The Hedgewalker’s Path
Hedges are home to vast ecosystems; microcosms of magic. They are untamed spaces left to nature’s devices. They are boundaries between the known and unknown, the cultivated and the feral. May this course help you to navigate your place in the in-between, and may it be a constant companion on what I hope is a lifelong journey with the healing plants.
You will know which herbs to reach for when some common acute ailments arise, such as minor cuts and burns, headaches, muscle cramps, cold/flu symptoms, and insomnia, as well as some ways you can incorporate herbs into your daily rituals for general health. We’ll also explore some magical uses for herbs, and how to work with herbs when assisting those crossing major thresholds of life, from birth to end of life.
In this course, you will cultivate your own materia medica of plants that are safe to work with, and are generally easy to grow, wildcraft, or are easily found in commerce.
Syllabus
Lesson 1 — Herbs in Water: Infusions, Decoctions, Fomentations, Poultices, Plasters, Steams, Baths + Soaks
Lesson 2 — Herbal Vinegars, Honeys, Oxymels, Syrups, Shrubs + Switchels
Lesson 3 — Herbs in Alcohol: Tinctures, Dosing, Formulating, Percolations, Elixirs + Cordials
Lesson 4 — Herbal Oils: Making Salve, Creams, + Massage Oils
Lesson 5 — Herbs in Magic + Ritual: Plant Spirit Medicine, Hydrosols, Flower Essences + Saining
Lesson 6 — Herbs In the Kitchen: Broths, Breads, Pestos + Confections
By the end of these six months, you will feel empowered to bring herbs into your everyday life as medicine, food, and ritual.
TESTIMONIALS
“I have learned in the many years of walking this life that Wise Women come in all stages and ages of their lives, and Ruthie is definitely a Wise Woman. She has enchanted me throughout the Sister of Rock and Root program, making me fall in love with the natural world and bringing me to the space of needing to further develop my relationship with plant spirit and intuition. She is not only a teacher with immense knowledge to share, she is a poetess, a word weaver, a magical spirit and one who walks the path she so richly shares and teaches. Her teachings led me to her products that I order in various turns of the wheel throughout the year. I appreciate her dedication and the quality she brings to her offerings. I look so forward to in-depth study that is being prepared and I am sure it will teach so much more than medicine making. This kind of medicine enriches more than the physical body…it enriches the soul.” ~Donna S.
“There is so much magic in the world, and Ruthie Kølle reveals this to be true. She distills it into everything she does. Her plant medicines and herbalism are infused with it. Her skills as an herbalist and medicine maker weave plant magic into her products. Through her teachings, Ruthie can guide you down the path of herbal medicines and ensnare your mind with the possibilities of plants. If you wish to be a part of this magic yourself, Ruthie, and her teachings, will open the door for you.”
~Lindsey Feldpausch, Clinical Herbalist, RH (AHG)
“Ruthie is an amazing medicine maker and plant worker. Her connection to the plants honors both tradition and the ethical issues of modern times. Her attention to quality, taste, and beauty in her preparations is obvious. To learn from Ruthie is a chance to learn how to work with the healing plants while walking the beauty path. What an amazing experience.”
~April Coburn, Clinical Herbalist + Medicinemaker at Nettlejuice
About Ruthie, Your Guide
I am the sole proprietress of Mother Hylde, who is the wise old woman spirit behind my herbal endeavors. I live in a cabin that is situated on the northern hem of my family’s 8th generation farm which occupies unceded Lenape land. It’s my passion to reconnect with and integrate traditional and ritual methods of healing into our modern lives. I have been studying folk and functional herbalism since 2012, with an affection for medicinemaking and the intersection of herbs, myth, and story. I make and sell small-batch handcrafted plant medicines using plants I’ve grown, wildcrafted, or sourced as locally as possible. I received my Advanced Clinical Herbalist certificate from The Eclectic School of Herbal Medicine in 2017.
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FAQ’s
How much time will I need to dedicate each module? The answer is it varies. It highly depends on how much of the medicines you decide to make and the time you put into your projects. The modules are released monthly, and you can easily spend a few hours each week practicing your new skills, diving into extra reading, and completing your projects. I estimate that the course is worth about 150 hours for those who fully immerse themselves.
Do I need previous knowledge in herbalism practices? Nope! This course is designed to be accessible to the complete novice as well as a fresh look at herbs for someone with some medicine making experience. I’ve incorporated my own personal experiences into the course which are only available here.
How do I know if this course is right for me? If you are “herb curious” and have a healthy sense of wonder along with a desire to connect to the plants as allies and healers, this course is for you. If you already have some medicine making experience and want to expand your skills, this course is also for you!
Will this course prepare me to be a clinical herbalist? No. Although the Hedgewalker’s Path is open to everyone, this course does not have all the training you need to start your own clinical practice. This course prepares to you to be something more akin to a home or community herbalist. If you are interested in seeing clients in a clinical setting, there are many schools to choose from.
Will I receive a certificate? Yes! For apprentices who complete the course, submit of all their “homework” and are paid up on their tuition, you will receive an email with a printable certificate stating that you have completed the course. *Herbalism is an unregulated profession in the US, and there is no certifying board for licensure of herbalists here. Your certificate simply indicates that you have completed your apprenticeship.
How can I connect with other apprentices? Once you enroll, you will be invited to a private forum and app specifically created to cultivate a community of those traveling the Hedgewalker’s Path. This is a place where you can share your experiences, ask questions, and interact with me in a monthly live Q+A discussion throughout the course. Please note that this group is not for asking for herbal/medical advice.
How much will I need to budget for materials? A lot of the tools you’ll need you may already have in your kitchen, such as jars, a scale, and funnels. The cost of sourcing herbs varies greatly depending on the herb, and you may even find that you can wildcraft some. I would estimate that you can spend anywhere from $200-$500 on materials and supplies.
Can I take this course from anywhere in the world? Yes! Even if you can’t grow or wildcraft the herbs we work with, they are usually easy to find in commerce. As far as the live sessions in our private group- if you can’t make it live due to time zone differences, you can always watch the recordings or submit questions to me in the group forum.
Can I share the course with a friend? I know how exciting it is when you begin your love affair with medicine making and how much you want to share it with everyone. However, I have poured the passion of many years of study and practice into this course and it is my livelihood. So I thank you in advance for being part of my trusted community and ask that you keep your course login private. Sharing with your school-age children is absolutely ok, though.
Are you a Hedgewalker?
If you often notice things that mostly go unseen, have an insatiable curiosity about the Inner and Outer worlds, sense a connection to the Other, and feel an urgent need to radically shift our current paradigm, you might be a Hedgewalker. Hedges are home to vast ecosystems; microcosms of magic. They are untamed spaces left to nature’s devices. They exist in a tension between two places, acting as a conduit for the medicine and magic therein, responsible for bringing this medicine to their communities. Hedgewalkers have committed themselves to a lifelong apprenticeship with the plants and the landscapes they inhabit, recognizing that everything they encounter is medicine; the plant, animal, and the landscape itself. This is a relationship that continues to grow, evolve, and deepen, with the plants and land as your teachers. May this course help you to navigate your place in the in-between, and may it be a constant companion on what I hope is a lifelong journey with the healing plants.