The mission of the ArborVitae School of Traditional Herbalism is to be a vibrant herb school offering a full, professional program and diverse curriculum to future practitioners. The school will provide training by qualified teachers, and will be a community resource and space to gather and share for the public in New Paltz, the Hudson Valley, and the Northeast region. The school is dedicated to the memory of the herbalist William LeSassier, and honors his wisdom and teachings. 

 

Overarching is the intent to teach botanical medicine in a broad and inclusive sense, honoring and reflecting the diversity of approaches in the herbal community, which incorporates: medicinal uses of herbs, botany and plant identification, holistic anatomy and physiology, medicine making, flower essences, Traditional Chinese diagnostics and uses of herbs, tissue states, Vitalism, and more. All instruction will integrate sustainable values, including a non-exclusive emphasis on plants that are native, naturalized, or able to be cultivated within the local bioregion.

 

The ArborVitae school is rooted in the wisdom of the natural world and the many traditions that have honed the craft of botanical medicine. We appreciate a holistic approach to healing and to general wellbeing that seeks balance in all aspects of the individual, including food, lifestyle, and spirit. We place ourselves within the context of community and our environment, recognizing our connection to the earth and the vital force.