Personally using herbs for healing, wellness, and crafts is an skill that our culture has nearly lost altogether. Fortunately, there are places to get this education and mentorship. Near Forestville, you’ll find The California School of Herbal Studies.

From their web site:

Founded in 1978 by Rosemary Gladstar, and led today by School Directors Rebecca Maxfield and Jason Miller, along with Program Coordinator Autumn Summers, CSHS continues in the spirit in which it was created.

Our mission is to help create sustainable communities by providing Earth-centered, community based herbal education. CSHS works to empower individuals with the skills, experience and confidence needed by the community herbalist.

Our school teaches from the tradition of western herbalism, with a materia medica primarily made up of North American and European herbs. Ayurvedic and Traditional Chinese Medicine perspectives and herbs are used to complement the Western tradition.

Our full time, 8 month intensive offers students a broad based foundation in herbal medicine. For those who can’t make a full time commitment we also offer a broad range of weekend series courses and one day workshops.

Upcoming classes include “Herbal Essentials”, “Herbal Medicine Making”, “Herbal Beer Making”, “Dyeing With Native Plants”, and many more. Sounds like a fantastic resource!

Link: The California School of Herbal Studies