We offer online and on-site educational programs, from beginner to clinical level.
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The Florida School of Holistic Living is a 501c3 nonprofit educational organization with the mission of cultivating sustainable community by empowering individuals through philosophy-in-practice education that promotes holistic living.
08/07/2025
The Florida School of Holistic Living is making its way back to South Florida this month! We're counting down the days until we get to share our beloved Roots of Herbalism class with students in Ft. Myers!
About:
⭐ Join us for a transformative weekend on August 16-17, 2025, as we deep dive into the world of herbal medicine and explore over 20 essential herbs and their amazing properties.
Prepare to engage your senses – taste, learn, and create! You'll experience the ecological philosophies behind herbalism, delve into herbal nutrition, and lay the groundwork for holistic health.
What's included?
• A copy of 'Herbal Recipes for Vibrant Health' by Rosemary Gladstar
• The Florida School of Holistic Living Course Book
• Sampling of 20+ foundational herbsl
• Hands-on medicine-making
• A guided plant walk to discover local edible and medicinal plants
🗓️ August 16-17, 2025
⏰ 10 AM - 6 PM CST
💵 Tuition: $297
📍 Hobart Hall of the Fort Myers Unitarian Universalist Church
All skill levels welcome – plus, 12 CEUs are available for those who need them!
Don't miss your chance to kickstart your herbal journey. Spaces are limited, and these classes tend to sell out FAST! Head to our website to grab your spot... today!
08/06/2025
🌿✨ Congratulations to our very first Roots of Herbalism: Pensacola graduating class!
We spent a beautiful weekend at Ever'man 9 Mile exploring the magic of medicinal plants, hands-on medicine making, and the foundations of holistic living. From tasting 20+ herbs to preparing tisanes and tinctures, these students dove deep, and we’re overjoyed that they decided to spend the weekend with us! 💚
📚 Ready to start your own herbal journey?
Our next Roots of Herbalism weekend is happening in Ft. Myers, August 16–17, and spots are filling fast! Come learn, sip, stir, and grow with us in South Florida! 🌞
Let’s get hands-on! A poultice is one of the simplest and most effective ways to work with herbs topically, no fancy equipment needed.
✨ Just mash fresh or dried herbs with a little water, apply the mixture to the skin, and cover with a cloth. That’s it! This age-old remedy can help soothe irritation, reduce swelling, or draw out infection.
From plantain on a bug bite to comfrey on a sore joint, poultices are folk medicine at its finest and are a great skill to keep in your herbal toolkit. 💚
Have you ever made one? Let us know in the comments!
08/04/2025
🌿🎉 Congratulations to our Summer Family Herbalist Program graduates! 🎉🌿
These dedicated students have spent the season diving deep into the healing power of plants — learning how to care for their families with confidence, compassion, and over 150 herbs at their fingertips. From herbal remedies and nutrition to anatomy, detox, and formulation, they’ve grown into the role of caretaker in the most holistic way.
We’re so proud of the work they’ve done — and we’re excited to welcome the next class of plant-powered caregivers this Fall!
✨ Curious if this program is right for you?
Join us for a FREE Q&A session on August 11th to learn more about how the next Family Herbalist Program can empower you to support your loved ones with natural, sustainable care.
🪴 RSVP on our website or by clicking the link in our bio!
08/02/2025
🌿 Plant of the Month: Vetiver (Chrysopogon zizanioides) 🌿
This August, we’re celebrating Vetiver—a grounding, cooling grass with deep roots (literally and energetically). 🌱 Known in Ayurveda as Usheera, vetiver has been used for centuries to calm the nervous system, support digestion, and bring relief from heat and inflammation.
Its fragrant roots reach up to 4 meters deep, making it a natural force against erosion and a powerful ally in bioremediation. You’ll find its earthy, smoky scent in perfumes, soaps, cooling drinks, and herbal remedies across tropical traditions.
Whether woven into mats or brewed into a summertime tea, Vetiver invites us to root deep and stay cool.
🌻 Soak Up the Sunshine & Herbal Wisdom this August! 🌿
Our upcoming classes are blooming with opportunities to grow your herbal roots:
☀️ August 11
Q&A Session: Family Herbalist Program
Curious about our fall family class? Join us virtually to learn more about our in-person Family Herbalist Program starting this fall!
🕙 7-8 PM EST
☀️ August 16
Roots of Herbalism: Ft. Myers
Dig into the foundations of plant medicine 🌱
Live + in person all weekend long!
🕙 10AM - 6PM
☀️ August 23–24
Roots of Herbalism: Orlando
Another chance to sprout your skills before fall! 🍂
🕙 10AM - 6PM
🌻 Let your herbal journey shine bright. Reserve your spot today!
🌿✨ Ready to boost your wellness naturally? Join our on-demand class, "Herbs for Resilient Health"!
Dive into a five-part video workshop series filled with practical, bioregional advice to keep you and your family thriving. 💪
Here's what we’ll cover:
1️⃣ Prevention & Protection through Immune Support
2️⃣ Addressing Viral Infections with Herbs
3️⃣ Nourishment for Healthy Families
4️⃣ Love your Lungs: Respiratory Care
5️⃣ Emotional Wellness for Immune Health
You'll learn simple, locally-focused strategies that prioritize accessibility and kitchen medicine, along with recipes and handouts to enhance your learning. 🌱💚
🌱✨ It's Herbal Term Tuesday! This week, we're shining a light on "carminative," a term that describes herbs known for their ability to relieve gas and bloating, promoting digestive comfort. These natural wonders help soothe the stomach and encourage healthy digestion. 🌿💨
Some popular carminative herbs include fennel, ginger, and peppermint. Have you tried any of these for digestive support? Share your go-to remedies below! 👇
07/25/2025
🧠✨ Ready to nourish your mind? Join us for our on-demand class, "The Happy Healthy Brain - Foods, Nutrients, and Herbs to Help Sustain Cognition, Mood & Memory."
Discover how modern life can challenge our brain health and learn how to counteract those effects! From stress and poor sleep to the food we eat, understanding the biochemical connections can empower us to make better choices for our cognitive wellbeing.
In this session, we'll explore:
🌿 Endogenous opiates (endorphins)
💪 The neurotransmitters released during exercise, eating, and more
🥦 Nutritional factors like Folic Acid and Omega 3s
🧂 The relationship between sugar and the brain
🌱 Key herbs like Bacopa and Ginkgo
Ever wish you had a gentle tool to help bring more calm, balance, and emotional clarity into your life?
Flower Essences are subtle yet powerful allies that support emotional well-being. Whether you're navigating daily stress or diving deep into personal growth, they've got your back!
Join herbalist Emily Ruff for a five-week journey exploring the Bach Flower system and Florida-based alternatives. Learn how to choose, make, and work with these botanical allies for a lifetime of emotional wellness.
💻 Live via Zoom
🗓️ Starts Oct. 21
🕰️ 6:30-8:30 p.m. EST
🌼 26 CEUs available
✨ Includes Rescue Remedy, a personalized formula, a textbook + 8 bonus eBooks!
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Contact The Practice
Send a message to Florida School of Holistic Living:
Our programming includes a comprehensive curriculum of natural health and sustainable living workshops, continuing education, and professional training. In addition, we provide the Central Florida community a space to connect with our community, build vibrant health, and deepen our relationship with the earth, through our Bodhi Garden, Community Herbal Clinic, Moon Circles, the Florida Herbal Conference, and ongoing special events.
Philosophy-in-practice education offers students the opportunity to “get their hands dirty.” We emphasize a holistic philosophy in all of our courses, a perspective which honors the whole person and their connection to their environment. We then see k to put that philosophy into practice through hands-on educational opportunities, taking our students into the field to connect with the subjects of which they are learning. By empowering our students with the knowledge and experience to live a more fulfilling, sustainable lifestyle, we hope to contribute to a more equitable, peaceful world for future generations.
Our History
Founded in 1999 as the Florida School of Herbal Studies, the school first focused on introducing the concepts and practices of holistic living through the science and art of herbalism. Classes were offered in Titusville and Orlando under the direction of herbalist George D’Arcy, hosted at local herb stores and healing centers such as Leaves and Roots and Simply Well. The school’s first building and educational gardens were established in 2005 in Winter Park under the direction of herbalist Emily Ruff, relocating to our current neighborhood in Downtown Orlando in Fall 2006.
As the school’s programming grew, so did our curricula, to serve students and assist them in fully integrating ecological herbalism into their lives. These expanded offerings included more diverse subjects of n atural health including holistic nutrition, iridology, healing with rhythm, and various nutritional theories, as well as sustainable living and urban homesteading topics such as beekeeping, permaculture, and organic gardening. The school formally changed its name to the Florida School of Holistic Living in Fall 2007 to better reflect the full scope of its mission and work in the community.
FSHL has been a driving force in Central Florida’s movement towards environmental consciousness and conservation, offering access to education on traditional philosophies and practices, as well as contemporary technologies, that foster living in harmony with the natural world. The school has been an ardent advocate for United Plant Savers, receiving the first Botanical Sanctuary designation in Florida in 2012. In support of local farmers, the school founded the Homegrown Local Food Cooperative in 2007 to build a sustainable agricultural economy in Central Florida. In 2012, in support of our regional herbal community, the school founded the Florida Herbal Conference.
Our Founders
George D’Arcy (1952-2005), herbalist and school founder, was a student and apprentice of Dr. John Christopher, Rosemary Gladstar and seven other herbalists whose training motivated him to found the Florida School of Herbal Studies. Certifications as an EMT, Pharmacy Technician, and Nurse Assistant provided a context to bridge the gap between traditional healings and modern systems of wellness, which allowed Mr. D’Arcy a unique position to consult his clients to wellness with an intimate understanding of modern healthcare. As a graduate of advanced programs at the Tracker School with Tom Brown, Mr. D’Arcy’s teachings focused on integrating wellness with a relationship with our natural environment.
Carolyn Whitford (1944-2010), herbalist and charter school advisor, founded Leaves and Roots in 1993 to ensure the power of the plants remained in the hands of the people. Carolyn was a community visionary whose steadfastness and generosity provided access to herbal medicine to Central Florida residents for nearly two decades. Carolyn was a supportive advisor in the work of the school since its inception, and became active in the work of the organization by hosting classes in the research room of her store starting in 2001.
