Professional Botanical & Natural
Medicine Programs

Professional Botanical~Herbalism Programs

Welcome to the wild world of GREEN MEDICINE!

Our professional botanical~herbalism education programs have been inspiring and preparing students from all walks of life for 20 years, primarily in the Upper Midwest and Lake Superior region--previously through the Center for Healing Arts Herb & Eco School and United Plant Savers Botanical Sanctuary of Wisconsin.  Our educational program has gone through sacred transformation becoming purely Green Wisdom in the past 5 years.
The majority of our courses & seminars are in-person, hands-on and seminar style--with the most exciting nature immersion field studies--in the woods and on the water, from the northern Glacial Rivers and Lakes region to Lake Superior.  Long distance students have participated in our on-line independent programs, from Sedona, Arizona to isolated isles of Alaska. 
Cross cultural medicine & ethnobotany exchanges have opened up alongside our sister business, Wild Earth Eco Tours, where we offer engaging programs such as "Boreal Botanicals" near the Ontario, Canada borderlands.   www.wildearthecotours.weebly.com

You are most likely a student of life interested in botanical medicine for personal and professional reasons. Our instructors are enthusiastic, with lead instructor/advisor, Gigi Stafne, MH, ND helping to guide you via the most aligned botanical program or course.  There is something for every avid plant medicine student, as we offer sundry sessions from 3-hour community workshops & sustainability seminars to the 1700 hour professional Clinical Master Herbalism program.

Here is what one of our past students states...
"Gigi brings all the elements together in her courses.  I gained an understanding of botanicals, explored traditional rituals & celebrations, and picked up the tools to continue on my path of discovery and sharing botanical wisdom."   ~Rachael Stanze, Duluth, Minnesota

Students come to our herbalism program from many different life & career pathways. This makes it all so exciting!  Nurses, physicians, physician assistants, physical therapists, massage therapists, midwives, doulas, acupuncturists, organic gardeners, farmers, parents, personal coaches, physical trainers, therapists, and chiropractors, to name a few.  Not to mention naturalists, environmentalists and activists!  Some of the strongest individuals graduating from our programs, actively doing healing work in their lives are the parents & family members committed to natural care, prevention and wellness for their loved ones. 
Do consider joining this powerful tribal circle of earth healers and community herbalists!


"My heart was in herbalism--without the knowledge!  Taking classes with Gigi Stafne, Master Herbalist, gave me the substance and information needed in using herbs in the practice of herbalism.  Identification and usage are extremely important.  I finished the course with the knowledge of both.  The classes were deliberate, intense, knowledgeable, fun and filled with information.  Recommend it to anyone who is serious in staying the course, it is not for the weak-hearted.  You must be motivated." 
~Kathleen Miller, 5 Mile Herb of Chetek, Wisconsin

Our graduates work in many creative professional positions with their herbalism studies and certificates.  Here are successful examples:

~Clinical Herbalists
~CAM-Complementary Alternative Medicine Clinics
~Owners/Operators of Herb Product Companies
~Green Spa Product Consultants
~Organic Herb Gardeners & Growers
~Herbal Managers & Workers at CSA's
~Horticulture Therapists
~Food Co-op & Natural Medicine Shop Staff 
~Natural Medicine Practitioners for Animals
~Botanical Research & Development

Others choose to integrate their acquired herbal wisdom into their individual, family and community lives--which is what we encourage...down to the ground medicine...medicine for the people!

Our graduates frequently state that not only was this a powerful education...also that our programs transformed their lives:

"The Master Herbalism Program with Gigi Stafne was inspirational, uplifting, thought provoking and extremely informative.  This program changed my life for the better.  After attending Gigi's classes I would feel extremely good about myself.  I highly recommend this program."

~Betsy Wacker, MH, PA-C of the Chippewa Valley, Wisconsin

Instructors and Guest Lecturers include inspiring, gifted teachers, assistants and interns whom are herbalists, healers, nurses, organic growers, alternative energy & sustainability specialists, wilderness medicine~ outdoor educators...

Teri Nesja, Crone, Kathleen Miller, Jayne Nuutinen-Wolff,  Betsy Wacker, Cher Marie, Lisa Yakesh, Laurie Stiers-Foltz, Carol Jacobs, Jason Faunce, Erich Blocher, Fish, Mark Morgan, Steven Krug, Joel Icard, Chaanda Bader and other wonderful surprise instructors!



3 professional levels for students ...with a 4th new offering!

Calling all Yerbalistas, Wilders & Earth Guardians!

"GREEN MEDICINE:  Healing the Earth & the Human Tribal Circle"

  Community Herbal Healer Program
taking applications & registrations now for fall 2012 program 

There is an urgent need for Earth Healing and deep nourishment of the Human Tribal Circle necessitating sustainable cultural changes.  Now is the time to mend the harmful disconnect between human societies and pachamama, this sacred Earth.  Get down to the ground, connect deeply with earth energies & plant spirit medicines. Herbalism is a radical act!  Prepare for gifting green medicine back into hands of the people. You may feel the calling. Some of us do.  Engage with us, gather healer & activist tools to transform culture.  We will meet for 7 cycles relating to:  Pachamama, Plant World, Planet Water and the Human Tribal Circle.  This will be a small, intimate group engaging in a sacred earth healer's course.  A deep commitment beginning near Autumn Equinox.  We will move through organic cycles creating personal, social, ecological and sustainable changes each round.  Make a deep commitment to learn the Plant Spirit Medicine Ways.  A life changing experience!

Spiritline & Flow of our Gatherings to include...
wildlands~radical herbalism~wild foods~plant spirits~green medicine making~wilder skills~natural shelters~land squatters movement~feral friends~crafty survival tools~green barter system~dreamtime~elementals~plant packs~eco reality tours~healing ancestral neurotoxins~ceremonial plants~food activism~moons~collapsing time~burning lies~traditional world views~recovery from Western civilization~ "Plants Were Our Original Ancestors"

Session begins in September 2013.  Email us and register early by August 1st. 
Autumn CHH dates 2013:  Sept 7, Oct 5, Oct 26, Nov 2, Nov 23, Dec 7.

Times:  9:30am-4:30pm (one Saturday per month)

Tuition:   $850 (special discounts: due to special scholarship by instructor this fall, students experiencing economic hardship may register and pay tuition of $500 for entire program.
Some payment arrangements may be made. 
Registration by August 1, 2013.  May consider late registrants, please email Gigi directly about this.  Deposit of $195 ($100 if early bird) by August 1, 2013.

Instructors/Facilitators:  Gigi Stafne & Guest Instructors from specialized earth/plant realms

Location:  Primarily in Wisconsin & Minnesota with rotating meetings & trips.
Special Note:  For those students interested in being in our Master Herbalism Program (1600 hrs--below) this will be a natural step. All credit hours from this course will be applied directly to the MH program.  Your MH tuition will be reduced.
Program Size:  no more than 7-10.
Lodging & Food:  Some meals will be co-op and communal, some provided.  Lodging is available on your own in the region if you are traveling some distance, but not included in tuition.


Beginner Apprenticeship Herbalism

A 20-hour course offered several times annually in 3 different formats: 1) Intensive weekend course or 2)  7 week course (one evening  per week) 3) On-line/correspondence course. This first level is a prerequisite for subsequent Intermediate and Master Herbalism program levels.  Certificate level course.
Course content includes:  Foundations of Herbalism, Natural Laws, Western Herbalism, Cross Cultural Medicine Survey (includes basics TCM, ATM, Curanderism, Native American & others), Art & Science of Herbalism, Herbs for the Life Cycle (pregnancy to elder years), Top 15 Herbs, Herbs for Contemporary Issues: PTSD, Depression, Anxiety, Environmental Health & Detox, Creating Medicine Wheels & Herb Gardens, plus a traditional hands-on Green Medicine Making component that everyone loves...with teas, botanical tincture making, herbal oils, flower essences & more!  Students prepare these sundry natural~botanical products to take home to use and enjoy. 
Tuition:  $350  (periodically discounts & early bird specials are offered...add your name to our email list to receive regular updates:  gigigreenwisdom@gmail.com). $250 students/seniors & some scholarships.  email:  gigigreenwisdom@gmail.com
Class size limited to 7-14.
Next course:  TBA  This is a convenient weekend intensive that is typically offered in various locales including: Spooner, WI, Eau Claire, WI, Minneapolis, MN, Grand Marais, MN,  (North House near Superior near Canada) and other Midwest~Great Lakes locales upon request.  Limited class registration.  Register early.  Next course is:  The Spa Academy, Eau Claire, WI  (May 2013), WITC-Wisconsin Indianhead Tech Colleges--New Richmond, WI (late Sept 2013) and WITC, Superior, WI campus (late October 2013), Globe University, Eau Claire, WI (Sept-Dec 2013), North House Folk School, Oct 11-13, 2013. 
Wish to host this in your region of the U.S.?  Contact us for specifics on each course/locale.  Most listings above are the 20-hour course, two above are 15-hours, WITC.



Intermediate Herbalism Summer School Field Study Course 2013

A 70-hour course offered once annually, each summer in Northern Wisconsin (some sessions may visit MN & Lake Superior ecosystems)  Intermediate level certificate course.  Prepare for wild studies from woodlands to prairie...even on the water! This summer session is more than an herbalism class; it is an exciting adventure exploring native, medicinal and cultural plants of the Midwest-Great Lakes region to help you attune to your authentic wild self and the environment.  This course (and Beginner Apprenticeship) is a prerequisite for our Master Herbalism Program.
Summer Course includes:  Ecosystems of the Midwest & Great Lakes, earth medicine practices, plant spirit Medicine, herbalist's botany basics, plant/herb identification, wild edibles, First Aid/Wild Medicine, prairie plants, woodland and wetland plants via kayak & canoe ecotours (we guide the original "Plant & Paddling Eco Tours"), ethical wildcrafting, hands-on growing projects, visits to regional eco green herbalists, organic farms/CSA's and more. This field study course typically exposes students to 100+ native and medicinal plants in the field.
Tuition:  $595  Early Bird Special-2013:  Pay full tuition by May 1, 2013...receive $100 off!  Tuition must be sent in full at least 5-7 days prior to the first class.
Several student workstudy & intern positions available now to offset tuition: $100-$300)
These may entail:  office asst, graphic arts, botanical research, herb wildcrafting, drying, etc.  Apply early.
Class size limited to: 12-13
Course dates:  Two separate  4-day stretches, Thursdays-Sundays:  May 23-26, 2013 and June 27-30, 2013.   Times: 9am-5pm daily--tour times may vary slightly.
Location:  West Central & Northern WI, sometimes extending beyond for field study trips.
Special Note:  The course above will take place in WI/MN locations.
Another Intermediate course will be held in the Keweenaw Upper Peninsula of Michigan... (Early September  2013, please email gigigreenwisdom@gmail.com directly for application)



Advanced Master Herbalism Program

A comprehensive 1700 hour education is accomplished with this outstanding botanical program. Study tracks are a combination of:  in-class professional style seminars, on-line & independent work, monthly student-advisor meetings, student 'practice' clinical sessions, and period participation in community or free clinics run by advisor, Gigi Stafne, via Herbalists Without Borders of Wisconsin.  Beginner & Intermediate Herbalism (above) are both pre-requisites for this course.  While our MH program is a one year program and the average time spent on studies per week is 20 hours, please note that many master level students take 1-2 years to accomplish this certificate program depending upon their life circumstances.  (An extension fee is charged for each annual renewal needed by students to continue beyond a first year to cover costs of clinical supervision.)  Remember that motivated students CAN complete their studies in one year.

Required course components included in our MH program are aligned with national standards or directives:   200 hours Support Sciences (may be received at other institutions--tuition discount will be credited for those credit hours achieved previously), 400 hrs Materia Medica, 400-500 hrs Clinicals, 70-90 hrs Plant Identification/Botanic Field Study (this is the Summer School Session), Western Herbalism 40 hrs, 80 hrs Herbal pharmacy, apothecary & green medicine making, 20 hrs, professional, ethical, legal issues, and 3-10 hours of First Aid or Wilderness Medicine.  Each student is expected to design a professional seminar or Master Herbalism thesis in order to graduate on an aligned subject of passionate interest to her/him. 
Tuition:  $4295  (Application + $100 deposit required w/application); early bird tuition by August 1-12, 2013 paid in full:  $3500.   After, full tuition--some payment arrangements.
Extension Request:  Separate fee, contact us
Instructors:  Gigi Stafne, MH, ND, plus guest lecturers who are herbalists, healers & naturalists...all specialists in their fields.
Limited program size:  7 professional MH students
Application must be submitted by July 1st.  Course closes by August 1st.  Early bird tuition paid by August 12, 2013.  Session begins September 2013-September 2014.  Monthly 1:1 with instructor, weekly independent assignments, group classes and seminars.  Seminar dates:  Sept 21, Oct 19, Nov 9, (2013) Jan 18, March 22, July 19, August 16 (2014); graduation in Sept 2014. Email us with your questions and to receive the MH application. 
Early applications encouraged:  gigigreenwisdom@gmail.com