Herbaculture Internship Program
Our Herbaculture Internship Program is coming back in 2023 and applications are currently open! We’re so excited to welcome a new generation of herbalists to study and work alongside us in southern Oregon. Our Herbaculture Internship Program offers a rigorous and intensive immersion into the cultivation and use of plants commonly used in herbalism. This program is offered at our Regenerative Organic Certified, GMO-free herb farms in the heart of the Siskiyou Mountains in Josephine County, Oregon.
The Herbaculture Internship Program dates back almost as far as Herb Pharm itself. In the 40+ years that have passed, hundreds of herbalist interns have soaked up the wisdom of Western herbalism and the principles of regenerative, organic farming from visiting and staff teachers.
Internship session dates and application periods are as follows:
Spring session: March 29 – June 8 (Applications due November 30, 2022)
Summer session: June 14 – August 24 (Applications due Dec 31, 2022)
Fall session: August 30 – November 9 (Applications due Feb 28, 2023)
You can submit your application online using the form here. Alternatively, you can download, complete and send our PDF application via email or regular mail to our Herbal Education Coordinator.
For any questions about the program, please contact the Herbal Education Coordinator at herbaculture@herb-pharm.com.
Students spend an average of 28 hours a week learning from professional herb farmers and gardeners, cultivating, and harvesting more than 50 different medicinal herbs, and maintaining our 1.5-acre Botanical Education Garden and additional planting areas.
Working on the farm is demanding. Students will be challenged both physically and mentally. Therefore, students must be in good physical condition. They should be mentally prepared to work, study, and live alongside nine other like-minded individuals from a wide range of educational, cultural, and experiential backgrounds.
Our classes take place Tuesday and Thursday evenings, Fridays and several Saturdays. Topics include: botany and plant identification, herbal medicine making, Western herbalism, plant communication, human physiology, nutrition, herb cultivation, astroherbalism, medicinal mushrooms, seaweeds, local plant walks, and more.
The Herbaculture staff includes Herb Pharm herbalists and farmers, as well as local and regional herbal practitioners. There are typically 11-15 different teachers per session. Teachers and classes are subject to change.
There are no fees assessed for participation in this program. Dormitory-style housing is provided in a large, modern guesthouse. However, students are responsible for their own food expenses, consumable household items, and transportation. Interns should expect to contribute an average of $150 per month toward communal food purchases. Herb Pharm offers a weekly stipend for the purchase of fresh, local produce and stocks the house with an array of bulk food items before each session begins.
We strongly recommend that interns carry health insurance and/or set aside an emergency medical fund for the duration of the program.
What qualifications do I need to have?
Because this is a very physically demanding program with production fieldwork, communal living, and an intense schedule of classes, you need to be both physically and mentally fit.
The strongest applications come from candidates that are well rounded in three respects equally.
They:
1. Can demonstrate a sincere interest in herbalism
2. Have some experience in production farming, working outdoors, and doing repetitive tasks
3. Have lived in communal house settings.
What is the level of the formal instruction?
You can expect to have roughly 135 hrs of formal instruction. The classes cover a wide range of topics and give interns a broad look at herbalism as a whole. Due to the diverse range of backgrounds and levels of experience this program draws, classes range from introductory to intermediate. You can expect to be exposed to both clinical/scientific, as well as subtle/energetic approaches to herbal medicine. Although we are not accredited, some colleges have accepted our program for credit.
Can I come late or leave early?
Our Herbaculture Program is a synergistic experience and requires start-to-finish participation from all the students. To be considered you must be able to attend for the entire duration of the program.
Can I take other classes, work, or participate in other programs while I am at Herb Pharm?
No, you should not plan on any other commitments. The combination of field work, program classes, communal household life, and needed time for reflection and rest makes for a full schedule.
My partner and I both want to apply, can we do so together?
While you are welcome to apply together, each application is considered independently; you will be asked to indicate whether you would accept the position alone.
Can I apply for the Spring Session and stay for the other two sessions?
No. You may only attend one session per year.
May I bring my pet? Can they stay in my vehicle instead of the onsite housing?
Domestic animals are not allowed on the Herb Pharm farm properties. We ask that you arrange for care of your pets for the duration of the intern program.
Can I get a job or volunteer at the farm after my session ends?
On rare occasions, opportunities do arise; however, you should not plan on this.
What is the difference between the sessions?
The curriculum for the classes largely remains the same for each session. The three sessions do differ in the types of work you will be primarily doing on the farm, the plants you will be working closely with, and the weather conditions you will be working in.
Spring and Fall can be wet and cold; Summer can be very hot and dry (and occasionally smoky due to local forest fires). All sessions include planting, cultivating, harvest and some herb processing such as drying, garbling and cleaning, as well as landscape work such as weeding, transplanting and pruning.
Do you accept international applications?
Yes, if you can arrange for the appropriate visa.
What do most of your students do afterwards?
There is an array of career opportunities available for students who have studied diverse aspects of herbalism. Past students have gone onto other herbal programs, naturopathic or medical schools. Some have pursued midwifery, advanced plant sciences, Agroecology and conservation of at–risk plants, herb farming, landscape horticulture, massage therapy and community service.
Do I need a car?
No, but without one you will only have easy access to the few shops in Williams and be dependent on others if you wish to go to "town".
If I am not driving, how will I get to the farm?
Local Airport: Medford, OR
Greyhound: Medford or Grants Pass, OR
Transportation from the airport or bus stations will be arranged through the program coordinator.
What computer access will I have?
There is WIFI in the communal house as well as one PC.
What phone access will I have?
There is very limited cell reception at the house. The house and farm are located rurally with good cell service about a mile down the road. The house is equipped with land lines.
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