Herbal Foundations Certificate Program

Become a Herbalist

For a limited time only, you can save $250 (25% off) when you register. Details below⬇️

Upcoming Program

In person and online options available for live Saturday classes. 

 

Regular price: $1000
Back to School Discount: 25% off/ Save $250

Join now for $750

Program Details

This program offers:

IN-DEPTH coverage of herbal actions and herbal terminology,  regulatory and legal guidelines, local plant identification (summer program), herbal first aid, and herbal body system support

HOW-TO of solvency and medicine-making, formulating decoctions/infusions, tincturing, syrups, salves, liniments, creams, poultices, infused oils and more!

PROTOCOLS for immune health, endocrine health, digestive health, reproductive health, respiratory health and more!

MEDICINAL USES  of over 50 plants

INTRODUCTION to concepts of nutritional healing with herbal protocols

PLANT WALKS and herbal garden activities (season dependent)

HERBAL COMMUNITY & new friends

This program comes with:

  • FIVE in-depth in person lectures in person in Rhode Island or online with herbalist Mary Blue.  These recordings are available for rewatch during the course.
  • A certificate of herbal education
  • Personal Q & A time with Mary Blue online
  • 5 days a week phone support
  • Access to Herbal Foundations Online, including 30 hours of video lectures, questionnaires, and notes to advance your herbal education. This requires an hour of homework per week.
  • In person participants receive samples of herbal products made in class, including tinctures, salves, poultices, syrups, and bulk herbs.
  • A hardcopy of Mary Blue’s Herbal Essentials book to advance your herbal education
  • Hands-on-training and exercises supporting plant identification, herbal formula making, and product formulation
  • A complete Materia Medica of plants you research during the program (this requires about an hour of homework per month).
  • 7 day 100% refund policy after the course begins.

Career Training

Are you at a crossroad with herbal education?
→Are you finding conflicting information about herbal uses and preparations?
→Do you want an experienced teach to ask questions and get feedback from?
→ Are you wanting a career change?
→ Do you want a fulfilling job that connects you to nature and community?
→Are you ready to start applying herbalism to your life and start a new career path?

Graduates of Herbal Foundations have gone on to many successful herbal businesses: Community Care Apothecary,  Wild Heart Herb House, Town Farm Tonics, Sister Fox, The Peoples Gold Apothecary, Hue Apothecary to name a few!

Payment Options

Prices

Regular price: $1000
Back to School Discount: 25% off/ Save $250

Join now for $750!

Scholarships

Farmacy’s Herbal Scholarships are designated for individuals from marginalized backgrounds, including people of color, immigrants, those who have historically faced obstacles in accessing herbal education and healthcare, transgender, queer, and gender nonconforming individuals, people with disabilities, and those with annual incomes below $10,000 (excluding college students whose tuition is covered by their parents). Scholarship applications for our programs are accepted on an annual basis.

FILL OUT this form if you are a RI resident interested in a scholarship.

Internship/Work Trade

We accept work trade as payment for our Herbal Foundations Level 1 class. We have a limited number of spaces available for each work trade slot. Work trade hours are completed through our internship program, and all hours must be completed before they can be used for class credit.

Learn more about our internship program here.

Policies

Cancellation Policy:

  • 100% refund within 7 days of first class date
  • After 7 days, students can request a refund for classes not taken (prorated) and can be approved on a case by case basis.

Missed Class Policy:

  • Students have access to program they sign up for.
  • Replays of the live Saturday classes will be available for one week after the class.
  • Students have access to online programming for a minimum of 1 year.

Email farmacyherbinfo@gmail.com to request cancellation of enrollment.

Classroom Values:
In our classes, we prioritize the incorporation of social justice and health justice principles. We are committed to establishing a space that is inclusive, welcoming, and accessible to all who wish to explore the world of herbalism. We kindly ask that both instructors and participants interact with one another in a manner that demonstrates respect and inclusivity, irrespective of gender, class, race/culture, sexual orientation, religion, immigration status, political beliefs, age, ability, or appearance. In all Farmacy programs, we acknowledge and work to dismantle systemic oppression, in order to address and work towards dismantling the deeply ingrained inequalities and injustices that persist in society.

Testimonials

Alexi Wildoff

Alexi Wildoff

Level 1: Herbal Foundations Student & Herbal Foundations Summer Camp Attendee, Tiverton, RI

Mary’s Herbal Foundations Summer Camp was a wonderful week of new friendships, exploring nature and making medicine. Being able to immerse myself into a daily routine of plant walks, harvesting and medicine experimentation gave me the inspiration and confidence to harvest and create remedies on my own. The provided workbook allowed me to be in the moment during the lectures while providing the important information for me to absorb at a later time. Mary welcomed us into her farm and created a comfortable and safe space for a bunch of strangers to learn about herbs, health and nature, and created a wonderful community of budding herbalists to help each other learn.
Tarshire Battle

Tarshire Battle

Level 1: Herbal Foundations Student & Herbal Foundations Summer Camp Attendee, Pawtucket, RI

I would highly recommend Farmacy Herbs' Herbal Foundations Summer Camp for those who are interested in learning about herbal medicine in a nonjudgmental environment with diverse classmates. The instructor, Mary Blue, was thorough with covering lesson plans and was attentive to all students' questions.
Kaneesha Allen

Kaneesha Allen

Level 1: Herbal Foundations Student & Herbal Foundations Summer Camp Attendee, Houston, TX

Attending Farmacy's Herbal Foundations Summer Camp with Mary Blue was a life-changing experience for me. Mary organically curated a sacred and safe space that allowed all of the women in attendance to bring their authentic selves to be fully present in this experiential learning process. Mary has a demonstrated commitment to her work as a healer, educator, and social justice advocate. Through her Level 1: Herbal Foundations course, I obtained a solid base of knowledge that has prepared me to enter the world of herbalism along with a strong desire to further my studies. I highly recommend any herbalist course with Mary for anyone wanting to expand their awareness, connect with other dope and like-minded souls, and breathe in some fresh air and good vibes on the farm.
Alissa Bessette

Alissa Bessette

Level 1: Herbal Foundations Student & Herbal Foundations Summer Camp Attendee, Coventry, RI

Farmacy Herbs is a beautiful community, a learning sanctuary, and a group of inspiring and informing individuals that are truly knowledgeable for anyone looking to begin or further develop their experience in herbalism.  The classes are both engaging and informative, and really provide a strong basis to understanding the many fundamentals of herbal medicine.  Herbal Foundations was an amazing opportunity, spent with like-minded individuals supporting each other in their herbal journey. It was the perfect balance of class lecture, hands-on projects, sharing and learning.   I highly recommend to anyone interested in developing their self, learning about herbalism, or building a community.  So thankful for the Farmacy family and all that I have learned and experienced, along with all the beautiful people I have met on this journey!
Ana Fox

Ana Fox

Herbal Resident

Completing Farmacy Herb's Herbal Residency Program was an invaluable experience for me in herbalism. I had the opportunity to collaborate with and learn from the herbalists at Farmacy Herbs, and refine my ability to work as an herbalist. I highly recommend the program for people interested in getting real life experience in the herbal fields of farming, products, and herb shop logistics!
Lynn Golan

Lynn Golan

Herbal Resident

Farmacy’s Herbal Residency Program has been such an incredible opportunity for me to gain first hand experience with herb farming, day to day herb shop tasks and with working with the public. It has been both wonderfully humbling and wildly empowering to work with people and the plants to encourage health and wellness. Working within the diverse community of healers that weave through Farmacy is so nourishing and educational, especially the opportunity to sit with and learn from Mary Blue and her team at Farmacy Herbs. I’m thankful for the opportunity to gain experience and begin my clinical career under Farmacy’s guidance.
Abigail Jefferson

Abigail Jefferson

Level 1: Herbal Foundations Student

I am a 61-year-old African American woman who has just recovered from stage 4 lymphoma cancer and major spine surgery. I was so happy to be able to delve deep into learning about herbs, their healing properties, and the many ways they can support me on my healing journey towards optimal health and wellness through Farmacy Herbs' Level 1: Herbal Foundations class. I especially enjoyed the plant walks and hands-on activities of making syrups, salves, and tinctures. The details explained of the many actions of each herb were invaluable. I look forward to furthering herbal study. Mary Blue is a knowledgeable, joy-filled, and engaging teacher. I thoroughly enjoyed the class.
Dr. Lara Gardner

Dr. Lara Gardner

Level 1: Herbal Foundations Student

I took Mary's Level 1: Herbal Foundations Program as a practicing doctor. Herbal Foundations opened up a tool set that is not being utilized in western medicine. I have been able to support my patients with therapies that are non-toxic and non-invasive, and use herbalism as an integrative practice for my patients. I highly recommend Mary's program for anyone who wants to open a door to natural health, and connecting with nature. Mary gave me the confidence I needed to use herbal medicine with my patients, and to encourage them to take their health into their own hands, and prevent disease before it happens!
Lydia Andersen-Tarnell

Lydia Andersen-Tarnell

Level 1: Herbal Foundations Student

I had been wanting to take Herbalism classes for some time, but work/life excuses always got in the way. Once Covid hit and my life changed in more ways than one, I decided there was no better time to take the leap, and boy I am so glad I did. The Level 1, in-person classes were truly the highlight of my summer! On-site at Mary's beautiful farm, the classes were extremely informative, fun and so inspiring. Since taking the class I have formed an even closer relationship to plants and mama earth, as well as reconnected to my own soul purpose and potential to heal. I intend to take Level 2 classes as soon as possible, and am looking forward to continue down my own herbal path, to see what blooms.

FAQ

How do I sign up for the Herbal Foundations Certificate Program?
Fill out the registration form linked to this page, create an automated payment plan or pay in full.  Due to the popularity of the program, we can’t hold a space if you do not put a deposit down.

How can I make up a class if I miss one?
Due to the limited seats and the popularity of the program, students only have access to the class during the session that they sign up for.

What does  “certification” mean in the Herbal Foundations Certificate Program? 
Our program awards students who complete the program with a “certificate of completion”. THIS DOES NOT MAKE YOU A “CERTIFIED” HERBALIST. This is a level 1 program, and earning a certification of completion from our program allows you to confidently move forward in the world as a beginner herbalist. There are no government regulations regarding certification for herbalists, and there is currently no standard of herbal education amongst herbalists  in the US. The certificate of completion with Farmacy Herbs and Mary Blue carries the reputation of this 15 year old herbal program in New England and beyond.

To receive a certificate, students must:

  1. Attend all  classes
  2. Complete all homework assignments
  3. Complete the final project.

How do I apply for a scholarship? 
We will have our scholarship applications available in February & March for the following years programs. Email us to find out if we have scholarships available: farmacyherbinfo@gmail.com

Where are the classes held? 
Students have the option to take the in person portion of the program at our shop in Providence, RI or online.

How long are your classes, and how often do they meet?
Herbal Foundations Certificate Program meets for 5 weeks one Saturday a month from 10:00AM to 1:00 PM. Specific dates are listed for each program on the top of this page.  Herbal Foundations Online releases an hour of videos, notes and quizzes every week for 6 months.

Do you have a payment plan?
Yes we do. Students can pay $93.75 every other week for 8 weeks, or  students can pay in full upon registration

What is your refund policy?

  • 100% refund within 7 days of first class date
  • After 7 days, students can request a refund for classes not taken (prorated) and can be approved on a case by case basis.
  • Email farmacyherbinfo@gmail.com to request cancellation of enrollment.

Can I do work trade?
Work trade needs to be completed before the hours can be used as payment for any programs.  This requires starting our work trade program 6-8 months before the program begins. Work trade applicants need to go through an interview, have references and have their own transportation.

How do I know if the program is full?
We usually keep a note on the top of this page if the program is full. If the registration link is available on this page, there is space. There are sometimes last minute cancellations and we will have a waiting list form posted if there are cancellations.

Can someone answer my specific questions?
Yes! Give us a call at 401-270-5223 or email us at farmacyherbinfo@gmail.com. Come by the shop, see our classroom! All of the folks working here have been through the programs here and are happy to answer questions.