foundations of herbalism
online self-paced program | 120-Hour Certificate Program | Train as a community herbalist
Every one of us has an herbalist in our lineage.
Are you ready to remember?
If you’ve ever wondered whether the plants flowering just outside your door are medicinal, they probably are. That curiosity is where herbalism begins. This program is an invitation to step into relationship with the plants and build the skills, knowledge, and confidence to work with them in a real and practical way.
Welcome to the beginning of your journey with healing herbs.
What you can expect
At Twin Star, we merge traditional herbal wisdom with a holistic understanding of the body and a deep connection to the plants. In this course, you will explore the foundational principles of herbalism, including plant energetics, body systems, and the herbs that support them through 120 hours of in-depth, richly enhanced instructional video, while building practical skills to use in your daily life. We honor the connection between wellbeing and the edible and medicinal plants that grow all around us, and through this work, begin to remember what our ancestors have always known. As your knowledge deepens, you will gain the tools to take your health into your own hands and participate in the ongoing relationship between people, plants, and community.
"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
blend hands-on medicine making with your foundations course
This self-paced program yields a 120-Hour Certificate. You have the option of adding a 7-Day In-Person Medicine-Making Immersion to your training August 3-7, 2026, to gain a 175-Hour Certificate. This is for students who prefer to study at their own pace alongside a medicine-making piece with like-minded students in community.
If you’d like to add this week-long immersion to your foundational education, register at the link below.
Login anywhere and tune in to nature.
No matter where you are in the world, this course is designed to meet you. Login and let Lupo’s voice lead you through each lesson while you explore the plants just outside your door. Select the self-paced online program for solo learning or the hybrid version to also meet in person with your classmates.
What You wIll receive
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
Those ready to begin 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 wanting 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.
Those seeking to become a Family & Community Herbalist.
Who is this Course for?
WHAT YOU WILL LEARN
You’ll 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, to revisit lessons and resources whenever you need them.
Our teachers have a passion for plants that students say shines through the screen. Through lecture and storytelling, we’ll traverse through time to explore the historical traditions of herbalism. You’ll learn the plethora of ways herbs support the body, understand your innate connection to nature, and become enchanted by the spiritual magic of plants. We indulge your curiosity with knowledge and empower you to deepen your inner knowing with each module. Through video, reading, and hands-on medicine-making, this is the beginning of working with the plants like your ancestors did.
Meet Your Teachers
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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.
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Lupo Passero is a clinical herbalist and educator who has been teaching the Foundations of Herbalism program for over 15 years, guiding thousands of students through this immersive training. Drawing on nearly 30 years of experience in natural health, she has served as a consultant to some of the best retailers, producers, and manufacturers of herbal medicine in the country. Ritual Herbalism is Lupo’s distinct approach to teaching, weaving plant-spirit connection with traditional herbal education.
Her passion is training herbalists to care for themselves, their families, and their communities using practical, accessible plant medicine. She guides students in becoming confident, capable herbalists through hands-on medicine making, wildcrafting, and direct relationship with plants. Those who have gone through her programs call them personally, professionally, and spiritually transformative, like sitting in circle with a sacred guide and mentor.
Foundations of Herbalism is rooted in and with…
Both tradition and intuition, blending time-tested herbal wisdom with modern accessibility and ancestral remembrance.
Science + spirit, honoring the physical, emotional, & energetic aspects of healing
Practicing herbalists and educators with decades of experience in clinical, community, and spiritual herbalism.
Relationship over memorization, guiding you to truly know the plants, not just “What they’re good for”.
Ritual, reflection, and seasonal rhythm, allowing you to move through the material in a way that aligns with the cycles of nature.
Personal empowerment and collective care, to reclaim your own health while contributing to a more just, herbal-centered future.
What makes this training different from others?
This course is the foundation of Ritual Herbalism, Lupo’s unique approach to plant medicine.
“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
all the knowledge you’d get in person, in your own backyard.
Become a family & community herbalist 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!
Investment
$1950
pay in full
Choose to pay the full price for the program and save.
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
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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.
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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:
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.