Herbal Field Studies Programs
Offerings
For reference only
Bioregional Ayurveda
& Herbalism Retreat
:: 6-days ::
This retreat will bring us into a deep exploration of the human-nature relationship. We will lay the framework of Ayurveda and begin to apply it onto the environment around us. Along the way we will be weaving Astrology, Plant Medicine, Nutrition, Ethnobotany, Mantra and Ceremony into each day.
Herbal Field Studies
Immersion Program
:: 120-hrs ::
This 120-hour field-based immersion program is designed for anyone that has a strong interest in bioregional medicine making, botany, and being in nature.
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We will be looking at plants through the lenses of ecological wildcrafter, medicine maker, plant botanist, forager, and activist.
Bioregional Ayurveda &
Herbalism Retreat
:: 6-days ::
This retreat will bring us into a deep exploration of the human-nature relationship. We will lay the framework of Ayurveda and begin to apply it onto the environment around us. Along the way we will be weaving Astrology, Plant Medicine, Nutrition, Ethnobotany, Mantra and Ceremony into each day.
Structure
CONCEPTS
Bioregional Ayurveda – 20hrs
Bioregional Ayurveda is a contemporary healing modality that aligns the person’s physical, energetic, and mental bodies to an environment. This approach utilizes healing practices of Ayurveda (originally developed in India) by applying them to one’s chosen Bioregion. This approach allows one to understand medicinal resources, food, and expressions of climate as they pertain to unique constitutions within a specific local. Bioregional Ayurveda functions to empower the mind and body through developing a connection to personal purpose (Dharma), cultivating health, and eliminating imbalances when they interfere with wellness.
Place-Based Herbalism; Plant Walks; Plant Communication; Human-Nature Relationship; Ethnobotany – 20hrs
We will begin by learning about the human & natural history of the bio-region we explore. While being immersed in nature each person will develop transformative relationships with plants through the practices of organoleptic exploration, plant meditations, and plant walks. Each day will build on the last as we will be bridging concepts within Ayurveda such as doshic theory and elemental theory and applying them to both our bodies and the environment around us. We will also be weaving these systems together by incorporating what we are learning in the field into each meal we share. Our meals will act as the intersection where place-based Herbalism and bio-regional Ayurveda fully integrate into one holistic practice.
Mantra; Ceremony; Astrology – 10hrs
Mantra is a subtle sound that is repetitively spoken aloud or thought of within one’s own mind. For purposes of developing profound connections to the facets of nature, mantra acts as a tool for strengthening consciousness as it relates to the world around you. Just as various indigenous groups throughout the world used mantra to harmonize relationship to nature we will incorporate similar practices to “connect” to the environment. Along with Mantra, each day will also present us with opportunities to step into personal and collective ceremony. With ceremony, comes intention and both growth of self and relationship to other.
In the evenings we will be exploring our neighboring celestial bodies and their influences and learn how to integrate their energies into our life.
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CLASS SIZE
Limited to 20 students.
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ASSIGNMENTS
Journaling
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SUGGESTED READINGS
The Yoga of Herbs - David Frawley
Prakriti - Robert Svaboda
Botany in a day - Thomas J. Elpel
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WHERE:
Southern Oregon - Red Butte Wilderness or Southern Cascades (TBD by the weather)
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THEMES
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DAY 1:
Personal dharma, purpose and intention, awakening sprit, human and natural history
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DAY 2:
Doshic theory, earth element, sweet taste, trees and shrubs, environment and philosophy
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DAY 3:
Mantra, water element, sour taste, plant communication, Exploring poisons and foods in the landscape
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DAY 4:
Agni, tejas, fire element, plant communication, exploring tools and medicines in the landscape, cordage
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DAY 5:
Prana, air element, ether element, plant communication, exploring concepts of tending and reciprocity
DAY 6:
Observation and reflection
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MEET THE FACULTY
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It truly is an honor to facilitate connections between humans and our non-human communities. We are looking
forward to spending time with you in a beautiful wild space and deepening our knowledge of Ayurveda and Herbalism.
Core Faculty
KYLE ROBERTS
Trip EMT
BRANDON FULTON
Logistics
PREREQUISITES
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Have a strong passion for Ayurveda and Herbalism.
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Experience with camping and hiking. Students are required to have their own camping gear.
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LOCATION
Our retreat will begin and end at Hawthorn Institute in Williams, OR. Information about the exact location is provided upon acceptance to the program.
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Camping and hiking will occur in either Southern Oregon's Red Buttes or Southern Cascades, depending on weather.
Herbal Field Studies
Immersion Program
:: 120-hrs ::
This 120-hour field-based immersion program is designed for anyone that has a strong interest in bioregional medicine making, botany, and being in nature. We will be looking at plants through the lenses of ecological wildcrafter, medicine maker, plant botanist, forager, and activist. We will also spend time learning about the human & cultural history of the bioregions we travel and the ways we can respectively explore these places that so many have called home.
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While being immersed in nature, we will discover herbalism through the bioregions we explore. Each trip will bring us to know the world renowned biodiversity that stretches across the Southern Oregon landscape- including the plant communities of the Klamath-Siskiyous and the Cascade Mountain Ranges. When we are out in the field you will learn concrete tools to help you become an herbalist specializing in wild plant medicine. Through the intimacy that is fostered with the plants we closely examine, you will develop deeper relationships with plants and their medicine. This program will help you engage in the life-long contemplation of the human-plant relationship, provide the tools necessary to connect to nature as home, and cultivate the indescribable joy of what it means to be an herbalist. Our hope is that your experience in this program inspires you to play an active role in protecting the integrity and sovereignty of the nature that surrounds you.
The Hawthorn Institute Field Studies program was a life-changing experience. My mind, heart, and senses were guided into a deeper relationship with the many plant folks that inhabit southwest Oregon. Each trip, the "wall of green" in the forest turned into a mosaic of scores of plant people, each with their own ecological niche and medicinal properties. It is by far the most thorough and well-rounded course of its kind that I am aware of. I will always be grateful for the experience and give it the highest possible recommendation to anyone looking to become more connected to this wild medicine land.
Tim
'17 Fields Studies Graduate
Structure
Each 3-day field trip will take us to a different area in southern Oregon. Trips will be focused on the correct identification of medicinal/edible plants and the development of sustainable harvest techniques. Discussions will include the Materia Medica and first aid survival uses of these plants. Students will also learn through observation and journaling, how to describe plants, plant medicine, and landscapes using concepts in Ayurveda. All trips will be day trips from a central location that can be driven to (no overnight backpacking trips). Due to the nature of this program, students must be in good health and able to walk on rugged, unpredictable terrain for long periods of time while carrying tools, books, and personal items.
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CLASS SIZE
Limited to 12 students.
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ASSIGNMENTS
Essay
Plant monograph
Journaling
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REQUIRED BOOKS
The Jepson Manual (2nd Edition)
Botany in a Day - Thomas J. Elpel (6th Edition)
Plant Identification Terminology - J. G. Harris & M.
Woolf Harris (2ndEdition)
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"The FS program is an opportunity to deepen connections to the earth, to grow communities striving towards local food and health sovereignty."
Core Faculty
"FS is an opportunity to become participants in our environment rather than intruders."
Native story teller
(1953-2020)
"FS is a way to celebrate and honor the nature spirits by continuing to share the stories of food, fiber, and medicine that enrich our lives."
"I believe feeling safe in a wild outdoor place enables you to go deeper into relationship with your environment. First aid awareness in wild spaces instills the confidence to navigate your surroundings, while helping care for yourself and others."
Trip EMT
BRANDON FULTON
MEET THE FACULTY
Q: What does the Field Studies program mean to you?
Exploring and learning from the diverse mountain ranges of Southern Oregon in the Field Studies program was an empowering and inspiring experience. I learned to more deeply appreciate the interconnected and interdependent nature of life through the study of plants and their medicines as they have continued to nurture human evolution through time. My heart is further filled with awe and appreciation for our plant relations after completing this program. These relationships have rooted themselves deeper within my being, and have allowed me to better feel into and see and hear and smell and touch and taste them so that I may learn from their wisdom.
Blair
'17 Fields Studies Graduate
Logistics
PREREQUISITES
-
Have a strong passion for botany and bioregional herbal medicine
-
Experience with camping and hiking. Students are required to have their own camping gear.
​
LOCATION
All trips begin and end at Hawthorn Institute in Williams, OR. Information about the exact location is provided upon acceptance to the program.