Onsite Herbal Apprenticeship
An in-person, hands-on herbalism apprenticeship residency program at our working apothecary and retreat center in Lake Atitlán, Guatemala. A rare opportunity to dive deep into herbalism with hands-on training and mentorship.
Including 12 Lectures on vitalist herbalism theory, 100+ hours of hands on apothecary training, mentorship with our on-site herbalists & much more.
3 MONTH INTENSIVE
NOW ENROLLING 2026 COHORTS
January 16th - April 10th & June 1st - August 21st
WHAT IS AN HERBAL APPRENTICESHIP?
A living education in the heart of the apothecary.
In a world of online courses, we’re offering something rare and rooted. An in-person, hands-on herbalism apprenticeship program at our working apothecary and retreat center in Lake Atitlán, Guatemala.
This is not a retreat. This is an invitation into a living lineage, one where you learn by doing, in rhythm with the plants and the seasons. Gain hands on experience and practical skills while connecting to the plants on a deep level.
Spots are limited to a maximum of 5 apprentices per cohort. Positions are secured through interview process and deposit.
WHAT TO EXPECT
Live the Herbal Life
Apprentices live onsite in our amazing 2 acre property. Staying in our beautiful cabins. Scroll down for more info on the spaces.
Work-Study Herbal Immersion
You’ll contribute a minimum of 10 hours/week to the apothecary, with training and mentorship from our experienced staff every step of the way.
Ongoing Herbal Education
Apprentices receive 1 formal 2hr class per week and free access to our bi-monthly community herbalism classes, taught onsite. This is where the Vitalist tradition comes alive, through touch, taste, smell, and storytelling.
Theory & Practice Combined
As an apprentice, you’ll be immersed in the day-to-day operations of our working apothecary. Your tasks aren’t just labor; they’re doorways into embodied herbal knowledge. Each week, you’ll receive dedicated class training focused on the “how” and “why” of what we do, including materia medica and traditional context for the herbs you’re working with. Then we will set you free in the garden and the lab to put those teachings into immediate context with hands-on tasks.
WHAT YOU’LL BE LEARNING & DOING:
Harvesting & Post-Harvest Garbling & Processing
You’ll participate in our weekly fresh plant harvests from the medicinal gardens here at Casa Curativa, as well as our partner gardens around the valley of Tzununa.
What you’ll learn and do:
Harvest timing & technique for optimal potency
Field identification and wild-tending practices
Garbling (sorting and cleaning fresh herbs)
Proper drying methods for quality preservation
Storage and labeling protocols for apothecary stock
We offer a line of hand-blended herbal teas using our garden-grown plants. Apprentices help ensure each tea is mixed accurately and with care, maintaining the integrity of the formulas.
What you’ll learn and do:
Understanding blending ratios, weights, and balance of constituents
Sensory evaluation for freshness and synergy
Packaging and labeling for our tea line
Assisting with inventory and rotation of dried herbs
Mixing Herbal Teas
Our formula line relies on consistent, high-quality herbal extractions. You’ll be part of the production process that brings plant medicine from fresh harvest to shelf-ready product.
What you’ll learn and do:
Preparing herbal macerations using alcohol-based solvents
Measuring and weighing for standardization
Labeling, dating, and record-keeping for tincture batches
Straining and bottling finished extracts
Macerating Tinctures
What your tuition covers
12 weeks of Private housing in our Riverside, Honeycomb (June only) or Lodge (shared with one other apprentice) – Full kitchen, bathroom, porch, and peaceful setting
12 Weekly 1hr Lecture every Monday where we explore the foundational aspects of Vitalist herbal theory with nourishing lunch
1 Weekly hands-on practicum training in our Herbal Apothecary with our production team and faculty
10+ hours/week of hands-on apothecary training
Gardening, harvesting, processing, medicine making, herbal spa prep, and retreat support. All tasks come with guided training from our staffOption to join additional community drop in classes every Friday for help setting up and breaking down.
Immersion in a working herbal apothecary
Learn systems, formulations, workflow, and seasonal medicine cycles15% apprentice discount in the Casa Curativa apothecary
Supportive learning culture
We want to meet our apprentices where they are, and make sure we remain flexible to their learning needs.Mentorship and real-world practice daily
Full access to our gardens
WHY DO THIS?
Because herbalism is best learned through living it; with your hands in the soil, your senses tuned to the plants, and your heart aligned with the rhythm of the seasons.
Because most herbal students never get the chance to see how an apothecary actually runs, how fresh plants are transformed into medicine, or how herbalism is woven into real-life healing work.
Because you're seeking more than information; you want embodiment, applied skills, and a community of practitioners to learn from in real time.
Because opportunities like this are rare. This is a chance to step into a lineage of living herbalism, to apprentice in a vibrant ecosystem of plants, people, and healing work.
Do this if you're ready to walk the path, not just study it.
Do this if you’re ready to serve, learn, contribute, and grow.
Do this if your soul is craving real apprenticeship in a place where the plants are teachers, the work is sacred, and the learning never ends.
WINTER COHORT
January 16th - April 10th 2026
SUMMER COHORT
June 1st - August 21st 2026
Meet Your Teachers
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Herbalist, Mother, Teacher, Birth & Postpartum Doula, Steward of Casa Curativa
Julia Bentley, originally from Tennessee (ancestral territory of the Cherokee people), found her path into herbalism through her own healing journey from eczema and psoriasis. After studying with Sajah Popham, Julia moved to Lake Atitlán, Guatemala, where she founded Casa Curativa, a sanctuary where people from all over the world can connect with the healing power of plants.A humorous and engaging teacher, Julia blends lightheartedness with deep wisdom, encouraging students to laugh and find humility in their practice. Her lectures on alchemy and the spagyric arts invite exploration into the more mystical aspects of herbal medicine. Julia’s entrepreneurial spirit shines through in her work, as she has cultivated Casa Curativa into not only an educational hub but also a thriving herbal brand, focused on quality, ethics, and community.
Living onsite at Casa Curativa with her son Emmitt, Julia continues to steward the sanctuary, nurturing both the plants and the community that surrounds it. Her teaching inspires students to embrace both the practical and the profound in their herbal practice, empowering them to create their own path in the world of herbalism.
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Herbalist, Master Natural Builder, Full-Spectrum Doula
Ashley McDonell, a native of Minnesota (ancestral Dakota and Anishinaabe land), has been a dedicated herbalist for over a decade. She studied under Kiva Rose and Matthew Wood, learning to connect deeply with the plants and the land. Ashley is also a master natural builder and full-spectrum doula, blending her knowledge of herbalism with a holistic approach to life and healing.
Known for her engaging teaching style and thought-provoking "soapbox rants," Ashley’s classes challenge students to think critically and connect deeply with the plants, the earth, and themselves. She invites students to see herbalism as more than just a practice—it’s a way of being in relationship with the natural world.
Ashley’s approach to healing is grounded in the belief that plants hold wisdom that extends beyond their chemical properties, and her teaching inspires students to explore both the science and spirit of herbalism.Ashley McDonell, a native of Minnesota (ancestral Dakota and Anishinaabe land), has been a dedicated herbalist for over a decade. She studied under Kiva Rose and Matthew Wood, learning to connect deeply with the plants and the land. Ashley is also a master natural builder and full-spectrum doula, blending her knowledge of herbalism with a holistic approach to life and healing.
Known for her engaging teaching style and thought-provoking "soapbox rants," Ashley’s classes challenge students to think critically and connect deeply with the plants, the earth, and themselves. She invites students to see herbalism as more than just a practice—it’s a way of being in relationship with the natural world.
Ashley’s approach to healing is grounded in the belief that plants hold wisdom that extends beyond their chemical properties, and her teaching inspires students to explore both the science and spirit of herbalism.
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Herbalist, Apothecary Manager & Astrological Guide
Lindsay Chestnut hails from Michigan, land traditionally stewarded by the Anishinaabe peoples, where her journey into herbalism began. Lindsay moved to the Tzununa valley of Lake Atitlán in 2020, finding both community and purpose during a time of global uncertainty. While studying with Sajah Popham, she quickly recognized the need for help at Casa Curativa and stepped in, bringing her sharp organizational skills and a deep passion for herbalism. Lindsay’s entrepreneurial spirit and talent for creating systems have been vital in transforming Casa Curativa into a flourishing herbal brand.
Her commitment to quality control and ethical practices ensures that the apothecary’s medicines remain potent and reliable. Lindsay has also played an integral role in shaping the apothecary’s production process, learning firsthand alongside Julia Bentley to create standardized, effective herbal remedies.
With a passion for astrology, Lindsay integrates planetary wisdom into her herbal teachings, helping students make connections between plants and cosmic cycles. Her love for permaculture and landscape design also informs her work, finding peace in the daily harvests that fuel the apothecary. Lindsay’s teaching style is animated and engaging, blending humor and structure to help students grasp both the science and the artistry of herbalism.
“Plants have the ability to facilitate the healing of our bodies, the clarification of our minds, the opening and strengthening of our hearts, and the evolution of our souls.”
-Sajah Popham
PRICING BY ACCOMMODATION
Riverside Cottage
The Zome Home
Sold Out
Total Cost: $5,550
The Lodge
Honeycomb Cabin
Total Cost $5,250
(Home to to 2 apprentices)
Total Cost: $5,550
(Only available for June cohort)
Positions are secured through interview process and then a $1500 is taken upon acceptance into the program as a non-refundable deposit to reserve your space. Remaining balance is due 1 month before the apprenticeship begins. Contract is signed upon acceptance. **Food not included.
Schedule Your Discovery Call Interview Now
Hop on a call with Julia and she can answer all your questions, give you the lowdown on what to expect, and find out if you are the right person for the in-person apprenticeship program.
Already have housing and want to come join the lectures?
The Offsite Apprenticeship is designed for people already living around Lake Atitlán who want to root deeper into herbal study while keeping their own housing. If you’ll be here for three months or more, you’re invited to join our 12-week cohort and weave yourself into the rhythm of classes, medicine-making, and community practice.
Enrollment is now open for January 2026 and June 2026 cohorts.