Apprenticeship

Apprenticeship is an opportunity to work closely with me throughout the year to assist in my work in the apothecary, teaching the Greenspell Intensive, and holding consultations at the free clinic.

It goes deeper than the mentorship add-on of the Greenspell Intensive and thus requires a deeper commitment from the apprentice.

Apprenticeship does not cost any money, but I do expect an investment in exchange for my time and guidance in the form of assistantship in various capacities (outlined below) in addition to a unique offering that will support both First Curve Apothecary and the Greenspell Organization in their growth, vitality, and reach.

  • At the moment, I only take on one apprentice per year. Apprenticeship is available for those who I already have some experience working with.

  • Those who are most likely to be accepted for apprenticeship are those who have completed the Greenspell Intensive with the mentorship add-on.

  • I also may consider students of the Greenspell Intensive without shadowing, or participants in past workshops or classes I've taught.

  • On some occasions I may consider students of other herbal teachers I respect who come with the highest recommendation from that teacher.

Primary Areas of Responsibility

Apothecary Work

You will have the opportunity to experience the way of work in the apothecary, gaining hours of hands-on experience in making herbal preparations and formulation. You are also free to utilize my apothecary of some 200 plant extracts, dozens of dried herbs, preparations, solvents, and all tools and equipment to work on your own concoctions which we may package and sell as seasonal offerings.

Assisting with the everyday apothecary work for First Curve Apothecary may include

  • Making tinctures, blending teas, making infused oils and salves, and other product preparation

  • Herb harvest and processing

  • Learning and following cGMP (current good manufacturing practices) in product preparation

  • Apothecary inventory and organization

  • Support with product development

  • Order fulfillment

  • Managing First Curve's booth at markets

Commitment

  • Attending all monthly apothecary work days and potentially supervising the work of current Greenspell mentees on these days (typically between April - September)

  • Availability for managing First Curve Apothecary’s booth at seasonal markets.

  • Availability for support in workshops I teach (both at the apothecary space and elsewhere).

  • Availability for supervising the apothecary when we host guest workshops at the space.


Greenspell Intensive

You will have the opportunity to attend a full year of the Greenspell Bioregional Herbalism Intensive in an assistive and supportive role to myself as the primary teacher (along with assisting any guest teachers I may invite to teach).

Commitment

Assisting with the Greenspell Intensive includes:

  • Attending Greenspell Intensive Class Days and Plant Walks (arriving a half an hour early and leaving a half an hour after class ends).

  • Helping Alex to set up and break down classes.

  • Fielding communication with students who may be arriving late, or having trouble finding parking at plant walks.

  • Support in facilitating each class (passing out tinctures, other samples)

  • Compiling class highlights and posting them to the Greenspell Community (these may include insights from students, interesting topics of conversation to explore further in the online community, resources shared in class, action items from/for different students in class)

  • Managing and Organizing the Greenspell Open House (this will look different each year – we can talk more about what this looks like as we get closer to the event)


Unique offering

Since First Curve Apothecary and the Greenspell Organization is at present run entirely by one person (myself), I could always use a helping hand on different projects beyond the typical herbal stuff we love to do. In addition to providing support at the apothecary and the Greenspell Intensive, I ask my apprentices to consider their own unique gifts and abilities to provide an offering or area of offerings that will support both First Curve and the Greenspell Free Clinic in their growth, vitality, and reach. It is important that this offering be something that you are able to bring a high level of competency and professionalism in and something you enjoy doing.

Areas of Need

  • Photography/Videography

  • Social Media Marketing & Strategy

  • Graphic Illustration/Design

  • Grant Writing

  • Web Development/Design

  • SEO

  • Back-end, System Management, Inventory, cGMP practices

  • anything else you can think of that you feel would benefit the growth and reach of First Curve Apothecary and/or the Greenspell Organization!


What You Get Out of The Apprenticeship

In addition to hands on experience in working in the apothecary and assisting in the Greenspell Intensive, I offer a few additional experiences to deepen your experience and provide a robust foundation for your plant path beyond the apprenticeship. These experiences fall under three realms: Clinical Experience, Continuing Herbal Education, Orientation & Initiation


Clinical Experience

  • You will have the opportunity to observe consultations as a part of the Greenspell Free Clinic, offering the experience to observe live cases and understand the process of clinical herbal consultation from intake to protocol delivery and follow-up.

  • You will also participate in case review prior to each client session.

  • You will have the opportunity to write protocols for clients you observe (as practice) which we will go over together to further explore the process of research and protocol development.


Continuing Education

We will discuss your goals, aspirations, and realms of herbal study you are interested in exploring and will work together to ensure your ongoing education is nurturing your growth as an herbalist and human being.

  • Continuing education may include reading assignments and courses from other herbalists to complete.

  • Support in development of your own personal Materia Medica.

  • Learning structures and personal knowledge management.


Orientation & Initiation

Consider this realm a sort of training and orientation for the mind and the heart to support you in developing the skills of being and perceiving conducive to deep earth connection and herbal practice.

We will deepen the practices you may have already begun in your own practice to support you in expanding your perceptual, sensory, and extrasensory awareness to encompass the subtle messages and cues that arise from your body and earth that guide you toward openness, presence, and vital well-being.

This may include many of the practices I offer through mentorship:

  • Stillness / Meditation

  • Mindful and intentional eating and cooking

  • Joyful movement practices

  • Active imagination and dialogue with one's body

  • Dreamwork

  • Earth connection practices & relationship with your local earthly environment

  • Breathing exercises & breathwork

  • Phenology Practice

  • Plant Spirit Connection


Mentorship Sessions

To anchor each of these realms, we will hold monthly, 1-hour mentorship sessions to check in on your experience with clinical observation, your status with the education plan, for you to ask questions about what you are learning along the way, and to refine and deepen your practices of orientation & initiation.

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If you feel called and ready to initiate an apprenticeship, feel free to reach out.