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.
12/22/2025
🌙 The Wise Woman’s Apothecary: Herbal Allies for Menopause 🌙
Menopause is not an ending. It’s a threshold.
Join Christina for a nourishing evening dedicated to supporting women through the menopausal transition with herbal allies, holistic wisdom, and compassionate guidance. Whether your cycle is shifting, you’re deep in the transition, or you’ve already crossed into your post-menopausal years, this class offers tools to help you thrive, not just endure.
Together, we’ll explore herbs that support hormonal balance, soothe physical symptoms, and tend to emotional resilience, honoring this season as a powerful rite of passage.
✨ Live in-person or join us virtually via Zoom
🎥 Recording available if you can’t attend live
đź—“ January 26, 2026
⏰ 7:00–8:30 PM EST
đź“Ť Orlando / Altamonte
đź’» Virtual option now available!
đź’« All levels welcome
đź’µ Tuition: $40
🌿 Early Bird: $35 through January 12, 2026
Come gather, learn, and reclaim the wisdom of your changing body.
12/19/2025
🌑✨ Elderberry Magic in a Bottle ✨🌑
Our Roots of Herbalism textbook brings a classic back to the kitchen: Elderberry Syrup from Rosemary Gladstar's Medicinal Herbs: A Beginner’s Guide. This deep, rich brew has been a beloved seasonal ally for generations, and it’s beautifully simple to make at home.
Fresh or dried berries, a warm whisper of ginger and cloves, and a swirl of honey come together into a syrup that feels like a shield against winter’s hectic schedule.
A sweet, spiced staple for your herbal pantry, and a delicious way to keep traditions alive. 💜🍯
Let us know in the comments your favorite Elderberry Syrup recipes!
12/19/2025
Peggy’s legacy is woven into the very fabric of Florida’s herbal and holistic community. Through her decades of leadership, mentorship, and creative spirit, she inspired generations to cherish, protect, and better understand our native landscapes and plant heritage. Her warmth, wisdom, and unwavering dedication have left an indelible mark not only on our organizations but on all who were fortunate enough to know her.
As we mourn her passing, we also celebrate a life that illuminated our path and continues to guide us in stewardship, learning, and wonder.
Celebrate the life of Peggy Lantz, leave a kind word or memory and get funeral service information care of Woodlawn Funeral Home & Memorial Park.
12/18/2025
🌿✨ Curious what you’ll learn in the Family Herbalist Program? Here’s a little sneak peek…
In this foundational program, you’ll explore more than 150 herbs, build practical skills in medicine making, deepen your understanding of anatomy and physiology, and learn how to support everyday family wellness with time-honored, sustainable herbal practices. Students leave feeling confident, grounded, and ready to care for their loved ones with clarity and heart.
And the best part? You can begin your journey this January in the way that fits your life best! Visit our website of click the link in our bio to learn more and save your seat!
🌱 In-Person | Orlando
Meet one weekend a month from March through June for hands-on learning, community connection, and time in our botanical sanctuary. The final medicine-making weekend is June 27–28, 2026.
🌿 Virtual | Live via Zoom
Gather every Tuesday evening from March 31–June 21 for a rich, interactive online classroom where you can learn from anywhere. The final medicine-making weekend is June 27–28, 2026.
🌳 Bundle Pathway | Distance Learning Opportunity
Pair the Roots of Herbalism Home Study prerequisite with the Virtual Family Herbalist Program to build a strong herbal foundation and continue seamlessly into deeper study.
If you’re feeling the pull toward plant wisdom, this is your sign. Classes begin next month! 🌼
💻 Our Spring Virtual Family Herbalist Program meets one night a week, and just like our in-person option, it empowers students to care for the everyday health imbalances they face through a comprehensive herbal curriculum. It is an excellent program for those wishing to serve as their family’s primary care provider, but are unable to travel to our Orlando classroom space. Our virtual program also makes it easy to work this course into your busy schedules. Early bird pricing for Virtual ends February 28th, 2026
🤝 Need to take the prerequisite? Save big with our special bundle for the Roots of Herbalism Home Study and our Spring 2026 Virtual Family Herbalist Program! This flexible distance-learning bundle is perfect for those eager to start their herbalism journey while balancing their busy schedules or distance away from our Orlando home campus.
When you register for our Roots of Herbalism Home Study Course + the Spring 2026 Family Herbalist Program, you can take the first two steps in our Herbalist Training Core-Curriculum from home and save money!
💫 Join both programs through the Roots + Family bundle, and save $100 off tuition rates when you pay in full – bringing your total down to $1447 from the regular tuition for both classes of $1547.
🌟 Purchase your bundle by the Family Early Bird tuition deadline (February 28th, 2026) and save an extra $50, bringing your total to $1398.
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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.
