The Wild Foraged Apothecary: A Wildcrafting & Herbal Product Apprenticeship

The Wildcrafted Apothecary is a fully immersive, in-person course rooted in the landscapes of Appalachia. Guided by experienced herbalists with deep regional knowledge, the majority of class time is spent outdoors, ethically working with native, naturalized, and invasive plants and fungi across the seasons. Students learn to work directly with the extraordinary biodiversity of this region, developing responsible harvesting practices and meaningful relationships with Appalachian medicinal plants.

The medicines gathered from the land are then transformed into teas, salves, tinctures, and other herbal preparations. Students gain hands-on experience in plant and fungi identification, processing for medicine making or drying, and creating effective, potent and professionally formulated herbal products that are properly labeled and ready to be sold or shared.

Throughout the course, participants collaboratively create a Community Supported Apothecary share featuring six to eight herbal remedies made entirely from plants they have wildcrafted. These shares are distributed as herbal mutual aid to community members in need, and each student receives one completed share to take home.

Completion of a foundational herbal studies program or equivalent experience is required before enrolling in this 200-hour Community Herbalist Certificate.