FAQ

Welcome

Here is a list of some frequently asked questions

How do I know Sage Country Herbs is right for me?

Whether interacting with us online or in person, Sage Country Herbs is dedicated to meeting nature on nature’s terms to create meaningful, real-life relationships with our ecosystems founded on reverence and respect. If you are here and feeling the pull to find out more, we believe that is the voice of the herbs calling you home!

Attuning to the distinct rhythms of our local environments, Sage Country Herbs students embody a win, win, win relationship with nature where they help themselves through helping the earth. Through mountain hikes, plant walks accessible for the whole family, farm activities, interactive online communities, thorough presentations on body systems and nutrition, Sage Country Herbs students create exponential possibilities of wellbeing for themselves and those around them.

What is your teaching style like?

We are all a part of nature, but our fast-paced world builds both physical and symbolic barriers to connection. The easiest way to reconnect is by getting back into nature and learning from the abundance all around us.

With over 20+ years of teaching herbalism and nutrition, Shana is a well-respected educator and community member. With bylines in Plant Healer Magazine and Herbaria, she has also taught at a variety of herbal symposiums and conferences like the Traditions in Western Botanical Medicine Conference, TerraVita Herbal Symposium, and Oshala Farms Herb Camp, as well as higher learning institutions like Bastyr University and CSULA.

Fun and down to earth, Shana genuinely cares about her students and encourages each person’s innate capability to form powerful relationships with plant life. Through her infectious love of nature, she helps you see abundance everywhere.

She believes that rigorous study should also be a good time! With patience and positivity, Shana keeps it real and teaches her students to think critically, engaging a feeling of empowerment and the ability to use the information they have learned immediately with their family and within their communities. She also regularly welcomes guest teachers to provide different perspectives as she believes we should always be challenging ourselves to expand and grow.

To get a sense of Shana’s style, watch this video.

I see you have both courses and programs that are online and in person. What’s the difference?

That’s right! We have a variety of options available to accommodate various schedules and interests. Our mission is to empower people to change their lives through education, and that means providing you with choices that fit your needs.

Our flagship initiative is the 2-year Community Herbalism Program. This programs page describes the topics we cover and provides useful information about costs, schedules, and what to expect.

The Community Herbalism Program is online and students complete over 350 hours of herbal study. Interested students can also interview to join the field study component of the 2-year program and complete an additional 200 hours through in-person field days and campouts in Southern California.

Students also have the opportunity to take several of our courses individually and at their own pace. These courses are great options for students craving stimulating and intellectual guidance that prepares them to make incremental and beneficial changes to daily wellness and nutrition habits. Visit our courses page to learn more about these options.

Sage Country Herbs also hosts several in-person events each year on a range of topics, from flower dying to hydrosols. To hear about these upcoming opportunities, sign up for our newsletter and follow us on Instagram @Sagecountryherbs.

Can you really learn about herbs and the outdoors online?

Yes, you can! And it is quite an effective method for deepening your herbal practice at your own pace and from the comfort of your own kitchen cabinets! It is a particularly excellent option for people who may have multiple scheduling conflicts or live far from Southern California but want to learn from Shana. Online learning offers multimedia interactions like video, audio, and downloadable resources that you can access whenever and wherever while still being plugged into a vibrant community of like-minded herbal enthusiasts. All online courses are created to empower you to take what you learn off the screen and apply it directly to your gardens, neighborhoods, and communities.

Are there any prerequisites to taking your classes?

Sage Country Herbs’ educational programs are accessible to all learners and you do not need any prior herbal training. If you have prior training and would like to jump into our 2nd-year course offerings, Toxic Botanicals or Clinical Herbal Formulations, a survey of experience and/or an interview will be offered.

I've already taken an herbalism course. What do you have to offer me?

We’re happy that you're already a member of the herbal world! Nature itself is always learning and so should we! While our resources are accessible to all learners, Sage Country Herbs is committed to a rigorous and thorough study of both traditional herbal and modern scientific practices. We’ve had many intermediate and advanced herbal students study with Sage Country Herbs who frequently comment on how much more in-depth herbal understanding they have received from their time with us. So, if you already know the basics or have a solid herbal practice, you will get even more out of these courses guided by Shana’s 20+ years in the field.

At Sage Country Herbs, we seek how our role within humanity affects plants and their ecosystems and how that role can be based on reciprocity. With thoughtful, caring attention and introspection, we are invited to hear the distinct voices of the plants we pass by every day on the street or deep in the canyons of Southern California.

Each course takes a nuanced approach to the world of botany, medicine-making, plant identification, nutrition, and harvesting peppered with real-life experiences and hands-on interactions. Seasoned herbalists gain a fresh perspective on their herbal practice and have opportunities to contribute to a thriving community.

Why would I choose the field experience over the online courses?

For students drawn to wildcrafting and exploring, Sage Country Herbs provides opportunities to play in natural habitats and learn from the plants themselves. Field experiences deepen students’ understanding of the delicate balance of our ecosystems. Only after methodical investigation of the landscape to ensure the plant is abundant and healthy and after receiving permission from the plant themselves, students are invited to harvest and add wildcrafting medicine-making to their herbal practice during our field days.

I want to interview for the Community Herbalism Field Study. What should I expect?

Interviews generally run for two hours and provide you an opportunity to learn the details, guidelines, and expectations of the program. You’ll get to know Shana’s communication style and have a chance to ask any questions you may have. Together we’ll explore your hopes and goals for deepening your herbal knowledge with fieldwork and decide which program is right for you. To join the field study you must be 18 years or older. Sign up to register for your interview here

What credentials are awarded upon graduation from the 2-year Community Herbalism Program?

Upon successful completion of the Community Herbalism Program, all graduates will have completed between 350 - 500 hours of herbalism study and will receive a signed Certificate of Completion from Sage Country Herbs. Sage Country Herbs will also write a letter of recommendation on behalf of the graduate upon request.

Please note: There is no official licensure in herbal medicine and no governing board overseeing the field of herbalism as there is in the field of medicine. There is also no official accreditation or certification program for herbalists in the United States.

While this may seem loose in definition, there are pros and cons to having no accreditation program.

Our perspective at Sage Country Herbs is that herbs are medicine for the people around the world and every indigenous culture has a relationship with plant medicine. Here in the United States we experience a myriad of different perspectives from around the world about herbal medicine.

Herbalists use different herbs, native or grown in their region. A beautiful part of studying herbal medicine is to be inspired by a variety of healing modalities and each person can seek what inspires them.

Ultimately, it is the individual making ethical decisions about how they want to pursue their practice, seeking out the education that inspires them, and following that path.

Sage Country Herbs trains its students in best practices and ethical considerations of making and sharing herbal medicine.

Do you accept work-trade?

Yes! There are some opportunities for work-trade partnerships, which are awarded on a case-by-case basis. Low-wage earners and BIPOC participants are generally given priority for these opportunities. Please reach out via our help desk for more information.

Do you have scholarships?

Sage Country Herbs is committed to providing accessible and meaningful resources for all who are interested, no matter their income level. We are consistently working toward securing funding to support our community. At this time, scholarships are limited and awarded on a case-by-case basis. Please reach out via our help desk for more information.

Payment plans are available.

Do you offer refunds?

We do not offer refunds after a class, event or program has started.

Want more info about our founders?

Read our “About Us” page and learn more about Shana and Brandon.

I’m ready to sign up! What do I do now?

Terrific! We are so glad to welcome you into our community! Open enrollment for the Community Herbalism Program is in January and May, or sign up for individual courses in the month before each course begins.

Pandemic Protocols

Sage Country Herbs continues to follow CDC guidelines and practices social distancing to offer in-person classes and gatherings. Field study and all additional in-person activities are conducted outdoors with limited attendance to maintain safety protocols in groups and enhance learning. While carpooling to events is encouraged, we kindly ask that you wear a mask during the drive when riding with classmates outside of your household. Protocols are subject to change as per CDC recommendation.

Additionally, we offer several exciting and herbally-rich online courses to enjoy from home.

Don’t see your question in the list?

Reach out via the help desk, and we’ll guide you on how to best achieve your goals through our programs and courses.