Israel Herb School

Yes, we can grow our own food!!!

Learn How This Family Grows 6,000 Lbs Of Food on Just 1/10th Acre Ever thought of growing your own food but didn't think it was possible? It's more that possible! It might even be the way of the future. If the Dervaes family can do it while living in Los Angeles, I think you can to. The Dervaes family live on 1/10th of an acre 15 minutes from downtown L.A..

Wings open while staying grounded :)

The following is a piece that one of the participants, Aleeza, wrote up about her experience at school:

It could bring me to tears; So many years of such great education... and I never planted a vegetable garden in my whole life? I'm 26!

There's a place of disbelief: So... this seed will really grow into a plant? This plant will really bear fruit? This fruit will really give seeds?

Intellectually it makes sense, and we're starting to learn the more complex answers of 'Yes, if conditions X, Y and Z are met,' and so on, but if it's true... then how are so many people slaving away working jobs they don't like in order to buy food for their families?

Why aren't they just sewing seeds? Well, I suppose we've all been dreaming of the "promised land".

The promised land. There's something so meaningful about having this course in Israel, and in the Jerusalem hills. Far from the city lights and hustle-bustle of paved-over Jerusalem, we are just a short drive away from that incredible metacenter of burning mystical energy. Here we are, among the milk thistles, watching as the rain permeates the dust and brings life to the clay of the Earth. Here we are, exercising Chi, breathing deeply and learning daily; Growing in faith, inspiration and encouragement toward the 'Healing of the Nations'. We're hearing visions of what could be- and how we could get there. What do I mean?

Natural living: the Heartbeat Pace; Leaving the Babylon of fearing lack, of survival mentality, of consistent stress - and coming home to Nature, where there is Abundance!; Tons of medicinal herbs; leaves, roots, seeds, flowers and berries; Hills swarming with luscious Carob trees just waiting for a few more Rashbis to come along and receive from them; Calling out: You are welcome here. There is plenty of room. And while you're at it, won't you please learn how to give back to the Earth that's hosting you? :)

It is now week 3 of the Israel Herb School with Baruch Shapiro. I see Baruch as a Modern Hebrew Medicine Man. Now, while each person is a genius in his or her own way, there are certainly certain fields that I value, respect and appreciate more than others. For me, the fields of plant medicine and gardening are two of these fields. This is because they incorporate so many of the things that I value: Holistic Health, Sustainability, Harmony with Nature, Caring for Others, Heightened Awareness of our Surroundings and the beauty of Sacred Geometry & Vibrant Art found so blatantly in the natural world. In this sense, I see Baruch as a visionary and as a powerful key to re-educating ourselves as a society toward a more harmonious and conscious future.

Baruch is also inspiring in terms of his teaching method. He is able to provide attention to each student, while staying sensitive to the group's dynamics. Finally, here is a school where we are learning about the systems of the body and how they work as well as how they interact... while doing so in an understandable, logical and beautiful way! We are guided towards the most appropriate textbooks and sourcebooks, handed copies of important materials and have a wonderful library at hand. We have group study sessions complete with flashcard-making and general discussion time to proactively re-organize our notes and questions. Studying in a small community setting provides mutual support and a whole lot of fun along the way. And I love the approach; a balance of textual, teacher-student and hands-on studies. We do herb walks, learn about and create various types of medicines, get to know the incredible herb spiral's residents and together are seeding, planting and learning about a rainbow of living plant creatures!

I relate to the sprouts. They are so, so delicate. They remind me that I must tend to myself as I tend to them, and that, conversely - If we ourselves are not tended to, then we cannot as fully co-create the most beautiful reality exterior to ourselves. There is a natural order and a natural pace. Such is life! ~ May we each receive the power and the awakening to take good, good care of ourselves. May we learn to bless each breath and each glance at the infinite sky.

I'm full of hope. I know there's a long way to go. So much to learn, study, sow and reap; So much to incorporate between the various methods of healing and preventative medicine in order to bring to light the more sustainable ways of living as a society... But as I watch as we apprentices grow in our understandings and grasps of the path at hand, I smile. I am so grateful. It could bring me to tears.

Herbs, hangin'

Taking a Sabbatical and enjoying it!

Israel Herb School hosted a beautiful event with Harmony Art this weekend. Here is a small taste of the magical energy present while preparing the space for the event "Sacred Alive".

Israel Herb School welcomes its students at Sage Farm for the 2014 Herbal Foundations course.

Israel herb school welcomes its new students for the 2014 herbal foundations course!!

Now 7 weeks in, the four herbal apprentices are hard at work seeding, preparing the garden and learning in the herbal lab.