Black Bear Herbs
Immerse yourself in the world of Herbal Medicine
Black Bear Herbs Classes and Workshops
Our passion at Black Bear Herbs is to introduce people to herbal medicine. The workshops and classes are for anyone interested in herbs, natural healing or growing a herb garden.
They are also ideal for Home-schoolers.
Our workshops and classes include:
The Apothecary's Garden: Growing a Medicinal Herb Garden for your Family
Herbs for Post Partum Support and Breastfeeding
Herbs to Beat the Winter Blues
Herbs to Prevent Colds and Flu
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For dates on all these classes see the calendar below or click on the workshop name to be taken to the page.
These classes are for budding Herbalists who are interested in medicine making, learning how to use herbs, herbs for animals, skincare, and how to grow and harvest their own medicines.
For 11 years and up
Click here for details of all the Kids Workshops and classes on offer.
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We also offer Herb Walks regularly throughout the Comox Valley in Spring and Fall.
Click here to contact us for more information on our courses.
Introduction to Herbs
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Many of the pharmaceuticals we use today have their origins in herbal medicine. Over 80% of the worlds population rely primarily on herbal medicine for their health care needs. We will take a dynamic look at both the historical and current day use of plants from around the world. A number of the plants growing in our own gardens are plants brought to us by plant hunters who discovered these treasures in far flung parts of the world. These discoveries were sometimes due in part to the now largely forgotten medicinal uses. We will discover the wealth of knowledge we have learned from the First Nations who lived here about medicinal plants in the Pacific Northwest. In this workshop we will glimpse the amazing healing potential of these plants.
This class introduces you to the basic concepts, history and current use of Herbal Medicine.
We recommend that you take this class before taking the Herbal First Aid or Medicine Making Course if you are new to using herbs.
Date: Thursday September 24th, 2015
Tuesday January 12th, 2016
Thursday February 25th, 2016
Wednesday April 6th, 2016
Time: 10am - 12pm
Location: Black Bear Herbs, 2748 Keswick Ave, Cumberland, BC, V0R 1S0.
Cost: $20 per person
Herbs for Women:
Menopause
Herbs have much to offer women during menopause. Hot flushes, insomnia, night sweats are among a number of things that are common accompaniments to menopause and peri-menopause.
This workshop looks at how diet, lifestyle and herbs can all help to make menopause a smoother transition.
We will discuss, taste herbs and see them growing in the herb garden.
Date: Thursday May 5th
Time: 10am - 2pm
$75
Maximum group size 6
Location: Black Bear Herbs, 2748 Keswick Ave, Cumberland, BC, V0R 1S0
Herbs for Women:
Hormonal Balance throughout the Menstrual Cycle
PMS, cramps, breast tenderness, fluid retention, headaches, insomnia, sugar craving - the list goes on! If your menstrual cycle is not in balance you are quite possibly suffering from some if not all of these issues.
In this workshop we will look the ways in which diet, lifestyle and herbs can help to balance the menstrual cycle.
We will discuss, taste herbs and see them growing in the herb garden.
Date: Wednesday May 18th, 2016
Time: 10am - 2pm
$75
Maximum group size 6
Location: Black Bear Herbs, 2748 Keswick Ave, Cumberland, BC, V0R 1S0
Herbs for Arthritis
Gardeners are all too familiar with the aches and pains of hands, knees and backs that have been worked too hard over the years - for the beauty and deliciousness of the fruits of our labours. Living and working in this beautiful lush but very damp rainforest land does result in aching joints for some of us!
In this workshop we will look at the ways in which we can use herbs, diet and other suggestions to help reduce the pain and inflammation in a more natural way.
We will also include in our discussions the herbs that you can grow or that you can find growing wild, and ways in which they are helpful.
We will be NOT be dealing with acute auto-immune arthritis in this workshop, but rather the type of arthritis resulting from years of wear and tear on the joints. Whether it's from gardening, hiking, sailing, fishing or any kind of hard work!
Date: Wednesday May 25th, 2016
Time: 10am - 2pm
Cost: $75
Location: Black Bear Herbs, 2748 Keswick Ave, Cumberland, BC, V0R 1S0
Click HERE to register or for more information
Growing a Medicinal Herb Garden
for Your Family
When we think of growing herbs we usually think of Thyme, Rosemary and Sage. But in this workshop you will discover how to create a tailor made herb garden with easy to grow herbs specific for common health issues that crop up in your own household. For example you might grow St. Johns Wort to make an oil for your aching back; or Echinacea for all those colds the kids bring home from school; Hops or Lavender to help bring restful sleep; Calendula to help soothe and heal those bumps and grazes. These are just a few examples of easy to grow herbs that you can plant in your garden and safely use. This workshop will help you to discover and focus on which medicinal plants you want to grow for yourself and your family and friends.
This is a four hour workshop which starts indoors and, weather permitting, will finish in the garden where we will see some of the plants growing. If you are interested in more in depth information about how to use the herbs you plan to grow we recommend that you consider also doing the Herbal First Aid Course or any of the other courses we offer.
Date: Thursday April 28th, 2016
Time: 10am - 2pm
Cost: $75
Location: Black Bear Herbs, 2748 Keswick Ave, Cumberland, BC, V0R 1S0
Herbal First Aid Course
In this popular workshop you will learn how to create your own Herbal First Aid kit from plants growing in your own garden or from herbs that can be easily obtained at the health food store. This First Aid Kit will complement your exisiting First Aid kit at home with healing salves, oils, syrups and teas. You will learn how to use these simple remedies to great effect for everyday first aid and common mild illnesses around the home.
Date: The course consists of two, two hour classes.
Thursday October 8th and 15th, 2015
Wednesday December 9th, 2015
Thursday March 10th and 17th, 2016
Time: 10am - 12noon
Location: Black Bear Herbs, 2748 Keswick Ave, Cumberland, BC, V0R 1S0.
Cost: $75 per person for two classes
"Thank you so much Amanda for the Herb walk this past Sunday at Milner Gardens! It was a rewarding experience and my only regret was how fast our time flew. I look forward to more training with you soon!"
Sharon MacDonald, Vancouver Island.
"I started on my healing journey with herbs 22 years ago when pregnant, and Amanda suggested many helpful herbs to guide me through. When my beautiful baby developed severe eczema, Amanda was there to hold my hand and guide me again with how to make my own healing creams with Calendula for the very best his delicate skin could be nourished with. Many, many times over these years I have turned to Amanda and to herbs for help – especially the light bringer St Johns Wort, to lift me out of depression so brilliantly. My children, animal children and I have been soothed and healed with all manner of wonderful herbs, and I have really loved the journey of getting to know what each one does, how to prepare it and watching it’s miraculous effects on the body. I love being aware of plants, herbs and their healing properties when I am out and about in nature, and will never forget how you jumped to the rescue with plantain bandages packed with all the incredible healing, pain killing herbs that the hedgerows could offer, when I had such a bad fall recently. Pure alchemy and magic and just lying there at the edge of the path for everyone to use! Thank you herbs, and thank you Amanda for all you have taught me, and for sharing such powerful healing and wonderful knowledge. "
Jacqui, UK
"Longtime, valued herbalist in the Comox Valley, Amanda Howe has a deep knowledge of plants and a profound and sophisticated understanding of how plants heal people."
Angela Smailes, Vancouver, BC.