The Herb Academy courses are primarily aimed at people who want to earn either a part-time or full-time income from their calling to heal and their love and passion for natural remedies and healing strategies. They do however also attract a large number of serious hobbyists and existing health and wellness practitioners (including medical doctors, nurses and alternative therapists).
Broadly speaking there are three learning paths you can follow when studying with the Herb Academy:
- The amateur herbalist (hobbyist and continuous professional development) journey.
- The professional product focus journey – growing herbs and/or making and selling herbal products.
- The professional service focus journey – serving clients as a health and wellness coach.
Example #1: The Amateur Herbalist (Hobbyist’s and CPD) Journey
If you are here because you have a passion for herbs, but you have no intention of using what you’ll learn to make and sell products, or to coach health and wellness clients, you have a lot of leeway in how you plan your journey.
Most people who simply want to take better care of themselves and their families only complete the following milestones after they’ve completed The Budding Herbologist:
Milestone 1: The Basic Herbal Medicine Making Certificate. Start with The Basic Herbal Medicine Making Certificate course to get a firm grounding in the basic principles of herbal medicine and the Nature Cure approach to health and wellness.
Milestone 2: Basic Botany for Family Herbalists. If you’ve taken botany or biology at college (high school) level you can apply for recognition of prior learning.
Milestone 3: Healthy Meal Planning Masterclass. Nutritional intervention is one of the most powerful natural therapies and tools in the family herbalist’s materia medica. Anyone interested in taking better care of themselves and their loved ones should have a basic understanding of the principles of healthy meal planning. In this fun masterclass, you’ll get the meal planning superpowers every family needs.
Milestone 4: Introduction To Herbal Therapeutics (Clinical Herbalism). The whole thrust of treatment in herbal medicine is different from that of conventional drug therapy. The whole herbal materia medica is used to provoke a healing response by the body rather than to directly home in on the symptom or pathology
Milestone 5: Herb and Veggie Growing Masterclass. A small door-sized herb and veggie garden can supply a family of four with all the herbicide- and pesticide-free salad greens and herbal medicines they need – and it’s far easier than you might imagine. If you like the idea of better health and nutrition for your family, and a bit more self-sufficiency, too, then you’re in luck!
Once you’ve reached these milestones you can do the remaining courses and masterclasses in any order. Because you won’t be using the material in your profession you don’t need to submit yourself to the rigours of following a structured learning road map.
If you are a crafty person – many hobbyists are – then you could turn most of the outcomes of the masterclasses into small profit streams. Even if is just growing a few herbs or making bath salts or culinary herb and spice blends for your family and friends – and saving money on buying gifts.
The good news is that you’ll earn enough Seeds in The Budding Herbologist to complete two of those classes.
Example #2: Learning Road Map For A Product-Focused Business
If you dream of a part-time or full-time herbal products business use the milestones below as inspiration for creating your own learning road map.
Milestone 1: Basic Herbal Medicine Making.
Milestone 2: Basic Botany for Family Herbalists. If you’ve taken botany or biology at college (high school) level you can apply for recognition of prior learning.
Milestone 3: Start your side-hustle. The sooner you start developing your business skills, the better. Besides, I’m sure a little part-time income will come in handy. See the How To Start A Part-Time Herbology Business – Mini Masterclass.
Milestone 4: Introduction To Herbal Therapeutics (Clinical Herbalism)
Milestone 5: Herb and Veggie Growing Masterclasses. Only a milestone if you dream of growing your own herbs to use in making your products. It takes time to set up a herb growing operation. The sooner you start the better. Side note: Most students do this class concurrently with Milestone 4.
Milestone 6: Plant Journaling for Family Herbalists.
Milestone 7: Advanced Herbal Medicine Making.
Milestone 8: Launch your herbal products business.
Side note: We do not provide business training or courses. We focus on building your herbology and nature cure subject knowledge. If you lack in the business area we can point you in the right direction.
We do however have extensive experience in quantum leaping existing product businesses and launching health and wellness coaching practices. Feel free to reach out when the time and need arises.
Example #3: The Fast Track To A Health and Wellness Coaching Practice
Side note: You’ve already explored why we believe health and wellness coaching, and not clinical herbalism, is a better way to serve clients in a service-oriented business. If you need to refresh your memory see Accreditation and Serving Clients.
This learning road map is popular with students who are keen to fast track their part-time or full-time health and wellness coaching practices.
Milestone 1: Basic Herbal Medicine Making. Because it’s the best fast track to gain a sound herbology foundation. Period.
Milestone 2: Basic Botany for Family Herbalists. If you’ve taken botany or biology at college (high school) level you can apply for recognition of prior learning.
Milestone 3: Healthy Meal Planning Masterclass. Because nutritional intervention is one of the most powerful natural therapies and tools in the family herbalist’s materia medica. And knowing how to create a healthy meal plan is a key skill.
Milestone 4: Introduction To Herbal Therapeutics (Clinical Herbalism). The whole thrust of treatment in herbal medicine is different from that of conventional drug therapy. The whole herbal materia medica is used to provoke a healing response by the body rather than to directly home in on the symptom or pathology
Milestone 5: Start your side-hustle. Just in case you wondered… it’s even more important to start a side-hustle if you are working towards a coaching practice. Most participants following this journey start their side-hustle concurrently with Milestone 3.
Milestone 6: The Master Green Healer Certificate. Because just like herbology, herbal therapeutics is not a spectator sport. You need to be well versed in the art and science of the subject.
Milestone 7: Health and Wellness Coaching Certificate and Accreditation. Third-Party Accreditation. We’ll point you in the right direction but you are welcome to explore your own avenue.
Milestone 8: Expand your Side-Hustle to Include A Coaching program. Third-Party Course. We’ll point you in the right direction but you are welcome to explore your own avenue. You may also skip this milestone and jump to Milestone 7.
Milestone 9: Go Pro. Launch your Health and Wellness Coaching Practice. Either on your own or with the help of our 8-week coaching program.
Example #4: The Scenic Road To A Health and Wellness Coaching Practice
If you dream of a part-time or full-time health and wellness practice and you have no timeline pressure, use the milestones below as inspiration for planning your own journey.
Big Milestone 1: Obtain the Family Herbalist Certificate.
Big Milestone 2: Obtain The Master Green Healer Certificate.
Big Milestone 3: Health and Wellness Coaching Certificates and Accreditation. Two Third Party Courses.
Big Milestone 4: Go Pro. Launch your Health and Wellness Coaching Practice. Either on your own or using our 8-week coaching program.
Side note: There are many permutations of the long and short journeys. If you need help, or a sounding board, to plan your learning road map don’t be shy to reach out. You can contact me (Di-Di) on +27 082 416 7145 or [email protected]
Thank you. Have completed my on boarding. What would be useful is a list of ‘things’ in one place, I need to have in order to make the course work for me like a ring binder files, journal (what should it look like – how big, how many pages etc) – other materials and equipment that will be required throughout the course. Is there such a list on the site please?
Hi Kaz. We don’t have a ‘master list’ but where applicable you’ll get lists in the individual courses and masterclasses. I personally prefer a ring binder and a paper (and glue) journal but our more tech savvy participants prefer electronic ‘folders’ and smart phone apps (and photos) for their journals. Because this is about your journey go with what resonates with you. And don’t overthink it – the plants really don’t either 🙂