“In herbalism we don’t ascend, we deepen.”

–Jesse Wolf Hardin

SOLD OUT

Join Wildtender and Heavy Nettle for a weekend camping retreat and hands-on workshop in the Big Sur wilderness to discover and practice the magic of wild California herbalism. 

Making our camp in an extraordinary valley nestled among the Big Sur mountains (25 miles inland from the coast), we will explore the land to acquaint ourselves with the names, stories, edible and medicinal uses of the region’s native plants. We will slow down and deeply connect with ourselves, each other and the wild through guided mindful hiking, plant meditations and awareness practices. Following our wild wanderings, we will return to camp to learn a variety of ancient methods for distilling plants into powerful, healing medicines.

Our instructors will include clinical herbalist and Heavy Nettle founder Kelsey Barrett, Wildtender co-founder Fletcher Tucker, and of course, the wild plants themselves.

Workshop topics and activities will include:

• Introduction to Big Sur natural history / ecology

• Identification and ethnobotanical exploration of native plants 

• Guided plant meditations and nature awareness practices 

• Discussion of traditional ecological knowledge (TEK)

• Instruction in ethical wildcrafting principles

• Hands-on medicine-making with a variety of methods and applications

In addition to a weekend of instruction in herbalism and ecology, participants can also expect to take home their own handmade tincture, tallow salve, salt preserve, and incense.

Please Note: This program will include some hiking and camping out. We will drive to our primitive campground, but will need to carry camping equipment roughly 100 yards. Participants should be free of bodily injury or impairment, and willing to get a little sweaty and a little dirty! Because we will be using stoves, knives and pruning sheers this program is restricted to people 16 years or older. All levels of experience are welcome, including folks with no experience camping or in herbalism. No dogs are allowed in this wilderness area.