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Plant School 2026
Plant School is a 6-month course for Black, Indigenous, and racialized Peoples from May - October in Guelph, Ontario {dish with one spoon}. Students will learn hands-on skills related to herbal medicine while continuing the legacies of resistance, self-determination, and stewardship.
This course is open to people invested in the liberation of Peoples globally. People at all stages of their learning journeys with plants are welcome.
Plant School is divided into two tracks, each meeting monthly. You can take both tracks or just one. For information on individual tracks click here for Field School and here for Medicine School.
Field School Track
This track takes place outside, both in the garden and the forest trails! Through hands-on activities, plant ID walks, medicine-making, and discussions, we will blend theory with practice so that the knowledge is practical and, above all, fun! Topics include cultivating plants, caring for Indigenous species, herbal energetics, seed saving, and relationship to the land. Each month, students slowly build their own herbal apothecary and make medicine, including teas, salves, syrups, herbal honey, and more. You’ll also receive digital handouts about the plants you learn about.
Medicine School Track
The Medicine School Track emerged from the need to equip our communities with a deeper knowledge of using herbs for common ailments, so we can care for each other effectively. This track will focus on application, formulation, and safety considerations when using herbs using herbal energetics. We will delve into traditional diagnostic tools such as observing the pulse, tongue, and nails. This is a very hands-on class and will involve tea tasting, collaborative reseach and group activities. Together, students will put together a zine of what they’ve learned so they can carry their knowledge into the future.
Course Dates:
Classes take place on Sundays from 10 am - 3:30 pm on May 17, May 24, June 14, June 28, July 12, July 26, August 16th, August 30, September 13, September 27 and October 25.
Location and Access:
We will alternate between the two different locations each month.
Field School takes place outside at the Ignatius Centre, rain or shine, so be prepared for all types of weather. This beautiful centre includes 600 acres of gardens, trails and streams. Bring your rubber boots, a sun hat, a sweater or anything else you need. Bathroom access is limited to outhouses. Antibacterial wipes and toilet paper will be provided. (Field school dates: May 24, June 28, July 26, August 30, September 27)
Medicine School will be held inside, on the top floor of a community arts centre. Participants will have to walk up a flight of stairs to access our classroom. (May 17, June 14, July 12, August 16, September 13)
Our last meetup on October 25th will take place at the Ignatius Centre.
Travel:
Many of the students in this program come from Toronto, Kitchener, and beyond. A Signal group chat is set up to arrange ride shares and communicate. Bus service is also available from Toronto, Mississauga, and Kitchener.
Cost & Deadline
Registration is $800- $ 1,200 on a sliding scale. All plant material provided.
The registration deadline is March 13th. There are limited spots available and will be offered on a first-come, first-served basis. The amount is non-refundable.
Scholarships:
Applications are due March 1st, 2026. They are open to Black, Indigenous and Palestinian people without access to generational wealth. We will do our best to accommodate as many people as possible and to raise funds to cover scholarship costs. If you meet the criteria and need financial support to attend, we encourage you to apply. Please fill out this form if you require one: https://forms.gle/3cCqUFrhNe5zBv7r9
Plant School is a 6-month course for Black, Indigenous, and racialized Peoples from May - October in Guelph, Ontario {dish with one spoon}. Students will learn hands-on skills related to herbal medicine while continuing the legacies of resistance, self-determination, and stewardship.
This course is open to people invested in the liberation of Peoples globally. People at all stages of their learning journeys with plants are welcome.
Plant School is divided into two tracks, each meeting monthly. You can take both tracks or just one. For information on individual tracks click here for Field School and here for Medicine School.
Field School Track
This track takes place outside, both in the garden and the forest trails! Through hands-on activities, plant ID walks, medicine-making, and discussions, we will blend theory with practice so that the knowledge is practical and, above all, fun! Topics include cultivating plants, caring for Indigenous species, herbal energetics, seed saving, and relationship to the land. Each month, students slowly build their own herbal apothecary and make medicine, including teas, salves, syrups, herbal honey, and more. You’ll also receive digital handouts about the plants you learn about.
Medicine School Track
The Medicine School Track emerged from the need to equip our communities with a deeper knowledge of using herbs for common ailments, so we can care for each other effectively. This track will focus on application, formulation, and safety considerations when using herbs using herbal energetics. We will delve into traditional diagnostic tools such as observing the pulse, tongue, and nails. This is a very hands-on class and will involve tea tasting, collaborative reseach and group activities. Together, students will put together a zine of what they’ve learned so they can carry their knowledge into the future.
Course Dates:
Classes take place on Sundays from 10 am - 3:30 pm on May 17, May 24, June 14, June 28, July 12, July 26, August 16th, August 30, September 13, September 27 and October 25.
Location and Access:
We will alternate between the two different locations each month.
Field School takes place outside at the Ignatius Centre, rain or shine, so be prepared for all types of weather. This beautiful centre includes 600 acres of gardens, trails and streams. Bring your rubber boots, a sun hat, a sweater or anything else you need. Bathroom access is limited to outhouses. Antibacterial wipes and toilet paper will be provided. (Field school dates: May 24, June 28, July 26, August 30, September 27)
Medicine School will be held inside, on the top floor of a community arts centre. Participants will have to walk up a flight of stairs to access our classroom. (May 17, June 14, July 12, August 16, September 13)
Our last meetup on October 25th will take place at the Ignatius Centre.
Travel:
Many of the students in this program come from Toronto, Kitchener, and beyond. A Signal group chat is set up to arrange ride shares and communicate. Bus service is also available from Toronto, Mississauga, and Kitchener.
Cost & Deadline
Registration is $800- $ 1,200 on a sliding scale. All plant material provided.
The registration deadline is March 13th. There are limited spots available and will be offered on a first-come, first-served basis. The amount is non-refundable.
Scholarships:
Applications are due March 1st, 2026. They are open to Black, Indigenous and Palestinian people without access to generational wealth. We will do our best to accommodate as many people as possible and to raise funds to cover scholarship costs. If you meet the criteria and need financial support to attend, we encourage you to apply. Please fill out this form if you require one: https://forms.gle/3cCqUFrhNe5zBv7r9