Herbal Foundations Program

It is time to get excited about plants and awaken your passion for natural healing! This online program is for beginning to intermediate students who want more in-depth knowledge about medicinal plants.

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The next program begins on March 22, 2025

Begin a YEAR-LONG online program in Herbal Medicine.

Make a deeper connection to the earth and discover the healing properties of medicinal plants – a special and unique part of our world.

Students will foster a lifelong relationship with herbs as we explore the healing power of plants and the study of herbal medicine.


This is an easy commitment to make to yourself.
Just watch a monthly video, complete your homework, and attend one LIVE online class and one discussion per month.

The next program begins on March 22, 2025

WHAT YOU’LL LEARN

  • Learn about healing herbs for the Respiratory System, Cardiovascular System, Nervous System, Reproductive System, Kidneys and Bladder, Liver and Digestive System, Skin, Muscular Skeletal System, Lymphatic System, Immune System

  • Learn how to make Tinctures, Syrups, Salves, Herbal oils, Teas, Decoctions, Vinegars, Honeys, Oxymels, Elixirs, Poultices, Liniments, Hydrotherapy, Medicine making tools, and Herb drying and processing techniques.

  • Learn growing techniques for the garden as well as how to harvest herbs with reciprocity, asking for permission and giving back to the plants and the lands in which they grow.

  • Learn about herbal properties and effects, including the language of herbal medicine.

  • Learn the healing properties of specific plants, the medicinal parts of each herb and how to use them, harvesting times and techniques, and side effects and contraindications for each herb.

Students will complete Herbal Foundations with a full natural medicine kit created with their own hands, as well as a certificate upon completion of the course. Completion entails completing all assignments and missing no more than 3 classes throughout the program.

*The Montana Board of Chiropractors has approved Herbal Foundations to offer continuing education units for chiropractors. Massage therapists have also received continuing education credits upon finishing this program.

Ready To Start Your Journey?

Choose your payment option below.

Full Payment: $1030

Payment Plan: $1100 divided into
10 payments of $110 each

Want to know more? Check out our Frequently Asked Questions. Or you can contact us to set up a free phone call.

A Different Kind of Learning Experience

Watch The Monthly Pre-Recorded Video

Watch the pre-recorded video that has been assigned to you for that month.

Do Your Homework

Complete any assignments that go along with the video that you watched before you meet for your monthly LIVE class.

Meet LIVE Online Each Month

Meet LIVE online with your teacher monthly for classes, to review what you learned from pre-recorded videos, and to connect with other students.

At Green Path Herb School, we do things a little differently.

Did you know...The average completion rate for online courses teeters around 15% and the dropout rates are astronomical. What truly matters is student engagement, retention, and learning experience.

Herbal Foundations Has A 95% Completion Rate

Why? 

We believe it’s because we work together through the course materials and have face-to-face time for questions and inspiring conversation every month. We have worked extremely hard to build an exceptional, practical, and valuable course.

PLUS we've had the invaluable feedback of hundreds of Herbal Foundations students to help us improve our offerings over the years.  

What Our Students Think

  • Green Path Herb School came into my life during a time of great transition; from being a stay at home mom of two, to following my dreams to become an herbalist. This program makes it so easy to seamlessly integrate herbal wisdom and knowledge into your life. It is well organized, packed with information, easily accessible, and is all wrapped up with love and passion for plants. 

    Kira

  • Herbal Foundations is such a great place to start whether starting a journey to herbalism or just wanting to be more informed. What I’ve learned from this course and both John and Elaine has been a wealth of invaluable information. I look forward to continuing my education with them in the future either in person or online.

    Nashay Barron

  • I thoroughly enjoyed the Herbal Foundations class with Elaine and John. They cover a lot of material while keeping it fun and understandable. From characteristics of individual herbs and their actions, to preparation techniques, to an intuitive understanding of how to work with herbs and the human body in a holistic manner. This class has given me a solid basis from which to move forward in my own exploration and work with herbal remedies.

    Marge Hulburt

  • The things I learned while taking classes with the Green Path Herb School empower and inspire. I now feel equipped with information and awareness that will allow me to take medicine and healing into my own hands by working with the Earth’s provisions.

    Michael Billington

  • Learning from Elaine and John was a journey into the nature of myself as well as the natural world. Their teaching styles balance each other which allows for a deeper, more meaningful learning process as a student. Their love and compassion come through in their approach to teaching that appreciate a variety of learning styles in their students. They provided safe, effective material and offered an easily accessible approach to wellness.

    Julia Carr

  • Thank you so much for sharing your amazing knowledge and time with so many people. You have been such an inspiration to me, and I don’t think I would have had the resources or info I needed to begin this journey without your help!

    Kristen

Why Choose The Herbal Foundations Program?

🌿Comprehensive Curriculum: It is designed to ensure you receive a well-rounded education in herbalism. From plant identification to body systems to medicine making, we cover it all!

🌿 Hands-on Learning: You won't just be reading about herbs in a book. The program includes practical activities and assignments that allow you to apply your knowledge and develop your skills.

🌿 Years of Experience: Our teachers, John and Elaine, have over 65 years of combined in-depth herbal experience. You get their knowledge and wisdom, including a 172-page workbook with over 80 proven herbal recipes, extensive medicine-making handouts, and a comprehensive herbal actions and herbal pharmacy glossary.

🌿 Interactive Community: Join a vibrant community of like-minded herbal enthusiasts, where you can connect, share ideas, and learn from each other. Their supportive community is here to cheer you on every step of the way.

🌿 Lifetime Access: Once you enroll in the Herbal Foundations Program, you can download all class materials, including the videos, giving you lifetime access to the program. You can revisit the content whenever you need a refresher or want to deepen your understanding.

Ready To Start Your Journey?

Choose your payment option below.

Full Payment: $1030

Payment Plan: $1100 divided into
10 payments of $110 each

Want to know more? Check out our Frequently Asked Questions. Or you can contact us to set up a free phone call.

The Herbal Foundations Program Begins March 22, 2025

Class Schedule
Classes happen one Saturday a month from 9 am to 4 pm Mountain Standard Time. All classes will be recorded so that videos may be watched if you miss a LIVE online class.

Class Dates:


2025: March 22, April 26, May 24, June 14, July 26, August 16, September 27, October 18, November 22, December 13

2026: January 10, February 21

Do you have questions? Contact us to set up a free phone conversation.

Meet Your Instructors

ELAINE SHEFF, CO-DIRECTOR, CLINICAL HERBALIST, RH (AHG)

Elaine is the Co-Director of Green Path Herb School, located in Missoula, Montana, where she strives to inspire and empower students and clients to remember their connection to the earth, the plants, and their healing process. She is a professional member of the American Herbalist Guild and teaches workshops at national and international conferences. As a certified Instructor of Natural Family Planning and Fertility Awareness Methods, Elaine has helped many couples avoid or achieve pregnancy naturally.

JOHN GOICOVICH, CO-DIRECTOR, HERBALIST

John first started working with plants in the early 1990s on the coast of California. It was not until moving to the Rocky Mountains in 1993 that his interest became a lifetime commitment. John’s first love of herbs was always the connection between plants and people and the personal involvement in making one’s own remedies. John is a graduate of both the Rocky Mountain Center for Botanical Studies and the Southwest School of Botanical Medicine. He is the co-founder of Meadowsweet Herbs.

FAQ

  • The Herbal Foundations Program is valuable both for herb enthusiasts and professionals wanting to add to their healing repertoire. Our graduates include moms, dads, teens, aspiring herbalists, high school homeschoolers, massage therapists, nutritionists, chiropractors, estheticians, and medical professionals including doctors, nurses, nurse practitioners, and physician assistants. Students do not need any previous herbal experience to take the program.

  • Yes, but because there is no official licensure or certification for herbalists in the United States, we don't "certify" herbalists. All graduates of our the Herbal Foundations Program DO receive a certificate, though, which is the beautiful proof that you completed and graduated from our program.

  • Our students benefit greatly from the rich interaction with teachers and other students. We want to get to know you and we want Green Path to feel like the community that it is. We also find that students complete courses much faster when there is a specifically scheduled time to meet and work on the program. But we understand that things come up and sometimes you can't make it to a live class. For this reason, we record each class. In case you are unable to attend, rest assured that you can watch a class later, without missing any information. Just email us once you have watched the class recording and we will mark you as having attended the class.

  • We provide a PDF workbook for the Herbal Foundations Program, containing over 80 herbal recipes, medicine-making handouts, and a comprehensive herbal actions and herbal pharmacy glossary. Students will need to purchase the book Body Into Balance by Maria Noel Groves, as well as medicine-making supplies to create their own herb kits. A computer is highly recommended.

  • Yes! Many students value rewatching the videos of our classes. For this reason, everyone will have the option to download all of the class content for lifetime access, providing future viewing at their leisure.