Core College
Study Organic Medicinal Herb Growing
Study soil health, propagation, veganic growing, growing for herbalists and scaling herb production for national and international markets.
Diploma in Organic Medicinal Herb Growing
Course Delivery
Online with Site Based Clinical Training
Duration
One Year
Start Date
February 2025
The Diploma in Organic Medicinal Herb Growing is designed to provide students with comprehensive knowledge and practical skills in cultivating and managing medicinal plants. The programme prepares students to contribute effectively to sustainable medicinal plant production through a blend of online theoretical learning and practical days in the gardens of Core College.
Apply NowFrom Garden to Apothecary
Embark on a transformative journey into the world of medicinal plants with our comprehensive programme designed to equip you with the knowledge and practical skills to cultivate and harvest a wide range of medicinal herbs. Students will learn about practical growing methods, the benefits of veganic systems, and the vital connection between soil microbiomes and high-quality herb yield. The course is designed for anyone passionate about growing medicinal herbs, whether at home or at scale.
Whether you are a medical herbalist aiming to grow your own plants for clinical use or a grower looking to enter the expanding medicinal herb market, this course offers the expertise you need to succeed. Modules are listed below.
The Programme
The Organic Medicinal Herb Growing Course employs a blended learning format that combines online academic content with face-to-face practical days in our organic medicinal herb gardens. This approach allows you to engage with theoretical concepts through our online platform while applying your skills during practical days scheduled throughout the year.
Online Delivery
All academic content is delivered through Canvas, Core College’s virtual learning platform. Students complete one module at a time, each lasting three weeks. They have access to a variety of rich learning resources, including readings, videos, podcasts, and graded discussion forums. These forums enable students to collaboratively explore medicinal herb growing concepts and foster a sense of student community.
Each student group, is supported by a dedicated tutor who moderates the discussions. Tutors are also available via email or phone. Tutors help ensure that students stay on track and provide guidance as needed. The flexible structure of the course allows students to learn at their own pace, enabling them to balance academic and personal commitments.
Practical Days
In addition to online learning, students are required to attend 18 full-day practical sessions (9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.) throughout the year. These practical days are designed to provide hands-on experience in our organic medicinal herb gardens. Heiko Klee and Klaus Laitenberger help the students to apply their theoretical knowledge to activities such as soil preparation, planting, crop management, and harvesting, all aligned with the growing season. These sessions ensure that students gain comprehensive practical skills in medicinal plant production, complementing the academic material covered in the course.
By combining flexible online learning with immersive practical experiences, the programme equips you with the expertise needed to succeed in the field of medicinal herb cultivation. Whether you're balancing work, family, or other commitments, our blended learning approach is designed to fit seamlessly into your life while providing a thorough and engaging educational experience.
Contributors
Klaus Laitenberger
Klaus Laitenberger, author of three vegetable gardening books, and regular contributor to Irish Garden magazine, was instrumental in the development and establishment of the gardens at Core College. Klaus is passionate about soil development and maintaining soil health.
Iain Tolhurst
Iain Tolhurst, prominent in the organic movement for over 45 years, is a leading expert in stock-free (veganic) organic horticulture and low-carbon local vegetable production systems. His farm exemplifies productivity through agroforestry, biodiversity, and green manure systems. In 2023, Iain was awarded an MBE for his contributions to agriculture.
Leonardo Piervitali
Leonardo Piervitali is an agronomist with over 20 years of experience in organic agriculture. He specialises in the cultivation of medicinal plants, as well as wine, olive oil, horticulture, and ancient cereals, working on projects that promote sustainable practices and improve soil health.
Peter Jones
Peter Jones is an emeritus professor at University College Cork (UCC), Ireland. Originally a plant breeder, he also researches the role of plant chemicals in interactions with pests and pathogens, and was the founding director of the UCC MSc programme in Organic Horticulture.
Helen Begadon
Helen Begadon is the Director of Core College, a leading institution in medicinal herbalism education for over 24 years. She is deeply passionate about revitalising and preserving Ireland’s tradition of medicinal herbalism and fostering excellence in the education of professional herbalists.
Ronan Tormey
Ronan Tormey, Master Medical Herbalist, led a significant medicinal herb cultivation project in Ireland and brings a wealth of experience in managing large-scale herb production market and sales opportunities for international markets.
Heiko Klee
Heiko Klee has over a decade of experience in horticulture, with seven years focused on growing medicinal herbs in Ireland. He works with Core College and is developing their medicinal herb growing project and gardens. Heiko is passionate about organic methods suited to the Irish climate.
Modules
The course includes the following modules:
- Introduction to Irish Medicinal Plants
- Soils, Nutrients, and Water Supply
- Medicinal Plant Structure and Function
- Plant Taxonomy
- Propagation
- Crop Protection
- Ecological Growing Systems and Foraging of Medicinal Plants
- Optimisation of Medicinal Plant Production
- Organic Production of Specific Medicinal Plants
- Commercial Medicinal Plant Production and Marketing
- Field Practice
Qualification
On successful completion of the course, the examination, and field practice, students will be awarded a Diploma in Medicinal Herb Growing by Core College.
Application Procedure
To register for a place on the course, applicants should first arrange an interview with the Course Director.
Places are allocated based on this interview/discussion, during which students can also have further questions answered.
To progress with this process, please complete the online application form, which can be accessed below.
Also, please choose a time for your zoom meeting with the Course Director.
Fees
Study fees are €3,850 per year. This includes practical days. Students employed and residing in the Republic of Ireland are eligible for 30% funding through the National Organic Training Skillnet.
Start Date
The next course commences in February 2025.
