Spring Wildcrafting: Single Day Wild Foraging Workshops 3 Part Series
May
3

Spring Wildcrafting: Single Day Wild Foraging Workshops 3 Part Series

April 12, May 3, June 28 on Saturdays from 1pm - 4pm

In this 3-part series, we will explore medicinal and edible plants that are local to the Pacific Northwest. The three different course days will focus on wild edible greens, medicinal and edible seaweeds and wild berries. Each afternoon is spent in nature with hands-on opportunities to identify and forage as well as learn about medicinal properties and ways to incorporate them into our meals. Participants will have the opportunity to bring home harvests.

All 3 classes are offered as a series or you can sign up for each individually.

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Wildcrafting Immersion in the Methow Valley: Weekend Trip
May
31

Wildcrafting Immersion in the Methow Valley: Weekend Trip

June 1 & 2: Saturday 10-4, Sunday 10-3

This is one of our most popular Wildroot Botanicals workshops. The pristine Methow Valley is home to many medicinal plants that are not found on the western side of the mountains. During this weekend trip we will be visiting several sites where we learn in depth about a diverse array of plants. Focus will be on identification, medicinal applications as well as spending time harvesting the plants.

The plants that will be harvested depends on the seasonal growth cycle of the plants during this time. Most likely we will be identifying and exploring the medicinal uses of arnica, arrow leaf balsamroot, morel mushrooms, elder flower, pipsissewa, yarrow, red root, false solomon's seal, wild onions and more.

Students will learn how to prepare medicines from our harvests and bring their preparations home with them.

Space is limited so register early if you’d like to join us.

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Medicine Making Intensive Weekend
Jul
12

Medicine Making Intensive Weekend

July 12-13 from 10am - 3pm on Saturday & Sunday

We will spend this weekend together with other like minded plant lovers, immersing ourselves in nature. We will be slowly steeping in the healing properties of the plants we work with through hands-on harvesting, processing and medicine making.

Participants will have opportunities to submerge into the healing ways of plants by spending time with them, sensorially experiencing their scents, textures, growing patterns and developing a personal connection with them. Demonstrations will include processing each plant in their own unique ways to preserve their medicinal attributes, drying techniques, hydrosol production and alcohol extraction.

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Foraging Wild Foods Course 2025
Mar
23

Foraging Wild Foods Course 2025

March 23, April 27, May 18, June 22, July 20, August 24, September 21, October 19, November 16

All classes are on Sundays from 10 am – 4 pm.

Over these nine months we will explore how harvesting food from our landscapes fosters a deep connection to where we live, the people we are in space with and with ourselves.  Classes will consist of wild harvesting excursions, simple gathering times around a fire to explore topics around ethical harvesting, building community and self care methods.  We will also be creating and installing harvesting spaces to support the abundance of the plants we love for the future and as a way of reciprocity.

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Foundations of Herbalism 2025
Mar
22

Foundations of Herbalism 2025

March 22, April 26, May 17, June 21, July 19, August 23, September 20, October 18, November 15

All classes are on Saturdays from 10 am – 4 pm.

Foundations of Herbalism is an immersive nine-month program that provides students with a foundation in bioregional and western herbalism. Our teaching method for this course centers around the importance of experiential learning and spending time in the field with the plants.

We believe the very best teachers are the plants themselves and we strive to guide the building of your relationship with them in a way that suits each student. We blend this method of learning with the stories of our personal experiences and the knowledge that has been gathered from scientific understanding and people’s first-hand experiences who have long herbal traditions and practices. Our weekends together are a blend of in the field, and classroom style learning.

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  • “If you are looking for a deep connection to plants and self, this is a great course to explore the nuances between our natural world and how we not only relate to it, but how we can learn to thrive with our plant ally’s.  Leslie is a gifted instructor who shares her deep knowledge of plants while grounding us in ceremony and reverence for all those who walk this earth.”

    Cate, Student in Foundations of Herbalism 2022

  • “Leslie’s approach to the health and well-being of the whole person has permeated everything I do now. I have met some great friends and herbal medicine is a part of my everyday experience. Making teas, tinctures, salves, and other herbal medicines that provide for the health and well-being of my family give me tremendous joy. Taking classes at Wildroot has truly been life changing.”

    Amy, Student in Foundations of Herbalism 2018 and Intermediate Herbalism 2019

  • “My time in Leslie’s Foundations of Herbalism class has been such a transformative experience for me. My eyes have been opened to a whole new world and perspective. Not only do you learn the very basics of herbalism, but in every class youre reminded of the deep-rooted connection we have to this Earth. I felt like I was being called home this year as I stepped into the world of herbalism with Leslie’s class. Leslie’s teaching style is patient, informative, respectful, personal. I feel like the foundation (haha) has been laid out well to where I feel confident in moving forward with my learning”

    Ariel, Student in Foundations of Herbalism 2022

  • “Anytime Leslie is holding the space, the feeling is palpable. Body and mind are calmed, sensing the safety and an invitation to bring one’s whole self to class. She has impeccable intuition for when it’s time to draw boundaries, and when it’s time to dive into issues. There are few spaces, and few teachers like this. Even entering her classroom feels like ritual. There is a warmth and deep, genuine kindness that radiates her home, carried into the physical realm by the blended sweet, earthy smells of drying herbs all around you. And of course, no one makes a cup of nourishing tea like Leslie. ”

    Emmy, Student in Intermediate Herbalism Program 2018

  • "Classes are held in places Leslie has frequented for years, which foster a sense of intimacy among teacher, plants, and students... Leslie’s teaching is deliberate, intentional and intuitive. The knowledge that I gained from sharing space with her has enabled me to progress exponentially as an herbalist. I feel a connection to place, an understanding of what modern western herbalism can look like, and also a sense of the endless possibilities ahead.”

    Gabe, Student in Foundations of Herbalism 2020

  • “Leslie is an amazing teacher. After 3 years of learning with her, I find myself coming back for more. I am now confidently preparing my own plant medicine as well as offering herbal support for friends and family. Most importantly, I have learned how to deeply care for myself, my community, and the Earth. I’m forever grateful to Leslie continuously sharing her wisdom.”

    Meghan, Student in Foundations of Herbalism 2017, Intermediate Herbalism & Apprenticeship 2019 & 2020

  • “Wildroot Botanicals was such an enlightening and informative program for herbal instruction. Leslie took me down a path – building on my previous herbal knowledge, equipping me for more practical clinical applications, and literally lightening my spirit, through the special times of healing that came from the shared connections and experience our group cultivated together. I found synchronicity in the like-mindedness of treating the plants and the earth with love and respect- and our places as healers working what is around us was supported through her program. I am thankful for the opportunity of learning I had by choosing her Herbal Immersion Program (for 2 years), as well as the classes she offered with other amazing herbalists. The love I have in my heart for the people and what I learned I carry with me always.”

    Jenna, Student in Foundations of Herbalism 2017 and 2018

  • "I took the Foundations of Herbalism class in 2024 with Leslie and had an absolutely wonderful experience. Leslie has an incredible knowledge base that combines Western, scientific knowledge and Earth centered teachings and the wisdom she has gained from her own experiences as an herbalist. She is a skilled educator and community builder and has a gift for making everyone in the room feel comfortable, included, and seen. I learned so much in this course about the incredible native plants of WA, herbal medicine, and how to deepen my own relationship with plants, the land, spirituality, my community, and myself. I left the course with increased self-confidence in my own herbal knowledge and beautiful connections with the people in the class, some of whom will be lifelong friends. I also really appreciated how Leslie structures the class days and course material, while leaving flexibility for the class to pursue our interests and adjust to changing seasons, weather, etc. I am so grateful to Leslie for creating this course and I would recommend it to anyone interested in herbalism. Total beginners and experts alike will get so much out of this course."

    Marina H.

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FAQs

  • The Foundations Program is suitable for all levels of students, from beginning herbalists to intermediate and advanced, including:

    •Those who are interested in fostering and deepening a relationship with plants.

    • Anyone wishing to improve their own health and those around them with herbal medicine.

    • Professionals currently working in health care. A significant number of our students have been registered nurses, counselors, social workers, massage therapists, doulas and other health care professionals. Some students have had previous training in fields such as Traditional Chinese Medicine and Naturopathy and already had significant herbal and clinicial knowledge. However, their feedback has been that our programs offered something different, which is direct experience interacting with plants in their natural state. Students reflected that this enriched their love, connection and understanding of herbal medicine and healing work.

    •Students planning to develop their own herbal businesses. Past students have incorporated their knowledge into their caregiving fields, began herbal medicine farms, herbal product lines, or herbal consultations.

    •People wishing to help themselves and their families, their community, and/or those who wish to incorporate it into their work.

  • While both programs offer students rich learning opportunities to interact with plants and herbal medicine, there are differences.

    In the Herbal Foundations Program we start out at Wildroot Botanicals in the mornings to learn about plants and their medicines. In the afternoons, we go out to selected outdoor locations for field studies and plant identification and have opportunities to gather herbal medicines.

    In the Wild Foods Connection Program, the emphasis is on wild food as medicine and there is an invitation of a personal journey toward more connection with land, self and community. In this class we will spend most of each class outside harvesting, processing and sitting around a fire or in a circle.

    Both programs provide ample opportunities for students to develop a direct relationship with plants and have an emphasis on experiential learning. The Foundations Program is structured so that students learn about theories of Western Herbalism, while the Wild Foods Connection Program focus is directly interacting with the plants and learning by doing.

    The Foundations Program is held on Saturdays and the Wild Food Connection Program is held on Sundays on the same weekend, once a month for nine-months.

    Many students have taken both programs, which are complementary to each other, either at the same time or in subsequent years.

  • Yes at your request upon completion. Please note that herbalism is not a certifiable profession in the USA, meaning that you are not required by a governing body to have a certificate to be an herbalist.

  • We are unable to provide any refunds. Please read the program information carefully to see if the course and dates are a good fit. If you have any questions at all please contact us to discuss prior to registering and we will be happy to answer any questions you might have.