Embark on your Seasonal Herbalism Journey
Balance the art & science of herbalism in this immersive, seasonally-focused intensive with Jovie Hawthorn Browne.
But the all-or-nothing approaches in the wellness world have you hesitant to take the next step?
On one end:
We don't want to go too far down the "woo" path and unintentionally invest in fear-mongering and pseudoscience...
On the other end:
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've spent over a decade deconstructing and reframing my 6-year formal education so that I can share the most valuable parts with you.
"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 :)"
-Savannah R.
“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. ”
-Judith S.
Click each tab to view lessons for that month
Welcome to Rootcraft!
FREE PREVIEWHow To Get the Most Out of This Course
Cultivation: Farming Fundamentals
IMPORTANT: PLEASE READ
Rootcraft Supply List
Health Privilege
Cultivation: Ethical harvesting
FREE PREVIEWCultivation: Plant families
Cultivation: Plant Reproduction
Video: Plant Propagation
Herbal Actions: Introduction
Video: How Mint Spreads
Herbal Actions: Constituents
Medicine Making: Solubility
Video: Solubility Experiment
Herbal Safety
Laws & Regulations
March Intro: Spring Equinox
Cultivation: DIY Potting Soil Mix
Cultivation: Seed Starting Tips & Tricks
Cultivation: Up-potting Seedlings
Medicine Making: Water Extraction Tools
Medicine Making: Water Extractions- Teas, Infusions, Decoctions, Syrups
Herbal Actions: Alteratives
Meet Chickweed: She has Bones
Profile: Chickweed
Profile: Stinging Nettles
Medicine Making: Nettle Infusions
Stinging Nettle Recipes
Video: Leave it to Cleavers
Profile: Cleavers
Cleavers Recipes
Profile: Violet
Profile: Burdock
Medicine Making: Burdock Root Decoction
April Intro: Waxing Phase
Cultivation: Hardening off Seedlings
Cultivation: Harvesting Tips
Video: How to Harvest the Mint Family
Medicine Making: Drying & Storing
Video: Drying & Storage Tips
Medicine Making: Poultices & Compresses
Profile: Dandelion
Herbal Actions: Demulcents
Video: Meet Plaintain
Profile: Plantain
Profile: Marshmallow
Video: Meet Comfrey
Profile: Comfrey
Profile: Corn Silk
Profile: Mullein
Video: Mullein Through the Seasons
May Intro: Bealtaine
Medicine Making: Herbal Formulations
Spring Recipes
Profile: Hawthorn
Profile: Artichoke
Video: Meet Artichoke
Medicine Making: Alcohol Extracts
Medicine Making: Fresh Folk Method Tincture
Medicine Making: Dry Ratio Method Tincture
Medicine Making: Tincture Straining
Medicine Making: Dosage
Herbal Actions: Emmenagogues
Profile: Raspberry Leaf
Profile: Vitex
Profile: Red Clover
Video: Meet Red Clover
Profile: Motherwort
Video: Meet Motherwort
Profile: Feverfew
Profile: Black Cohosh
Profile: Mugwort
June Intro: Summer Solstice
Herbal Actions: Energetics
Medicine Making: Glycerine Extractions
Medicine Making: How to Make a Glycerite
Herbal Actions: Nervines
Profile: Skullcap
Profile: Passionflower
Video: Meet Lemon Balm
Profile: Lemon Balm
Profile: Valerian
Profile: Hops
Profile: Klamath Weed aka St. John's Wort
Profile: Tulsi aka Holy Basil
Profile: Crampbark
Video: Meet Milky Oats
Profile: Milky Oats
Profile: Chamomile
Profile: Lavender
Course Survey
July Intro: Full Lunar Phase
Cultivation: Lunar Gardening
Video: How to Make a Rosemary Hydrosol
Medicine Making: Hydrosols
Medicine Making: Oil Extractions
Medicine Making: Balms & Salves
Video: One Way to Make Herbal Syrups
Profile: Cayenne
Profile: Sage
Herbal Actions: Diaphoretics
Profile: Elder
Profile: Hyssop
Profile: Mint
Profile: Horseradish
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.
"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!"
-Judith S.
Monthly lessons tailored to each season’s unique needs— from detoxification support in Spring to immune support in Winter.
3 years of access to over 160 lessons and 14.5 hours of video content.
Downloadable guides, videos with subtitles, and hands-on exercises that adapt to your learning style.
I’ve done other herbalism courses that just didn’t quite match what I was looking for. This course was everything I wanted and more. This course presented in-depth and usable information with a mix of reading and video content which kept my intere...
Read MoreI’ve done other herbalism courses that just didn’t quite match what I was looking for. This course was everything I wanted and more. This course presented in-depth and usable information with a mix of reading and video content which kept my interest. It was fun to be able to learn with the seasons and honor my connection to the natural world. I highly recommend this course!
Read LessThis course helped me change my own life path from repetitive to learning about the world around me. I will always be so grateful to Jovie for putting this course together and doing so much research to aid in helping others learn easier and faster...
Read MoreThis course helped me change my own life path from repetitive to learning about the world around me. I will always be so grateful to Jovie for putting this course together and doing so much research to aid in helping others learn easier and faster. I never knew just how many herbs are surrounding me at all times. I cannot wait for spring so I can get my hands and feet dirty, and make concoctions to help my friends and family. Thank you so much!
Read LessJovie, I've just finished this course and I'm completely full of gratitude and inspiration. Your lessons are not only full of useful and interesting information (I can't wait to re-listen to this whole course in the spring!), but I really apprec...
Read MoreJovie, I've just finished this course and I'm completely full of gratitude and inspiration. Your lessons are not only full of useful and interesting information (I can't wait to re-listen to this whole course in the spring!), but I really appreciated all of the other eye opening tidbits regarding indigenous practices and capitalism. I'm excited to experiment with a few tinctures this winter while dreaming of spring planting. You are such a lovely human and I wish you the very best during the upcoming winter solstice. Julie
Read LessThis was a great course - super thorough without having an overwhelming amount of information. It was well organized and I liked the format with the combination of videos and printable PDFs. The course made herbalism feel very accessible.
This was a great course - super thorough without having an overwhelming amount of information. It was well organized and I liked the format with the combination of videos and printable PDFs. The course made herbalism feel very accessible.
Read LessI appreciate how Jovie has combined the science and medicinal properties of the herbs she teaches. No fluff only the facts which is greatly appreciated and welcoming due to my busy schedule. With my educational background in nursing I plan to inco...
Read MoreI appreciate how Jovie has combined the science and medicinal properties of the herbs she teaches. No fluff only the facts which is greatly appreciated and welcoming due to my busy schedule. With my educational background in nursing I plan to incorporate the information garnered from this course into my healing practices for my family and patience. Thanks Jovie!
Read LessSave your hard-earned money by bundling all of the course modules into the intensive...
The lessons from Herbal Foundations are included in every module and named such for a reason— they're the foundation we build upon!
Medicine Making & Green Witch Gardening- If you're a hands-on learner: these are the lessons where you'll *literally* dig into the plants and the process - ending up with actual herbal products *you* made yourself
Herbal Actions may not sound very sexy, but *this* is where your confidence as an herbalist will find you! I'm not here to catch a fish for you so you'll eat for a day- Herbal Actions will teach you to fish so you can nourish yourself... for life!
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 chemical constituents and do they matter?
What are the medication interactions and other contraindications I need to keep in mind for each herb?
What are my options for working with herbs professionally?
You'll make your own:
Teas, infusions, decoctions, and other quick water-based extractions
Tinctures and other potent alcohol-based extractions
Infused oils and salves for skin healing
Other extractions: glycerites, syrups, cordials, and herbal vinegars
Proper dosage of herbal medicines
You'll be able to confidently:
Tend & harvest different plant parts without damaging the plant -- no matter how much space you have
Start seeds, propagate cuttings, and transplant seedlings that can't be found as starts in the garden center
Compost, mulch, and amend soil to maintain its health and feed your plants without fertilizers
Know what time of year a given plant is available and worked with to prevent common ailments
Sync your own self care practices with Solstices, Equinoxes, and lunar phases so that you can anticipate challenges and avoid burn out
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 wisdom & the scientific research that backs it up (plus- I'll tell you if it doesn't)
Organ affinities, primary actions, and secondary actions of plants so you can match the best one case by case
Be able to match an herb with an individual's needs rather than a disease's symptoms
Active constituents and plant chemical solubilities so you can make the most effective preparations
Herbal energetics so you can predict how an herb will feel in the body
And some of that went toward pseudoscience I spent *years* unlearning...
On top of that, most herbal programs don’t qualify for student loans- so, yes, I saved my tips waiting tables to pay $500+ per month just for that first year.
You can avoid my missteps entirely and still learn the most valuable bits anyway
for a fraction of what I paid...
I want you to be able to refer back to this knowledge for the rest of your life...
To download, print, & pass down to future generations as part of your own family tradition
Save them to your laptop for a searchable materia medica database or print them to put in a binder
Search, Print, & Refer back to Herbal Actions, Cultivation, Medicine Making, & Seasonal Rituals any time - for the rest of your life!
But it doesn't stop there...
You're also receiving:
All of these lessons are sprinkled throughout this 10-month program, within the seasons they're most useful:
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 choose different herbs that have different ways of helping the body do its job efficiently.
Nourish and heal skin by learning how, why, and when to work with plants both topically *as well as* internally to address the root cause of issues.
Anxiety, Stress, & Herbs - Herbal Menstrual Support - Herbal "Detoxification" - Rest & Digest Herbs - So that you're ready for whatever the year throws your way
Modules 1-4: Herbalism Basics - Medicine Making - Green Witch Gardening - Herbal Actions
120+ Recipes, 200+ pages of plant profiles, 100+ pages of lessons
Community Immunity - Herbal Skincare - Anxiety, Stress, & Herbs - Herbal Menstrual Support - Herbal "Detoxification" - Rest & Digest Herbs -
But here at Rootcraft we believe in making herbalism accessible in fair exchange for the decade-plus of time and energy that has gone into compiling this information to share... So it's being offered at a fraction of that price:
Since this intensive is so seasonally-focused, you typically have to wait until February to access your first month of lessons...
Get a head start on the 10-month program by taking Module 1: Herbal Foundations... whenever you like!
Then you'll be more than ready for the monthly drops of lessons that begin in February.
when you sign up for Early Bird enrollment...
Reserve your spot now to lock-in this price
So you don't need to be ready to start today...
You just need to be ready to save $$ today.
...You could either be ten more months down the path you’re on now, or ten months down this exciting new herbal path!
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).
You'll have access to the Seasonal Herbal Intensive for 3 years, and the individual programs for 1 full year. 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. If you fall behind, that's okay! Catch up when you can.
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.
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.
Nope! All of the lessons are pre-recorded and released at the beginning of each month. This information and these skills are for you to enrich your life- not to prove anything to anyone else.
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.
I am happy to issue you a voucher for the purchase price of one individual course so that you can take that amount off of your intensive enrollment! In other words, if you already took Modules 2, 3, 4, Herbalism Basics, Community Immunity, or Herbal Skincare- it will be fully refunded if you decide to enroll in the full intensive later. Simply email me at [email protected] with your name and email address you used to enroll then I will send you a code to enroll in the intensive.
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!
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.
You’re looking for in-depth wildcrafting or foraging training— we’re going to focus on growing the plants ourselves.
You’re only looking for recipes— Recipe books are everywhere. You're going to be learning SO MUCH MORE than how to replicate a recipe. You'll also be able to to formulate whatever you need!
You’re looking for clinical herbalist training— This is a deep-dive into the beginner and intermediate levels and doesn't go into how to do a clinical assessment
You learn best from someone who is loud, bubbly, and extroverted— if I wanted to fake it I would go back to working in the service industry!
You’re new to herbalism and want more than just the surface level basics
Your herbal knowledge is intermediate but you want a more balanced perspective (herbal learning is never "done"!)
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
You’re not just signing up for an herbal course—you’re stepping into a 10-month journey that will transform the way you connect with plants, the seasons, and yourself.
This is a rare opportunity to gain a balanced understanding of herbalism, blending ancient traditions with modern science, all at your own pace.
And since the 2025 Rootcraft Herbal Intensive only begins once per year, and spots are limited to ensure each student gets the full experience, now’s the time to join us!