In person & distance classes for individuals or groups

Classes, Plant/Mushroom Walks & More

Backyard Botanical Survey

Want to know what’s growing on your land? Contact me for a leisurely stroll to identify wild edible and medicinal plants and learn how to use them, with a bit of science and folklore thrown in.  $100 for an hour and a half of plant adventure. 

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Upcoming Classes & Workshops

CANCELLATION POLICY:  If you cancel your registration for classes, workshop, or plant/mushroom walk two or more weeks or more prior to the scheduled event, you will receive a 90% refund. If you cancel within two weeks prior to the event, your registration is non-refundable. 

BIPOC scholarships available for classes offered specifically classes at/through Osadha. 

Please Contact Me for more info.

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Herbal Mycology Discussion Panel & other Mushroom Classes

Free Mushroom Masterclass through Fungi Academy, recording from Tuesday May 21st, 2024, is available here. 

Herbs and Medicinal Mushrooms offer more than just quick-fix remedies, they provide us with a holistic approach to health and vitality. Through this ancient wisdom, we can tap into a rich source of healing that has evolved alongside humanity and uncover a fundamental truth: our well-being is deeply intertwined and inseparable from the natural world. The recording includes our great discussion and the Q & A session with attendees. 

Fungi Academy has a number of online (and in person) mushroom courses available, which can be seen here. Click on the “Online” and “In person” dropdown menus dropdown menu at the top to see what’s available. The following coupon code gives you 15% off any of the online courses.: OSADHA    

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Summer Wild Foods & Medicine Foraging Class

Saturday, July 20th, 930-11am, 2024, W 2nd Ave, Durango, Colorado. $45 (Cash, check, venmo). $46.35 (paypal, credit card). Please contact me here or call 970-779-3111 to register, arrange payment, and receive class handout. REGISTRATION DEADLINE is Wednesday, July 17th. 

Gain the knowledge and skills necessary for foraging wild foods and medicines. In this class we’ll focus on what’s available on the Western Slope during the summer, and you’ll get hands-on time in the kitchen learning plant/mushroom processing.  Free outdoor summer plant & mushroom walk for students who attend the class, date and time to be agreed upon in class.  

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Wild Mushroom Weekend

Workshop Saturday August 3rd, 2024, 9am-3pm in Durango. $95 by cash, check, venmo or $97.85 by paypal, credit card, due by Tuesday August 30th to hold your spot. (Limited to 12 people.) Free mushroom walk on Sunday August 4th, 9am-1130am for Saturday’s workshop attendees. Spot to be announced but will be within an hour’s drive. Please contact me here or call 970-779-3111 to register and arrange payment. Also, please see the cancellation policy in red at the top of the Upcoming Classes & Workshops list.  

The Southern Rockies are a diversity hot spot for fungi. From the beautiful to the bizarre, and the edible to the deadly, we have it all. 

In the workshop, we’ll…

• make and nosh on mushroom pâté
• make mushroom spore prints (important for identifying species and fun to do)
• stain mushroom spores with a dye and check them out under a microscope (you’ll get a digital copy of your spore pictures to show off to family and friends)
• go through additional life-saving steps in mushroom identification
• meet local wild mushrooms on display
• nerd out on medicinal mushroom basics

ONE OF THE SPECIES IN THE PHOTO MONTAGE IS DEADLY DUE TO A TOXIN THAT CAUSES LIVER AND KIDNEY FAILURE. DO YOU KNOW WHICH? (It might not be the one you think!)

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The Wisdom of Herbs Gathering

Saturday, August 17th & Sunday, August 18th, 2024, 10am-4pm, Wellspring Ranch, Bayfield.  Attend one or both days : )  $333 for both days, $175 for single day. Please register here. I’m teaching together with naturopath Dr. Aaylah Wellspring of Wellspring Natural Medicine in Bayfield, Colorado. 

Two action-packed days of meeting plants, learning wild medicines and foods, making medicine, diving into the fundamentals of Western herbalism. Learn self-sufficiency in using plants to care for yourself and your family. Brand new to plants as medicine? This is a great introduction. Been playing with plants for a while? You will still get a lot out of the weekend. 

In this fun and informative weekend you will learn/explore: • Herbal First Aid Lab • Plant identification walk • Medicine Making • Basic Botany • Astrology and Roots of Herbal Medicine • Understanding herbs through our senses (Organoleptics) • Plant Spirit Meditations with Sound Bath • And more!

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Medicinal Mushrooms: Grocery Store Foraging

Saturday, September 7th, 2024 10am-1pm Mountain Time. Live Zoom Class. Please register here.  

Not everyone is keen on bushwhacking for wild mushrooms or lives in a place where foraging’s even possible. If this describes you, consider foraging for medicinal mushrooms in the produce aisle of your local market. Depending on your luck (and how well stocked the store is) you may encounter Shiitake, Maitake, Oyster, King Trumpets, Enoki, Lion’s Mane, Beech, and even the humble Button Mushroom. Many have a long history of traditional medicinal use, and lab studies reveal all to have interesting chemistry. You can also purchase growing kits online for many of these mushrooms.

Discover:

• Traditional & modern uses
• Tasty recipes – food is medicine
• How to prepare as medicine
• There will be an in-class demo on how to make concentrated, powdered extracts that capture nearly all of the mushroom constituents. Extracts will be available for pick up after class in Albuquerque and Durango. (We do not ship.)

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Autumn Wild Foods & Medicine Foraging Class

Saturday, September 21th, 2024, 930-11am, W 2nd Ave, Durango, Colorado. $45 (Cash, check, venmo). $46.35 (paypal, credit card). Please contact me here or call 970-779-3111 to register, arrange payment, and receive class handout. REGISTRATION DEADLINE is Wednesday, September 18th. 

Gain the knowledge and skills necessary for foraging wild foods and medicines. In this class we’ll focus on what’s available on the Western Slope during the autumn, and you’ll get hands-on time in the kitchen learning plant/mushroom processing.  Free outdoor autumn plant & mushroom walk for students who attend the class, date and time to be agreed upon in class.

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Mushromatherapy Workshop

Sunday, Sep 29th, 2024, 1030am-1:30pm, in Durango. $75 Cash/Check/Venmo. $77.25 PayPal/Credit Card. Please contact me at marija@osadha.com or 970-779-3111 to register, for payment link, and to receive class handout. 

Any of you who’ve stuck your nose up to a mushroom know that they are aromatic.  Even if they just smell like “mushroom”, which, by the way, is due to the chemical octanol and it’s relatives. Some mushrooms smell quite pleasant, and some….well, the aptly-named Stinkhorn mushroom comes to mind. Why do mushrooms have an aroma? For the same reasons plants do: Communication in the environment, protection from predation and microbial infection, developmental signals, reproduction and likely functions we haven’t even thought of.  

The scent of mushrooms goes well beyond the mushroomy or earthy scent familiar even to folks whose only encounter with mushrooms is in the produce aisle. If you’re lucky, you may stumble upon Oyster Mushrooms or Horse Mushrooms with a lovely almondy or aniseed-like scent. Some may know the spicy, pungent scent of Matsutake, which has been described as a combination of cinnamon red hots and gym socks. Chanterelle aficionados often mention its apricot-like scent.

Mushrooms have even been used, albeit rarely, in perfumes. I prepare them as distillations and as infused oils to include in my scent blends. In this workshop, we’ll do a group distillation on the stovetop, you’ll set up a mushroom-infused oil to finish at home, and you’ll make your own perfume blend that incorporates a mushroom infused oil with plant infused oils and essential oils. You’ll learn some mycology and some perfumery techniques along the way! 

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Viruses & Botanicals Series

Live Zoom Classes, Wednesdays 6-8pm Mountain Time in October 2024. 

One class – $30 (cash, check, venmo) or $31 (paypal, credit card)

Two classes paid in advance – $57 (cash, check, venmo) or $59 (paypal, credit card)

Three classes paid in advance – $81 (cash, check, venmo) or $84 (paypal, credit card)

Four classes paid in advance – $104 (cash, check, venmo) or $107 (paypal, credit card)

Please contact me here or call 970-779-3111 to register, arrange payment, and receive class handout.

October 2nd, 2024 – Respiratory viruses

October 9th – Hepatitis viruses

October 16th – Herpesviruses – herpes simplex (mouth/genital sores), Epstein Barr (canker sores), varicella-zoster (chicken pox/shingles)

October 23rd – Human papillomaviruses (warts, cervical lesions)

Before I was an herbalist, I was a virologist and infectious disease fellow. I look forward to combining my virology and botanical medicine experience in this easy-to-understand class series. Each class will include an introduction to the viruses, traditional uses of plants and mushrooms, and what the research science has to say.   

Classes are for educational purposes only and do not supplant the advice of a licensed medical practitioner.

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Mushrooms for an Unruly Immune System

Saturday, March 15th, 2025, 10am-1pm Mountain Time. Live Zoom Class. Please register here. 

Allergies, autoimmunity, chronic inflammation…people suffering with these issues might think this means that they have an overly strong immune system. Nope. Rather, it means that healthy immune system function has been derailed. In fact, it’s not unusual for someone with an autoimmune disorder—when the immune system is targeting and damaging parts of the body—to have poor immunity against infections.

In this class we’ll touch on how the immune system may become “confused” about what’s a threat and attack things that aren’t, such as the thyroid, a thumb joint, juniper pollen, or peanut butter. Then we’ll dive into the tradition and science of mushrooms for encouraging proper immune system function. This will also extend to situations in which the immune system has been acutely impaired, such as with cancer and cancer treatment.

Attendees will be able to pick up a powdered mushroom extract—either in Albuquerque or Durango—that we’ll discuss in class. 

Classes are for educational purposes only and do not supplant the advice of a licensed medical practitioner.

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Cardiovascular Health, Naturally

Saturday, April 26th, 2025, 10am-1pm Mountain Time. Live Zoom Class. Please register here. 

Be nice to your heart. Whether you’re going about your day or deep in dreamland at night, this amazing organ works around the clock, beating approximately 100,000 times in 24 hours, sending blood to every cell in the body. And healthy blood vessels make it easier for your heart to do its thing.

Cardiovascular disease is the top cause of premature death in the US. Much of this can be  tied to the preponderance of fake foods, smoking, chronic stress, and genetics though there are other factors that can contribute. What does and doesn’t contribute—based on well done science— may surprise you. For example, did you know that good quality eggs are just fine for cardiovascular health? And that seed oils aren’t a great idea…due both to the way they’re processed as well as their sensitivity to oxidation (going rancid). Or that (non-industry funded) research is showing that levels hsCRP, vLDL-cholesterol, apolipoprotein B (apoB), and lipoprotein A are stronger indicators of cardiovascular disease risk than LDL-cholesterol and HDL-cholesterol or their ratio?

In this class, you’ll learn about key medicinal plants and mushrooms and “functional foods” for improving the health of your ticker and blood vessels. The class will combine traditional uses, well done/critically read research studies, and Marija’s clinical herbal experience with clients and with herself (having a couple of inherited cardiovascular issues). This is a great class for those who already have diagnosed issues, for those who are worried about family history, and for folks who simply want to take care of themselves.

A “love your heart” tea blend will be available for pick up for students in Albuquerque and Durango.  

Classes are for educational purposes only and do not supplant the advice of a licensed medical practitioner.

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Recorded Classes

Recording link will be sent within 24 hours of payment, unless purchased on weekend or holiday, then it will be sent on the next business day. 

Herb-Drug Interactions

RECORDING of live, interactive Zoom class.  $30

On average, in any given month nearly half of the US population uses at least 1 prescription drug (CDC). Approximately 76% of the adult population in the US used at least 1 herbal supplement in 2017 (Choi & Song, 2021). It is difficult to wade through the available information regarding herb-drug interactions for multiple reasons that include bias (folks publishing information on this are often not trained in botanical medicine or phytochemistry), sensationalism (fear-mongering newspaper headlines and clickbait), the growing ingredient complexity of supplements, and polypharmacy (the use of multiple medications concurrently that greatly increases the rate of adverse drug reactions).

This class takes a critical, evidence-base approach at looking at herb-drug interactions. The focus will be on individual herbs, and will include data from critically evaluated case studies, clinical studies, and practitioner experience.  The most likely categories of herbs to interact with medications will be highlighted, as will well-documented interactions. The class is appropriate for multiple types of healthcare provider as well as for folks who take herbs and want to know more about the topic of interactions. 

Medicinal Plants of the West

Recordings of live, interactive Zoom classes.  $15.50 per class. 

Plant ID, medicinal uses, folklore, and science. Attend 1 or all or however many you’d like. Many of the plants are also found elsewhere in North and Central America.

California Poppy & Pine 

Sagebrush & Wild Rose

Barberry & Juniper     

Elder & Oregon Grape                   

Insomnia: An herbalist’s approach

Class recording available.  $17.50. (When you click “buy now”, scroll to the gray button for secure debit or cc payment)

Insomnia is an epidemic that significantly impacts the health and quality of life of many millions of people.   Sleep meds often lose effect over time or can become addictive.  They can help get one through a period of sleeplessness but, for many folks, aren’t a long term fix.  Part of the problem is cultural. Here in the west, many of us go through the day at 110 mph then try to come to a screeching stop at night, hoping to be able to simply turn our switch to “off” and fall asleep.  And it can be hard to change that pattern what with jobs, family responsabilities, and such.   Join us to learn some simple approaches to improve your odds of a restful night of sleep.

Information in this class is not meant to supplant the advice of a licensed healthcare practitioner. 

Hair Loss: An herbalist’s approach

Class recording    $17.50   (After clicking on Buy Now Button, scroll down to the secure debit/credit card payment button)

Hair may start thinning due to nutritional issues, endocrine imbalances, autoimmune attack of the hair follicles, or even from stress.  Join us to learn ways to support a healthy scalp from the inside out and the outside in! 

Information in this class is not meant to supplant the advice of a licensed healthcare practitioner. 

Gout: An herbalist’s approach

Class recording    $17.50   (After clicking on Buy Now Button, scroll down to the secure debit/credit card payment button)

Gout is an extremely painful condition where excess uric acid in the body coalesces into sharp crystals in various joints, particularly the big toe.  There are certain areas where an herbalist’s approach can kick butt for support, and this is one of them. Yes, it requires keeping an eye out for certain exacerbating foods.  We’ll get into that as well as some great herbal ways to get some relief. 

Information in this class is not meant to supplant the advice of a licensed healthcare practitioner. 

Constipation: An herbalist’s approach

Class recording    $17.50   (After clicking on Buy Now Button, scroll down to the secure debit/credit card payment button)

Occasional constipation and bloating are common, if annoying. For some folks, they’re chronic. Either way, there are simple supportive steps that can be helpful for the most common causes and in the absence of more serious issues.  Lots of folks have heard of Senna, a laxative plant. Did you know that it, like some classes of drugstore laxatives, can cause laxative-dependence?  They may help in a pinch but are not long term fixes.   Join us to learn ways to do more than simply slap a bandaid on the issue.  We’ll explore simple tips and gentle, supportive herbs to get things going again. 

Information in this class is not meant to supplant the advice of a licensed healthcare practitioner. 

Fungal Skin Infections: An herbalist’s approach

Class recording  $15.50   (After clicking on Buy Now Button, scroll down to the secure debit/credit card payment button)

Fungal skin infections can be a persistent nuisance, whether it’s athlete’s foot, jock itch, dandruff, ringworm, or what have you.  The spray on drug store meds often lack efficacy, while other meds such as ketoconazole can be downright toxic. (Fungal cells have a lot in common with our cells, leading to unwanted effects from some meds targeted at fungi.)            

Dealing with simple fungal skin infections is one area where an herbal approach can kick butt.  Learn foods that make your body an uninviting habitat and my favorite botanical allies for focused support.                                                                                                                       

Information in this class is not meant to supplant the advice of a licensed healthcare practitioner. 

Acid Reflux: An herbalist’s approach

Class recording  $15.50   (After clicking on Buy Now Button, scroll down to the secure debit/credit card payment button)

Did you know that too little stomach acid rather than too much is a common reason for acid reflux? Especially when you’re older?

Reflux can literally and figuratively be a pain. Chronic reflux (GERD) also damages the esophagus and increases the risk of esophageal cancer. Some folks have reflux without even realizing it. A sign of this can be a frequent urge to clear one’s throat.  Join us to learn why reflux happens and some simple tips on how to deal with it.  You will receive a Zoom link the day before class.

Information in this class is not meant to supplant the advice of a licensed healthcare practitioner.