Black Bear Herbs
Immerse yourself in the world of Herbal Medicine
IN PERSON AND ONLINE PROGRAMS
Learn in person at the Black Bear Herb Garden in Cumberland, BC on Vancouver Island, with Herbalist Amanda Howe.
HERBAL APPRENTICE PROGRAM
Herbal Apprentice Program is a very small group immersion into herbal medicine that runs two days a month through the growing season.
The Black Bear Herbal Apprentice program is for anyone interested in hands on learning about herbal medicine, medicine making, harvesting and wild medicinals. You will be immersed in the ancient energetics and current science of the world of herbs. Now taking applications for Spring 2025
Click here for more information. Class size is small so please email if you are interested.
HYBRID ONLINE AND IN PERSON PROGRAMS
I am offering individual mentorship hours that accompany two high quality online certificate programs with Pacific Rim College.
This is a unique offering that will allow you to use your mentorship hours to ask questions that arise while you are doing the online course, or to focus on a particular area of interest and to explore the subject in greater detail. It is a great opportunity to connect and to ask questions, to explore areas of special interest to you in greater detail, and to see the plants and connect with them in real life.
The mentorship hours are being offered in conjunction with two of Pacific Rim Colleges certificate programs, the Home Herbalist Program and the Community Herbalist Program. See below for full information. The mentorship hours are available when you register for either of these programs through Black Bear Herbs.
The Pacific Rim College Online Home Herbalist Program includes 46 hours of stunning step-by-step video lessons, a 490-page detailed and beautiful e-book to follow along with every lesson with a lifetime access to the videos.
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The program includes:
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How to identify and use Wild Medicinals
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Materia Medica- a complete guide to the most important and common herbal medicines and how to use them
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Herbal Therapeutics
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Medicine Making - how to make your own salves, tinctures, syrups, oils and plasters and decoctions
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Body Products and Gift Making
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The Herbal Kitchen - using herbs in cooking
In addition to the Home Herbalist Program online, I am offering 3 hours of individual mentorship to accompany the Home Herbalist Program.
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Community Herbalist Program
The Pacific Rim College Online Community Herbalist program is a more in depth Certificate Program, and includes 80 hours of stunning step-by-step video lessons and a 764-page detailed and beautiful e-book to follow along with every lesson. It includes a number of topics such as:
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How to identify and use Wild Medicinals
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Materia Medica- a complete guide to the most important and common herbal medicines and how to use them
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Herbal Therapeutics
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Medicine Making - how to make your own salves, tinctures, syrups, oils and plasters and decoctions
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Body Products and Gift Making
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The Herbal Kitchen - using herbs in cooking
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Backyard Gardening
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Aromatherapy
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Medicinal mushrooms
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Botany
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Herbal First Aid.
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The Community Herbalist online allows you to use credits from the program to transfer to the full time Diploma in Phytotherapy at Pacific Rim, for those who wish to become a practitioner.
In addition to the Community Herbalist online I am offering 10 hours of individual one on one mentorship or classes.
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Mentorship Hours
The individual mentorship hours with Amanda can be either be in person if you are able to come to Cumberland, or if you live further away but would like to connect virtually for the individual mentorship you are welcome to do this via Zoom.
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When:
The online course can be completed at your own pace. There is no time limit, and you have a lifetime access to the materials.
The in person or Zoom mentorship classes with Amanda are scheduled to suit your calendar. You choose the focus for the mentorship hours in the area of study or interest that most calls to you.
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Cost:
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Home Herbalist Program: $995.00 (inc. tax)
Includes 3 hours of mentorship with Amanda either by Zoom or in person. Payment for the course must be through Black Bear Herbs. To register click here
Community Herbalist Program: $2938.95 (inc. tax)
Includes 10 hours of mentorship with Amanda either by Zoom or in person. Payment for the course must be through Black Bear Herbs. To register click here.
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UK Registrants
Course prices in UK pound sterling are as follows:
Home Herbalist Progam: £560.00
Community Herbalist Program £1800.00
The UK prices are subject to exchange rates. The exact price will be given when you enquire to register.
If you found us through Springwood Sanctuary please let us know because we will make a donation to the Sanctuary in your name.
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FOR INFORMATION ABOUT BOTH THESE COURSES PLEASE CONTACT ME BY EMAIL AT BLACKBEARHERBS@GMAIL.COM, OR PLEASE FEEL FREE TO CALL ME AT 250 897 2049.
Amanda Howe MSc. RHP.
MEDICAL HERBALIST
Amanda Howe has been a Herbalist for over thirty five years. She lives in the Village of Cumberland on Vancouver Island with her husband Jan who is a Mountain Guide, and their son Vijay.
Amanda is passionate about plants and has created a lush herb garden with an adjoining teaching space at their home.
Their home and garden borders the Cumberland Community Forest - several hundred acres of
protected temperate rainforest that is home to deer, beaver, wolves, salmon bearing streams, numerous birds,
frogs and other beasts, thriving medicinal plants, and of course the black bears after which the Herb Garden is named.
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Amanda loves to teach and is happiest when she is in the garden teaching people how to grow, harvest, use and listen to the magic of the plants that are thriving there.
Amanda trained in England in the early '80's and became a member of the National Institute of Medical Herbalists in the UK. She subsequently went on to receive her MSc(Distinction) in Herbal Medicine from the University of Wales. Amanda worked in England in a multidisciplinary clinic before moving to Vancouver Island twenty five years ago.
Since moving to Canada Amanda has been active in practice as a Herbalist and as a herbal educator. She has served on the board of the provincial Canadian Herbalists Association of BC as well as the national Herbal Practitioners Council - the Canadian Council of Herbalists Associations (CCHA), working to ensure continued access to herbal medicines for Herbalists and the general public. And she also sat on Health Canada's Natural Health Products Expert Advisory Committee.
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Amanda and was involved in funded research projects with the Centre for Livelihoods and Ecology at Royal Roads University.
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Amanda teaches at Pacific Rim College in Victoria BC. as a teacher in their full time Herbal Practitioner training program
"This is the most wonderful and amazing place to study herbal medicine. I have learned so much from Amanda Howe and my fellow apprentices over the last year. I would highly recommend any of Black Bear Herbs courses."
Trish Moroto,
Herbal Apprentice Participant
"I highly recommend this course to anyone wishing to increase their knowledge of herbal medicine and use in their own personal and family life. Amanda graciously invites you into her home and beautiful garden and imparts her incredible wisdom with ease. Learn how to grow and harvest the plants and use them respectfully and ethically. Learn about medicine making and dosages and how the different systems of the body are affected in detail. Meet a wonderful group of like minded people to connect with and share stories, seeds and plants. It has been fascinating, relaxing and a true gift."
Lesley Jones,
Herbal Apprentice Participant
“Amanda is an amazing herbalist - passionate about what she does and able to communicate so well to others. She has "looked after" our family for 10 years now - even now, when we live the other side of the world. She is always on the other end of the phone or online asking the right questions, looking at the whole picture and offering great suggestions and wonderful remedies to keep us all in good health. She was particularly brilliant when I was pregnant with my second child, advising on herbs for all stages of the pregnancy, labour and beyond and also at helping with my daughter’s excema. Her holistic approach alongside a razor-sharp knowledge makes one feel totally reassured by her approach.”
Kate Dimbleby, UK
"I cannot imagine a more ideal setting - beautiful space and access to your gardens!
The course content is great as well. I am stoked to use your methods to prepare items that will replace manufactured cosmetics and medicines in my home.
I appreciate that we were able to follow the process of making the medicines (and participate) as I believe it is a better way to integrate the information.
You are very open to answering questions in the moment that they come up and that is much appreciated. Many teachers get distracted by the interruption of questions, so thanks for that, it just adds to the learning experience for me.
Looking forward to experimenting with plants and enjoying the mind-body-spirit benefits of the medicine."
L. Shaben, Vancouver Island