Hikes & Workshops
Our native plant hikes and edible mushroom forays explore northwest Oregon and beyond. We visit our favorite places at peak times, encountering orchids in bloom and fungi in flush. These trips are educational and experiential.

The herbalism workshops span a broad range of topics. Some provide hands-on experience in gathering and crafting homemade herbal remedies; other classes explore the materia medica of a certain condition or season. Among our offerings for 2012 are:


Common Garden Plants for Common Illnesses
Saturday, January 14th, 1pm-2pm
 - with Gradey Proctor
The very medicine that we need is often growing around us, even in the “dead” of winter! In this class we will focus on common plants that are available in the winter garden and how to use them for medicine. We’ll talk about various remedies and sample teas for everyday ailments like colds, sore throats, and stress.
Class will be held at Portland Nursery (Division), 9000 SE Division.
This class is FREE thanks to Portland Nursery! Register online through the nursery.


Northwest Herbs for Colds & Coughs
Wednesday, February 1st, 6:15pm-7:15pm
 - with Missy Rohs
Are you sick of being sick? There are an abundance of healing herbs that grow right here in our ecosystem – many of which can help you get over that cold! We’ll talk about and taste some of our Northwest all-stars for the viruses that visit each winter. Stop the sniffles, quiet the coughs, and invigorate the immune system with natural remedies.
Class will be held at The Herb Shoppe, 3327 SE Hawthorne.
This class is FREE thanks to The Herb Shoppe!


Sustainable Herbalism
Monday, February 13th, 7pm-9pm
 - with Gradey Proctor
Join us at Cascadia Wild for this free introductory class. We will discus the use of local medicinal plants as well as medicine-making techniques. We’ll journey from the grocery shelf to wildcrafting our own medicine, and discus different ways of sustainably acquiring herbs along the way.
Class will be held at Cascadia Wild, 1912 NE Killingsworth.
This class is FREE thanks to Cascadia Wild!


Poplar Buds and Red Cedar
Saturday, February 25th, 10am-1pm
 - with Gradey Proctor
It’s February and spring is near – what a great time to start the season! On this short hike, we’ll learn to identify trees and shrubs by their twigs, discussing botany, medicinal uses, and wildcrafting. A few early blossoms might be out, too! Come dressed for the weather.
Meet at People’s Food Co-op (3029 SE 21st Ave., between Powell & Division) to carpool.
Cost: $15-$25 per person, sliding scale.
To register - email gradey@arctosschool.org.


Brigid's Herbs
Four Saturdays in February, 10am-2:30pm, in SE Portland
 - with Missy Rohs
Brigid is known as goddess of the hearth and healing, keeping family and community well. This four-week class will focus on everyday, pragmatic remedies made with commonly accessible materials. We’ll cover weedy first aid herbs, kitchen treatments for the skin and hair, botanicals for stress and sleeplessness, and more. Each session, we’ll make massage oil, infuse fire cider, and create other eminently useful – and fun! – herbal treatments.
$235 for the class fee and most materials, with an early-bird discount for those paid in full before January 26th.