Folk School
Classes
These classes are geared for the adults in our tri-cities community. In our folk school, we educate our whole bodies through the healing work of our hands, heads, and hearts. Inspired by the tradition of Appalachian Folk Schools, we offer workshops on land-and-craft skills, practicums and research projects, guided plant walks, herbal medicine making, biodynamic gardening, grafting and propogation, beekeeping, natural plant dyes, woodworking, and more!
2025/2026 Folk School Class Offerings:
Join Lesley Vernon, founder of Appalachian Alchemy and Resident Herbalist at Seedkeepers Forest School, for a year-long exploration of herbalism, creativity, and traditional plant medicine. These immersive, hands-on sessions are designed for adults and held in a peaceful forest setting.
Each series is more than a lesson; it’s an experience—a gathering of seekers, healers, and nature lovers drawn to the sacred dance between plants and people. Walk away not just with knowledge, but with confidence, handcrafted remedies, and a rekindled bond with the Earth. Sessions run on different schedules, so you can register for one, two, or all three without time conflicts.
Whether you’re new to herbalism or deepening your practice, you’ll walk away with handcrafted remedies, hands-on experience, and a renewed bond with the plants around you.
The Herbalists Path: Walking with the Plants Through the Seasons
Spring – Fall Cost: $80
The changing of the seasons brings with it a shifting landscape of medicinal plants, each with their own unique properties and benefits. This three-part plant walk series takes participants into the field to learn about the healing power of wild plants, guided by the rhythms of nature. Each class combines foraging, plant identification, and medicine-making, equipping participants with the knowledge to work with the land and create their own seasonal herbal remedies.
Included Classes:
April 12 – Spring Plant Walk | 2:00–4:00 PM
June 14 – Summer Plant Walk | 9:00 AM–12:00 PM
September 6 – Fall Plant Walk | 1:00–4:00 PM
Creative Alchemy: The Art of Botany in Nature
Late Summer – Fall Cost: $275
Explore the natural world through the lens of botanical art. This immersive five-part series is designed for those who wish to work creatively with plants, blending science, craft, and tradition. Participants will engage in hands-on workshops that transform natural materials into functional and expressive works of art, deepening their understanding of the visual and energetic properties of plants.
Included Classes:
August 16 – Flower Pressing 101 | 10:00 AM–12:00 PM
August 30 – Cyanotype Printing | 11:00 AM–2:00 PM
September 27 – Eco-Printing | 10:00 AM–1:00 PM
October 11 – Natural Dyeing on Paper & Fabric | 10:00 AM–1:00 PM
October 18 – Leaf Printing on Hoodies | 10:00 AM–1:00 PM
The Folk Herbalist’s Apothecary: Traditional Medicine-Making & Remedies
Fall – Winter Cost: $260
This comprehensive herbal medicine-making series provides students with hands-on experience in creating effective, time-honored herbal preparations. Each session focuses on a different category of herbal remedies, equipping participants with the skills and confidence to craft their own natural medicine at home. By the end of this series, participants will have a strong foundation in traditional herbalism, blending science with ancestral wisdom.
Included Classes:
September 6 – Fermented Herbal Tonics | 10:00 AM–12:00 PM
September 27 – Tinctures, Oxymels & Glycerites | 2:00–5:00 PM
October 11 – Herbal Oils, Lotions & Salves | 2:00–5:00 PM
October 18 – Infusions, Decoctions & Tea as Medicine | 2:00–5:00 PM
November 8 – Elderberry, Cough & Medicinal Syrups | 9:00 AM–12:00 PM
A Complete 13-Class Journey in Plant Medicine, Creativity & Tradition
April – November Cost: $595
Join all three immersive series offered through the 2025 Seedkeepers Folk School and commit to a full year of learning, crafting, and growing alongside the plants. This 13-class curriculum weaves together seasonal plant walks, traditional medicine-making, and botanical arts—designed for adults seeking a deeper relationship with herbalism and the land.
Through hands-on workshops and nature-rooted guidance, you’ll build an apothecary, craft expressive plant-based art, and learn to identify and work with wild herbs across the seasons.
Classes are held on select weekends from April through November. Each session lasts 2–3 hours, with no time conflicts between sessions.
What’s Included:
The Herbalist’s Path (3 classes)
Seasonal plant walks, foraging, and wild remedy-making
Creative Alchemy (5 classes)
Botanical arts including flower pressing, natural dyes, and cyanotypes
Folk Herbalist’s Apothecary (5 classes)
Foundational medicine-making: tinctures, salves, teas, and syrups