Trillium Herbal Medicine’s Herbal Immersion:
Long running herbal training program with folk herbalist Erin Vanhee.
Feeling called to study Plant Medicine?
Searching for the right plant centered program and teacher?
Erin’s unique approach makes this training open to all- from beginner to advanced.
Her insights, harvest protocols and deep relationship with plants brings something new to the table no matter where you are in your herbal journey.
This program meets for 5 days in July when the region is abundantly surrounded by plants ready for harvest.
Through hands on apothecary studies, field study of both wild and cultivated medicinal plants, deep connection through harvest protocol- this unique program brings herbal medicine to life-
one plant at a time.
Our herbal immersion program is in-depth, personal and experience based with the goal of providing enough practical, hands on training in the field and in the apothecary to allow you to begin or advance your herbal practice. Woven through the immersion is the importance of holding space and moving from a keeper of medicine to a giver of medicine.
Day One: Herbal Medicine Making
Day Two: Wildcrafting and Harvest Protocol
Day Three: Herbal Applications, Drop Dosing, Somatics
Day Four: Flower Essences
Day Five: Bringing it all together
Learning is hard so we make learning fun. We go to exquisite places where not many people go , we jump in to creeks and chase waterfalls. We learn together and from each other. Join us.
2025 Herbal Immersion, taught by Erin Vanhee, Herbalist is now a
5 Day Herbal Immersion in July 2025! Join us.
PRICE: Tuition $1099
Dates To Be Announced January 2025
Areas of Focus
The course of study is divided into three key areas: field study, medicine making skills, and herbalist training.
Field Study:
Plant identification in their native habitat, learning how to use observation, habitat awareness, and plant taxonomy as tools.
Wild-crafting and sustainable harvest techniques of root, bark, leaf, and seed
Materia Medica of wild and cultivated plants
Harvest protocols, cultural practice
Medicine Making Skills:
Folk and standardized methods of creating herbal medicine
Internal and external practical applications of fresh and dried plants
Creating your own herbal medicine, preparing and practice of medicinal plants
Making Flower Essences
Herbalist Training:
Herbal actions and energetics, body awareness practices.
Understand the role of medicinal plants for building strong body systems and plants that nourish and tonify,
Somatic herbalism, drop dosing, and somatic assessment using pulse reading.
Herbal First Aid for Body systems: Hands on step by step first aid for acute dis/ease
Communication skills, holding space, talk story, and ethics in their herbal practice.
Erin Vanhee has been teaching plant medicine and somatic herbalism since 1993 in Whidbey Island and Skagit County, WA. Her connection with plants as healing began when she was adopted into the Tlingit tribe in southeast Alaska and has continued to deepen with each layer of training.
She is an advanced practitioner of herbal medicine in the Wise Woman tradition. She specializes in herbs for pain, Somatics, and Lomi Lomi. As a medicinal plant specialist, Erin has taught groups of apprentices since 1993, and has been a speaker at Bastyr University, Pacific Women’s Herbal Conference, Three Rivers Herbal Gathering, the Northwest Herb Fair, AHG WA Chapter Green Gathering, and Planthealer’s Good Medicine Confluence. Erin was the first certified organic grower of herbs in Washington State.
Erin’s teaching style is relaxed yet fast paced and often filled with story. Her students say she has an encyclopedic knowledge of herbs and healing traditions and rather enjoy when she goes off on a tangent about ethics and earth conservation. Erin is in private practice in Burlington, WA.
Frequently Asked Questions:
Q: How much do I need to know before about herbs? Do I have to apply?
A: Beginners/self taught/ inspired herbalists are all welcome! The Integrated Plant Medicine Immersion in 2025 is a beginner/intermediate course and open to all. Self study, previous training and course work is recommended. Erin’s unique approach to plants and plant medicine brings something new to every student- novice and advanced alike.
Q: I live far and don’t want to drive. Where do you recommend staying the night?
A: We are in a remote area and that requires traveling for most. The good news is-the travel is worth it. The area is a rare gem for plant habitat.
For those who wish to spend the night over the weekend due to commute, there is a low fee ($10/night) county park 5 miles from campus. This site is wooded, beautiful and will accommodate up to 3 cars per site. There are sites that adjoin to accommodate 6 for $20/night. The site is remote and along the Sauk River. Other locations have nearby State Parks. Other options are airbnb’s and hip camp within 15 minutes of the campus.
For budget minded folks, we recommend Feral Farm and Finney Farm. Ovenell’s Heritage Inn is close, too.
For others, please inquire.
Q: How much physical activity is involved?
A: Students must be willing to hike moderate trails throughout program, but most physical activity is not strenuous in nature. Some field study requires walking a distance on disturbed soil or sloped terrain.
Q: Where do we meet?
A: All apothecary training, practical coursework is held at Trillium Ridge Campus near Concrete and Darrington, WA. (We are located 10 miles from Concrete and 12 miles from Darrington.) Address sent upon registration.
From April-October, class will meet every morning at 10:00 am at a prearranged meetup spot in at a location in Skagit Valley, Washington (exact location given prior to each class.) Following an outline of the day’s activities, students and instructor will proceed, via carpool, to harvesting locations on field study days.
Q: What should I bring?
A: For a full supply list, Click here.
New Campus covered classroom, river access and harvest sites.