in-person Apprenticeship in tacoma, wa
Seasonal Apprenticeship
Come on a journey through our local forests, beaches, and mountains as we learn the art of herbalism in nature – as it’s intended – awakening our senses and connecting with the plants.
What if you could learn the art of herbalism the traditional way? With all your senses – by cooking, smelling, tasting, and using your intuition?
How would it feel to know your body, understand the messages it’s sending you, and intuitively know what plants could offer support?
What would your life look like if you chose to take this journey and open yourself up to the plants whispering in your ear?
Herbalism is a HUGE topic with all sorts of strange terms and Latin names.
Trying to figure out where to start can feel overwhelming.
In this year-long apprenticeship, we’ll break the foundations of herbalism down piece by piece, through guided seasonal explorations where you’ll meet the plants in person, in-depth study on how the body works, and hands-on practice where you’ll synthesize everything you’ve learned in the kitchen.
learn seasonal herbalism in tacoma, wa
Many people are yearning for something deeper in their life.
It can be hard to figure out what this missing piece looks like for you, but people all over the world are undoubtedly being pulled towards plant medicine. This isn’t a coincidence or fad – the plants are calling us home.
Through the many years that I’ve taught this seasonal apprenticeship, I’ve found that it’s not just about learning the art of herbalism. It’s the connection with nature, the relationship with the plants. They’re here to help you – whether it’s to heal your heart, rediscover yourself, or find your true path. The plants offer a grounding force apart from what people can offer us. This is what it’s really about…taking the time to build relationships with plants that will change your life.
Seasonal Explorations
Each season holds unique gifts to support our health and wellbeing. Spring brings fresh bitter greens and allergy aids. Summer flowers offer support from stress and pain. Fall gives us heart tonics and immune allies. And winter offers nourishment in its own surprising way.
Each season, we’ll gather for eight weeks to forage in different locations, from the shores of the Salish Sea to the Cascade Mountains, building relationships with the plants in real-time. In these weeks together, you’ll also advance your herbal preparation skills – leaving each apprenticeship session with an overflowing basket of plants, potions, and pantry items to help you cultivate a well-stocked home apothecary + care for yourself and your loved ones.
Details about the class
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We have two class day options. You can choose either the Saturday or Sunday group. If one of the days are sold out, you will only see one class day option at checkout.
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During the Winter session, we spend each day at my house in South Tacoma. During Spring, Summer, and Fall we meet all over the Puget Sound region, Cascade Mts, and Eastern Wa. We usually meet at my house in the morning and carpool to our location for the day. If you live far away and would benefit from meeting us there, I will include that information in our weekly email.
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For the most part, class runs 10-3ish. There are a handful of days throughout the year that we travel far to forage specific plants and the the day will be longer. Students are always notified in advance to make any arrangements needed for their schedule.
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Winter is a cozy day indoors learning, cooking, and making plant medicine. We do forage for a few things, but they are short afternoon trips.
Spring, Summer, and Fall are spent in nature with the plants. We usually meet at my house, carpool to our location, identify plants on our way to our spot, do our main lesson, have lunch, gather, and process the plants into remedies. Either we head home or we go back to my house to make things that require a kitchen. Each day you go home with a basketful of remedies you’ve made and plants to dry for tea.
This apprenticeship is one of a kind.
By learning herbalism within each season you’ll discover how your body is connected to the Moon, Sun, weather patterns, and plant cycles. You’ll also have the opportunity to build relationships with the plants themselves by learning how to communicate with them through energy exchange, meditation, journaling, and dreamwork.
This embodied knowledge will help you strengthen your intuition, mind-body connection, and self-care strategies. Engaging with the living plants in their natural habitats will also help you get to know them more intimately rather than simply relying on store-bought materials or pre-made preparations. Our apprenticeship also encourages you to become your own herbalist, teaching you how to ethically wildcraft the plants, cook with them in the kitchen, and leave each session with a basket full of herbal remedies, pantry items, and plant material to dry for tea.
Register for the Apprenticeship
Because the earth moves in a one-year cycle, ideally, every apprentice would complete a full year of the apprenticeship. Each season holds part of the picture, but it’s not until we observe it in its entirety are we fully able to embody a plant’s teachings. Technically, the Winter Apprenticeship is the beginning of the course, but you can begin your journey with any season!
We have two class days to choose from, Saturday and Sunday. Space is limited to ten students.
Sign up by the Season
Summer Session
Sign up for the year
Year-Long Program
This program is designed for herbalists of all levels living near Tacoma, Washington who wish to deeply explore wildcrafted community herbalism.
Curious about joining the apprenticeship but aren’t able to commit to a full year?
I understand that investing an entire year isn’t possible for everyone, so I try to incorporate enough knowledge in each season to give you a strong start in your herbalism journey. You’re absolutely welcome to join us on a per-season basis – registration links for each season can be found below.
Register for the Winter Session
Register for the Spring Session
Register for the Summer Session
Register for the Fall Session
Summer Syllabus
Module 1 Wild Rose
Tea, Tarot, and Introductions
Plant Communication
Astrology: Energetics of Gemini Season, Venus Plants
Botany: Anatomy of Rosaceae Family
Medicine Making (made in the field)
Rose Elixir, Infused Witch Hazel, Infused Honey
Beach Plant Walk
Recipes (made in class)
Rose Sugar, Infused Honey, Rose Elixir
Module 2 Willow
Module 3 First Aid Herbs: Yarrow, Plantain
Module 4 St John’s Wort
Module 5 Lavender
Module 6 Plants of the Cascade Mountains
Arnica, Valerian, and Mugwort
Module 7 Fireweed, Self Heal, and Thimbleberry
Module 8 Desert Sage
This apprenticeship was created for…
If you want to learn the art of herbalism, live local to the Puget Sound Region, are seeking a deeper spiritual connection with nature, and would like to build community with like-minded plant folk, then this apprenticeship is for you!
This apprenticeship might not be for you if…
If you have a conflicting schedule or don’t live close enough, then our Online Herbal Apprenticeship would be a great fit! If you’re looking for a smaller course to start with, then our Building Your Home Apothecary Course might be a better fit for you!
Meet Your Guide
Sara Butters, Herbalist & Founder of Hawthorn & Honey
As a mother, I’ve spent most of my life taking care of everyone and everything around me – my job, my family, my home, with very little time or energy left to care for myself. Deep within, I craved a life that was more connected to the seasons, one in which I could feel the Sun on my face and share its warmth with other folks who felt the same way I did: anxious, burnt out, and exhausted.
So, I crawled through the ferns and worshipped in the wild, scratching my hands with nettle and staining them with turmeric. I felt the Sun kiss my face and I learned to spread its warmth with other folks who longed for this connection too. This program is rooted in my own experience of rediscovering that spark within and my desire to share this path with others.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do you offer trade or scholarships?
I do offer 2 trade spots each season. The next available spot is for Winter 2025. Feel free to contact me to be put on the waitlist in case one comes available sooner!
Do you provide all the materials?
I provide all the materials for the Winter Session, but you’ll need to provide your own foraging tools, jars and menstruum (alcohol, vinegar, honey) for Spring, Summer, and Fall.
What if I need to miss a day? Can I get a discount for not being there that day?
No worries, life happens! I encourage everyone to have a buddy apprenticeship who can forage extra plant material for you and share their notes. You can also message me in advance and I’ll gather for you. If an apprentice has more than 3 absences in one season without a valid reason they won’t be welcomed back for the following season. There are no discounts for missing class.
What if I already have herbalism experience. Would this apprenticeship be a good fit for me?
Absolutely! Many herbalists don’t have a lot of wildcrafting experience, or maybe they haven’t learned the more clinical skills of how the body works. In most seasons we have a mixture of skill levels. Feel free to email me and we can chat about whether the class is right for you!
I'm a healthcare worker. Would this class be a good fit for me?
Yes! Just about every season, we have healthcare workers in the class. Nurses, doctors, physical therapists, midwives, doulas, and naturopaths have all joined us to round out their education and offer more support to their clients.
Can I switch class days if I'm unable to make my normal class day?
It depends on the class size, but usually accommodations can be made.
Do you have accommodations for traveling students?
We do not have overnight accommodations at this time, but hope to in the future!
What supplies will I need for class?
Supply needs vary based on what class you’re taking. I will send you a supply list ahead of time.
register for the Summer session
Join us for a life-changing journey with nature!
In the Summer Session we’ll learn how to forage and make medicine with Wild Rose, Willow, Valerian, Yarrow, Plantain, St John’s Wort, Desert Sage, Lavender, Mugwort, Thimbleberry, Fireweed, Motherwort and more!
Within my first couple weeks of the apprenticeship, I had already started to feel a little lighter. Incorporating the herbs we learned about in class, and the knowledge of using plants as allies expanded my mind and slowly opened my heart. I had no idea there were so many (local) medicinal herbs!