Teachers

Ryan Drum

Ryan Drum, PhD, AHG, has a BSc in Chemical Technology and a PhD in Botany (Phycology) from Iowa State University. While a NATO Scholar, he did postdoctoral studies on Cell Biology using the Electron Microscope and Microcine at the Universities of Bonn, Germany and Leeds, England . For 10 years Dr. Drum taught Botany and related subjects at Universities (UMASS/Amherst,UCLA, WWU). He studied Herbal Medicine with Ella Birzneck, founder of Dominion Herbal College in British Columbia for 12 years, and taught at their summer seminars for 25 years. He has been an adjunct faculty at Bastyr University since 1984, and he lectures at major herbal conferences and herbal schools. He specializes in Seaweed Therapies, Thyroid issues, and Men's Health. Dr. Drum is the author of over 30 scientific papers in peer-reviewed journals, the author of Electron Microscopy of Diatom Cells 1966, Springer Verlag, a 100-Plate Atlas, in print for 20 years, and a contributing author of two chapters in Planting the Future (Gladstar and Hirsch 2001) and a chapter in Fundamentals of Naturopathic Endocrinology, M. Friedman 2005. The proud father of three wonderful children and two fantastic grandchildren, he lives in a rustic little hilltop cabin he built 30 years ago on a remote island, off the grid, without indoor plumbing or refrigeration.
Cascade Anderson Geller

Cascade Anderson Geller brings a lifetime of experiences with plants and people from around our astounding Earth to her classes. Her leadership work has included founding a healing center in Portland, Oregon, three food cooperatives in the U.S., social activist groups dealing with issues of public land and water rights, Voices for Traditional Herbal Medicine, as well as United Plant Savers and other organizations. She has witnessed the healing power of nature as an herbal practitioner and owner of an herb shop. She has served on the faculty of three naturopathic colleges and is a frequent presenter at conferences. She is dedicated to the traditions of dynamic oral education. Although she is a frequent world traveller and guide of herbal excursions, Cascade lives in Portland, Oregon where she and her husband have raised their two children with a natural approach as she herself was brought up.
Robert Dale Rogers

Robert Dale Rogers has been a student of native plants and fungi from the Canadian prairies for over 40 years. He is a retired clinical herbalist, amateur mycologist, and professional member of the American Herbalist Guild. He was recently nominated a Fellow of the International College of Nutrition. Robert is the author of seven volumes of native and cultivated plants, called Sundew, Moonwort - Medicinal Plants of the Prairies. He has written Rogers' Herbal Manual that accompanies a 7 volume video series with Mors Kochanski on edible and medicinal plants of the Boreal Forest. Robert co-authored Herbal Drug Interactions, a publication of Capital Health, and the Royal Alexandra Hospital. Robert teaches plant medicine at Grant MacEwan University, and the Northern Star College of Mystical Studies in Edmonton at www.northernstarcollege.com. Robert is a consultant to the herbal, mycological and nutraceutical industries, and is past Chairman of the Alberta Natural Health Agricultural Network and Capital Health Community Health Council. He is currently vice president of the Alberta Mycological Society and member of the North American Mycological Association. His book, The Fungal Pharmacy, Medicinal Mushrooms of Western Canada is a unique bioregional contribution. He lives in Edmonton, Alberta Canada with his beautiful wife, Laurie. You may contact him directly at scents@telusplanet.net.
Jane Bothwell

Jane Bothwell is a practicing herbalist, educator, hypnotherapist, and flower essence practitioner. She directs and teaches at the Dandelion Herbal Center in Kneeland, CA and is former teacher and administrator at the California School of Herbal studies in Sonoma County, CA. as well as a former board member of United Plant Savers. Jane brings to her classes 20 years of herbal studies, an open heart, and enthusiasm and delight in sharing plant medicine with you. She is dedicated to furthering and preserving herbal traditions and to teaching ecological ways to cohabit our world.
Brendan Kelly

Brendan is a western herbalist of 17 years, with extensive hands-on experience wildcrafting, cultivating and preparing over 100 herbs into medicine of various forms. He teaches outdoor-based classes on working directly with herbs for both food and medicine, and has been an herbal business owner and consultant to natural product companies. He also holds a Master's degree from the Academy for Five Element Acupuncture, and maintains a full time clinical practice in Bozeman, MT utilizing acupuncture, and western and Chinese herbal medicine. He also is working on integrating the deep reaching diagnostic traditions of Asian medicine with the potency of local, western herbs. He is on the faculty of the Academy for Five Element Acupuncture in Gainsville, FL, and is a guest lecturer in the Psychology and Philosophy departments at Montana State University. He is also a long-time student and practitioner of Tai Chi Ch'uan.
Robyn Klein

Robyn phytosleuths for the Biomimicry Guild, following emergent cyber-phenomena like and ant tracks pheromones. An adjunct instructor for the MSU Department of Plant Sciences and Plant Pathology, Robyn teaches biomimicry, plant identification and ethnobotany in the summer for the Masters of Science in Science Education Program. She is recently besotted with wearing blue skin and a tail in the virtual world of Second Life.
Erico Schleicher

Erico is a practicing acupuncturist and herbalist. Since 2003 he has been working with patients at the Center for Vibrant Health in Portland, OR. He began discovering plant medicines in 1994 and has studied with Master Herbalist Michael Moore at the Southwest School of Botanical Medicne in 1995. Erico's experience combines clinical work with wildcrafting, teaching herbal medicine classes, and working on community health projects. His focus is finding the intersections between Chinese herbalism and the local plant medicines of Pacific Northwest. In 2006 Erico co-founded the Elderberry School of Botanical Medicine in Portland, OR. The Elderberry School emphasizes a bioregional and experiential approcach to the lay herbal medicine studies.
Christopher Scipio

Christopher was born in 1965 in the newly independent Caribbean nation of Trinidad and Tobago. His earliest memories are of being bathed in herbs, taking herbal remedies and experiencing many aspects of traditional healing in the house of his maternal grandmother, who was a very accomplished traditional healer/bush doctor. As Christopher grew up he understood that he is from a family that has produced healers for many, many generations. His mother, although choosing not to pursue healing as a vocation, nevertheless also influenced me with her passion for natural remedies. Christopher started massage at the age of eighteen. And although he chose, at the time, to pursue a full-time career as a visual artist, he continued to treat many friends, family or strangers who wanted healing with herbal medicine, massage and other forms of traditional healing. Being from a developing country, Christopher also dedicates a great deal of time and energy to fieldwork and outreach in developing countries, as well as underdeveloped communities in Canada. Our bodies are the great healers. Nature is the great medicine cabinet. The challenge is for us to honour our bodies and nature in best ways that we can. Christopher Scipio Homeopath/Herbalist Holistic Viral and Immune Specialist
Elaine Doll

Elaine Doll is a graduate of the California College of Ayurveda and the University of Montana. She received additional training and hands on experience in India’s traditional Ayurveda clinics located in Mysore and Rishikesh. Elaine is a specialist in the ayurvedic cleansing and rejuvenation techniques known as Pancha Karma; widely known for their profound healing qualities. In addition, she has comprehensive training in both Reiki and Energy Healing and weaves her multitude of skills into a powerful program that allows individuals to find greater health and happiness in their daily lives. Currently Elaine operates ‘Blissful Ayurveda’ in the Himalaya-like mountains of Bozeman, Montana.
Meryl Kastin-Flocchini
Jim Flocchini