Here we share with readers our news about programs, people, students, and activities of the medicine farm, community, and our greater learning community OCTOBER EVENT: Here is some news on the free class as submitted to Natural Awakenings Magazine, Wayne County/Detroit area October issue 'Immune System Tonics- Winter Medicine Making" for the next Reskilling Festival, held on October 24 at the Steiner High School in Ann Arbor. ( more info : http://www.transitionannarbor.org/) . We have all heard a lot lately about "swine" flu, the latest flu to come along, and I call for the fearmongering to be set aside in favor of personal empowerment through action. What action can we take? Well, we can use our considerable intelligence to strengthen our immune systems. Healthy diets, balanced living with exercise and sleep, and stress reduction all contribute to a responsive immune system, and so traditionally do herbal medicines and plant nutrients. A positive attitude and dropping all the fear goes a long way in improving immunity as well! This October 24, the Ann Arbor "transition town" movement presents a second "reskilling festival" - reskilling events are designed to empower communities with knowledge and education to better live in changing times. All of the events are free, although some have minimal materials fees. Mary Light, master herbalist, naturopath and director of Naturopathic School of Ann Arbor will present an interactive (taste! smell! see!) demonstration of how to make a proven winter tonic from local herbs, one designed to strengthen the lymphatic, respiratory and digestive systems while cleansing the blood for winter challenges. Come join is in this and other reskilling talks and demonstrations, and more info at the Gaia Herb School site: www.gaiaherbalstudies.net May 19 : welcoming a new teacher By a " naturally organic progression " , Peggy Jones, who has been with Gaia center for 2 years now, is training to be a teacher. Along with her training with us, her cultivation on her land, and her 2008 certification in organic master gardener training from Washtenaw Community College, we feel we are presenting our students with a gem of a mentor and teacher for foundational herbal studies. This year she will try her hand at presenting 2 segments to the current student group, on an apprenticeship level, and will continue to apprentice through 2010, when she plans to take a larger role in the Medicinal Herbalist Certification program curriculum. Peggy also has great stories about her personal experiences taking the herbs for health, and is currently undergoing rejuvenative efforts with Cleavers, violet leaves and dandelion, along with some naturopathic physical medicine in the form of massage, compresses, and other natural therapeutics. We welcome her with open arms to be our teacher! April 17: Excerpt from class material of upcoming 4/25 Wild Edibles and Spring Medicinals class: Garlic Mustard Early in the spring, this is a suitable edible green. It is much maligned for being “invasive”, however amid these 800 acres I have never seen garlic mustard “invading” A charming attribute of this plant is that, later in the season, in May, a unique and delicate yet stunningly structured flower is produced. This flower is edible and could potentially grace any upscale restaurant cuisine as a garnish. Early plants (first season) have small leaves…. and, if you find plants with large leaves, they are generally second or third season plants with well developed taproots. Keep that in mind if it is the root you seek. As the name implies, a slight garlic flavor mixed with the pungent flavor of mustard is offered by this plant. The leaves may be chopped and used as a seasoning in soups, casseroles and in greens dishes. The root of older plants may be grated and used much like horseradish. I believe there is much more to discover about this plant in terms of medicinal contributions and health giving properties. April 4: Photos of Seedlings Ever wonder how you would recognize your seedling, particularly if you plant outside (among all the possible weeds which could also be coming up with them ! ) ? Michelle, one of our students in the advanced studies program has sent this along to help (see below). This way, you can commune with your herbs in infancy and pull up the weeds instead of the herbs... Hello Everyone:) Here are some photos of herb seedlings that are 3 weeks old. I thought I'd share them because I know that some people were curious as to what some herbs look like when they're younger so that we don't mistake them for weeds! Also it's very interesting how plants from the same family look so similar when they are seedlings, like the mint and carrot family. Most of these seedlings were germinated from seeds that came from Gaia's herb farm (all except for sage, echinacea, and chamomile). You can view them by clicking on the link below: http://picasaweb.google.com/mksmedley/HerbSeedlings?feat=directlink Enjoy! And happy planting this spring:) Michelle March 30: Extending our Reach: Naturopathic School Traditional Naturopathy in Ann Arbor Mary Light has spent 18 years in the field of natural healing, studying, practicing and teaching the pillars of Naturopathic Care: herbal medicine, massage and bodywork therapies, movement awareness , dietary healing and principles, hydrotherapy, applied natural therapeutics, ethics, energy medicine, and related care topics. Traditional Naturopathy is a vital, historical, and credible field unto itself, not a "natural" version of allopathy. We view the process of changing health conditions and healing support protocols through the lens of our own western naturopathic traditions, which are similar in many ways to traditional Chinese medicine : the philosophy that human health is a reflection of planetary health and balance of elemental energies in the matrix of a balanced environment, which can be supported and influenced by natural healing methods and processes. The Naturopathic School of Ann Arbor - Living Naturopathy Integrating Western and Eastern Traditions- has been percolating on the causal level for several years, and now is the time to birth it forth. We hear the regional call asking for this training- a holistic blend of many integrated tools and pathways to prepare practitioners to meet the growing need of those seeking natural healing and health care. Our forthcoming curriculum is a natural outgrowth of our strong and established program of herbal medicine education, which is rooted in naturopathic principles. Mary has connected with others in the Ann Arbor area with established backgrounds of experience in important aspects of naturopathic training. We look forward to offering preliminary classes this fall of 2009. Meanwhile, if this news calls to you now, our upcoming herbal medicine training offers you a way to begin. March 27 : Appreciating Spring, Open House Sunday Reminder that we offer an Open House 12-2 on 3/29. March has been lovely- suddenly color- red, blue and yellow from songbirds, blue sky, green pine trees, and colorful red and green buds emerge from what was a dreary landscape 3 weeks ago. Our herbs are beginning to come through the aromatic earth. Lindsey and Maegan will be on hand this weekend to tackle seed bank work and sanctuary care while Open House visitors come in and out. I will be creating a batch of calendula cream from potent therapeutic oils we infused this fall from our abundant calendula crop- the cream has sold out and it is time to stock anew. Today I was walking Bear, my dog, through the land and we saw a deer , which he chased a bit, and then ran back away from the deer. The deer paused, turned around, and began charging towards me (well, probably towards Bear, who was now snurtling in the pines). I had never seen this happen before, and as the large animal got closer to me - about a dozen feet away, very close - silently standing still, wearing my deer colored barn coat- I softly said to the deer "Hey, you are coming towards me?". He must not have noticed me before, as he turned tail and ran, pausing again in the young trees to survey the scene. Spring fever? I think he may have wanted to play with Bear ! We also saw a lot of hawks, ducks, geese and swans as we walked past familiar neighborhoods of plants which will spring to life soon with nettles, bee balm, poke, wild yam, cleavers, Queen Anne's Lace, lobelia, mullein, and many more. Come join us in connecting with the earth and her gifts. March 22 SEED CHAT : seeds for medicinal herbs, locally time flies! We had a great kick-off , of sorts, yesterday with the first Open House of the season, and with 4 staff /students gathered to meet one another, clear and prepare garden beds (many hands make light work!) , and then sort and package seeds from our seed bank. Nearly 250 packets of seeds were put together, with lovely labels and instructions for future growers. Seeds include Blue Vervain, Calendula, Bee Balm (Mondarda fistulosa), Marshmallow (Althea officinalis), Yellow Dock, Cinquefoil, Bouncing Bett/Soapwort, White Vervain, Pleurisy Root, Coltsfoot, Hollyhock, Echinacea, Catnip, Anise Hyssop, Spearmint, Angelica, and more. The seeds are available for sale, and will be sold at the farmers market, at on-premise events, and eventually here on the site in Our Store. They are also generously portioned- 1 tablespoon to 1/2 teaspoon depending on the seed, which is 2-400% more than most commercial seed packets offer. (you know- those packets where the seeds might fit on a pin head?) . Tune in again for a list of medicinal actions and uses for the plants from these seeds- I envision a very near future GARDENING page for this site, and a bit of a time in coming, but we are happy to offer it. One of the many creative goals for the year is to raise plants partially for seed production, particularly those hard -to -find seeds , and those which are suitable to our local growing conditions. We want to make it easier for everyone to grow, know, and enjoy herbs- local seeds are a great beginning. February 22 We continue to welcome new people to the staff of Gaia School of Herbal Studies: Peggy Jones, Apothecary assistant. Passionate about herbs and healing, Peggy is a certified herbalist from our 2007 program, a master organic gardener , and currently in our master herbalist program. Apothecary assistants make the products we sell at farmers market, from our own apothecary and online store, and our on-premise tours such as creams, lotions, elixirs, sprays, and various therapeutic blends. Managing an apothecary also involves keeping inventory of packaging materials and labeling, ordering appropriate packaging, and of course, all the supplies and ingredients which go into our products, while also keeping records of the hours and work involved in the production of a product for financial records. Peggy will soon also be featured on our "Teachers" page as she steps into some of the teaching this season from her background of experience as a grower. Peggy's healing energy shows up in good measure in whatever she touches- I always feel there is a lot of extra magic in her creations. When you meet her, she will show you how to do that, too ! February 19 Spring is in the air! It is in the light, particularly, the thaws, and mild spells . This is the time when we sort out our Apothecary, plan for planting and seed ordering, particularly seeds which need a spell of cold alternating with warm in order to best germinate. This year we plan to add about a dozen new herb species, expand the comfrey growing plots, and undertake a woodland root planting project for several at risk plants. We are looking forward to incorporating those projects into our curriculum- join us ! This year Gaia School runs advertisements in 3 national magazines for the first time, featuring our Home Study Herbalist Certification course, and our two intensive training weeks in Teacher Training and Consultancy Arts for herbalists and health practitioners. Look for our ads under "Education" in Herb Quarterly, Herb Companion, and HerbalGram in stores all around the country. January 12 Today we have a quiet January day with snow softly falling...almost mid month at this early in the year juncture, the holidays far behind us. It is time to give serious thought to spring planting, and particularly of seed that needs a cool period for optimum germination. We welcome Meagan Gabrielle as a full time Work Study student in our core program this year. Meagan brings a much appreciated level of insight, energy, and passion to the coming season, in part drawn from her work in Africa ( Ghana, bordering the Cote d'Ivoire) with the Peace Corps, assisting a village with sustainability. We welcome Lindsey Hall, who will do her Internship for Michigan State University, here on our medicine farm. Lindsey has the option to participate in our core program, also, as part of her internship benefit. This past week I had an enlightening chat with people at University of Michigan School of Natural Resources, as I explored how we may offer internships to students within their graduate programs. We look forward to a collaboration as early as this spring . Our advanced studies level has evolved fairly quickly into a Master Herbalist program with a focus and foundation towards client care. While anyone who qualifies may enroll in this program, we see a growing demand for professional development, as people wish to evolve into consultant herbalists , setting up a personal practice in natural health care. This is likely to eventually evolve into a program with more naturopathy training. It is needed, it is wanted, and we have the wisdom , training, methods and teachings to offer from an established base of experience. This is exciting news for our region. December 30 - End of year comments Podcasts, interns, groundskeepers, and Master Herbalist Program- all new developments in 2008, as is the evolving page on this site called "Our Store" , where one can purchase our courses as well as some products. We have seven passionate herbalists in our advanced studies- Ann Arbor Master Herbalist program, deepening their understanding of herbs as well as the human body, the therapeutic relationship, and naturopathic protocols. Podcasts are being recorded and will be available online soon. These 20-30 minute sessions will relay herbal medicine teachings from Mary Light, and may be in interview , Q & A, or lecture format. 2008 saw an increasing need to tend to the grounds, with increased visitors, tours, and programs. We are happy to incorporate into our programs 100 hours of grounds keeping work exchange. A new focus on herbalist internships streamlines our work study program. We look forward to welcoming and appreciating 500 hours of sanctuary care this 2009 season by interns drawn to the field of medicinal herbal study. We look to an exciting presence in the community through our table at the Ann Arbor Farmers Market. One of our Master Herbalist program students plans to take this on as a project, with an eye toward learning more about the interface and potential between our school, the community, and holistic awareness. There is nothing like it , yet, at our farmers market, which is heavily attended throughout a long season, beginning in April. Come join us this year to study ! As ever, we always welcome personal calls from prospective students and those sincerely interested in our classes and programs. We are happy to speak with you , answer questions, and chat about this growing field, which will become more important as the interest in sustainable life choices continues to grow. This IS sustainable health care ! October 6 Late summer has a way of taking us "work with the earth " people for a busy ride. All at once, there are flowers to make into essences, medicinal herbs to harvest, early fall roots to harvest, medicines to make, herbs to process, and fall planting to consider ! We have also had huge increases in our inquiries, class registration, and private consultations. Our WINTER MEDICINE MAKING class scheduled for October 11 is full to capacity ! I can understand how this empowering class appeals, particularly in these times of social change. The Gaia School also will offer educational tables at Washtenaw Community College wellness fair this month, and at United Auto Workers offices for employees there. Mary Light will teach an honorary class at University of Michigan School of Social work this fall on medicinal herbs and their relation to social work. Interns from our Certification program will be on hand to assist at the educational tables and wellness fairs- great experience in community interaction and public education about our field! August 13 Staff just created a new sanctuary for woodland herbs such as black cohosh, goldenseal, solomons seal. We have a small, safely situated shady grotto near the house and away from the possibility of deer feeding, and so, lined with rocks to make the wall and set up with rich composted soil to about 8 inches deep, we created a permaculture bed...under the soil is a layer of cardboard (from packing boxes- it will break down) and fresh compost from our kitchen scraps pile. This will make a rich bed for the new plants, and allow us to care for these lovely plants close to home, in order to show them to our students , guests and visitors. We love doing this in a manner which saves the soil from tilling, saving the ecosystem under the soil; the network of earthworms and beneficial fungi. The less disruption of the earth, the better! And come next spring, an abundance of at-risk woodland plants should have a new home. July 2. Updated August 5 : Gaia School is currently working on the 2009 schedule. A NEW schedule of individual weekends is now up on the "Classes" page. Another new offering is Teen Apprenticeships, see that page. The schedule for the Medicinal Herbalist Certification Program, 2009, is already up at the "Herbalist Syllabus " page. We know this program requires planning in the realms of time and money for our students, so the information is out there well in advance. We do not offer financial aid, and encourage your advance planning if you see yourself in this program in 2009! Next year brings changes in the form of new weekend workshops which concentrate on teaching Herbalist and Medicine Making skills, along with a reduction of shorter individual classes. Our niche is the student passionate about deeper learning of the art and science of herbs and natural healing in todays' world, for personal and professional enrichment and certification. The certification programming is strong and vital ! Home Study Certification runs a close second. We learned lessons this year about working with girls - finding that a work oriented program balanced with some movement and play works best at the Gaia school and land. Creating community is part of our mission , too, although not always part of our nature in a competitive world, we see it as essential for the emerging times and future. The girls created community through sharing, movement, guided imagery, nature walks, and creation of a group Earth Art project, and our beautiful old trees opened their arms , inviting the girls to climb, which they were unable to resist each day. Our enrollment is 33% up from last year, so we take a happy and thankful cue in planning for the months ahead ! June 8 We have offered family and children's events over the years, and this year is the first run of the Green Girls/Gaia Girls summer programs, for ages 10-12. I am happy to say the June program is set to run with a great group of 8 participants so far, beginning June 23. It is exciting, rewarding, and inspiring to focalize communities of children who come to these programs to connect with, and work with nature on a deeper level, beyond simply the academic, "name this plant" level. (Of course, knowing the names of our friends is a great place to begin ! ). These programs create community, and bring girls into hands-on participation with activities such as planting, making herbal therapeutics, preparation of whole foods dishes, nature communication, foraging, and more. April 16 I have just returned from a spring retreat at Findhorn Community in the north of Scotland, to an exciting time of new spring growth here at the medicine farm. Gaia School, with a variety of programs and classes, is also feeling the green energy of coming from a grounded place in the earth element to rise up for a season of learning, teaching, growing, medicine making, healing, inspiration, support and love. We need this knowledge in our current world so very much, and I am touched and inspired by the calls of interest and the enrollment which comes through at this time. Make this the year you come see us for a class or a program, and take a look at this site for more information on everything we offer. I have spent the winter chatting with many callers, some of which are now in our programs and some who will be in the future. Check it out- there is no obligation to ask questions about the programs, classes , school or our philosophies . Take a look also at our various free events during spring summer and fall which are Fairs which focus on sharing with the community. Happy Spring ! Mary Light, ND, MH, LMT FAQ Recognition for your studies:A Testimony of Achievement from Gaia center and your teachers offered to those who complete our workshop series. It is important to note here that "government licensing" of the herbal professions or herbal occupations does not exist, in the sense that one needs a "license" to work with herbs. One does not. We are often asked about this, and it simply is not available anywhere in the country, at this writing, nor will it be in the near future. Licensing is permission to do something, and anyone is free to work with herbs at this time. This is also the reason we do not convey "titles" of any kind. the truth is that you evolve into an herbalist, or master herbalist, and you know in your heart when that occurs.
We strive to bring to each student an experience of all of the foundational "pillars' of therapeutic herbal practice and understanding. We view the herbal movement as one in a creative and exciting state of expansion and acceptance; our experience as long term practitioners and teachers is for more and more calls of interest and bookings each year.
Many people integrate this knowledge and wisdom into part or full time private consultation practices, which may grow as their own experience and skills grow. During our program instruction, we integrate practical skills for creating a consultancy along with the foundational skills which are part of the field of successful medicinal herbal practice. Our former and continuing students have gone on to start small businesses, to receive promotions within the natural foods field, to offer additional services in healing arts practices, to grow herbs for commerce, and to design and produce herbal items for sale. Experienced herbalists may provide consultation on various levels, including for companies developing herbal products. They may write, teach, and branch out to offer their own courses of study. There will continue to be a growing need for medicinal herbalists, particularly for those who are passionate about their work and willing to continue their education and round out their knowledge of the healing arts. And , last but not least, there is great value to personal enrichment for self and family by taking our courses and study in herbal art and sciences and natural therapeutics. Empowering yourself in this way offers a healthier , richer life and a potential savings of great amounts of money- it is priceless . |
