Soul of Herbalism

In person community herbalist certificate program in Southern Ontario

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Now accepting applications for April 2026 program start.

Begin your Soul-Led
Journey into Herbalism

All programs runs through the growing season, April to October, in the gardens, outdoor classroom & clinic space at Dandelion Farm, 15 minutes west of
London, Ontario, Canada.
 

Year One classes run every other Monday 9:30 am to 4:30 pm
(plus inspiring online/guest in person classes on other dates).

​Instructors: Valerie Paquette, Registered Herbalist & guest instructors.

Close-up of a rosemary plant with green needle-like leaves and small purple flowers against a blurred background.

Year One - immersion

Community Herbalist Certificate Program

Gain confidence as a healer through deep communion with the plants around you. You'll graduate this course with the knowledge to safely and effectively treat common ailments, make medicines and notice the actions of herbs on the body. The community that is created through sitting together in a circle as women brings our ancestral wisdom alive.

Note: Year One is a pre-requisite for Year Two & Three.

Apply

“This course has been one of the greatest joys in my life.  It is so much more than receiving the beautiful, important teachings of healing plants: It has opened the flood gates for an inner healing journey. A journey back home to myself."

— Carrie, graduate & community herbalist


Soul of Herbalism
Year One

~ details ~

We start by planting seeds

Our season begins with planting the seeds of our eventual harvest. 

 Leave class with plant starts to tend in your own home.
 
We will all be caretakers of the established herbal gardens on the property, from growing each annual seedling to introducing new plants, and caring for the perennial plants throughout the season as new growth emerges. 

​The best way to get to know a plant is by growing it, learning how to care for and when to harvest each individual plant. By interacting with them at every stage of growth you will easily recognize them in the wild or in gardens.

Seedlings sprouting in a seed tray with multiple compartments, beginning to grow.

Connection to Plant Spirit

Connecting with the plants as complex, whole beings meets us as complex, whole humans. Meditations and relationship with the Plant Spirit opens the doorway to the wisdom of all things. Different ways to tap into our own intuition are woven throughout our learning, and a core of this course. 

We connect with Nature and with our own true selves. 

Reflections and meditation with Plant Spirit will help us deepen into our study. 

Field of white daisies with yellow centers in front of a green, blurred background.

Materia medica

We will explore 40+ herbs  in depth throughout the course, studying physical medicinal actions and uses and  connecting with the energetics of the plant. Tasting both tea and tincture (and being with fresh herb if possible) helps us to engage deeply with the plants.

Self study in between classes: Take home preparations of teas and/or tinctures will be given each class to explore with between classes. 

Close-up of dandelion seed heads backlit by sunlight, showing the delicate, wispy structures.

Harvest herbs & medicine making

Person sitting outdoors on wooden planks, arranging dried herbs and flowers near jars with red and silver lids, surrounded by newspaper and greenery.

As each plant in the medicinal garden beds matures we will begin harvesting and preparing each one, from the tender spring greens to the roots in the fall, and making medicines as appropriate.

Learn the methods for making salves, flower essences, infused oils, glycerites, tinctures, tonics, capsules, syrups, tea blends, vinegars, fire cider, and using herbs as home/kitchen remedies.

A woman with dark hair and glasses smiling, sitting outdoors next to a large tree trunk, wearing a green shawl and a beaded necklace, with fall leaves and a body of water in the background.

Meet your instructor

Valerie Paquette

Program Director
Soul of Herbalism I, II, & III


Valerie spent four wonderful years at Pacific Rim College in Victoria, BC, studying herbs. She graduated in 2016 with a Diploma of Phytotherapy, earning high honors. After that, she moved to Poplar Hill, Ontario, to start a herbal clinic and became a Registered Herbalist with the OHA. Her clinic work and courses now focus on Plant Spirit medicine.

Valerie loves gardening with medicinal plants and sells plant starts each year to share Earth medicine. She aims to help people connect with their personal plant allies and their inner Light. 

“It is a joy to facilitate the the Soul of Herbalism Program. Watching students discover and develop their innate skills and inner knowing about plants is so powerful. It is my deep core belief that everyone can access this form of healing. No experience necessary (except being a human). It is my honour to teach this art to those who are called to it. Please reach out with any questions you have.”

 Warmly, Valerie Paquette, Registered Herbalist

Guest Instructors

  • Red mushroom with white spots growing on the forest floor.

    Tony Oakworth

    Registered Herbal Therapist, Instructor at Pacific Rim College

    Therapeutics & Materica Medica of commonly found medicinal mushrooms

    Learn more about Tony at woodwardherb.com

  • A woman with long wavy brown hair and blue eyes smiling outdoors among green leaves.

    Bree Nabholz

    Registered Herbalist, Instructor at Wild Rose College & Pacific Rim College

    Introduction to Ayurveda

    Learn more about Bree at wildyarrow.ca

  • A smiling woman with blonde hair in a outdoor green garden area, wearing a blue denim shirt.

    Evelyn Mueller

    Community Herbalist & Creator of The Lion's Tooth

    Introduction to Phytochemistry

    Learn more about Evelyn at thelionstooth.ca

  • Woman with curly gray hair and blue eyes smiling at sunset, wearing glasses on her head and a scarf, with a cityscape and the moon in the background.

    Christine Dennis

    RH, MNIMH, M.Sc. (Herb. Med.)

    Herbal Energetics

    Learn more about Christine at christinedennis.ca


  • A smiling person with short, gray hair, wearing glasses, a colorful floral scarf, and a black top, outdoors in a winter setting with snow and trees in the background.

    Maureen Harrison

    Aromatherapist, Community Herbalist, Reiki M/T, Reflexologist, Essence Practitioner

    Introduction to Aromatherapy

    Learn more about Maureen at maureenharrison.ca

Investment

  • Year One $2499 CAD

    Please inquire about monthly payment plan options & trade opportunities. 

  • Is this the right path for you?

    An online video call is required to apply and ensure we are a good fit.

    Please email valerie.herbalist@gmail.com to schedule your call.

Apply

Anna, graduate & community herbalist

"Since learning to connect with plants, I have lived a healthier, more fulfilled and authentic life. It was Valerie who taught me how to make those connections. I highly recommend any course or workshop she offers!"

Top-down view of small potted herbs, including sage, basil, and parsley, growing in soil

Soul of Herbalism:
Year Two & Three

Once you’ve completed Soul of Herbalism Year One, you may be called to deepen your studies.

Year Two offers a chance to deep dive with specific plants that are calling you.

Your Soul of Herbalism journey may continue with Year Three - Spirit Drop. This year is rich in weaving spirit connections with plants through Plant Journeys, while continuing to build new knowledge in all realms.