foundations of herbalism

online self-paced program | 120-Hour Certificate Program

Our Beginner Foundational program to learn herbalism and become a Family & Community Herbalist. This program is the online version of our Foundations of Herbalism Asheville and Foundations of Herbalism New Milford programs.

What you can expect

At Twin Star Herbal Education we draw upon traditional, holistic modalities that empower individuals to live a healthy and peaceful modern life. Classes will focuses on the seven sacred healing centers (chakras), the corresponding system of the body and the herbs that support them. We honor and recognize the significant connection between well-being and our direct relationship with nature. This program provides the opportunity to continually deepen our bond with the natural world and discover the healing benefits of the plants that grow all around us. By strengthening our knowledge and understanding of herbal wisdom we reclaim our health back into our own hands and continue to evolve the healing exchange between our communities, our planet and ourselves.

"Embarking on my herbalism journey with Twin Star's Foundations of Herbalism was one of the best decisions I made!"

Kayla - Level 1 Certificate Graduate

What You wIll receive

  • Immersive, Pre-Recorded Video Lectures — On Your Schedule. Each module includes 8–10 hours of rich, visually engaging lessons that bring the plants and practices to life. Whether you prefer to watch on your computer or listen while walking through the woods, you’ll have the freedom to learn at your own pace—anytime, anywhere.

  • Learn how to work with herbs to support the body’s major systems—from the nervous and digestive systems to the immune and respiratory—through a holistic, root-cause approach to wellness.

  • Gain hands-on experience making a variety of herbal preparations, including teas, tinctures, oils, salves, and syrups, using tried-and-true recipes that empower you to begin building your own medicine chest. Learn how to create and organize your own herbal apothecary, so that your remedies are always within reach for everyday wellness and seasonal support.

  • Plant Identification and Ethical Wildcrafting. Develop the skills to confidently identify wild and cultivated medicinal plants, with guidance on ethical foraging and reciprocal harvesting practices that honor the Earth.

  • Earn a 120-Hour Community Herbalist Certificate upon completion of the program. Rooted in tradition, hands-on practice, and a spirit of service, this course is designed to prepare you for our Level 2: Practices & Protocols of Herbal Training.

  • Deepen your understanding of herbal energetics through the lens of the chakra system, planetary correspondences, and intuitive plant connection. You’ll explore how to listen to the plants, honor their teachings, and align your healing work with both celestial and energetic forces.

Enroll TODAY

Who is this Course for

  • Those ready to begin or deepen their herbal journey with a grounded, empowering foundation in plant medicine.

  • People seeking a flexible, self-paced course they can engage with from anywhere—at home, in the garden, or on the go.

  • Healers, caregivers, and wellness practitioners who want to integrate herbal knowledge into their personal or professional offerings.

  • Gardeners, foragers, and nature lovers longing to build stronger relationships with the plants growing all around them.

  • Activists and mutual aid organizers working to reclaim health care as a community-rooted, accessible birthright.

  • Anyone called to remember their role as a healer and reconnect with the ancient medicine carried by the plants—and within themselves.

WHAT YOU WILL LEARN

What is included

In addition to 120 hours of in-depth and richly enhanced instructional video, you will also have access to:

  • A comprehensive 200+ page printable coursework book filled with lessons, recipes, charts, and tools to support your learning journey

  • A beautifully designed, full-color printable Materia Medica featuring in-depth profiles of 25 common medicinal herbs—including their uses, energetics, harvesting tips, and preparation methods

  • Downloadable handouts and visual guides to support your studies and medicine-making practices

  • Reflection prompts, rituals, and journal exercises to deepen your relationship with the plants and your own medicine

  • Lifetime access to the course materials, allowing you to revisit lessons and resources whenever you need them

What makes our
Program unique?

  • Rooted in both tradition and intuition, this course blends time-tested herbal wisdom with modern accessibility and ancestral remembrance.

  • Created by practicing herbalists and educators with decades of experience in clinical, community, and spiritual herbalism.

  • Focuses on both science and spirit, honoring the physical, emotional, and energetic aspects of healing.

  • Centers relationship over memorization, guiding you to truly know the plants, not just learn about them.

  • Infused with ritual, reflection, and seasonal rhythm, allowing you to move through the material in a way that aligns with the cycles of nature.

  • Geared toward personal empowerment and collective care, this course is as much about reclaiming your own health as it is about reimagining a more just, herbal-centered future.

“Lupo is the consistent, cornerstone and centrifugal force behind these programs. Teaching is her strength and the depth of her experience and sincerity with the subject matter is palpable. I really love the spiritual aspect and the wisdom that she brings to all of her classes."

— Amy W. Foundations of Herbalism Graduate

FullY online Class format

Become a certified Herbalist right at home

WHY CHOOSE TO STUDY ONLINE: The online only class format is for folks who live too far to participate in person, and for those who prefer the structure of a class with the flexibility to watch lectures and complete course work, at their own pace, during evenings, weekends or perhaps between children’s naps. The course offers an incredible online immersion experience and a great foundation to becoming your own family or community herbalist. We make it feel as if you are in the herbal classroom with us!

WANT TO STUDY BOTH ONLINE AND IN PERSON? Our traditional Foundations of Herbalism class format is for folks who have the flexibilty to commit to an in-person learning experience during the growing season. In addition to the 7 modules above, there are also seven in-person learning days that all take place in our two locations:
Twin Star North (New Milford, CT) and Twin Star South (Asheville, NC). Click the location of your choice to see in person dates/options.

All virtual lessons are available as soon as you enroll!        

Meet Your Teachers

Our teachers have a passion for and connection to the plants and it shines through the screen. Through lecture and storytelling you will be taken on a journey of discovery of the vast and historical traditions of herbalism. You will be immersed into a deep knowing of the plants you study and gain an understanding on how they support the human body. You will become enchanted by the spiritual magic of plants and find your own passion for and connection to nature. You will work directly with the plants to make various forms of medicine while being told stories of the way our ancestors made these medicines before us. With each step forward, this class empowers you to reconnect with herbal traditions and empowers you to bring forward your own deep knowing and continue along your path. ​

  • Rebekah first joined the Twin Star Tribe in the summer of 2013.  Since then she has completed various herbal trainings including: Foundations of Herbalism, Practices and Protocols of Herbalism, Tropical Herbalism in Costa Rica, Flower Essence Practitioner Training and our Seed to Market Advanced Herbal Training. She has served as the Twin Star Herbal Apprentice for nearly seven years and has helped Lupo co-teach a variety of classes throughout that time.  Rebekah skillfully creates and crafts the majority of herbal preparation in our apothecary and is also co-teaches in the Art & Science of Herbalism, The Spiral Path Women’s Medicine Way Course, Foundations of Herbalism and Introduction to Herbalism courses.  She also hosts and organizes both the Plant Partner and Plant Wisdom Wednesday monthly offering as well as our 13 Moons Women Circle. Not only is she an up and coming Herbalist, she is also a talented artist, with an emphasis on the divine feminine and botanical prints.

  • Lupo Passero is a Community Herbalist with over 25 years experience in the field of herbalism and natural health. Lupo has worked closely throughout the years within the natural products industry serving as a staff herbalist in a variety of local health food and herbal stores and has served as an educator and as a consultant for over 20 years for some of the best retailers, producers and manufacturers of herbal medicine in the country.  Trained as a Clinical Herbalist in Asheville North Carolina in 2003, Lupo has been working closely with folks of all ages and backgrounds, helping them to create healing herbal regimes for better heath and wellness as well as to help support specific ailments. In 2016 Lupo opened Twin Star Community Apothecary, a full service local apothecary, combining her expertise of natural products and her deep wisdom of herbal medicine. She has created hundreds of time tested and well loved herbal products over the years and is is always happy to help create a custom tea blend, flower essence or personalized herbal remedy and enjoys supporting all individuals innate ability to heal themselves with simple and effective plant potions.

Investment

50% off with code knowyourmedicine

$1950

pay in full

Choose to pay the full price for the program and save.

$279

PAYMENT PLAN

Choose our monthly payment plan option and register to save your spot.

Unsure if this Program is A Fit For You? Book A Call!

We are always available to help you decide which one of our programs is a good fit for you on your journey. Just use the button below to schedule a call. We look forward to connecting with you.

Frequently asked questions

  • No prior herbal experience is necessary. This course is designed for beginners and those looking to deepen their roots, making it the perfect starting point—or next step—on your herbal path.

  • Yes! While this course is entirely online and self-paced, we also offer seasonal in-person workshops and classes at our Twin Star locations in Asheville, NC and New Milford, CT. Students enrolled in the online program are always welcome to join us in person to deepen their studies, meet the plants face-to-face, and connect with our vibrant herbal communityv.As a student, you also have the opportunity to join us for any of our in-person immersions:

  • This course is fully self-paced and pre-recorded, so there are no required live sessions or deadlines. You have the freedom to move through the material on your own schedule, revisiting lessons as often as needed. All content is available for you to engage with when—and where—it works best for you.

  • What sets this program apart is its integration of the art, science, and spirit of herbalism. You’ll not only learn the practical skills and scientific foundations of plant medicine, but also explore the energetic, intuitive, and ceremonial aspects that bring herbalism to life. This is a deeply rooted, heart-centered path—one that honors both ancient traditions and modern practice.

  • This course lays the essential groundwork for becoming a confident and competent community herbalist. You’ll gain practical skills in plant identification, medicine making, and holistic wellness—while also exploring ethical wildcrafting, energetic herbalism, and the role of herbalists in community care. By the end of the program, you’ll have the knowledge, tools, and confidence to support yourself and others with plant medicine, and be well prepared to continue on to more advanced training.

  • Yes! We’re committed to making herbal education accessible. A limited number of scholarships and flexible payment plans are available. Please inquire within by email twinstaroffice@gmail.com—we’re happy to work with you to make this path possible.