Name: Northwoods Herbalism
Start: 2026-01-15T17:30:00-06:00
End: 2026-01-15T19:30:00-06:00
Location: Ely Folk School

3rd Thursday Monthly
5:30 PM - 6:00 PM Social Hour (all are welcome)
Please see Class Calendar on our website (elyfolkschool.org/classes) for more up-to-date information on each month.
6:00 PM - 7:30 PM Herbalism Class Time (registered students only)
Individual Tuition: $30, Materials: varies by month
The Herbalism Club was formed in 2025 to support both new and knowledgeable herbalists in our area to meet, share, and learn together. Now known as "Northwoods Herbalism", this class series is for anyone with an interest in herbalism in our area; both herbs that can be found wild in our surrounding Northern Minnesotan region or herbs that can be cultivated and grown in our yards or homes.
Each month students will be introduced to a new herb by learning holistically about the plant, learning how it's used traditionally, how herbalists here in Ely use it, and how we can work with it in our home and garden. Some months may include making tinctures to build your at-home apothecary, while others may explore recipes for cooking, making salves, or creating decoctions. Each month will vary based on the herb being presented and the style of the instructor teaching.
Our topics and herbs will move with the seasons, giving seasonally and ecologically relevant info each month. Classes will be responsive to the reality of the earth, growing season, and passion of the teaching herbalist, so the herb of choice each month may be announced well in advance or only a week ahead of time. A focus will be given to new topics not covered in last year's series (such as comfrey, thyme, garden sage, lemon balm, labrador tea, lavender, mushroom, raspberry leaf, and violet) though some keystone herbs from this region may be repeated from our 2025 season (such as yarrow, hawthorne, or goldenrod.)
Purchase classes individually month-to-month based on your availability and interest, or sign up for the "2026 Northwoods Herbalism Class Pass" to support the program and gain access to all 12 classes. Class sizes will be limited to 15 students per month.
All are invited to the 30 minute pre-class "social" before class each month to talk about what they've learned in previous classes, discuss tips and tricks to growing herbs, ask questions, and share knowledge.
Materials for each class will be payable directly to the instructor on the day of the class and will vary month to month.
Led by local, trained herbalists and friends, students will have the opportunity to work with and learn from multiple personalities throughout the year:
Jaime Brennan
Susan Larson
Tracy Koivisto
Jennifer Toddie