Duration: Meets one weekend per month for 7 months. April through October 2026. Fridays and Saturdays.
Dates:
April 3-4th Columbia Basin
May 8-9th Okanogan Wenatchee National Forest
June 5-6th Methow Valley
July 10-11th Twisp
August 14th-15th Twisp and North Cascades
September 11-12th Twisp and North Cascades
October 9-10th Klickitat
View detailed schedule here.
Cost: $2150
Instructor: Reisha Beck Guest instructor Gabe Garms

This 7 month course is a hands on, full bodied wildcrafting experience. Participants will join me on wild harvesting missions for food, medicine and crafting materials. We will be driving long distances, climbing steep cliffs, sleeping under the stars and sharing wild food meals together. This course is for people longing to incorporate wild plants into their daily lives, by building relationships and reciprocity with the land they call home. As we harvest, we will tend wild patches, and give back and create a more abundant wild food system for future humans and non humans. We will build relationships with nutrient dense foods that feed our families and communities. We will harvest wild medicines that heal and transform our souls. We will spin fibers and weave our dreams. We will create comradery in shared experiences together.

  • Here are the main wildcrafting projects we will be doing, for a detailed calendar click here :

    Cattails and tule for flour and basketry
    Random weave willow harvesting baskets
    Wild root harvest, foods and medicines, both spring and fall
    Dogbane hemp harvesting and cordage making
    Tree bark harvesting for baskets and medicines
    Folded bark baskets
    Arnica harvesting and medicine making
    Medicinal plant harvest and medicine making in the field ( pedicularis, yarrow, sika valerian etc…)
    Wild plant propagation while harvesting to insure future abundant harvests
    Wild fermentation of wild foods with Gabe Garms
    Natural dyes and spinning natural fibers
    Berry harvests and foods and medicines to preserve them by
    Wild vinegar making with Gabe Garms
    Mushroom harvesting weather permitting
    Acorn harvesting and processing for food, tanning and dyeing
    Wild foods feast and celebration


Here are some of the other topics that will be covered:

  • Plant ID: Not only will we talk about identification during every part of the course, we'll also discuss guilds and relationships between certain plants and species which share their habitat.

  • Utilitarian uses of native and naturalized plants: fibers, dyes, baskets, cordage. While making crafting projects from the fibers we harvest.

  • Medicinal uses of plants. We’ll make medicines for students to take home form the herbs we harvest.

  • Wild foraging and edible plants. We will make meals together utilizing the wild foods we harvest..

  • Plant succession. Understanding of invasive plants and what role they are playing in the ecosystem.

  • Ethnobotanical traditions of the plants we work with.

  • Plant propagation and reciprocity

How to Apply & Prerequisits:

In order to register with this course you must apply first. Applying does not guarantee your spot, We are expecting a lot of applications. Applications must be in by November 1st 2025. And you will know if you are accepted into the course by November 15th 2025. There are only 12 spots available.

In order to apply for this course you must be have the following:

  1. Reliable transportation and the ability to joyfully drive long distances.

  2. Be physically capable of carrying 30 pounds or more over your shoulder while navigating uneven, rocky and wild terrain.

  3. Be comfortable camping outside in all kinds of weather, freezing, raining, hot and sweltering. And have all your own gear.

  4. Able to and enjoy digging roots in 90 degree heat or 35 degree cold.

  5. Have wildcrafted before and have at least an intermediate understanding of wild plants, foods and medicines. And medicine making.

  6. Have taken the Ethnobotany Immersion with Ravens Roots or equivalent experience.

  7. You must be able to climb hills, steep slopes, distance walking in all types of weather, specifically heat.

  8. This class is all inclusive and accepting of all walks of life and discrimination of any sort is not tolerated.

  9. The ability to pay the class in full by March 1st 2026


If you have questions about the course email Reisha at info@ravensroots.com

MATERIALS NEEDED FOR THIS COURSE:

  1. Camera-  phone camera is fine if it's a great one. We will be identifying many plants

  2. Notebook and pen/pencil  

  3. Camping gear for car camping. Tent/sleeping bag etc.

  4. Hand pruners, digging bar, hand scythe, gardening gloves

  5. Harvesting bags or coffee sacks

  6. Your own food, water and self care needs for the weekend.