 Susan
Hess is a 1996 graduate
of the prestigious Herbal Therapeutics School of
Botanical Medicine's 2-year Herbal Practitioner’s
Program in Washington, NJ.(Currently called David
Winston's Center for Herbal Studies) She
has also completed the schools 1-year Graduate program
and studied extensively with director and ethnobotanist,
David Winston AHG (Professional Member of the American
Herbalist Guild)
In the past 12 years
she has used her skills and training in the natural food
industry and as a sales associate for Herbalist & Alchemist,
Inc. of
Washington, NJ. Susan is qualified to consult with
practitioners, retail stores and private individuals
on the proper uses of medicinal herbal products.
In
2000, Susan completed a clinical training at the Wellsprings
Centre for Natural Healing in Fairfield, Connecticut
with noted herbalists, Donald Yance, MH, CN, AHG (author
of best-selling” Herbal Medicine, Healing and
Cancer”) and Chanchal Cabrera, MINMH, AHG. She
has also completed one year of apprentice studies with
Jennifer Tucker, a well-known herbalist and author
from Spring Mills, PA. To keep abreast of current herbal
information, Susan regularly attends conferences and
lectures throughout the Northeast.
Currently
Susan operates Farm at Coventry, handcrafting
a fine line of therapeutic herbal products
such as salves, creams, tea blends and soaps just
to name a few. She sells her wares through local
retail stores and craft fairs and seasonally at the Phoenixville
Farmer's Market as
well as through her website www.FarmatCoventry.com. She
and her husband Michael enjoy growing medicinal and
culinary herbs in the teaching gardens, as well as
raising heirloom vegetables and seed saving. They
are fully committed to using growing and harvesting
methods that protect and replenish the earth.
After
hosting a successful 6-month series of
weekends with Minnesota herbalist and author,
Matthew Wood in 2001-2002, Susan has continued
to direct and expand her Class and Workshop
Schedule of highly acclaimed teachers.
Each visiting teacher offers his or her
own unique perspective on herbalism or
related subjects, inspiring each student
to discover their own healing path into
the world of wild and cultivated plants.
In addition to creative
and administrative responsibilities, Susan teaches
her own delightful and informative 8-month course entitled "Homestead
Herbalism” now in it's fifth season. She also enjoys
speaking to groups and schools locally on a wide range
of herbal topics. She is pleased to be able to create an
environment that serves to combine community, education
and our native medicinal plants.
In
2007 Susan, along with kindred herbalist Jesse Tobin,
joined together to embark on an exciting new educational
endeavor: Three
Sisters Center for the Healing Arts and
the Hollerbier Haven Herbal and Healing Arts Guild.
Both focus on the revival of the herbal and spiritual
healing arts traditions of the Pennsylvania Germans (also
known as Powwow). For more information about their project
please visit their website: www.ThreeSistersCenter.com.
In
her spare time, Susan enjoys studying various methods
of traditional healing, writing, quilt- making, cheesemaking
and tending her chickens. She is a member of the American
Herbalist Guild, the North East Herbal Association, Pennsylvania
Association for Sustainable Agriculture and the Weston
A. Price Foundation, an organization dedicated to
restoring wise traditions in food, farming and the healing
arts. |
