Home Herbalism Apprenticeship 2026

Immerse yourself in the seasonal rhythm of growing, harvesting, and preparing herbal remedies on a working farm. Learn hands-on skills to make teas, tinctures, salves, syrups, vinegars and more while connecting with plants and your local herbal community.

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About the Program

Led by Lynn Roberts, Clinical Herbalist, Ayurvedic Health Counselor, and Nutritionist, this seasonal apprenticeship teaches practical home herbalism skills from seed to harvest in Lynn’s herb beds on a working farm in Norristown, PA. Through hands-on workshops, take-home preparations, and community events, apprentices build confidence in growing, processing, and using herbs while supporting local wellness initiatives.

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

At the Home Herbalism Apprenticeship, we value and honor the diversity of our apprentices and the communities we serve. This program is community-centered and engages with learners and neighbors from a wide range of cultural, linguistic, and identity backgrounds, including immigrant and LGBTQ+ communities. Apprentices are expected to participate respectfully and openly with all individuals, fostering a safe, supportive, and inclusive learning environment.

We strive to create an apprenticeship where everyone feels welcome, respected, and empowered to learn, reflecting our commitment to equity, cultural awareness, and shared herbal knowledge.

Three individuals standing in a field on a sunny day, next to two wheelbarrows filled with plants. A fenced area and trees are in the background.
Volunteers Bringing in a Harvest.

What Apprentices Can Expect

  • Hands-on experience from seed to harvest, including planting, tending, processing, and preparing herbs.
  • Making a variety of herbal preparations: teas, tinctures, oils, salves, vinegars, honeys, and syrups.
  • Take-home projects including seeds, plants, and herbal preparations.
  • Participation in seasonal community events: seed swaps, plant sales, and herb walks.
  • Opportunities to build a home apothecary and deepen understanding of herbal practices.
  • Certificate of completion at the end of the apprenticeship.
Several small metal tins filled with a golden herbal salve or ointment, arranged closely together on a table.
Skin Healing Salves
A woven basket containing dried calendula seeds and yellow calendula flowers, with a label reading 'Calendula seeds 9.28'.
Calendula Seed-Saving
A person standing in a greenhouse surrounded by trays of young plants, with watering hoses visible in the background.
Growing Seedlings in the Greenhouse for Herb Beds, HWB Plant Sale, & Personal Use

Tuition & Payment

Standard Tuition

$800

Supporter Tuition

$950 (Helps offset costs for community programs and supports accessibility for other apprentices.)

For all tuition rates:

  • Deposit: $250 due at registration (non-refundable)
  • Remaining tuition: paid in 8 even monthly installments (March–October)

Accessibility

Designed for accessibility, tuition is more affordable than most comparable programs, and covers all materials and expert instruction. Limited work-trade or reduced-rate options may be available. Contact Lynn directly if cost is a barrier at Lynn@Acuity-Wellness.com.

Seasonal Overview + Dates

We meet 2 Sunday mornings per month (with exceptions) at the farm in Norristown, PA from 9-12pm from March-October. Apprentices follow a seasonal rhythm of hands-on activities, workshops, and community events:

Late Winter (February-March)

2/15, 3/1, 3/15, 3/29

  • Orientation (2/15)
  • Start seedlings in the greenhouse
  • Participate in a Seed Swap and seed-saving talk with the community
  • Prepare fire cider

Spring (April–May)

4/12, 5/3, 5/10 or 5/17

  • Pot up seedlings
  • Join the Plant Sale & Herb Walk hosted by MontCo Herbalists Without Borders
  • Transplant seedlings into herb beds
  • Begin engaging in foraging

Summer (June–August)

6/7, 6/28, 7/12, 7/26, 8/9, 8/30

  • Tend and harvest herb beds
  • Prepare oils, salves, vinegars, honeys, tinctures, and syrups

Fall (September–October)

9/13, 9/20, 9/27, 10/11, 10/25

  • Complete final harvests and processing
  • Save seeds for a community seed swap
  • Prepare bitters tincture and explore additional teas, tinctures, and syrups
  • Celebrate the final harvest and program completion

Each session blends hands-on herbal work, take-home preparations, and interactive workshops that build practical skills while connecting apprentices to the wider community.

A group of people gathered in a herbal garden, with some observing and others engaged in hands-on activities, surrounded by various plants and greenery.
Workshop Participants Collect Seeds to Take Home
Hands working with dried leaves on a wooden sieve, wearing blue gloves.
A Volunteer Cuts & Sifts Dried Comfrey Leaves
Group of people participating in a hands-on herbalism workshop in a garden, with one person leading the discussion.
Workshop Participants Get Their Questions About Growing Herbs Answered
A group of apprentices participating in a herbalism workshop outdoors, with a facilitator speaking while others engage with plants in a garden setting.
Workshop Participants Enjoy a Day Learning in the Herb Beds
Three individuals processing herbs on a wooden table inside a rustic barn, with buckets and plants around them.
Volunteers Get Plant Material Ready for the Drying Racks
Two people sorting fresh herbs in a well-lit workspace with shelves and baskets in the background.
Volunteers Strip Lemon Verbena Leaves
Close-up of hands sorting and preparing fresh herbs on a table, with a woven basket filled with herbs in the foreground.
Volunteers Strip Stevia Leaves
Two women stand behind a table filled with various plants and herbal products at an outdoor event, under a white tent.
2025 HWB Plant Sale
A group of people participating in an herbalism workshop, sorting and processing herbs at a table in a rustic setting with exposed brick walls.
Volunteers Get Plant Material Ready for the Drying Racks

Community Impact

The herbs grown and prepared in this apprenticeship are donated to:

  • Pennsylvania Horticultural Society’s Food as Medicine program
  • Montgomery County chapter of Herbalists Without Borders

Apprentices also participate in community events that support wellness, education, and local herbal initiatives, helping connect herbal knowledge to the broader area.

A group of seven individuals in black shirts stands behind a table displaying information about Herbalists Without Borders, highlighting their community health initiatives and services.
MontCo chapter of Herbalists Without Borders teamed up with Won Institute of Graduate Studies acupuncture students to offer a heart health clinic at a local non-profit’s semana de salud (health week). Participants received ear acupuncture, diabetes and blood pressure screenings, and herbal goody bags filled with heart-healthy tea and calming aromatherapy inhalers prepared by volunteers.

Inclusivity Statement

This apprenticeship takes place on a working farm and involves hands-on activities, including planting, harvesting, bending, and using basic gardening tools. Apprentices should be able to navigate uneven ground, walk short distances, use an outdoor restroom, and work in varying weather conditions.

We welcome learners of all abilities and will provide accommodations wherever possible. Please contact Lynn with any inclusivity concerns before enrolling to ensure a safe, supportive experience.

Optional Winter Extension

Apprentices interested in deepening their herbal practice can join the Winter Community Herbalist Shadowing Circle. This optional program offers observation of live client intakes, guided reflection, and mentorship during monthly sessions (November–February). More information available soon!

Enroll or Learn More

Secure your spot in the 2026 apprenticeship below, or connect with Lynn to discuss your questions by scheduling a discovery call:

Apply Now
Book a Discovery Call

Prefer to email instead? Reach out at Lynn@Acuity-Wellness.com

After submitting your application, you will be invited to a brief interview call. This call is an opportunity for us to get to know you, answer your questions, and discuss your goals for the apprenticeship.