2026 EcoHerbalism Immersion Course


2026 ECOHERBALISM Immersion Course

4 Day Intensive 

Join me in the forest for an immersive, 4 day experience appropriate for beginner herbalists all the way through advanced herbal practitioners seeking an additional path in herbalism leading to deeper understanding and connections to the plants themselves.  Ecoherbalism isnt just a niche within herbalism, it's a way of life and understanding.  If you are a beginner, this course will help set your foundations with a strong understanding of your ecosystem and how you best function as an herbalist within that belonging.  As an advanced practitioner, it can expand upon the knowledge you already possess about local flora and fauna helping to strengthen your connections to the plants themselves.  It’s about knowing more about the plants than just how to “use” them medicinally for humans.  The question becomes, how to we work with them and how do they work within their local ecosystem.  

When do certain pollinators need the blooms so as to not gather at that time? When is best to gather the root for optimal reproduction? Who is this plant in relationship with in the ecosystem and how do we best fit into that web? How do we receive healing from the plants while offering it back to them?  These answers and more will be revealed in this program.  Because if herbalists aren’t taking care of the plants… then who is? 

Ecoherbalism is my, Leah Larabell's, speciality and I’m eager to share it with as many herbalists as possible so that we can walk the plant path in reciprocity and deeper understanding of how we can tend to our plant family as they tend to us.  We will certainly cover much material within the world of herbalism, but all with the lens of Ecoherbalism.  

When teaching herbalism, I often tell people that I don’t want to just teach them how to be an herbalist; I want to help them become walking, talking, living breathing herbalism for all.  Because, I have to ask, why are you interested in herbalism? What is it that you are looking for? If the answer is to learn about herbs-great, but what it is about working with plants that draws you in? If it has anything to do with connection, belonging, or sense of purpose- it’s as simple as reuniting with old friends in an ancient way of being.  Not just memorization, but rather assimilation.  Meeting the plants as who they are; teachers, healers, community. Recognizing yourself as part of the community.  

Herbalism, when practiced as a medical replacement or prepackaged trending item does very little to remedy this.  However, herbalism when practiced as a part of the whole- connecting with the plants, knowing how our animal kin relate to this plant and what parts they need, all the parts that connect us deeply in this wild world- that can remedy many ailments.  We quickly see ourselves in the wholeness that we truly are and can share this complex form of healing with others.  

It’s basically a blend of bioregional herbalism, animism, conservation work, ecotherapy, regenerative land care, community herbalism (rooted and unrooted).  You work WITH the plants, co create with them, and consider their environment and all wild neighbors who share it.  Working with the wild as a part of the wild.

We’ll talk to the trees, make herbal medicines, dig into the depths of herbal foundations and misconceptions, forest bathe, and build community with other untamed herbalists.  We’ll enjoy catered lunches and star-lit fireside conversations.  

What you’ll learn

  • Core concepts within herbalism
  • Self and family herbal care: cold and flu, first aid, digestive support, immune system care, nervous system support.  
  • Herbal preparation making: Teas, decoctions, tinctures, flower essences, vinegars, and oxymels. 
  • Plant introduction  in the field and forests: Relational medicinal plant walks
  • Learn how to work with the plants growing in our region
  • Ecoherbalism/ Reciprocal herbalism/ Regenerative herbalism: the name doesn’t matter as its just a new name for an old way of working with the plants 
  • Materia medica of over 20 bioregional herbs
  • Ethical Wildcrafting and environmental stewardship
  • History of Appalachian and Western herbalism: Look to the past for the future
  •  How to be a good neighbor to all of our neighbors in nature: conservation through community.  
  •  Embrace the inner and outer wild
  • Plant speaking, spirit and personality
  • Forest Bathing
  •  Immersive experience and enjoyment of becoming part of an herbal family and community 
     
    You will receive an EcoHerbalism certificate of completion upon completion of program.                                                                            
     

Experience:

  • Catered lunch while making new friends and connections
  • Freedom to go out to dinner with new friends or make your own campfire cuisine in the evenings (access to fridge in classroom) 
  • 4 day immersion in a forest with creek access; infuse into the forest
  • Free camping if you choose to camp
  • Disconnect to connect
  • Friday night festivities 
  • All the High Garden tea you can drink 

 

DETAILS:

Course Length:  total hours: 24 hours, 4 day immersion course

Dates: May 14, 15, 16 & 17, 2026

Time: Thursday(5/14) Noon-5pm; Friday(5/15) 10-5pm; Saturday(5/16) 10-5pm;  Sunday(5/17) 10-3pm

Location: 1653 Vulcan Rd, Rising Fawn GA (20 minutes from Downtown Chattanooga TN) at the new High Garden location. 

Accomodations: Free camping onsite at a rustic campground with fire ring, picnic tables, outdoor kitchen area, easy access to the class area/ indoor restrooms. We also suggest looking at some wonderful nearby accommodations such as Wonderland Campground, an elevated camping experience https://www.wanderlandcamping.com, or Cloudland Canyon State Park’s cozy yurts https://gastateparks.reserveamerica.com/campsiteSearch.do , both of which are $100 or less per night,  Chattanooga's premier hostel, The Crashpad,     or the nearby The Groovy Nomad in Trenton, GA room are only $75 per night.        

Food/Beverage: Tea and water will be provided everyday.  A catered Lunch will be provided on Friday, Saturday and Sunday and a Vegetarian Dinner will be provided Thursday evening.   Basically, we provide 1 meal per day.  All other meals (breakfast, snacks, dinner) will be up to you.  I did this to keep the cost of the program as low as possible.  

Instructor: Leah Larabell (High Garden Tea)

Class size: 25 students

Tuition: Program is $550 (includes 1 dinner and 3 lunches and free camping if you choose to)  

Accessibility: The classroom is up stairs and much of the course is outdoors hiking through forests.  

Work Scholarships: 1 full scholarship available. Preference will be given to BIPOC. Expectations- Students receiving scholarships will be asked to help 30 minutes to 1 hour after class tearing down and cleaning.  

Scholarship requests are due by January 28.

Scholarship requests will need to be emailed with response to the question: Why are you a good fit for this scholarship? How will you carry this learning forward? Send response to highgardenschool@gmail.com

Refund policy: Please carefully consider your commitment to the program.  Due to the in-person nature of this program, we cannot accept many students so positions are very limited.  Only take a spot if you are certain this is something you truly can make time and space to do.   

Any student who chooses to withdraw…

~2 weeks or more before class you get a full refund.  

~ More than 1 week up to 2 weeks before the first class, you will receive 50% refund

~ No refund available if cancelling within 1 week of class.

 

To Register: 

Simply email highgardenschool@gmail that you would like to attend the course.  If there are positions still available (25 spots), I will email you back the payment information.  Once you have paid for your spot, I’ll email you confirmation and remaining details.