Meet Christine and Sarah
Christine Thomas: Embracing Hands-On Herbalism
Christine Thomas, a seasoned herbalist and former journalist, discovered the Junior Herbalist Club through a colleague at the NHAA Herbal Medicine Summit. After years of feeling disconnected from the plants she loved, Christine found that the JHC program rekindled her passion for herbal medicine.
“I felt a craving for more grassroots herbalism here in Australia, and the JHC was a perfect way to bring herbalists, young and old, back in touch with the herbs,” Christine shares. Since completing her training, Christine has become more creative in her practice and has formed a vibrant community of like-minded herbalists and naturopaths.
Sarah Hunter: Building Community and Confidence
For Sarah Hunter, a naturopath with a passion for community health, the JHC program offered a way to merge her love for teaching with her professional practice. Winning a scholarship to the JHC training, Sarah found the program immensely rewarding, both personally and professionally.
“The personal benefit of JHC has been enormous. I have gained confidence in both workshop delivery and working with children. I feel so fortunate to be paid to deliver such a valuable course, empowering future generations,” says Sarah. Through her JHC groups, Sarah has connected with local homeschool communities, expanded her client base, and gained a flexible working model that complements her naturopathy practice.
Success Stories from the Field
We interviewed Christine Thomas and Sarah Hunter about their experiences with the
Junior Herbalist Club Leader Training program and implementation of the program in
real life. Below is a selection of their insights on how the program has impacted their
practices, both professionally and financially, as well as how it has enriched them
personally.
Growing Your Practice with the Junior Herbalist Club
Many practitioners find that becoming a Junior Herbalist Club Leader offers more
than just an opportunity to share knowledge with the younger generation—
it also creates new avenues for expanding their practices.
Sarah shares how the program helped her connect with a broader community:
“Being a JHC leader has connected me with the wider community, particularly
homeschool communities. It has helped me gain more confidence in working with
children and families and understanding their needs. It has afforded me a flexible working
model that I can fit in alongside my Naturopathy practice and being a Mum to a 5-year-old.”
Christine also emphasises how the program has reinvigorated her connection with herbalism, making her practice more dynamic and creative:
“I am now a lot more connected to the plants themselves and aware of where they grow in my neighbourhood. It has made me more creative in my practice of herbal medicine and reminded me of interesting facts I had forgotten. I have also learned so much myself about the plants and their medicinal virtues. I look at them through the eyes of children a lot more now.”
Overcoming Challenges and Reaping the Rewards
Starting a new venture can come with its challenges, but the rewards can be significant. Sarah Hunter reflects on the early days of her Junior Herbalist Club:
“It was initially daunting seeking out participants although I decided to go ahead even if the groups were small to begin with as I trusted it would gain momentum—and it has!” She adds, “The course really highlights the importance of education in herbal medicine. This plays a huge role in the holistic model of care, allowing children to feel confident to help themselves throughout their lifetime.”
Christine faced timing challenges but found ways to overcome them:
“Because the club starts in February in Australia, I found it a bit difficult to invest time into getting it started because the training finished just before the summer school holidays. I bit the bullet in January, and put the word out, and ended up having my first class in March after signing everyone one up.”
Both practitioners agree that the support network provided through the training and the ongoing connection with other JHC Leaders via WhatsApp groups has been invaluable.
From Lavender Lemonade to Herbal Healing: Moments of Magic
One of Christine’s most memorable moments came when her students gasped in amazement
as the lavender lemonade they made together turned from purple to pink. These simple
yet magical experiences are what make the JHC program so special.
For Sarah, the joy comes from seeing her students use their newfound knowledge to help
others. One young girl even used Plantain to help a friend with a cut, while another added
calming herbs to her chickens’ nests. “Every session brings a wonderful story,” Sarah reflects,
“The children excitedly report how they use their JHC training to help other children and pass
on their new herbal knowledge.”
Financial Success Stories: Turning Passion into Profit
The Junior Herbalist Club is not just a passion project; it’s a viable business model that can help diversify your revenue streams. Sarah, has successfully launched several JHC groups. Sarah has priced her program at $500 per student for a full year. With 19 children enrolled in her programs, her revenue for the year is $9500. While Sarah was fortunate enough to access the training on a scholarship, this demonstrates her potential $2500 investment would have been returned to her in year 1 of her program.
Here, Sarah talks about the financial returns:
“I have 13 children across 2 groups so far and another new group of 6 starting next month.” The
reward for Sarah is beyond financial. “ The personal benefit of JHC has been enormous.
I have gained confidence in both workshop delivery and working with children.
I immensely enjoy leading the workshops and watching the children excitedly absorbing
all the information. I feel so fortunate to be paid to deliver such a valuable course,
to empower future generations.”
While Christine notes that her first year was more about setting up and getting started,
she’s optimistic about the program’s potential:
“I charged $350 per student as an introductory offer for friends and I might make approximately
$500 from the club by the end of the year once all my costs are covered including membership
fees, first aid training, etc. I will charge more next year to make it viable plus now I have bought
most of the materials there will be fewer costs next year.”
Why Join the Junior Herbalist Club Leader Training?
Christine and Sarah’s experiences highlight the transformative power of the JHC program. Not only do you get to teach and inspire the next generation, but you also enrich your own practice and create new connections within your community.
As Christine says, “As custodians of this knowledge, we have a responsibility to share it.” Sarah adds, “It is such a rewarding course and so valuable to share herbal wisdom with future generations.”
Ready to Make a Difference? Secure your spot today!
Enrol in the Junior Herbalist Club Leader Training and start your journey toward becoming a leader who shapes the future of herbal medicine.
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