Teachers

Liisa Korpela is an herbalist and gardener who teaches and practices in Eugene, OR. The founder of Bella Botanica, a natural health & beauty company, she is passionate about making herbal products and practicing sustainability for the plants, the people and the planet. Her urban homestead and apothecary in downtown Eugene supports native, medicinal and food plants, as well as chickens and bees. In 1995, she received her BFA degree in the Fine Arts of Textiles and Natural Dyeing and a Major in Biology. After graduation, Liisa began to delve more intimately into the world of plants by working with native flora, ecosystems, propagation, and gardening in the Pacific Northwest. Furthering her love for plants, in 1996 she began her formal Herbal Studies. She has traveled extensively co-leading eco-tours to Costa Rica, as well as served for seven years as the executive director on tours to Egypt and Peru’s sacred sites. Weaving the art and science of Herbalism, Liisa inspires others to build relationships with nature while learning holistic ways to care for their body, mind and spirit.

www.bellabotanica.com
www.bellabotanica.blogspot.com

Rootstalk Classes

Beauty from the Earth
For millennia we have looked to nature for the answers to staying and looking young. It is within the earth’s flowers, fruits, barks, and roots that we have unveiled the secrets and revealed answers. During Beauty from the Earth, we will have the opportunity to dive into the world of natural beauty care. We will take a look at the skin, our largest eliminatory organ, and practices to keep it healthy. As well as ingredients to watch out for in our products and the ingredients we should focus on to keep our skin glowing and youthful.

The Spirit of Herbalism
Our ancestors saw all life as sacred and in all life there possessed an intelligence that was shared. Listening to nature was considered "the way" one learned about the magical and medicinal properties of the plants. This symbiotic and intertwined relationship with plants and nature has been lost to us, as we have "fallen out of the garden" separated from nature and our natural selves. But with this new generation of interested herbalist and plant enthusiast, we are rebuilding and restoring these ancient relationships with nature. As we learn to listen to these plant teachers we are rekindling our innate abilities to connect with nature and transform our ailments and disease into health, strength and personal growth.