of 100 proof vodka
- 1 pint of 151 proof vodka
- 1 pint of isopropyl alcohol
- 1 gallon of water
Tools & Field Gear
- Sharp scissors and clippers
- Knife and chopping block
- Sharp paring knife (non-serrated)
- Garden fork and hand trowel
- Flat head screwdriver
- Large sewing needle or toothpicks
- Heavy-duty thread or twine (natural colors for broom/beads)
- Gathering bags or baskets
- Small journal and writing utensil
Personal Essentials
- Camp chair
- Lunch, snacks, and non-alcoholic beverages (except Saturday dinner)
- Personal hygiene items and camping gear (if staying onsite)
- Clothing suitable for changing weather (layers are essential)
