Applications are now open for the 2027 Herbal Apprenticeship
Join us for an eight-month journey through the growing season on our medicinal herb farm on Vancouver Island, building a practical foundation in herbal medicine through direct experience with the plants themselves.
From the first emerging medicines of spring through the flowers and abundance of summer and into the roots and seeds of autumn, you’ll learn to identify, grow, harvest and prepare medicinal plants while building a practical foundation in traditional and holistic herbalism.
Rather than learning plants primarily from photographs, books or lists of uses, you’ll meet them in the gardens and surrounding forests. You’ll watch them change through an entire growing season, taste and harvest them at the appropriate time, make medicine with them, and return to the same plants again and again. Over eight months, something begins to shift: you begin to truly know the plants.
Along the way, we’ll explore materia medica and herbal actions, medicine making, botany and herb growing, ethical wild harvesting, herbal formulation, energetics and constitutional theory, case study practice and plant spirit medicine.
At the heart of the apprenticeship is the belief that some of our most enduring knowledge comes through relationship, practice and experience. Our intention is to give you both a strong foundation in herbal medicine and the tools to continue learning directly from the plants long after the season has ended.
The 2027 apprenticeship unfolds over eight weekend gatherings from early April through October, following the growing season. Our small group is limited to approximately 20 students.
Who is this program for?
THOSE BEGINNING THEIR HERBAL JOURNEY
You don’t need previous training to join us. If you’re drawn to medicinal plants and want to build a strong, practical foundation in herbalism, the apprenticeship will guide you from the fundamentals into confident hands-on practice.
STUDENTS OF HERBAL MEDICINE
Deepen knowledge gained through books, online courses or previous herbal studies by working directly with living plants. Develop greater confidence in plant identification, harvesting, medicine making, formulation and holistic herbal practice.
THOSE SEEKING A DEEPER CONNECTION WITH PLANTS
For those drawn to learning directly from the plants themselves. Deepen your relationship with the natural world through observation, sensory experience, seasonal practice and time spent with medicinal plants in the gardens and in the wild.
HERBALISTS & NATURAL HEALTH PRACTITIONERS
Expand your existing practice through experiential study of medicinal plants, fresh medicine making, energetics, formulation, ethical wild harvesting and the seasonal rhythms that inform traditional herbal practice.
MEET YOUR INSTRUCTORS
Jessy Delleman has been working full-time with medicinal plants since 2008 as a herbalist, teacher, herb grower, wildcrafter and medicine maker. Her work is rooted in nearly two decades of hands-on experience growing, gathering, preparing and working with medicinal plants throughout the seasons. Before falling head over heels into the world of plants and healing, she studied horticulture, fine arts and biology, each of which continues to inform the way she observes, understands and teaches about the natural world.
Jessy is the founder of Ravensong Seeds & Herbals and created the Ravensong Herbal Apprenticeship Program in 2015. Over the past decade, she has guided students through an immersive, experiential approach to herbal medicine that brings together traditional herbal knowledge, practical skills and direct relationship with living plants.
Each year, Jessy continues to deepen and evolve the program, drawing from her own ongoing work with the plants and the land. At the heart of her teaching is the belief that becoming a herbalist is about more than accumulating information. It is about learning how to observe, taste, grow, harvest and make medicine, developing trust in your own senses, and cultivating the skills to continue learning directly from the plants themselves.
Her teaching is deeply rooted in the rhythms of the seasons and in the belief that some of our most enduring knowledge comes through relationship, practice and experience.
The Apprenticeship is supported by assistant instructor Harmony Pillon, who has been an integral part of the program since its creation in 2015. Harmony is also the assistant manager of Ravensong Seeds & Herbals and has spent more than a decade working closely with medicinal plants alongside Jessy on the farm.
Harmony brings a wealth of experiential knowledge to the program, weaving together herbalism, art, plant spirit medicine, medical astrology and her work as a trained doula. She has a particular love for exploring plants through direct relationship and creative practice, including plant meditation, botanical drawing and working with the plants throughout their seasonal cycles.
Her thoughtful and intuitive approach brings another perspective to the apprenticeship, encouraging students to slow down, observe deeply and explore the many ways we can come to know and build relationships with the plants.
PROGRAM DETAILS
LOCATION
All classes take place in person at our medicinal herb farm in Black Creek, in the beautiful Comox Valley on Vancouver Island, BC.
Throughout the season, we’ll also venture into the surrounding forests and wild places for plant walks, field studies, plant sits and hands-on lessons with the medicinal plants of our region. A significant part of the apprenticeship is spent outdoors, learning directly from the plants and landscapes around us.
ACCOMODATION
While we don’t offer accommodation on the farm, there are plenty of options nearby for students travelling from outside the Comox Valley. Local campgrounds offer tent and vehicle camping, and there are numerous vacation rentals, cabins and other accommodations throughout the surrounding area, including nearby Saratoga Beach.
2027 CLASS DATES
The apprenticeship unfolds over eight weekend intensives from early April through October, following the growing season for a total of 112 hours of in-person learning. Classes run from 9am to 4pm each day, and students are expected to attend all eight weekends.
April 3 & 4
May 1 & 2
May 29 & 30
June 26 & 27
July 24 & 25
August 21 & 22
September 18 & 19
October 16 & 17
PROGRAM FEES
Tuition for the full eight-month apprenticeship is $2,950, with all course materials and medicine-making supplies included.
A $350 deposit is required upon acceptance to reserve your place in the program. The remaining tuition may be paid in full, or a four-instalment payment plan is available for a small additional administrative fee.
What is included in this program?
8 MONTHS WITH THE PLANTS
Follow the medicinal plants through an entire growing season, from the first emerging growth of spring through flowering, seed and autumn root harvest. Returning to the same plants throughout the year allows your knowledge and relationship with them to deepen over time.
112 HOURS OF IN-PERSON LEARNING
Eight weekend intensives from early April through October on our two-acre medicinal herb farm. Learn through hands-on practice in the gardens, forests, medicine-making spaces and geodesic dome, guided by two herbalists with nearly three decades of combined experience growing, gathering and making medicine with plants.
DETAILED COURSE MATERIALS
Receive a 280-page Materia Medica book with full-colour photographs and detailed monographs, along with a 200+ page Herbal Theory binder designed to support your learning throughout the apprenticeship and for years to come.
ALL MEDICINE-MAKING SUPPLIES
All herbs, bottles, menstruums and other materials used in our hands-on medicine-making lessons are included. Many of the plants we work with are harvested fresh from the farm as part of the learning process.
COURSE SYLLABUS
Over eight months, students build a well-rounded foundation in traditional and holistic herbal medicine through a combination of hands-on practice, direct study with living plants and foundational herbal theory. The curriculum unfolds alongside the growing season, allowing much of what we study to be experienced directly on the farm and in the wild.
MATERIA MEDICA
Materia medica comes alive when we learn directly from the plants themselves. Learn medicinal plants through direct experience in the gardens and the wild. Using sight, touch, smell and taste, you will develop greater confidence identifying plants while exploring their medicinal actions, uses, harvesting and preparation. Our materia medica focuses on plants that grow within our local ecosystem, including native and wild plants as well as traditional Western herbs grown on the farm.
MEDICINE MAKING
Follow medicinal plants from harvest to finished remedy through hands-on medicine making throughout the season. You will learn the principles behind preparing high-quality herbal medicines while making tinctures, teas, infused oils, salves, vinegars, honeys, hydrosols, dual extracts and more. Working primarily with freshly harvested plants allows you to experience how harvest timing, preparation methods and the qualities of each plant shape the medicines we make.
HERBAL FORMULATION
Learn how to move beyond recipes and build thoughtful, balanced herbal formulas. We will explore herbal actions, energetics, synergy, dosage and the needs of the individual, then put these principles into practice through formulation exercises and case studies. You will develop a practical framework for choosing and combining herbs with greater confidence.
“This herbal apprenticeship filled me up in ways I couldn’t have expected. While of course I learned so much about various plant species and their properties, Jessy and Harmony offer so much more than just another program on the science of herbalism. These two facilitators are humble, dedicated interpreters of plant teachings and wisdom, gently guiding students to learn how to listen and hear for themselves this mysterious language of roots, leaves and flowers. With warmth and curiosity, students are encouraged within an environment of true community to develop their own herbal medicine path by forging direct relationships to the more-than-human world.”
BOTANY & HERB GROWING
Learn medicinal plants through every stage of their lives, from spring emergence through flowering, seed and dormancy. In our herb gardens, we will explore plant identification and basic botany alongside propagation, garden care, seed saving and regenerative growing practices, with particular attention to how season and stage of growth inform medicinal harvests.
ETHICAL WILD HARVESTING
Learn to identify and responsibly harvest medicinal plants in the landscapes where they naturally grow. Through field walks and hands-on harvesting, we will explore plant populations, habitat, seasonal timing and sustainable gathering of roots, leaves, flowers and other plant parts, with an approach grounded in observation, reciprocity and relationship with the land.
PLANT SPIRIT MEDICINE
The plants are our greatest teachers. Plants can teach us in ways that extend beyond what we learn from their physiology and chemistry. Through plant sits, sensory observation and time spent with living plants, you will explore practices for quieting the mind, deepening perception and listening more closely to the plants themselves. This experiential approach invites you to develop your own direct relationship with the plants and the natural world, allowing another dimension of herbal knowledge to emerge through practice.
HOLISTIC THEORY & VITALISM
Explore a holistic approach to herbal medicine rooted in Vitalist theory. Rather than focusing solely on symptoms, we will learn to recognize larger patterns within the whole person and consider constitution, lifestyle and environment. This framework helps us understand how herbs can support the body’s inherent movement toward greater balance and well-being.
CONSTITUTIONAL THEORY & ENERGETICS
Learn how constitutional patterns and herbal energetics help us choose herbs for the individual rather than simply for a condition. We will explore qualities such as hot and cold, dry and damp, tension and relaxation, alongside the Ayurvedic tri-dosha model of Vata, Pitta and Kapha, and apply these principles to materia medica and formulation.
CASE STUDY PRACTICE
Bring the different threads of the apprenticeship together through practical case studies. You will learn the foundations of an herbal intake, gathering relevant information and recognizing patterns, then practice selecting herbs, creating individualized formulas and considering supportive diet and lifestyle recommendations. This provides an introduction to holistic herbal practice and a foundation for further study.
Want to explore further? View a previous year’s Course Outline and Materia Medica Plant List
“Participating in the Ravensong Herbal Apprenticeship was one of the best decisions I have ever made. I was able to learn more in 8 months than I had in years of dabbling in other herbal courses and left feeling confident in making medicine at home! I loved the hands-on experience of getting to touch, taste and smell all the plants we were learning about. I gained so much more confidence to go out and i.d. plants on nature walks, and now all my friends and family hear all about it when we are out exploring! Jessy and Harmony are both so knowledgable and accommodating, they made the experience of learning really easy and stress free!”
APPRENTICESHIP PHOTO GALLERY
Explore the gallery below to follow a season of learning, growing, harvesting and making medicine together, from the first emergence of spring through the roots and seeds of autumn.
COURSE FAQ
What makes this program different from other herbal programs?
Every class takes place on our medicinal herb farm and in the surrounding forests, fields and wild places. Rather than learning primarily from books or lectures, you will spend eight months working directly with living plants as they move through an entire growing season.
You’ll learn through observation, taste, touch, growing, harvesting and medicine making, guided by two herbalists with nearly three decades of combined hands-on experience working with medicinal plants.
The course is taught from a Vitalist perspective, emphasizing a truly holistic approach to herbal medicine rather than a symptomatic “this herb for that” approach. We look at the whole person, the whole plant, and the relationships between health, lifestyle, constitution, environment and the natural world.
Do I need previous herbal experience to apply?
No previous herbal training is required. Some students enter the program as complete beginners, while others have taken herbal courses or spent years studying and working with plants.
The apprenticeship is designed to build a strong foundation from the ground up while offering enough depth and hands-on experience to benefit students who already have herbal knowledge. What matters most is a genuine desire to learn, curiosity about the plants, and a willingness to participate fully throughout the eight-month experience.
What will I take away as a graduate of this course?
You will leave with a solid foundation in herbal medicine built through direct experience and practice, rather than theory alone.
Students learn how to grow and gather medicinal herbs, identify plants in the wild, harvest at the appropriate time, prepare a wide variety of medicinal extracts, understand herbal actions and energetics, formulate remedies using holistic principles, and begin working with the language of the body and constitutional patterns.
Just as importantly, the apprenticeship is designed to give you the tools to continue learning directly from the plants themselves. Through observation, tasting, growing, harvesting, medicine making and working with plants throughout the seasons, you will develop greater confidence in your own senses and your ability to build meaningful relationships with the plants you work with.
The program also explores plant spirit medicine and encourages a deeper relationship with the seasons, nature, self and community.
What happens if I need to miss a class weekend?
Students are expected to make a commitment to attend all eight class weekends, as each gathering builds on the last and many of our hands-on lessons are guided by what is happening with the plants at that particular point in the season.
That said, we understand that illness and unexpected circumstances sometimes arise. If you need to miss a class, you will still have access to the detailed written course materials for that month, and we will do our best to help you stay connected with what was covered. Because much of the apprenticeship is experiential and seasonally based, missed hands-on lessons cannot always be recreated or made up.
How are the class days structured?
Each class day combines indoor learning with plenty of hands-on time outdoors.
A significant portion of our time is spent in the gardens, medicine-making spaces and surrounding wild areas: meeting medicinal plants, making herbal preparations, practising plant identification, harvesting from the farm and wild, exploring plant spirit medicine, and learning directly through our senses.
The remainder of the day is spent in our cozy geodesic dome classroom exploring the foundational theory of holistic herbal practice, including herbal actions, energetics, constitutional theory, formulation, Materia Medica and case-study exercises.
Because this is a seasonal apprenticeship, exactly what we do each month is guided in part by what is happening in the gardens and surrounding landscape.
What is the class size and student-to-teacher ratio?
Because of the hands-on nature of the program, we keep the group small and usually accept around 20 students each season.
Both instructors are present for each class weekend, bringing a wealth of combined experience and creating a supportive environment with plenty of opportunity for questions, discussion and individual guidance.
Do you offer a payment plan for tuition? What about trades?
Yes. A four-instalment payment plan is available for students, with a small administrative fee added.
A limited number of partial trades may also be considered by request. We occasionally need help with farm labour, cleaning, construction, marketing, website/SEO work and other projects. If you have a particular skill, service or product you think may be useful to us, you’re welcome to inquire.
Will written course materials be provided?
Yes. Each student receives a printed and bound, highly detailed 280-page Materia Medica book written by Jessy. It contains detailed monographs on the local and cultivated medicinal plants studied throughout the course, with colour photographs of each.
Students also receive a large binder containing 200+ pages of course notes, also written by the instructor, covering the theory and practical material taught throughout the apprenticeship.
How much work is required outside of class?
Students can expect an assignment following most class weekends, with approximately 3–6 hours of extracurricular work per month. Assignments are designed to deepen and integrate what we’re learning rather than create a heavy academic workload.
There are occasional fun, hands-on quizzes to build confidence with Materia Medica and plant identification, but no formal exams. Students will complete a seasonal Plant Ally project, choosing one plant to work with deeply and sharing what they’ve learned at the end of the apprenticeship.
Will a certificate be provided? What credentials will I be given upon completion of the course?
Yes. Students who complete the apprenticeship receive a Certificate of Completion recognizing 112 hours of in-person herbal studies.
The Ravensong Herbal Apprenticeship is designed as an immersive foundation in traditional and holistic herbal medicine rather than a professional certification program. Students wishing to pursue clinical practice or professional herbalist credentials will require additional study and mentorship.
What happens after I apply?
We review each application personally and will be in touch within three weeks of receiving it. If you are accepted into the apprenticeship, a $350 deposit is required to reserve your place in the program.
Before the apprenticeship begins, you’ll receive a detailed welcome email with everything you need to know to prepare for our first weekend together.
STUDENT TESTIMONIALS
”Jessy and Harmony have created a robust and experiential Herbal Apprenticeship Program. It caters to introducing new students to the world of herbal medicine as well as deepening the Herbal knowledge for more seasoned students…Their farm is beautiful, built from the ground up with love. I really enjoyed being on the land and in their geodome for our classes and lectures. It was such a delight to be greeted by the herbs we were studying each month as we walked through the gardens.
I was initially attracted to this Apprenticeship Program because Ravensong Herbals has such incredibly potent medicine. Learning medicine making tips and methods from people with years of experience was indispensable and I am sure it has saved me a lot of time and money. Their conscientious approach and attention to detail in medicine making, from seed to harvest to formulation was evident. I now feel confident in my ability to make high quality medicines as well as choosing the best sources for medicine at the right time for peak potency.
I appreciated how the learning from each module was reinforced and deepened through hands on medicine making, guided plant walks and plant sits. I really connected with the Plant Spirit communication aspect of the course led by Jessy. She is clearly connected to Green World and interwove Plant Spirit communication throughout our learning. We got to experience meeting each plant on a foundational level, introducing us to their unique personalities, energetics and how to open our subtle perception to receive information directly from the plants...just like our ancestors would have! It was just the right amount of "woo" for me, grounded by all the practical aspects and experience Jessy and Harmony have from years of experience.
Learning about plants in a visceral way helped me gain more confidence in my understanding of and relationship to herbs I had read about countless times but never met in person. I feel like I “know” them in a way you really can’t learn from online courses and/or reading books…I am grateful I invested in myself and took this course, I know it will be a valuable resource that I return to for years to come!” - Joanna
“The program is the most inclusive I have found in terms of covering much more than textbook theory. Every class is packed with information on topics like materia medica, plant spirit medicine, cultivation, energetic theories and systems, wildcrafting, clinical application, and hands-on medicine making (lots!), and Jessy’s tips from her years of experience. The days were well structured to include both theory lectures and discussion, and hands on application. The little assignments and class exercises were a good way to confirm and consolidate the material, without feeling overly stressed about being evaluated or graded based on what you can memorize. I wholeheartedly recommend this program to anyone seriously wanting experiential knowledge of the plant medicines they are working with.” - Dawn
“I walked into this course with only some knowledge of our beloved plant kingdom, and walked out with more confidence and trust within myself. This journey was a multi level adventure, and I would recommend the medicine of this course to anyone that wants to gain deeper knowledge of our Plant allies, as well as deeper insight into self. The learning is never ending when it comes to our natural world, and Jessy and Harmony, were very patient, loving, understanding, and open to all questions I would bring to class.” - Octavia
“The Herbal Apprenticeship has been a deeply profound experience for me. I came in as a plant newbie, and after nine months of studying, I am leaving with a sense of confidence in my ability to identify plants, harvest sustainably and make medicine. As a bonus, I feel a renewed sense of balance in my emotional, physical and spiritual health because of the work I’ve felt compelled to dig into on this journey. Connecting with the plants in person has been deeply nourishing for my soul and I really enjoyed that aspect of this course. Jessy & Harmony both bring a wealth of knowledge, passion and warmth to the course material and I would not hesitate to join them again on this plant path. Thank you for creating this space for others to share and find their passion!” - Shanna
“Jessy and Harmony hold a wealth of knowledge about medicinal plants, which they shared in real time. This kind of experiential learning is exactly what I was after when I enrolled in the program since you just can’t get it from books or videos. I loved the hands on aspect of the program and the opportunities for discussions and questioning. I gained confidence in developing relationships with the plant and working with their medicine. I feel comfortable making my own medicine and experimenting freely. I am really grateful for this program.” - Sony
“I started the course wanting to understand how better to use herbs for the health and wellbeing of my family. What actually happened was something akin to an awakening. I have learnt so much about these amazing plants and also myself in this process. I have deepened my connection to the natural world and have a developed an even greater respect and appreciation for these herbal wonders. Jessy has so much knowledge to share and being able get hands-on experience in how to grow, connect, harvest and transform these herbs into powerful medicines has been empowering and life changing. My confidence and curiosity is at a whole new level and I am excited to see where the journey goes from here. I am truly grateful for the opportunity and for all Jessy’s wisdom and experience.” - Katherine
“Ravensong's Herbal Apprenticeship was a highlight of my life. It reinvigorated in me my love for plants, learning, harvesting, sharing in circle, and more. Jessy & Harmony's gardens are an incredible space for hosting these learning weekends, and a joy to spend time in. It was a blessing to participate and look forward to monthly gatherings, and to keep on task with meaningful homework.” -Janine
“I came into this program with a beginner knowledge of medicinal herbs and plants and I am blown away by how much I’ve learned. I’ve become so confident with my plant identification and medicine making, and I feel like I’ve been able to build strong connections with the local flora here. It’s incredible how far I’ve come in such a relatively short period of time. The knowledge I’ve gained really is indescribable. I feel so lucky that I was able to join, it really has changed my life and changed how I view our forests and plant friends. Courses like this one are slowly but surely changing the world. ” - Kaitlin
“Jessy’s love and advocacy for plants and the natural world is truly inspiring. As a teacher, she communicates through her passion to create a holistic and deeply connected learning environment. Her knowledge of medicinal plants and herbs is backed by years of dedication and her own personal experiences. She encompasses biological understanding, herbal energetics and plant spirit medicine into her teachings which has made my learning experience incredibly enriching. Jessy’s apprenticeship program is a reflection of her deep seeded knowledge and I would highly recommend this course to anyone who wishes to strengthen their relationship with ‘self’ and our ancient plant allies.” - Justyne
“I recently read a post somewhere describing herbalism as a form of activism and, having finished the Herbal Apprenticeship Program, I couldn’t agree more. The program has helped me cultivate a deeper and far more meaningful relationship with plants than I ever could have gained simply by reading reference books, with the relationships and first-hand knowledge I’ve acquired spurring a meaningful change in my own personal life. The time I’ve spent with Jessy learning about plants – how they grow, how they heal, and the powerful part they can play in enriching our lives – has been transformative. For me, the Herbal Apprenticeship Program has served as a form of activism in the very fact of empowering me to take an active role in my own health and that of my community. Herbalism is often called ‘the peoples’ medicine’, and I believe the Apprenticeship offers students an invaluable link between knowing this, and experiencing it firsthand.” - Megan
“This program offers a hands-on curriculum which includes wildcrafting, medicine making, an introduction to plant spirit medicine and a broad range of information on materia medica, particularly focusing on our local native plants. The course is set up perfectly from spring seeding to fall harvest and everything in between; structured yet held in a casual and friendly atmosphere, with room for class discussion and group learning. I now feel comfortable making a wide range of herbal medicines... My family and friends are benefitting from my knowledge and I have even managed, under Jessy’s direction, to prevent the use of antibiotics with my son, which was a huge milestone for me. I got much better with plant identification, and love that every day of class included time outdoors.” - Dee