Nature has the solution⌠Weâll teach you how! đż
Join Suzanne and Heather as they take you to their favorite wildcrafting sites in the Pacific and Inland Northwest to learn about plants hands on and in-person! đż
All About Our Workshops
In-Person Workshops
Based in Sandpoint Idaho and Seattle Washington, CMHS is one of the longest-running herbal schools in the Pacific Northwest. Community workshops are held at a variety of locations in Western and Central Washington and Sandpoint, Idaho, and will be plainly noted in the workshop descriptions.
Each workshop covers medicinal uses for the plants harvested, case study stories, anatomy and physiology, with best preparations for extracting and preserving the medicinal constituents and appropriate applications.
Online Herbal Fireside Chats
Regardless of where you live, weâve got an amazing ONLINE lineup for everyone! Online workshops focus on how to heal from leaky gut and adrenal fatigue and get a great nightâs sleep, explore the wisdom of the elders and the role epigenetics play in our health, navigate perimenopause and menopause (taught by 2 postmenopausal women!), dive deep into how to gather herbs at the correct time and craft highly effective herbal remedies.
Check out our online workshops lineup – we’re confident that what we have on offer is exactly what YOU need! And best yet, you can learn in the comfort of your home.
Sandpoint Area Herbal Apprenticeship Program 2024
May - September 2024
Location: Sandpoint, ID
Setting: In-Person
Instructor(s): Suzanne Tabert
Our 16-week Herbal Apprenticeship Program in Sandpoint is for those who have a strong desire to strengthen their skills and fill their herbal tool belts and apothecary with plant medicine from both the wild and garden. CMHS delivers intensive in-the-field plant identification with hands-on harvesting, formulation, medicine making and holistic health practices. This program is appropriate for both novice and advanced students and meets on Thursdays May through September.
Roots to Tips Sandpoint Herbal Apprenticeship Program 2024
April - September 2024
Location: Sandpoint, ID
Setting: In-Person
Instructor(s): Suzanne Tabert
The Roots to Tips apprenticeship program meets the last weekend of the months April through September in Sandpoint. It's designed for those who cannot attend the weekly program, yet have a strong desire to strengthen their skills and fill their herbal tool belts and apothecary with plant medicine from both the wild and garden. CMHS delivers intensive in-the-field plant identification with hands-on harvesting, formulation, medicine making and holistic health practices. Going beyond foundational herbalism, this program is appropriate for both novice and advanced students.
Fragrant Natural Incense
December 2, 2023
Location: Sandpoint, ID
Setting: In-Person
Instructor(s): Suzanne Tabert
Incense is the traditional roots of aromatherapy that has been used to delight the senses and in ritual and praise across every culture for ages. Making natural incense is as easy as noticing the plants that grow around you! Students will use spices, tree resins, herbs, leaves and flowers in combination with high quality essential oils, botanical extractions, and binders like honey and wine to create all natural fragrant incense cones.
Design Your Own Pressed Flower Frame
December 16, 2023
Location: Sandpoint, ID
Setting: In-Person
Instructor(s): Suzanne Tabert
Suzanne has pressed hundreds of beautiful flowers and leaves all summer long in preparation for this workshop. They are stunning on their own - tissue paper thin, achingly beautiful works of art made by nature. Students will create their own works of art with pressed flowers of their choice and plain or patterned art paper along with inspirational quotes to inspire students to add to their design. Picture frames will be provided along with all materials. Flower presses will be available for purchase for $35 each for future flower pressing. What to bring: your favorite writing utensil. It can be a calligraphy pen or just your favorite color ink.
Herbal Bitters
January 6, 2024
Location: Sandpoint, ID
Setting: In-Person
Instructor(s): Suzanne Tabert
After an excess of holiday treats, this workshop comes in at perfect timing. While bartenders use bitters in tasty cocktails, herbalists commonly use bitters to support the digestive, nervous and immune systems. The Standard American Diet relies heavily on salt, fats, processed foods and sugar. Bitter is normally avoided as âtasting bad,â but itâs the bitter taste profile that is so badly needed for robust health. Suzanne will discuss the anatomy and physiology of the digestive system and the roles that bitters play that go far beyond digestive health to mitigating insulin resistance, reversing chronic inflammation and more. Students will receive a .pdf of the presentation via email upon registration to download and bring to the workshop. We will create a tasty and healthy chocolate treat (and yes, chocolate qualifies as a bitter) and there will be a variety of herbal bitters to sample.
Elderberries
January 20, 2024
Location: Sandpoint, ID
Setting: In-Person
Instructor(s): Suzanne Tabert
The role of elderberry as one of the most beloved and effective herbs for addressing many viral infections is well known, yet there are as many ways to utilize the berries as there are herbalists. Gain an understanding of the unique constituents of our native Elder, Sambucus nigra ssp. cerulea, that make it such a valuable remedy. Students will make an elderberry honey OR tincture to take home.
Leaky Gut, Lifestyle & Herbal Support
February 3, 2024
Location: Sandpoint, ID
Setting: In-Person
Instructor(s): Suzanne Tabert
Leaky gut seems to be a buzzword these days that many folks are being told they have. What is it and what can be done to correct this issue? Leaky gut is actual separations (breaks) in the membranes of the intestines which can cause chronic inflammation and low grade infections, giving rise to many health issues. Diet, herbs and lifestyle changes can correct this issue - repairing the membranes and resolving inflammation. Students will receive a .pdf of the presentation via email upon registration to download and bring to the workshop. This is a lecture class.
The Real Buzz on Beautifully Infused Herbal Honeys
February 17, 2024
Location: Sandpoint, ID
Setting: In-Person
Instructor(s): Suzanne Tabert
It seems so simple...herb + honey, what could go wrong?! Sadly, there is a lot of misinformation out there preventing folks from achieving sweet medicine-making perfection. Properly infused and preserved honeys are dependent on many variables including a basic understanding of how honey actually extracts plant constituents. Find out how, when and why you want to incorporate honey remedies into your herbal apothecary - letâs get the medicine to the people in ways theyâll enjoy taking, so that healing can occur! Students will make a herbal honey using conifer needles and bark, citrus and ginger.
Get Cultured with Butter & Ferments
March 2, 2024
Location: Sandpoint, ID
Setting: In-Person
Instructor(s): Suzanne Tabert
Intestinal health depends on over 500 different strains of beneficial flora known collectively as probiotics. Probioticsâ many health benefits include strengthening the immune and nervous systems, stimulating digestion and protecting against the spread of harmful yeast overgrowth, lowering cholesterol and guarding against cancer. Wise healers have known for centuries how a healthy gut = more robust mental health and calm. Included in the discussion is how much fermented foods per serving is beneficial and why too much can cause an inflammatory response. Learn how to make cultured butter and fermented curtido.
Intro to Autumn Wildcrafting & Herbal Home Apothecary Course 2024
Sept - Oct 2024
Location: Seattle, WA
Setting: In-Person
Instructor(s): Heather Bruno
Autumn is a wonderful season for learning to wildcraft and make medicine with roots, fruits/berries, barks, & seeds. It's the time to prepare for the colder months, build our herbal apothecary and ourselves by working with herbs that support wellness, build up resilience to stress and illness, prevent and address infection and aid in recovery from illness! In this 4 week introductory course, you will learn about wildcrafting and be introduced to self-reliant, place-based herbalism. You will also learn to identify, harvest and make a treasure chest of herbal medicine from key plants that grow in the Pacific Northwest. We will also cover holistic practices that are appropriate for managing stress, preventing illness and building immunity.
Seattle Area Herbal Apprenticeship Program 2024
March - August 2024
Location: Seattle, WA
Setting: In-Person
Instructor(s): Heather Bruno
Our 16-week Herbal Apprenticeship Program in the Seattle area is for folks who have a strong desire to gain and strengthen herbal knowledge and skills specific to plants in the Pacific Northwest and build an apothecary with plant medicine from both the wild and garden. Students experience intensive wildcrafting and herbal medicine making with in-the-field plant identification, hands-on harvesting and processing. Our approach centers on supportive practices for natural health and healing of body, mind and spirit, and is grounded in both herbal science and tradition. This program is appropriate for both beginner and continuing students. Classes meet on Fridays. The course begins in March and ends in August.
Aging Gracefully Part 2: Managing Menopause & Postmenopause
December 1, 2023
Location: Zoom Video
Setting: Online
Instructor(s): Suzanne Tabert, Heather Bruno
Let's get real! Two menopausal women share their stories and strategies for sailing through the ups and downs of menopause, including herbal remedies we have found helpful in getting relief from hot flashes, acne flares, vaginal dryness, muscle and joint aches and more! We will share why we love our ages and the many benefits of getting older.
The Wisdom of Our Elders
December 15, 2023
Location: Zoom Video
Setting: Online
Instructor(s): Suzanne Tabert, Heather Bruno
An exploration of healing with plants, fungi, and the combined potential of nature, wisdom, perspective and love from the knowledge and experiences of those who came before us. Their voices can be heard in our teaching.
Plant Potency ~ When to Harvest Plants & Their Parts for Highly Effective Remedies
January 5, 2024
Location: Zoom Video
Setting: Online
Instructor(s): Suzanne Tabert, Heather Bruno
As one of my apprentices said: âTo me, the importance of picking herbal medicine at the correct time, (with) the ray flowers are pointing towards the sky, the purple of the hypericum at different times in the bud, flower. I don't think I had really understood there was a difference between pollinated and unpollinated plants prior to the class. I don't think other herbalists that I follow really teach that.â Weâll explore roots, leaves, flowers and barks.
Herbs & Protocols for Blissful Sleep
January 19, 2024
Location: Zoom Video
Setting: Online
Instructor(s): Suzanne Tabert, Heather Bruno
Restful sleep is crucial for all of our body processes and our mental health. Does restful sleep elude you? Let's fix that! Learn about healthy sleep hygiene, effective habits and some wonderful herbs to develop your own custom plan that will help you fall and stay in blissful slumber the whole night through! Ahhhh....get ready for some zzzzzzâs!
Adrenal Fatigue? Adrenal Exhaustion!
February 2, 2024
Location: Zoom Video
Setting: Online
Instructor(s): Suzanne Tabert, Heather Bruno
It took a long time to get there. We may have seen signs, yet ignored or dismissed them. The inability to think clearly, constant tiredness. Anxiety and/or panic attacks. Body aches, changes in hair and skin. Weight gain in the torso, butt and thighs that no amount of sit ups or diet changes help. Help is on the horizon. Suzanne shares her journey from adrenal exhaustion to deep healing.
Herbal Infusions & Decoctions
February 16, 2024
Location: Zoom Video
Setting: Online
Instructor(s): Suzanne Tabert, Heather Bruno
Do I simmer or steep a particular plant? Which part? for how long? Hot or cold water? Is an herbal infusion different than a decoction? Does it even matter? Oh, yes, it really does! Whether you are new to learning about herbal remedies, need a refresher or want to take your skills to the next level, you will learn about a variety of water based preparations and which process is best suited for the herbs - knowledge that will empower you to craft the most effective remedies!
Epigenetics & Health
March 1, 2024
Location: Zoom Video
Setting: Online
Instructor(s): Suzanne Tabert, Heather Bruno
Epigenetics is the study of how cells control gene activity without changing the DNA sequence.The foods our mothers and grandmothers ate while pregnant, the stressors they dealt with, the foods they ate, their relationships, perspectives and thoughts, their involvement in nature and environment in the home play a part in our health today. We can become unbound from what we think as genetic predisposition and take charge of our health.
The Real Buzz on Beautifully Infused Medicinal Honeys
March 15, 2024
Location: Zoom Video
Setting: Online
Instructor(s): Suzanne Tabert, Heather Bruno
It seems so simple...herb + honey, what could go wrong?! Sadly, there is a lot of misinformation out there preventing folks from achieving sweet medicine-making perfection. Properly infused and preserved honeys are dependent on many variables including a basic understanding of how honey actually extracts plant constituents. Find out how, when and why you want to incorporate honey remedies into your herbal apothecary. Letâs get the medicine to the people in ways theyâll enjoy taking, so that healing can occur.
Thereâs something beautiful that happens when we make commitments â to our health, our growing wisdom and our community. We believe in YOU and are so happy to welcome you in!Â
