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.

"I feel so fortunate to have been part of Lupo's classes and study at Twin Star! I truly enjoy the knowledge, stories, protocols and experiences provided to us. I can't wait to explore more classes offered, thank you!".

- Rachel M. PRACTICES AND PROTOCOLS GRADUATE & Clinical Herbalist

What You wIll receive

  • Monthly pre-recorded lectures (3–4 hours per month) designed to fit your schedule. Watch visually engaging content on your computer or listen on the go from your phone.

  • Monthly live online classes (3–4 hours per month) offer space for discussion, Q&A, and roundtable case studies—giving you the opportunity to integrate and apply what you’re learning in real time.

  • Opportunities for advanced medicine-making immersions held in the beautiful mountain landscapes of Asheville, NC, and New Milford, CT, offered through the program for hands-on, in-person learning.

  • Embodied learning in advanced plant medicine making and formulation, paired with an in-depth exploration of the body’s systems—including traditional approaches to herbal energetics and the influence of emotions on physical health.

  • Earn a 200-hour Advanced Community Herbalist Certificate upon completion—a program rooted in tradition, practice, and service, and designed to prepare you for the next step in clinical herbal training.

  • Study over 100 time-honored herbal materia medica profiles and dozens of healing protocols to strengthen your foundation as a Community Herbalist and carry forward a trusted body of herbal knowledge.

Enroll Now

Who is this for

  • You’re yearning for a deeper, more rooted and relational practice as a Community Herbalist

  • You enjoy a flexible learning format that fits your life and schedule

  • You’ve completed a foundational herbal program—or our Level 1: Foundations of Herbalism—and are ready for the next step

  • You’re interested in working in apothecary or community herbal settings and want practical experience to support that path

  • You’re considering continuing on to clinical herbal training and want a strong, rooted foundation and prerequisite

  • You’re ready to show up fully, engage deeply, and do the work

WHAT YOU WILL LEARN

Herbs for Healing • Herbs for the Systems of the Body • Herbal Remedies/Recipes • Plant Identification • Medicinal Herb Growing
• Wildcrafting/Harvesting • Building Your Own Apothecary • Plant Spirit Healing • Herbs for the Chakras • Astro-Herbalism 

What you will learn

the body systems as approached by the herbalist

A comprehensive study of pathology and advanced herbal protocols for every body system, including in-depth exploration of common disease states and effective botanical strategies for support and healing.

how to create Effective and heart centered herbal protocols

Learn how to create complete herbal protocols through real-world case studies, building your skills in assessment, formulation, and individualized plant-based care, while engaging in peer collaboration and shared learning. Deepen your capacity to understand the emotional and energetic roots of imbalance as part of a truly holistic approach.

how to formulate and create plant medicine

Learn to formulate and create plant medicine through a blend of intuitive wisdom and scientific understanding—crafting effective, personalized remedies rooted in tradition, herbal energetics, and evidence-based practices.

What makes our
Program unique?

  • Rooted in both ancestral tradition and modern practice, blending the art, science and spirit (intuition) of herbalism

  • Emphasizes embodied learning—you don’t just study herbalism, you live it

  • Integrates emotional and energetic awareness alongside clinical and physical assessment

  • Offers flexible structure without compromising depth or rigor

  • Prioritizes community care, mutual aid, and the role of the herbalist as a steward and healer

  • Builds confidence through real-world case studies, medicine-making, and peer collaboration

  • Led by experienced teachers who walk the path of ritual herbalism and plant spirit connection

  • Prepares you not just for practice—but for purpose

  • Guided by Lupo Passero, a practicing herbalist and educator with over 25 years of experience in traditional, clinical, and intuitive herbalism.

Herbal Practice and Protocol is a beautiful course that everyone should experience. It not only teaches you about the pleasures and mysteries of plants and their gifts of medicine but about yourself and your relationship to your own wellness. Whether its someones goal to give back to a community by practicing herbalism or just to keep your own family well, it’s a look at medicine that can help with everyday living and wellness. The kindness and compassion of the teachers and the extraordinary level of knowledge is bar none.

— Carol L. PRACTICES AND PROTOCOLS GRADUATE & Clinical Herbalist

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!        

  • Melissa Fryar is an Asheville born Appalachian herbalist who was lucky enough to be born in her favorite plant and foraging land. She has studied with some amazing herbal elders including Rosemary Gladstar and Deborah Francis, and more importantly, from her grannies and the plants and trees themselves. Her passions include:  food as medicine, folk and regional plants, a sweet old hound dog named Bocephus, and her family. She hopes to be a student for the rest of her life. Melissa has taught regionally for several herb schools and at various conferences throughout the area.

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. ​

  • 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.

  • 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

$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.

"I feel so fortunate to have been part of Lupo's classes and study at Twin Star! I truly enjoy the knowledge, stories, protocols and experiences provided to us. I can't wait to explore more classes offered, thank you!".

- Rachel M. PRACTICES AND PROTOCOLS GRADUATE & Clinical Herbalist

Frequently asked questions

  • Completion of a foundational herbal studies program or equivalent experience is required before enrolling in this 200-hour Community Herbalist Certificate, which also serves as the prerequisite for our Practicing Herbalist Clinical Program.

    If you have taken our Foundations of Herbalism program, that counts as fulfillment.

  • We have two in-person medicine making immersions on April 11th and July 11th at our Twin Star South classroom in the beautiful Asheville, NC and at our Twin Star North classroom in the beautiful New Milford, CT allowing you to be amongst the magic of the mountains and to learn from some of our amazing group of guest teachers.

    As a student, you also have the opportunity to join us for any of our in-person immersions:

  • Students are expected to watch each month’s lectures, complete homework, and attend LIVE classes to receive the certificate of completion.

    We allow one absence for our live class.

  • This program blends the heart of traditional herbal wisdom with hands-on practice, spiritual connection, and community care. With over 25 years of teaching experience, Lupo Passero weaves ritual, plant spirit connection, and ancestral remembrance into every lesson—offering more than just information, but a transformation. Students don’t just learn about herbs they learn how to live in relationship with them. Our hybrid format, in-depth case studies, collaborative learning, and guest teachers from diverse herbal backgrounds create a rich, supportive environment for deepening both skill and soul.

  • This program equips you with the skills, confidence, and experience to offer holistic, plant-based care to your community. You’ll learn how to assess imbalances, create effective protocols, and work with both the physical and energetic aspects of healing. It also serves as the required prerequisite for our advanced Practicing Herbalist Clinical Program.

  • 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.