Herbal Medicine
Community Learning Circles
in the Grand River Watershed
Gather, Learn & Grow Together
Join us for a new season of Herbal Medicine Learning Circles in the Kitchener-Waterloo area of the Grand River Watershed.
These gatherings are centered around relational and bioregional herbalism, hands-on learning, community connection, and building practical skills for everyday life. Now in our 5th year, we’re excited to welcome both new and familiar faces into a space that’s relaxed, supportive, and grounded in real-world skills.
Seasonal
2 -3 Hours Each
April-Dec 2026
At The YurtKW
& outdoor venues.
2026 Learning Circles
September
Wed 09
Botany: Plant ID
6:00-8:15PM, TheYurt KW ( 508 Duke St. W, Kitchener)
This circle is for herb lovers wanting to learn and practice using a field guide to ensure correct plant ID (an essential skill when harvesting herbs for medicine). We will learn key botanical terms, and common leaf and flower patterns (which can actually be fun!). Then, we’ll dive into using the field guides step-by-step process.
Sat 19
Maker Session: Herbal Oils
9:30AM-12:30, TheYurt KW (508 Duke St. W, Kitchener) in the barn
Discover how herbal medicine works through the skin, and how to make herbal oils and salves for everyday care and first aid. Together, we will make a wound-healing salve to take home. There is a $15 material fee for this circle, in addition to a welcome donation.
October
Sat 03
Plant Sit
9:30AM-Noon-8:15PM, Breithaupt Park Pavilion ( 350 Margaret Ave, Kitchener)
In this guided, outdoor session, we’ll explore local tree medicine through embodied awareness and direct experience. Together, we’ll practice a simple “plant sit” - a quiet, attentive way of being with a tree and opening our senses to notice what arises when we truly take the time to listen.
Sat 24
Maker Session: Vinegars & Oxymels
9:30AM-12:30, TheYurt KW (508 Duke St. W, Kitchener) in the barn
In this hands-on medicine-making session, we’ll explore herb-infused vinegars and oxymels (vinegar + honey) - how they differ, when to use them, and how they support the body. Together, we will make an herbal remedy to take home. There is a $15 material fee for this circle, in addition to a welcome donation.
December
Wed 02
Setting up your Home Apothecary + Herbal Remedy Market
6:00-8:15PM, TheYurt KW ( 508 Duke St. W, Kitchener)
Gather with us in early December for a cozy Learning Circle on creating a practical home apothecary. We’ll explore essential herbs and preparations to keep on hand, share some of our favourite remedies from different backgrounds and traditions, and exchange ideas for building a personal medicine reserve that feels useful and personal. After the circle, stay for our Holiday Herbal Remedy Market—a chance to purchase, sell, or trade herbal remedies within our community. Bring something you’ve made and would like to share, or simply come to browse, connect, and find a few herbal gifts for the season. Everyone is welcome to participate in the market, whether you’re bringing remedies to share, sell, or trade, or just coming to explore.
November
Wed 04
Drop-Dosing
6:00-8:15PM, TheYurt KW ( 508 Duke St. W, Kitchener)
Quiet your mind and open yourself to the “felt sense” of plant medicine. This session takes us beyond textbook learning to deepen our knowledge with plants through direct experience. We will work with a 'mystery herb' by taking a single dose of its medicine, then sit quietly and feel what happens in our bodies. It’s amazing what comes alive when we listen in this way.
Sat 21
Maker Session: Herbal Cough Syrups
9:30AM-12:30, TheYurt KW (508 Duke St. W, Kitchener) in the barn
Join us for a hands-on exploration of herbs used to ease coughs and support respiratory health. We’ll look at the difference between herbs suited to wet and dry coughs, and learn how to combine them into a formula to make an herbal cough syrup. We’ll make a batch together, with each participant taking home their own bottle to use when cough season arrives. There is a $15 material fee for this circle, as well as a welcome donation.
Pricing Details
We are experimenting with the gift economy, so...
how does 'payment' work?
The Herbal Learning Circles are not your typical pay-and-receive experience, because we value what happens to community knowledge-sharing when entry fees are removed.
As such, these sessions are free to attend AND we welcome financial contributions (cash or e-transfer). The gift economy flows through generosity. We thank you for helping us carry this work forward!
Meet your Hosts
Passionate. Experienced. Grounded.
Nikola and Heather have been collaboratively hosting herbal medicine workshops and Learning Circles since 2022. They offer these from a place of passion and service to herbal medicine as the 'the peoples medicine'.
Nikola Barsoum
Half Moon Herbals
Nikola is a community herbalist, medicinal herb grower, and certified Permaculture Designer. She’s dedicated to helping people connect with plants, and care for both themselves and the land.
Heather Cain
Wild Earth Remedies
Heather's background is organic farming and reflexology. She loves growing herbs, making medicines, and supporting people to connect to plants through their hearts and intuition.
