Birthing an Herbalist in 13 Moons - On-line Course Details 

​Who’s this course for?

Anyone who wants to learn more about growing and using medicinal plants, including: 
  • Herbal enthusiasts and herbalists who want to go deeper with botanical medicine, body systems, and deepening their intimacy with the plants. 
  • Herbal entrepreneurs who wish to start an herbal products line, a community apothecary, consulting or teaching business.
  • Parents who wish to learn about simple natural remedies that can easily be grown and prepared at home 
  • Anyone with a deep desire to have a home apothecary at their fingertips
  • All gardeners who wish to further explore the realm of healing plants and wild foods 
  • Community garden organizers and instructors who want to bring the joy of herbs into their communities 
  • Homesteaders and vegetable growers interested in medicinal care at home, long-term community care, and self-sufficiency 
  • Gardeners who wish to incorporate more useful plants into the home landscape 
  • Public, Private, and Homeschooling families with older children and teenagers who are excited to explore medicinal garden plants together 
  • Herbalists trained in the medicinal use of herbs, who want to deepen their clinical skills and know the herbs on a more intimate level
  • Herbalists who want to experience another teacher's style of herbalism. 
  • The medical professional who wants to deepen their knowledge of the medicine school that birthed modern medicine. 

A Note From Your Teacher, Jen Costa, Herbalist, BS, RN, CST

I started over 28 years ago walking with the plants as medicine keepers and I've never looked back. Even during my last 10 years traveling through the critical care world of the hospital as a nurse, I've maintained a well-stocked home apothecary for my family and loved ones, while continuing to see clients. We are in a time of deepening our self-care skills and of needing to turn back to the plants and to making deeper connections with Nature. It cannot be forced upon anyone. Each must come in their own time following an inner calling. Yes, learning more about the modern medicine ways has strengthened my herbal skills. I also believe we need a more sustainable medicine way too. It all begins by reconnecting with nature and walking close as we learn directly from the plants. Looking forward to this journey with you -Jen

How does the program work?

  • The program is delivered in a monthly format.  When fully registered, you will receive access to our virtual classroom on-line, plus helpful resources and suggestions for getting yourself ready. Lesson 1 come 3 days in and after that, one lesson will be delivered every four weeks. This format allows you to pace yourself and avoid feeling overwhelmed by the vast amount of material! Did I mention there's 1200 pages of lessons?! Yes, my desire is give you a full content course that speaks to your inner healer coming forth.  Please see the full course outline for a schedule of lessons and content covered.
  • When registered you'll receive an invite straight into the classroom at Ruzuku via email where you will set up a password access code. Lesson 1 content is delivered on Day 3 of the first week into your course time. 
    • We begin with 'The Heart' and diving deep into all aspects of the cardiovascular system. 
    • Creation of your home apothecary is started in Lesson 1 and visited each month to help with your creation of such an important space. It is your connection between your healing and Nature, an extention of the garden, and needs some tending to keep it full, alive, and providing for you. 
    • Reading/Resource List - this is constantly expanding and always available
    • Access to our Student Facebook Forum for all students of ElderMoon School 
    • Our 'Wild Food Recipe' section is always expanding - each month you'll receive a 'FOOD AS MEDICINE' section to your lesson.
  • The format of the program:
    • Download text/PDF files, audios and videos. You need reliable internet connections for listening and viewing.
    • The course can be viewed on mobile devices with a wireless connection.
    • The LIVE Stream Monthly Check-Ins, known as our "Herbalist Council Meetings" can only be participated in on a computer but are recorded and archived by date for viewing within a few minutes of ending on all other hand held devices. Here we jump the tracks and apply the medicine to situations our group is experiences, discuss solutions and other topics related to the plant world. 
    • Plant Profiles are given each month and part of your homework will be to create 1-2 each month as you build your reference section of individual plants (your Materia medica).  

The course focuses on the following medicine keepers. Others jump in from time to time as we move along within our live format. My plant profiles are built into each lesson, plus many more are happening as our library expands with the Monthly Herbal Councils. These are the seeds for starting and illustrating how to begin building your own Materia medica (a binder you make of each plant a-z) for referencing from your own home apothecary. We walk together through the whole process of creating each. We will cover medicinal mushrooms, medicinal trees, and seaweeds as well. 

Some of Our Medicine Keepers We Visit Are: 

  • ​Anise Hyssop – Agastache foeniculum
  • Astragalus – Astragalus propinquus
  • Basil – Ocimum basilicum
  • Bee balm – Monarda didyma and Monarda fistulosa
  • Black cohosh – Cimicifuga racemosa
  • Blue Cohosh - Caulophyllum thalictroides
  • Boneset – Eupatorium perfoliatum
  • Calendula – Calendula officinalis
  • California poppy – Eschscholzia californica
  • Chamomile – Matricaria recutita
  • Chickweed – Stellaria media
  • Chickory - Cichorus intybus
  • Cleavers – Galium aparine
  • Dandelion – Taraxacum officinale
  • Echinacea – Echinacea purpurea
  • Elderberry – Sambucus nigra, S. canadensis
  • Elecampane – Inula helenium
  • Fennel – Foeniculum vulgare
  • Garlic mustard – Alliaria petiolata
  • Ginseng, American – Panax quinquefolius
  • Goldenseal – Hydrastis canadensis
  • Goldenrod – Solidago spp.
  • Gotu kola – Centella asiatica
  • Hibiscus – Hibiscus sabdariffa
  • Horsetail - Equisetum arvense
  • Lamb’s quarters – Chenopodium album
  • Lemon Balm – Melissa officinalis
  • Marshmallow – Althaea officinalis
  • Meadowsweet – Filipendula ulmaria
  • Milky oats – Avena sativa
  • Mints – Mentha spp.
  • Motherwort – Leonurus cardiaca
  • Mullein – Verbascum olympicum
  • Nettles – Urtica dioica
  • Passionflower – Passiflora incarnata
  • Poke - Phytolacca americana
  • Red raspberry – Rubus idaeus
  • Rose – Rosa spp.
  • Rue - Ruta graveolens
  • Siberian Ginseng - Eleutherococcus senticosus
  • Skullcap – Scutellaria lateriflora
  • Tulsi/ Holy basil – Ocimum tenuiflorum
  • Valerian – Valeriana officinalis
  • Vervain – Verbena officinalis
  • Violet – Viola spp.
  • Vitex – Vitex agnus-castus
  • Yarrow – Achillea millefolium
  • Yellow dock – Rumex crispus and R. obtusifolius

AND there will be more!
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Lemongrass - homegrown

What you will receive during our on-line course together:

  • Engaging video instruction, primarily filmed for you as if you were sitting right here with me. Each under 20 minutes
  • Over 300 herbal recipes, ranging from medicinal preparations, wild foods dishes, natural body care products, and culinary herbal concoctions.
  • Audio files so you can listen on the go and listen again if you want to take more notes. 
  • Extensive written materials and instructional photographs, available online or as printable PDF, so you can learn wherever and however works best for you. I do recommend printing out -all material and making yourself a notebook.
  • Optional homework reviewed by me for Herbalist Certification upon completion. 
  • Access to an experienced herbalist, medicine maker, community apothecary founder, and critical care nurse for questions and guidance via Q&A live-streams through our classroom each month for the 18 months of course time together.
  • Discussions, sharing and questions remain in our classroom discussion area. There is also a patreon area you can join for free to get more recipes and educational articles. 
  • The majority of lessons contain video, audio, and written instruction. PDF written material is yours for life to store as a reference book in your own newly created home apothecary.  
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Amanita muscaria var guessowii - a first meeting up in the mountains.

Here’s what you’ll be able to do after completing the program:

  • Create your own home apothecary filled with high-quality herbal remedies, made from homegrown or ethically sourced herbs and medicinal wild weeds
  • Deepen you knowledge of the body and its language through wellness and health conditions
  • Make tonic herbal blends to promote long-term health and help prevent illness
  • -Connect with plants, the Earth, and the cycles of life on a deeper level
  • Address common health complaints with your own teas, tinctures, salves and oils
  • Surround yourself and loved ones with luscious body butters, creams, oils, and scrubs; oral care products, bathing salts and sugar scrubs.
  • Master herbal actions so you can better match herbs with specific conditions plus deepen your understanding of the body and its language
  • Share the abundant herbal harvest with your friends, family and neighbors
  • Discover your own herbal allies and cultivate deeply connected relations with plants you can call on for years to come.
  • Develop an herbal products business, teaching business, or begin developing a community clinic.
  • Gather common wild foods and prepare them into delicious, healthy and satisfying dishes and meals for yourself and loved ones.
  • If unable to make your own products, you will be able to discern where high quality products are made and support these efforts as part of your personal walk towards a more sustainable health care system.
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