Frequently Asked Questions & Our Policies
COVID-19: What you need to know
Green Wisdom School of Natural & Botanical Medicine, both school and clinic, are working to implement safe, proactive, and appropriately scaled responses to COVID-19. At the center of our response is an expansive embrace of prevention medicine, holism, environmental health and deep concern for local to global people. We are especially concerned for those of you who are 60 and over, as well as those with chronic health illnesses or diseases.
Whether it be a health consult or a class, keeping participants, presenters, patients, students, and our communities safe continues to be one of our top concerns in year two of the pandemic.
We continue to monitor the development of COVID-19 along with information from the CDC and other key agencies. Since our school serves the Upper Midwest, Lake Superior region and parts of Ontario, Canada, the nearest metro area to our main offices is Minneapolis. The Minnesota Department of Health offers a public hotline for questions regarding COVID-19 at 651-201-3920.
Know that our staff and administration are following the latest developments on the COVID-19 virus in regions we serve.
Our staff is available for health and business PHONE APPOINTMENTS for those who have concerns about COVID-19. Our online courses and remote seminars continue to be available, with some of our summer and fall courses now in person.
At this time our in person summer school is slated to happen June 21-27, 2021.
That course is held mainly outdoors in nature and we'll be practicing public health and distancing.
Here are some of the other measures we are taking:
- Daily reading, researching and disseminating awareness information as it becomes available. This includes protocols we are utilizing ourselves with various herbs.
- Daily sanitation of doorknobs, light switches, community-utilized surfaces, and utensils.
- Providing both alcohol-based and natural hand sanitizers near work stations and in bathrooms. Also, paper toweling and Kleenex.
- Postings of our COVID-19 policy online and other posters related to hygiene tips in bathrooms and other stations.
- Each person, we realize, is navigating unique concerns. We are working with those who may have engaged in recent travel, are ill, or are considered high-risk for transmission due to other health conditions. We're working with these individuals online or via phone.
- We ask that if you do feel ill, to please stay home; or if you have family members who are ill. We cannot emphasize this enough.
- We encourage patient consults to be either via phone or in-person (with masks). Email to schedule: [email protected]
- Similarly, if you occupy any of these higher risk regions or realms, we ask that you consider studying online through our school (visit online courses), until the collective health status has improved in North America and beyond.
- At this time we will not be holding any HWB Free Peoples Clinics in-person due to concerns related to COVID-19. Instead, we host Friday Free Peoples Clinics via 30-minute telephone consults to those in economic/health need. We are presently on a summer break from Free Peoples Clinics, but they'll begin again in September 2021.
If you have other questions or concerns about upcoming classes this summer or fall, please reach our office: 715.642.5760. Internal and external courses are ever changing.
We thank you for your patience and understanding as we all collectively navigate this evolving crisis. We will continually update this policy page and our practices as more is learned.
Our concern is your health and wellness.
Thank you,
Gigi Stafne, Director
Green Wisdom School of Natural & Botanical Medicine
www.greenwisdom.weebly.com
email: [email protected]
715.642.5760
Important, Please Read:
Services provided by Gigi Stafne, staff, contractors, clinical practicum students and volunteers are educational and informational in nature, not a medical diagnosis, treatment or cure. Nor are services considered medical/health prevention or prescribing.
"I have a health concern or question...can you help me?"
If you have a health issue it is best to schedule an appointment through or with our school's main lead clinical practitioner, Gigi Stafne MH, ND. Another option is to inquire about one of our alumni or Master Herbalism graduates in an established clinical practice who may work in your geographic region. Yet another option is to become a practicum patient, scheduling a wellness consult with one of our school's advanced clinical students under the supervision of our lead instructor.
The optimal way to receive quality natural and botanical medicine care is by having a complete clinical assessment conducted first to discuss important health information before recommended herbs or any other natural supports. At Green Wisdom we believe brief email questions and communications about health concerns are limiting when it comes to promoting true health and wellness.
Does Gigi Stafne still see patients?
Yes, it is possible to arrange for a phone or online clinical educational consult with Gigi. Initiate an appointment and request her fee sheet by emailing: [email protected] Find consult fees listed on the Patient Services page of this website.
I am making herbal preparations and have some questions. Can you help?
Good for you! You're handcrafting your own herb tinctures, salves and applications. Helping you with this type of crafting is hard to do online, as you can imagine. We recommend enrolling in one of our hands-on experiential courses--a botanical make-n-take class. Better yet, begin with our Herbal Apprentice Intensive course. You'll learn how to create many botanical applications and receive a solid foundation in botanical medicine.
I have some plants in my yard that I'd like to identify. Can you ID them?
We encourage you to register for one of our Plant ID walks or talks in season. These are posted on this Green Wisdom website and are very helpful to new foragers, wilders and budding herbalists. We've posted a list of regional field guides that we use in the Upper Midwest on the ARTICLES page of our website. Check it out. There are ways to
to start your plant identification exploration.
Enjoy the meandering medicine trail!
I'd like to study herbalism professionally...
"...and am confused about the legal status of herbalism in my state, the United States (or other country). Do systems accredit herb schools? Is the Green Wisdom school within such status? Can I receive conventional financial aid for natural medicine courses or the professional herbalism programs your offer?"
This realm can be confusing and systems currently have created a paradox in the United States and some other countries. Practicing Herbalists and Botanical Medicine Programs are in a unique position. There is no formal system that will clearly accredit herb schools such as within Massage Therapy, Chiropractic care or Naturopathic Medicine yet. However, this will not stop herbalists from engaging in the professional academic learning process that we deserve and establishing contemporary branches of the ancient art and science of herbalism locally and globally.
Green Wisdom has a decades long credible history of going above and beyond what are considered directives or guidelines presently for Master Herbalism students. All of our programs reflect high standards. There are numerous professional organizations and affiliations that you might consider as an herbalist which you will learn about in our classes, but at Green Wisdom we encourage students to make their own professional choices. Again, we offer educational guidance in every professional level course in order that people make informed decisions. Note: There's additional course information for you to read on our PROFESSIONAL page of this website.
Culture of Support Green Wisdom provides a student support model that supports students with accessible admissions if science or other credits hours have not been completed. Our support model continues from there; helping our professional herbalism students stay organized, create schedules, study and learn effectively in order to become healthful, successful practitioners into the future. Online academic counseling support is available on Mondays and Tuesdays. Reasonable accommodations for persons whom are differently-abled are made to ensure access to academic programs and services.
What is your educational and professional training?
Our school's director, advisor and lead instructor/practitioner is Gigi Stafne MH, ND and her general academic background is in Human Growth and Development, Family Systems, Crisis Intervention and Social Welfare, with a strong emphasis in her first career within crisis intervention, domestic violence, sexual assault, social services and public policy. Following that career she achieved degrees and certificates in the following CAM--Complementary Alternative Medicine fields specifically, Naturopathy, Natural Physician, Master of Herbalism and Master of Iridology, along with numerous ongoing continuing education trainings that she continues to date. Regular and guest instructors of Green Wisdom are posted in the Gallery on the BIO page of our website. (Hover your mouse over the photograph gallery to learn more about our instructors)
When are you available to talk?
Please check our email reply that's on daily. There you will find an update of the current week's schedule, helping you pinpoint an office day when we might schedule time for your appointment.
If it is a professional or consult or teaching engagement you seek, email us about consult rates: [email protected]
I'd like to host one of your classes and invite you to teach in my city, state or country.
The first thing to do is review presentations, workshops, seminars and intensive courses that Gigi teaches on the Green Wisdom website. Make note of the ones that you and your friends, students, colleagues or community would have the strongest interest in. Then contact us to discuss all planning: [email protected]
In some cases when you are the organizer and host one of Gigi's courses you will attend free or at a substantially discounted tuition rate. (Applicable with some Green Wisdom courses, once a minimum participant level is established).
I have legal, professional and business questions about how to start a botanical product business or establish my own clinical practice or healing center. Will you help answer my questions?
Yes, but this is an enormous realm and should happen within the context of one of our classes or seminars. We encourage you to take one of the professional CAM courses especially: The Beginner Herbal Apprentice (contains a unit on prof issues), The Master Herbalism Program (contains such issues during each monthly seminar) or the CAM--Complementary Alternative Medicine online business course that Gigi teaches. Browse the Professional and Online pages of this website.
Anyone considering a small business should check out the Small Business Administration: sba.gov
Another option is to schedule a professional consult via phone or email with Gigi Stafne MH, ND to discuss specific questions not answered here. That will be considered a professional consult.
Note: I am not an M.D. or attorney, therefore I do not dispense information or deliver services that those professions do. ~Gigi Stafne MH, ND, MI
May this information helps you along the natural and botanical medicine pathway.
See you in a course or along the meandering medicine trail!
With health, happiness and hope,
Gigi Stafne MH, ND
Green Wisdom & Gigi Stafne's School Business Policies
Booking a Speaking Engagement
Thank you for your inquiry. Let's speak via phone or online at: [email protected]
Early notice of planning deadlines is appreciated as my teaching schedule sometimes books 6-12 months in advance with national and international venues. I look forward to working with you.
Payments
To purchase a professional consultation, patient appointment, workshop, or course, click on our PayPal contact page or email: [email protected]m Once you've completed your payment process, we then schedule your appointment or register you officially for your selected courses right away. The correct PayPal code to make a tuition payment via our school is: [email protected]
You may also send payments via check or Money Order.
Also, emails us for accurate address.
Thank you.
Payments from Outside of USA
Please read the "Payment" section above. The same process applies. However, all payments coming from Canada, Europe or other countries outside of the United States must be made via PayPal. Otherwise, our business bank charges an additional processing/search fee that is $25+USD and that will be an additional charge you will incur on top of your tuition. Sorry for this inconvenience.
It is a regulation we must follow.
Late Payments
We reserve the right to suspend services (educational, clinical) when a student/client/patient has not made their payment and it is beyond 30 days late. If payments are 5 days or more late, we charge a $35 service late fee. This is a newly updated policy since summer 2019 due to chronic late payments.
Master Herbalism students who have a contract, please revisit the terms for details.
Our school no longer finances Intermediate or Master Herbalism students or offers payment plans.
Cancellation Policy
Workshops and Classes: If you are registered for a workshop or class that Gigi is teaching or co-facilitating and you cancel within 14 days of that session (or are a 'no-show')
you will still be charged the full workshop or course fee. No refund.
Refunds
When you pay for an appointment, professional consult, workshop, class or online course with us, our staff and instructors commit to planning ahead, doing much preparation work and having enough time available to serve you. This planning affects how many other clients or students we can serve well. Planning time, teaching, travel, material and other resources are part of our fee rates. For those reasons, we do not offer refunds on classes or programs that we teach and facilitate. A variety of courses fill to capacity and we have a waiting list. Please plan accordingly.
To be sure our style of teaching or helping is right for you (in-person or online), we suggest you purchase a brief 15 or 30 minute consult, or attend a 1-3 hour workshop, before investing in a package or an intensive professional natural & botanical medicine course.
Please note that when Gigi Stafne teaches at other external schools, institutions or organizations, they too, have their own separate payment, cancellation and refund policies. Best to check with them, as well.
Our Intermediate Herbalism and Master Herbalism Programs have separate refund policies. Please visit that page under "Certificate Courses" or contact our school.
Gift Certificates & Credits on AccountsThis policy section pertains to printed and electronic gift certificates, also customer credits on accounts. While the Federal Reserve rules (12 CFR § 205.20) provide consumer safeguards on most prepaid gift cards, there are prepaid devices that are excluded including paper issued gift certificates and coupons. The State of Wisconsin is the state this business is registered in and there are no laws that regulate gift certificates, cards, or promotional credits.
Expiration dates expire in one year from issuance date. We enter expiration dates clearly on the front of certificates. Unused cards may be subject to inactivity fees, draining the value of the gift. By federal law, dormancy and service fees are allowed if the recipient has failed to use the card for more than one year. After that, fees are limited to one per month, but there is no limit on the amount of the fee.
Dormancy and inactivity of gift certificates and credits will end within five years of issuance date. Legally service fees are allowed when a certificate has not been used for more than one year. Fees may be charged once per month and there are not limits on the fee amount. This fee is $25 per year taken off the card, gift certificate.
Keep your gift certificates safe. Lost or stolen gift certificates do not have to be replaced. In some cases we may reissue a gift certificate, but there may be a replacement related fee.
If you have a credit on an account with us, please use that credit by or before September 30, 2025. If you would like a 'refund on a credit account' you may request any part of the remaining credit balance within seven business days from receipt of a written request to Green Wisdom School of Natural and Botanical Medicine. We make a good faith effort to refund to the consumer/client by cash, check, or money order, or credit to a deposit account of the consumer, any part of the credit balance remaining in the account for more than six months. No further action is required by law if the consumer's current location is not known to the creditor and cannot be traced through the consumer's last known address or telephone number.
Green Wisdom School of Natural and Botanical Medicine/Center for Healing Arts/Gigi L. Stafne are not responsible for redeeming or refunding any credits on accounts, promotions, or gift certificates once this business is sold or closed.
TIMELY NOTICE: All gift certificates, promotions, and credits on accounts must be used in full by September 30, 2025. It is important that our past and present clients and customers utilize their credit balances and gift certificates during this time period. No further gift certificates or credits on accounts will be granted beginning January 1, 2025. No exceptions will be made.
Extensions Master Herbalism Program
To learn more about our tuition policies related to extensions visit COURSES page, then click Herbalism Professional Programs, scrolling down that page.
Lateness
We begin on time.
Please know that if you are running late we will still do your appointment, but within the time allotted originally planned due to my full daily schedule. Your appointment might be shorter than you expected, but the fee will remain the same.
This same policy and practice applies to workshops and courses. We begin my classes on time, as running late often frustrates others attending who are balancing busy life schedules, as well as guest instructors that teach with us.
No-shows
Please see our cancellation policy above.
"No-shows" for appointments, professional consults, workshops and classes are still charged.
Our normal hourly fee or full course fee will be assessed.
Returned Checks & Past Due Payments
If your check is returned to us for any reason, full payment in cash or Money Order is required within 7 days of our written and/or email notice and accounting invoice to you.
There will be an additional fee of $40 for a returned check.
If your payment is 5 days past due
a monthly Late Fee of $35 is assessed.
Our school and clinic does utilize the services of a finance and collection agency for bad debts.
Policies & Procedures: Guest Speakers, Presenters, Contract Professionals
Green Wisdom School of Natural and Botanical Medicine welcomes free and open presentation of ideas and opinions by speakers of all viewpoints expressed in the spirit of respect, while not violating the viewpoints of others. Our school encourages a balanced approach in communications in classrooms with the inclusion of contrary points of view. Expression that is indecent, grossly obscene, grossly offensive, or hate speech on matters of race, ethnicity, religion, gender, or sexual orientation is inappropriate in our school community. Freedom of expression is subject to reasonable restrictions on time, place, and manner, such restrictions shall be applied without discrimination toward the content of the views being expressed or the speaker. The views and opinions expressed by guest speakers are those of the speaker and do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of Green Wisdom School of Natural and Botanical Medicine.
In-class presentations by non-staff, guest speakers, or contract instructors are arranged only to enhance the learning experience of students and to achieve the stated goals of the course. Speakers that are invited are asked to be objective and balanced in their presentations; however, realizing that a speaker who presents only one side of an issue may enhance the learning environment, students who disagree with the point of view of the presentation should be given reasonable class time to respond to the school and the speaker. The guest speaker has the right to express their views, even if members of the audience disagree with the speaker or find the views offensive. Our school will provide opportunities for individuals and groups who disagree with the speaker to communicate their opposition. The rights of the dissenter(s) should be respected as much as the rights of the speaker. The speaker, however, is entitled to communicate their message to the audience during their allotted time, and the audience is entitled to hear the message and see the speaker during that time. The dissenter(s) must not interfere with the speaker’s ability to communicate or the audience’s ability to hear or see the speaker. In the furtherance of educational objectives, guest speakers should be encouraged to accept questions from the audience.
Guest speakers are welcomed to our school to gain divergent points of view, with thoroughness and objectivity to acquaint students with the need to recognize opposing viewpoints, the importance of facts, the value of judgment and the virtue of respect for conflicting opinions.
Thank you
Your time and energy is valuable.
Our time and energy is valuable.
Policies are based on mutual respect and honor for one another.
I appreciate your consideration.
Thank you.
Gigi Stafne MH, ND, MI
