Meet our Teachers
Evie Bellinger
lotushealingartstrumansburg.com
Evie Bellinger, LMT received an AAS in Therapeutic Massage/Integrated Healthcare in 2004. She is currently working toward her BS in Wellness Management. One of her favorite continuing ed. courses was a weekend-long intensive on Manual Lymphatic Drainage techniques. She has never looked at healing the same way since! Evie is passionate about empowering people's innate healing abilities through sharing the importance of self-care techniques relating to massage and lymphatics.
Class: The HOW & WHY of DIY Lymphatic Drainage and Massage
lotushealingartstrumansburg.com
Evie Bellinger, LMT received an AAS in Therapeutic Massage/Integrated Healthcare in 2004. She is currently working toward her BS in Wellness Management. One of her favorite continuing ed. courses was a weekend-long intensive on Manual Lymphatic Drainage techniques. She has never looked at healing the same way since! Evie is passionate about empowering people's innate healing abilities through sharing the importance of self-care techniques relating to massage and lymphatics.
Class: The HOW & WHY of DIY Lymphatic Drainage and Massage
Gert Coleman
A writer, naturalist, herbalist, and retired English professor, Gert Coleman teaches nature writing workshops in the wild places of New York State and beyond. She lives on 106 hilly acres in Central New York, where she and her husband tend herbs, flowers, trees, and at-risk native plants.
Class: Beyond Chamomile Tea
A writer, naturalist, herbalist, and retired English professor, Gert Coleman teaches nature writing workshops in the wild places of New York State and beyond. She lives on 106 hilly acres in Central New York, where she and her husband tend herbs, flowers, trees, and at-risk native plants.
Class: Beyond Chamomile Tea
Michele Crosta
www.motmotcollective.com
Michele is an herbalist and passionate environmental advocate. She studied 3 years under herbalist David Winston. Those years of clinical education proved profoundly transformative and led her on a deeper journey with the plants, cultivating her own flourishing garden, all the while collaborating with local beekeepers learning the art of
beekeeping. Her love of this planet extends far beyond her backyard, and has even taken her abroad to Costa Rica, where she also tends to a tropical garden oasis right in the heart of Nosara. Michele’s commitment to sustainability and the plants shines through as the founder of MotMot Collective, crafting delightful organic herbal products.
In addition to her herbal pursuits, Michele teaches yoga, sharing her knowledge of holistic wellness with others. Driven by a deeply rooted connection to nature, her work blends herbalism, environmental stewardship, community engagement, and yoga, as earth-based movement, forging a heartfelt connection with our inner compass. She
shares her knowledge with joy and her dedication to sustainability permeates every aspect of her life. Michele’s holistic approach reflects her belief in the interconnectedness to all living things and her unwavering commitment to nurturing both health and harmony for individuals and the planet.
Class: Herbal First Aid
www.motmotcollective.com
Michele is an herbalist and passionate environmental advocate. She studied 3 years under herbalist David Winston. Those years of clinical education proved profoundly transformative and led her on a deeper journey with the plants, cultivating her own flourishing garden, all the while collaborating with local beekeepers learning the art of
beekeeping. Her love of this planet extends far beyond her backyard, and has even taken her abroad to Costa Rica, where she also tends to a tropical garden oasis right in the heart of Nosara. Michele’s commitment to sustainability and the plants shines through as the founder of MotMot Collective, crafting delightful organic herbal products.
In addition to her herbal pursuits, Michele teaches yoga, sharing her knowledge of holistic wellness with others. Driven by a deeply rooted connection to nature, her work blends herbalism, environmental stewardship, community engagement, and yoga, as earth-based movement, forging a heartfelt connection with our inner compass. She
shares her knowledge with joy and her dedication to sustainability permeates every aspect of her life. Michele’s holistic approach reflects her belief in the interconnectedness to all living things and her unwavering commitment to nurturing both health and harmony for individuals and the planet.
Class: Herbal First Aid
Jaclyn Eisman
www.jaclyneisman.com
I have been studying herbalism since 2008. I have taught classes at the library and at various farms about herbalism and medicine making.
Class: Herbs for your family medicine cabinet
Jen Frey
www.brigidsway.com
Jen Frey is a healer, mentor and Land communicator with more than 25 years of experience with Plant essences, energy work, and herbal practices. She is the author of Communicating with Plants: Heart-Based Practices for Connecting with Plant Spirits, the founder of Brigid’s Way and co-steward of Heart Springs Sanctuary. Jen has dedicated her life to the spiritual path of Plant work.
Class: Introduction to Plant Communication
Joey Diana Gates
www.regenerativeelements.com and www.dishtruck.org
I have been blessed to live, work, study and play all over the world, experiencing firsthand great and innovative ways of doing things, as well as serious environmental harms. This has led me to live a life of striving to find low impact, healthy and sustainable ways of being and to share that knowledge with others. Along the way I began learning solar oven cooking and started the Sol Kitchen eventually vending at the Ithaca Farmers Market. I now own and operate Dish Truck with the mission of "Bringing Sustainability to the Party," helping folks stop making garbage at events.
Class: Cooking With the Sun
www.regenerativeelements.com and www.dishtruck.org
I have been blessed to live, work, study and play all over the world, experiencing firsthand great and innovative ways of doing things, as well as serious environmental harms. This has led me to live a life of striving to find low impact, healthy and sustainable ways of being and to share that knowledge with others. Along the way I began learning solar oven cooking and started the Sol Kitchen eventually vending at the Ithaca Farmers Market. I now own and operate Dish Truck with the mission of "Bringing Sustainability to the Party," helping folks stop making garbage at events.
Class: Cooking With the Sun
Emma Gutierrez and Zack Despreaux
www.maidenhairmushrooms.com
Emma and Zack are co-founders of Maidenhair Mushrooms. Emma studied Mycology at ESF, and uses the lens of fungi to restore native ecosystems across the region as a Land Steward. She has certificates in Bioregional Herbalism and Wild Mushroom Identification. Zack fell in love with fungi as a chef in a commercial kitchen, after being exposed to the wonderful world of wild foods. He is now an expert mushroom cultivator and hobby forest farmer. Together, they have over a decade of foraging experience, and are passionate about teaching these skills to others to build a more resilient community.
Class: Intro to Mushroom Cultivation
www.maidenhairmushrooms.com
Emma and Zack are co-founders of Maidenhair Mushrooms. Emma studied Mycology at ESF, and uses the lens of fungi to restore native ecosystems across the region as a Land Steward. She has certificates in Bioregional Herbalism and Wild Mushroom Identification. Zack fell in love with fungi as a chef in a commercial kitchen, after being exposed to the wonderful world of wild foods. He is now an expert mushroom cultivator and hobby forest farmer. Together, they have over a decade of foraging experience, and are passionate about teaching these skills to others to build a more resilient community.
Class: Intro to Mushroom Cultivation
Suzanne Johnson
I am an organic, regenerative gardener and herbalist of 25 years, studying and practicing small scale homesteading with my husband, Jeff, on our beautiful 33 acres. Deep nature connection and nourishment of mind, body and spirit is my focus. Combining shamanic practices with practical skills for tending and nourishing ourselves, our community and the land around us.
Class: My Favorite Local Herbs!
I am an organic, regenerative gardener and herbalist of 25 years, studying and practicing small scale homesteading with my husband, Jeff, on our beautiful 33 acres. Deep nature connection and nourishment of mind, body and spirit is my focus. Combining shamanic practices with practical skills for tending and nourishing ourselves, our community and the land around us.
Class: My Favorite Local Herbs!
Eleanor Liebson
www.fingerlakesmaze.org
Eleanor has worked with children and adults in occupational therapy for 35 years cultivating curiosity and confidence through meaningful activities.
Classes: Edible tree ornaments for our feathered friends
www.fingerlakesmaze.org
Eleanor has worked with children and adults in occupational therapy for 35 years cultivating curiosity and confidence through meaningful activities.
Classes: Edible tree ornaments for our feathered friends
Lore McSpadden-Walker
https://www.positiveforcemovement.org/wwh
https://linktr.ee/thewildwithinhealing
Lore (they/them) is an embodiment navigator who has dedicated their work towards helping people who have experienced systemic denial of access, gender dysphoria, and/or traumatic experiences learn about their physical selves through education, facilitated conversations, movement and somatic awareness, Reiki, herbalism, and earth-based relational healing.
Their current projects also center aspects of food access, and include the literal sharing of foods as well as education related to growing, foraging, preparing, and preserving edible and medicinal plants.
Information about their background and certifications can be found at https://www.positiveforcemovement.org/about.
Class: Kitchen Resilience
https://www.positiveforcemovement.org/wwh
https://linktr.ee/thewildwithinhealing
Lore (they/them) is an embodiment navigator who has dedicated their work towards helping people who have experienced systemic denial of access, gender dysphoria, and/or traumatic experiences learn about their physical selves through education, facilitated conversations, movement and somatic awareness, Reiki, herbalism, and earth-based relational healing.
Their current projects also center aspects of food access, and include the literal sharing of foods as well as education related to growing, foraging, preparing, and preserving edible and medicinal plants.
Information about their background and certifications can be found at https://www.positiveforcemovement.org/about.
Class: Kitchen Resilience
Agy Merkel
thebuffaloherbalist.substack.com
I am a certified herbalist with a background in medicine and an MSc in Herbal Medicine. My work focuses on herbal safety, pharmacology, and integrative health, with a passion for herb-drug interactions, toxicology, and evidence-based herbal therapeutics. My goal is to bridge the gap between traditional herbalism and modern science, ensuring the safe and effective use of herbal medicine. Through teaching, research, and writing, I educate practitioners and consumers on the complexities of herbal safety and its role in holistic and conventional healthcare.
Class: Beyond the Basics – Understanding Herbal Pharmacology & Mechanisms of Action
thebuffaloherbalist.substack.com
I am a certified herbalist with a background in medicine and an MSc in Herbal Medicine. My work focuses on herbal safety, pharmacology, and integrative health, with a passion for herb-drug interactions, toxicology, and evidence-based herbal therapeutics. My goal is to bridge the gap between traditional herbalism and modern science, ensuring the safe and effective use of herbal medicine. Through teaching, research, and writing, I educate practitioners and consumers on the complexities of herbal safety and its role in holistic and conventional healthcare.
Class: Beyond the Basics – Understanding Herbal Pharmacology & Mechanisms of Action
Dr. Liz Olson
https://spontaneous.yoga
Dr. Liz Olson holds Doctor of Chiropractic and Master of Clinical Nutrition degrees from New York Chiropractic College (now the Northeast College of Health Sciences) in Seneca Falls. While at NYCC, they led research on yoga, stress, and mindfulness, and taught anatomy and physiology for the Finger Lakes School of Massage. They founded Healing Arts Red Wing, a chiropractic clinic and yoga school and was on a team adapting the 26 and 2 hot yoga series for spinal cord injury with the University of Michigan. She currently practices chiropractic in Ithaca, NY and teaches online group classes for Cornell Wellness. Additionally, they teach online group classes and private sessions on their website spontaneous.yoga that are open to the public.
Class: Understanding the Pathophysiology of Stress and Trauma (health benefits of yoga)
https://spontaneous.yoga
Dr. Liz Olson holds Doctor of Chiropractic and Master of Clinical Nutrition degrees from New York Chiropractic College (now the Northeast College of Health Sciences) in Seneca Falls. While at NYCC, they led research on yoga, stress, and mindfulness, and taught anatomy and physiology for the Finger Lakes School of Massage. They founded Healing Arts Red Wing, a chiropractic clinic and yoga school and was on a team adapting the 26 and 2 hot yoga series for spinal cord injury with the University of Michigan. She currently practices chiropractic in Ithaca, NY and teaches online group classes for Cornell Wellness. Additionally, they teach online group classes and private sessions on their website spontaneous.yoga that are open to the public.
Class: Understanding the Pathophysiology of Stress and Trauma (health benefits of yoga)
Tina Pierce
Retired LPN, Licensed Massage Therapist, Herbalist, currently studying Traditional Medicine and Native foods, working at the Onondaga nation farm
Class: "Let's clear the Air" Smudge 101
Retired LPN, Licensed Massage Therapist, Herbalist, currently studying Traditional Medicine and Native foods, working at the Onondaga nation farm
Class: "Let's clear the Air" Smudge 101
Andrea and Matthias Reisen
www.healingspiritsherbfarm.com
Andrea and Matthias have been playing in the dirt and working with plants all their long lives. They have been medicinal herb and mushroom growers for over 30 years in the Finger Lakes Region of Western NY. We grow, harvest and dry over 60 medical herbs, we also have an Apothecary and a Education Center at the farm.
Class: Add Biodiversity! Planting UPS At Risk At Watch Medicinal Plants
www.healingspiritsherbfarm.com
Andrea and Matthias have been playing in the dirt and working with plants all their long lives. They have been medicinal herb and mushroom growers for over 30 years in the Finger Lakes Region of Western NY. We grow, harvest and dry over 60 medical herbs, we also have an Apothecary and a Education Center at the farm.
Class: Add Biodiversity! Planting UPS At Risk At Watch Medicinal Plants
Samantha Rocco
www.releafmassage716.com
I love being an herbalist and am so grateful for all my teachers; human and green. It fills my soul and connects me to the earth in the deepest way possible. My journey started in 2018 at the WNY herbal conference where my eyes were opened to a whole new world. The next year I did an Herbal Apprenticeship at Heartstone School of Earth Essentials where I made friends with dandelion, lady’s mantle, marshmallow, milky oats and so many more! Since then, I have taken herbal mentorship’s, was on staff at Heartstone, offered a few community classes and have done a lot of gardening; forever learning.
Class: Connecting with the Spirit of Marshmallow
www.releafmassage716.com
I love being an herbalist and am so grateful for all my teachers; human and green. It fills my soul and connects me to the earth in the deepest way possible. My journey started in 2018 at the WNY herbal conference where my eyes were opened to a whole new world. The next year I did an Herbal Apprenticeship at Heartstone School of Earth Essentials where I made friends with dandelion, lady’s mantle, marshmallow, milky oats and so many more! Since then, I have taken herbal mentorship’s, was on staff at Heartstone, offered a few community classes and have done a lot of gardening; forever learning.
Class: Connecting with the Spirit of Marshmallow
Steve Sierigk
Academic training in Botany, Chemistry and Woodland Ecology. Practical experience in farming and woodland growing of mushrooms inspired by Japanese cultivation techniques.
Class: Medicinal Mushrooms as Adaptogens
Academic training in Botany, Chemistry and Woodland Ecology. Practical experience in farming and woodland growing of mushrooms inspired by Japanese cultivation techniques.
Class: Medicinal Mushrooms as Adaptogens
Dr. M. Anjani Teves, DO
www.nineriversosteopathy.com
Dr. Anjani Teves is passionate about teaching patients in her Ithaca osteopathy practice to become their own best doctor via hands-on osteopathic care and breathwork. In addition, she introduces to and teaches all patients to learn about their own natural physical hydraulics to increase the bounty of their breath. Polydiaphragmatic breathing is her own method that she has been teaching to patients for many years now (and anyone who is interested in breathing better). She has learned to breathe more fully through studying nature, through her Jiujitsu practice, and through her own personal study of her own body and breathing apparatus.
Class: Intro to Polydiaphragmatic Breathing
www.nineriversosteopathy.com
Dr. Anjani Teves is passionate about teaching patients in her Ithaca osteopathy practice to become their own best doctor via hands-on osteopathic care and breathwork. In addition, she introduces to and teaches all patients to learn about their own natural physical hydraulics to increase the bounty of their breath. Polydiaphragmatic breathing is her own method that she has been teaching to patients for many years now (and anyone who is interested in breathing better). She has learned to breathe more fully through studying nature, through her Jiujitsu practice, and through her own personal study of her own body and breathing apparatus.
Class: Intro to Polydiaphragmatic Breathing
Kara ApotheKara
https://www.herb-therapy.com
As a healthcare provider with over a decade and a half of experience as a PA and over 2 decades as an herbalist, grower, and Clinical Herbal Therapist (CHT), I meet the client or patient where they are at in their health journey with a deep understanding of the intricacies how medications and herbs work within the body.
Emotional Health Support Through Herbs: Heal-Thy Self with Every Steep. I specialized in integrative psychiatry for 6 years and now blend herbal therapeutics into a primary care practice in college health where emotional and mental health support is my primary focus.
Intuitive Plant Medicine: Sharing What the Plants Share. As a former organic grower and now herbal gardener and gatherer, I share the plants' unique attributes and energies with my clients, patients, and students.
Conscious Shifter: Promoting the Shift in Our Collective Consciousness from Earth as Resource to Earth as The Source.
Class: Emotional & Mental Health
https://www.herb-therapy.com
As a healthcare provider with over a decade and a half of experience as a PA and over 2 decades as an herbalist, grower, and Clinical Herbal Therapist (CHT), I meet the client or patient where they are at in their health journey with a deep understanding of the intricacies how medications and herbs work within the body.
Emotional Health Support Through Herbs: Heal-Thy Self with Every Steep. I specialized in integrative psychiatry for 6 years and now blend herbal therapeutics into a primary care practice in college health where emotional and mental health support is my primary focus.
Intuitive Plant Medicine: Sharing What the Plants Share. As a former organic grower and now herbal gardener and gatherer, I share the plants' unique attributes and energies with my clients, patients, and students.
Conscious Shifter: Promoting the Shift in Our Collective Consciousness from Earth as Resource to Earth as The Source.
Class: Emotional & Mental Health
Meg Veley
For 18yrs I've been a participant and an organizer of many different types of environmental activism. For 10yrs I've been educating about food justice and actively farming. Living in 3 different countries and 3 different States, I have witnessed the fragility of our food systems against countless natural disasters and along with everyone else in the world, a global pandemic. How grassroot efforts and mutual aid can make resilient food systems and strong communities is one of my passions.
Class: All Flourishing is Mutual
For 18yrs I've been a participant and an organizer of many different types of environmental activism. For 10yrs I've been educating about food justice and actively farming. Living in 3 different countries and 3 different States, I have witnessed the fragility of our food systems against countless natural disasters and along with everyone else in the world, a global pandemic. How grassroot efforts and mutual aid can make resilient food systems and strong communities is one of my passions.
Class: All Flourishing is Mutual
Danielle Visci
Danielle Visci is an herbalist and writer, tending the liminal space where plants and people meet. She bridges the unseen with the seen, creating space for transformation. Her work is rooted in devotion, a commitment to listening deeply, and the mysteries that lie beyond the physical.
Class: Plant Poetics: Flower Essences 101
Danielle Visci is an herbalist and writer, tending the liminal space where plants and people meet. She bridges the unseen with the seen, creating space for transformation. Her work is rooted in devotion, a commitment to listening deeply, and the mysteries that lie beyond the physical.
Class: Plant Poetics: Flower Essences 101
Charlotte Whalen
I am a mother, herbalist, artist, bodyworker, and yogi. I love the healing gifts of the plants and the earth, and studying and sharing their wisdom.
Class: Infused Herbal oils - the lost art of body oiling for self healing
I am a mother, herbalist, artist, bodyworker, and yogi. I love the healing gifts of the plants and the earth, and studying and sharing their wisdom.
Class: Infused Herbal oils - the lost art of body oiling for self healing
