How do we balance the scientific side and the "woo" side of herbs?

So we want to incorporate herbs into our lives in a safe and effective way. But there are so many black-and-white, all-or-nothing, extremist views out there in the world of wellness!

On one hand: we don't want to go too far down the "woo" path and start eating up fear-mongering pseudoscience with a spoon...

On the other hand: we don't want to treat plants like they're pharmaceuticals by stripping them of the traditions they come from. 

After realizing that I had been taught both ways, I spent nearly a decade deconstructing and reframing my 6-year formal education. 

From this, I've finally found a way to teach my approach so that others can take advantage of my experience rather than having to learn and unlearn the same dangerous missteps themselves...

Keep scrolling to learn how...

Learn what I wish I had when I first started out...

I'm sharing all of the viable information from my 6-year formal education, PLUS everything I've had to UNLEARN & RELEARN in the decade since. Such as:

  • How to avoid pseudoscience

    & white-washing of cultures by balancing scientific evidence with time-tested traditions (& giving credit)

  • Safety & Contraindications

    Who should *not* work with a given herb based on current medications and existing medical conditions

  • Nurturing local ecosystems

    By working with native and invasive species differently

  • Sourcing Herbs

    How to grow them yourself or purchase them from a trusted supplier. Because not everyone is into foraging!

  • Seasonality

    How to harness seasonal ebbs and flows in energy to stay ahead of common struggles & ailments.

  • The best way to work with each plant part

    Whether fresh or dry, tincture or topical, root or flower. It all depends on the plant's makeup!

Lesson Topics

This training is entirely online, and you'll receive carefully scheduled content each week to match up with each month's seasonal theme.

  • Cultivation

    Planting, tending, and harvesting your own medicinal plants, no matter how much space you have.

  • Plant Profiles

    Build your own materia medica with over 60 detailed plant profiles

  • Medicine Making

    You'll learn how to make your own medicinal teas, tinctures, syrups, oils, salves, and double extractions.

  • Herbal Actions

    Learn the science behind how and why plants do what they do, as well as the body systems they affect.

  • Seasonal Traditions

    Learn how our ancestors connected with nature's changes, as well as how to nurture that connection within yourself. (Celtic leaning while leaving space for your own heritage)

  • Varied content for all learning styles

    You'll have access to slideshow presentations, videos with subtitles, and written lessons that you can download and easily refer back to.

What will you learn?

By the end of this 10 month training, you'll be able to confidently:

  • Plant, grow, and harvest your own medicinal plants (North American and Eurasian species focused)

  • Create your own topical and ingestible herbal medicines

  • Choose which plant to work with out of several that could have the same action

  • Reference over 60 different medicinal plant profiles

  • Choose the best extraction method for a plant

  • Know which plants to work with throughout the year to help prevent common ailments

  • Decide when you can work with medicinal plants versus when to go to the doctor

Course curriculum

Click each tab to view lessons for that month

    1. Welcome to Rootcraft!

      FREE PREVIEW
    2. How To Get the Most Out of This Course

    3. Cultivation: Farming Fundamentals

    4. IMPORTANT: PLEASE READ

    5. Rootcraft Supply List

    6. Health Privilege

    7. Cultivation: Ethical harvesting

      FREE PREVIEW
    8. Cultivation: Plant families

    9. Cultivation: Plant Reproduction

    10. Video: Plant Propagation

    11. Herbal Actions: Introduction

    12. Video: How Mint Spreads

    13. Herbal Actions: Constituents

    14. Medicine Making: Solubility

    15. Video: Solubility Experiment

    16. Herbal Safety

    17. Laws & Regulations

    1. March Intro: Spring Equinox

    2. Cultivation: DIY Potting Soil Mix

    3. Cultivation: Seed Starting Tips & Tricks

    4. Cultivation: Up-potting Seedlings

    5. Medicine Making: Water Extraction Tools

    6. Medicine Making: Water Extractions- Teas, Infusions, Decoctions, Syrups

    7. Herbal Actions: Alteratives

    8. Meet Chickweed: She has Bones

    9. Profile: Chickweed

    10. Profile: Stinging Nettles

    11. Medicine Making: Nettle Infusions

    12. Stinging Nettle Recipes

    13. Video: Leave it to Cleavers

    14. Profile: Cleavers

    15. Medicine Making: How to make a Cleavers Succus

    16. Cleavers Recipes

    17. Profile: Violet

    18. Profile: Burdock

    19. Medicine Making: Burdock Root Decoction

    20. Profile: Dandelion

    21. Dandelion Recipes

    1. April Intro: Waxing Phase

    2. Cultivation: Hardening off Seedlings

    3. Cultivation: Harvesting Tips

    4. Video: How to Harvest the Mint Family

    5. Medicine Making: Drying & Storing

    6. Video: Drying & Storage Tips

    7. Medicine Making: Poultices & Compresses

    8. Herbal Actions: Demulcents

    9. Video: Meet Plaintain

    10. Profile: Plantain

    11. Plantain Recipes

    12. Profile: Marshmallow

    13. Video: Meet Comfrey

    14. Profile: Comfrey

    15. Profile: Corn Silk

    16. Profile: Mullein

    17. Mullein Recipes

    18. Video: Mullein Through the Seasons

    1. May Intro: Bealtaine

    2. Medicine Making: Herbal Formulations

    3. Spring Recipes

    4. Profile: Hawthorn

    5. Hawthorn Recipes

    6. Medicine Making: Alcohol Extracts

    7. Medicine Making: Fresh Folk Method Tincture

    8. Medicine Making: Dry Ratio Method Tincture

    9. Medicine Making: Tincture Straining

    10. Medicine Making: Dosage

    11. Herbal Actions: Emmenagogues

    12. Profile: Raspberry Leaf

    13. Profile: Vitex

    14. Profile: Red Clover

    15. Video: Meet Red Clover

    16. Profile: Motherwort

    17. Video: Meet Motherwort

    18. Profile: Feverfew

    19. Profile: Black Cohosh

    20. Profile: Mugwort

    1. June Intro: Summer Solstice

    2. Herbal Actions: Energetics

    3. Video: One Way to Make Herbal Syrups

    4. Herbal Actions: Nervines

    5. Profile: Skullcap

    6. Profile: Passionflower

    7. Video: Meet Lemon Balm

    8. Profile: Lemon Balm

    9. Lemon Balm Recipes

    10. Profile: Valerian

    11. Profile: Hops

    12. Profile: Klamath Weed aka St. John's Wort

    13. Profile: Tulsi aka Holy Basil

    14. Profile: Crampbark

    15. Video: Meet Milky Oats

    16. Profile: Milky Oats

    17. Profile: Chamomile

    18. Profile: Lavender

    1. Course Survey

    2. July Intro: Full Lunar Phase

    3. Cultivation: Lunar Gardening

    4. Essential Oils

    5. Video: How to Make a Rosemary Hydrosol

    6. Medicine Making: Hydrosols

    7. Medicine Making: Oil Extractions

    8. Oil of Oregano vs. Oregano Oil

    9. Medicine Making: Balms & Salves

    10. Why not just use essential oils?

    11. Skincare from the Inside Out

      FREE PREVIEW
    12. Herbal Actions: Diaphoretics

    13. Profile: Cayenne

    14. Profile: Sage

    15. Profile: Elder

    16. Black, Blue, & Red Elder Safety

    17. Elderflower & Elderberry Recipes

    18. Profile: Hyssop

    19. Profile: Mint

    20. Profile: Horseradish

About this course

  • $666.00
  • 178 lessons
  • 14.5 hours of video content

Meet the Instructor - Jovie Hawthorn Browne

I created Rootcraft for those who feel they don't "fit in" with the herbal crowd.

Unlike many herbal teachers you can find, I didn’t grow up living off the land...

I’d love to say I did, but I grew up in the impoverished Mojave desert in military housing.

Thanks to colonization, I've never had access to elders who could teach me the healing traditions of my ancestors...

But I did have books and professors to teach me how cellular biology and phytochemistry worked as I earned my bachelor's degree in Biology and post-grad diploma in herbalism.

I don't preach the doctrine that "natural is the only way" or "everything is toxic and after you".

I used to. And I was... the worst. Through recovering from eating and anxiety disorders and examining privilege and internalized classism, I now encourage & teach leaning on whichever tools you have access to in order to get through this capitalistic, patriarchal hellscape we live in

I didn’t get to know plants through foraging and wildcrafting them.

I got to know them through cultivating and tending to them in several gardens for over a decade. 

I may not fit in with the herbal crowd. But the plants don't mind.

They allow me to continue learning and experimenting. My path has not been traditional. And that’s okay. Your path doesn't have to look like anyone else's path either. 

I’m just here to share what I’ve learned so far with all of you, in a way that I’m hoping will feel safe, non-judgmental, and balanced.

Testimonials

See what students are saying:

“Absolutely what I was looking for... I have spent years looking for a herbal teacher that walked that line between science and old knowledge. Who didn't dismiss life saving medicine bc of evil big pharma while understanding the importance of medicinal plants. Finally found it :) This course was absolutely worth the money and I learned so much and I really appreciate the teachings around herbalism with regards to health, capitalism, responsible foraging, acknowledging where a lot of the knowledge came from, etc. This is the beginning of a path I wanted to walk for years and will spend the rest of my life learning. Thanks Jovie :)”

-Savannah R. on Module 4: Herbal Actions- How Herbs Work!

“I really enjoy how each plant profile gives you a bit of everything of the plant as in the who, what and where. I also enjoy reading the folklore and the case studies. The Hawthorne lesson was super cool with all the folk history which each part of the plant.”

Alicia Q.

“Incredibly informative... This course has blown me away with the amount of information provided, how it is made easily accessible without a degree needed to understand it, the explanations of how/why things work, and even medication interactions! The safety that is stressed has made me very comfortable with the information provided. I love that sources are listed so I can always cross reference, just in case. Excellent course that I've already recommended to others!"”

-Judith S. on Module 3: Grow Your Own Medicine- Green Witch Gardening Course

“Jovie is an amazingly inclusive human. I appreciate her word choices when referring to who these plants were cultivated by. She always takes special care to acknowledge those who have come before us. I am a white female and love that she is firmly giving credit to indigenous, non-white humans. I suppose closed-minded people could be uncomfortable, but that just means you are educating well! ”

Julie F.

“The fact that I can come back to the course and totally take my time is incredibly helpful. Sometimes I have to go back and glance at things so I actually retain everything. I truly appreciate how the course was set up. ”

Alicia Q.

Module 1: Herbalism Basics

Answers the questions:

  • How much of an herb do I take? and for how long?

  • How do I harvest & store herbs from my garden to make them last?

  • What are the parts of plants that make them medicinal?

  • How can I categorize herbs based on what I need them to do?​

  • What do closely related plants in my garden have in common medicinally? How are they different?

  • What are my options for working with herbs professionally?

Module 2: Medicine Making Lessons

You'll make your own:

  • Teas, infusions, decoctions, and other quick water-based extractions for immediate use

  • Tinctures and other potent alcohol-based extractions for longer term use

  • Infused oils and salves for skin healing

  • Other extractions: glycerites, syrups, cordials, and herbal vinegars

  • Proper dosage of herbal medicines

Module 3: Green Witch Gardening Lessons

By the end of the course you'll be able to confidently:

  • Grow & harvest medicinal plants in pots, small gardens, and large spaces

  • Plant and harvest with the phases of the moon

  • Harvest different plant parts without damaging the plant

  • Start seeds, propagate cuttings, and transplant seedlings

  • Compost, mulch, and amend soil to maintain its health

  • What time of year a given plant is best worked with

Module 4: Herbal Actions Lessons

Not just recipes...deep comprehension so that you can decide when, why, and how to work with a given plant.

  • Learn how herbs act in the body, based on *both* traditional use & scientific research

  • Organ affinities, primary actions, and secondary actions of plants

  • Matching an herb with an individual, not a disease

  • In depth profiles of 30 medicinal plants

  • Active constituents and plant chemical solubilities

  • Herbal energetics

  • Comprehension - not memorization!

Course-Only Pricing

Save 50% off of the individual courses! *You must enroll at the top of this page if you're within your 5-day promo window*

Bonus material

All of the lessons from the following free-standing courses are included throughout this 10-month course

  • Community Immunity Course Content

    $222 value

    So much more than echinacea and elderberry! A deep-dive into all things immune support so that you can know HOW, WHY, and WHEN to work with dozens of different herbs with different ways of helping the body do its job efficiently.

  • Herbal Skincare Course Content

    $222 value

    Nourish and heal skin by learning how, why, and when to work with over a dozen different medicinal plants both topically as well as internally to address the root cause of issues.

FAQ

  • Is this a certification course?

    You DO get a certificate when you complete the course, but keep in mind: since there is no state or national governing body over herbalism in the US, *any* certificate from *any* course you take simply states that you completed the course. No certification course can qualify you for any sort of licensing (since herbal licensing in the US doesn't exist).

  • Can I enroll if I'm outside the US?

    Most of the plants we learn are native to Eurasia, and invasive to North America. Since Europe colonized many parts of the world, you may be familiar with these plants as well, especially if you live in a temperate region. If you are in the southern hemisphere or tropical region, you will likely not be familiar with the plants we discuss. Our seasonal courses will also likely not align with your growing times. Due to shipping constraints having to do with customs and package weights, unfortunately, I cannot send Medicine Maker Shipments outside of the continental US

  • Will we have a way to ask questions or interact with other students?

    Yes! Questions that may help the entire class can be asked in the discussion section of each lesson. You can interact with fellow students in the private Rootcraft Student Community. This is a great place to bounce ideas, get inspiration, find herbalists in your area, or plan materials sharing! For more individual matters, students are able to reach the instructor directly via email at [email protected]. Response time is typically within 24 hours.

  • How much time will I need to dedicate to this? What if I fall behind?

    The courses are designed to be easily incorporated into life for those who have work, school, or family that takes up most of their time. Lessons are not live, so you do not need to coordinate any scheduling. You can expect to dedicate one to two hours per week to reading and videos, depending on how much time you need to process and absorb material. There's no homework or tests, and if you fall behind, that's okay! Catch up when you can. You have access to the course material for 1-3 years, depending on which course you're in.

  • Is there any homework or tests?

    Nope!

  • Which growing zones will the course apply to?

    A good portion of the perennials we will discuss will be hardy in USDA zones 3-10. Some are only hardy in zones 6-10, and a couple hardy to zones 9-11 that can be grown as annuals. If you're not sure what a growing zone is or what any of this means, that's okay! We'll be covering it in the course.

  • What if I live in the southern hemisphere?

    The way we will be profiling the plants will be laid out mostly as they appear throughout the seasons in the northern hemisphere. ie: we'll be meeting the plants that pop up in the northern hemisphere's Summer during the northern hemisphere's Summer. So while those in the southen hemisphere will likely miss out on the aspect of walking outside and harvesting the plant they just learned about (if it's something that grows well in their growing zone), there's nothing wrong with learning about plants out of season! So long as you want to learn about plants that are mostly native to the US and Eurasia. On top of that, a large portion of the information you'll learn will be foundational (meaning how and why plants work, how to extract and make medicine with them, etc) so the seasonal aspect of the plant profiles can be worked around.

  • What if I'm unable to or don't want to grow the plants myself?

    There is still so so so much to learn about herbalism other than how to grow them! We cover herbal actions, research and traditions behind the plants, medicine making, seasonal energy shifts, and more. You can always source your herbs through my webstore Spirit Haus Botanicals or through my recommended suppliers!

  • What is the cancellation/refund policy?

    I offer a 30 day money back guarantee, no strings attached! That will gives you time to go over the materials and see if the program is going to be a good fit for you. No refunds can be given 30 days after the date of your enrollment. If for any reason you’re unable to continue with your payments after the 30-day window, you can pause your payments and program access. When you’re ready to resume your payments, just let us know via email at [email protected] and we will get you back into the program.

This course might be a good fit for you if:

  • You’re new to herbalism but want a deep dive introduction

  • You consider your herbal knowledge intermediate but want another perspective

  • You like to learn the science, but aren’t trying to get your PhD in phytochemistry in order to read it

  • You appreciate a balance between herbalism and conventional medicine

  • You like some woo-woo, but take it with a grain of salt

  • You learn best from someone who is calm, serious, and introverted

  • You’re easily overstimulated by sounds and visuals

This training might *not* be the best fit for you if

  • You’re looking for in-depth wildcrafting or foraging training, 
because we’re going to focus on growing the plants ourselves.

  • You’re only looking for recipes, 
because we’re going to be learning the fundamentals first

  • You’re looking for advanced or clinical herbalist training, 
because, again, fundamentals.

  • You learn best from someone who is loud, bubbly, and extroverted, 
because if I wanted to fake it I would go back to working in the service industry!

All Rootcraft students get a 20% off lifetime discount at Spirit Haus Botanicals!