While good food is one of the foundations of good health, our plant medicine allies—who grow in the wild and in our gardens—allow us to take care of many of the challenges that arise. Knowing plants as medicine and how to properly prepare them becomes a way of life and grounds us in a place the way few things do. When we walk through the fields and the woods and know the medicine that surrounds us, it changes our relationship to both our health and ecology.
Each time we meet during this twice-monthly series you'll gain knowledge, craft herbal remedies, and take home something special. You’ll learn to wildcraft herbs, create tinctures and salves, and use a steam still to make essential oils. Together we’ll engage in herbal self-care rituals, make teas, and discover how to use our natural medicines to support vibrant health. At the end of the summer, we’ll have our own home apothecary to draw upon and use with knowledgeable skill.
Class Details:
Click here to view the class sessions on our event calendar.
The Instructors:
Marco Chung-Shu Lam, has practiced Chinese Medicine and Acupuncture for over 20 years and is lauded for having a unique style of practice that accelerates his clients breakthroughs in both physically and cognitive arenas. Marco runs a full herbal apothecary of over 500 herbs in Boulder, Colorado and is a well known formulator for supplement companies and continues to innovate in both business and medicine. He is known in his Boulder community for supporting elite athletes, business leaders and entrepreneurs in pursuing peak performance and expanded flow states. Marco draws from his Chinese heritage an affinity for both traditional Chinese medicine and the Taoist worldview. He is committed to an integral medicine that incorporates traditional wisdom with the best of the evolving perspectives of our present time. Marco and his wife Jamie ran a 200 acre medicinal herb farm for 8 years where they were a fixture in supplying the Boulder natural supplement industry with certified organic medicinal herbs. Marco and his family have recently moved up to Steamboat. Marco is passionate about herbal medicine, permaculture, tea, internal martial arts, backcountry skiing and exploring the wildernesses of the West.
Jenna Handloff is the owner and creatrix of Aspen Botanicals, a community apothecary in Steamboat Springs Colorado specializing in handcrafted organic products, ritual support and everyday wellness. Jenna finds inspiration working in the Wise Woman Tradition, paying special attention to the motherhood continuum, postpartum care and self care rituals. Jenna studies with Celtic herbalist, Tonja Reichley; Wise Woman and Western Herbalist founder, Rosemary Gladstar; INNATE Traditions Postpartum Care educator, Rachelle Garcia Seliga and most recently has enrolled in the Alchemical Herbalism program with Sajah Popham. She has traveled the country learning from herbalists and teachers from diverse backgrounds which provides her with a broad spectrum of herbal healing modalities. Jenna is a mother of two, yoga enthusiast and teacher, adventurer and green witch. She is thrilled to be sharing her love of herbs and ritual work with you! Blessed be!
Mary O’Brien has been studying and practicing herbal medicine since 1987. She studied with many renowned teachers like Rosemary Gladstar, Brigitte Mars, Stephen Buhner and Michael Moore and completed the Chartered Herbalist program with Dominion Herbal College. A Colorado native she has lived in Steamboat Springs almost 30 years, where she teaches herbal medicine, leads medicinal plant walks, wildcrafts, makes herbal products and maintains a medicinal garden for Yampa River Botanic Park. Her journey has led her to also study the medicine wheel, sacred plant medicine, massage therapy, energy work and permaculture. She has co-authored the book “Edible and Medicinal Plants of the Southern Rockies” and has taught throughout Colorado emphasizing the use of native and locally grown plants and weeds for plant-based self-care. Her business is Black Bear Botanicals and her products are available at Aspen Botanicals.. She is passionate about empowering others to re-create relationships with the plant world and become sustainable caretakers of Mother Earth.
