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Innisfree Farm &
Botanic Garden

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Home
About
Botanical Gardens
Events
Green Dream Café
Farm Shop
Contact

Lavendula officinalis (Lavender)

Lavender is relaxing, mood-elevating, and the essential oil is antimicrobial and removes itching.

Learn more about the
medicinal properties

Gardening tips
for this plant

3636 Trent Road, Courtenay BC, Canada V9N 9R4
(250) 336 8768
innisfreefarmbc@gmail.com

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The Kootenay Herb Gathering is Almost Here! June

The Kootenay Herb Gathering is Almost Here!
June 27–30, 2025 | Vallican Whole, Slocan Valley

Get ready for a magical weekend of herbal wisdom, wild plant walks, hands-on workshops, soulful music, and deep community connection in the heart of nature! ✨

Whether you're just sprouting as a herbalist or you've got deep roots in the practice, there's something for everyone — from medicine making to ancestral teachings, clinical skills to plant spirit journeys.

💚 Special Offer!
Use code CC25 for $25 off your ticket — a thank-you gift from our amazing presenters!

🎟 Tickets are blooming fast → herbconference.com
Come grow with us! 🌼

#KootenayHerbGathering #Herbalism #PlantMedicine #SlocanValleyVibes #HerbConference2025 #CommunityHealing #WildWisdom #NatureConnection

2025 Herb Camp registration is now open! Join us

2025 Herb Camp registration is now open!

Join us this summer for a rare & radiant opportunity to level up your clinical herbal skills with two of the most respected herbal educators in the world — Kenneth Proefrock & Chanchal Cabrera!
📅 July 28 – Aug 1, 2025
📍 Innisfree Farm & Botanic Garden, Vancouver Island

This 5-day deep dive is made for advanced students and seasoned practitioners ready to sharpen their edge, grow their toolkit, and reconnect with the medicine of the plants.

What’s in store?

Case Study Roundtable – Bring your own clinical cases for collaborative discussion & expert feedback.
Advanced Clinical Herbal Lectures – Four in-depth talks to challenge and inspire.
Guided Garden Tour – Meet the medicinal plants that call Innisfree home
Whether you're refining your protocols or seeking fresh clinical insight, this is your moment to learn, connect, and grow.

Spaces are limited, and they will go fast – don’t miss this transformative week with your herbal kin! Visit the link in bio 🌺

#HerbalMedicine #ClinicalHerbalism #NaturopathicMedicine #HerbalWorkshop #InnisfreeFarm #ChanchalCabrera #KennethProefrock #HerbCamp #PlantMedicine #VancouverIslandEvents #HerbalistsOfInstagram #AdvancedHerbalism

Come and join us this summer for a magical interns

Come and join us this summer for a magical internship experience.
Learn about gardening, herbal harvesting and medicine making. Slow down, breathe in the fresh air, walk in the forest only steps away from the farm.

Are you passionate about herbal medicine, gardening, or connecting with plants? If the answer is yes, we invite you to join medical herbalist Chanchal Cabrera and soil biologist Thierry Vrain on their beautiful farm in Royston, BC. You will gain essential knowledge about growing, herbs, farming, medicine and connection to nature.

Visit the link in our bio to check out more about the program. We currently have openings for our summer internship (May 16th-July 16th) 🌞🌺

#courtenaybc #explorevanisle #botanicgarden #comoxbc #internships #gardeningideas #greenthumbs #medicinemaking

Wheel of the Seasons: Aligning with the 5 Elements

Wheel of the Seasons: Aligning with the 5 Elements using Herbal Medicine

In Traditional Chinese Medicine, the year flows through five distinct seasons—Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal, and Water—each shaping our health, emotions, and energy. By syncing with these natural rhythms, we can cultivate balance, resilience, and vitality throughout the year.

Join herbalist Alina Baker for a 5-class workshop series where you’ll dive deep into TCM’s seasonal wisdom and the power of herbal medicine to support body, mind, and spirit. Through engaging discussions, hands-on garden time, and practical lifestyle guidance, you’ll learn to:

Understand how seasonal shifts affect your health & emotions
Choose & prepare herbs to align with each element
Incorporate seasonal foods, teas, and rituals for well-being
Strengthen immunity, digestion, and emotional balance naturally

Class dates:

April 18 – Spring (Wood Element) – Growth & Renewal
June 27 – Summer (Fire Element) – Radiance & Vitality
August 22 – Late Summer (Earth Element) – Nourishment & Stability
October 17 – Autumn (Metal Element) – Letting Go & Protection
December 12 – Winter (Water Element) – Rest & Resilience

BONUS: Sign up for the full series and receive a 2026 Seasonal Eating Calendar with 12 months of TCM diet & lifestyle tips to keep you in flow all year!

Join a single class or the full series (save 15%)!
Extra 15% off series passes until March 18th!

Whether you're a wellness practitioner, herbal enthusiast, or just curious about seasonal living, this series will give you practical tools to thrive with nature’s cycles.

Sign up via link in bio ✨

#traditionalchinesemedicine #herbalmedicine #leasonalliving #holistichealth #healthandwellness #eventbrite #chinesemedicineclasses #chinesemedicine

Exciting News!! We have just opened up an addition

Exciting News!! We have just opened up an additional 2 months for our Internship Program here at Innisfree. Are you available May 16-July 16th? 🌺

Come Grow a Medicine Garden with Us!

Do you love plants, herbal medicine, and getting your hands in the soil? This is your chance to learn from two leading experts—medical herbalist Chanchal Cabrera, MSc. & soil biologist Thierry Vrain, PhD—while immersing yourself in the rhythms of small-scale farming and plant medicine cultivation.

Internship Dates: May 16 – July 16, 2025
Location: Courtenay, BC
What You’ll Gain: Hands-on experience in growing food & medicine, community gardening, and nature therapy.
Work-Trade: 25 hours/week in exchange for room & full board.

Are you:
A gardener or herbalist seeking a deeper connection to plants?
A grower looking for hands-on farming experience?
Simply called to spend deep time with the plants?

Then this internship is for you!

Apply now via the link in our bio and grow with us!

#herbalinternship #plantmedicine #growyourown #soiltosoul #chanchalcabrera #thierryvrain

🌱FIELD TO FARMACY🌱 A CLINICAL HERBAL MEDICI

🌱FIELD TO FARMACY🌱
A CLINICAL HERBAL MEDICINE APPRENTICESHIP

EARLY BIRD DEADLINE CLOSES MARCH 31ST

Join Chanchal Cabrera, MSc., FNIMH, RH(AHG) at Innisfree Farm (Vancouver Island) for an 8-week immersive experience in growing, harvesting, and making herbal medicine.

▪️Deepen your materia medica & clinical skills
▪️Learn to grow, process & formulate medicinal herbs
▪️Gain hands-on experience in quality assessment & medicine making
▪️Access expert-led classes, tutorials, and an extensive herbal library
▪️Connect with plants, herbalists & a thriving community

Are you ready to take your herbal practice to the next level?

Applications now open for Summer 2025, early bird deadline closes March 31st!

Apply now & grow with us!

#HerbalApprenticeship #FieldToFarmacy #GrowYourMedicine

🌿 Two Spaces Just Opened! Spring Internship wit

🌿 Two Spaces Just Opened! Spring Internship with Chanchal Cabrera & Thierry Vrain 🌿

Are you ready to get your hands in the soil and immerse yourself in the world of herbal medicine and small-scale farming? 🌱 We have two spaces available for our Spring Internship, starting March 31st!

Join medical herbalist Chanchal Cabrera, MSc., and soil biologist Thierry Vrain, PhD. for an unforgettable opportunity to grow food and medicine, connect with the land, and learn about community gardening and nature therapy.

💚 What You’ll Get:
✔️ Hands-on learning in herbal and food gardening
✔️ 25 hours/week work-trade
✔️ Full board & lodging provided 🌾🏡
✔️ Deep connection with plants and nature

📅 Spring Session: March 31 – May 16, 2025
📅 Fall Session: September 15 – October 31, 2025
(2-week minimum stay, preference for longer stays)

🔗 Apply now using the link in bio—these last two spots won’t last!

#herbalinternship #farmlife #growyourmedicine #natureescape #plantlovers #herbalistintraining #naturetherapy #handsinthesoil #getyourhandsdirty

Innisfree returns to Seedy Saturday! 🌱 Spring

Innisfree returns to Seedy Saturday! 🌱

Spring is just around the corner, and Seedy Saturday is the perfect way to kick off the gardening season! This beloved community event brings together growers, seed savers, and plant lovers of all kinds to swap seeds, share knowledge, and get inspired for the season ahead.

Stop by our booth to enjoy a cup of freshly brewed herbal tea (made with medicinal herbs grown right on our farm) and chat with us about the many educational opportunities coming up in 2025—whether you’re interested in herbal medicine, gardening, or sustainable living, we have something for you!

Saturday March 8th 10am - 3pm at the Florence Filberg center in Courtenay

See link in bio for more info!

#seedysaturday #innisfreefarm #herbalteas #gardening #plantmedicine #sustainableliving #courtenay #courtenaybc #shoplocally #greenthumb

🌱 Internship Opportunity: Grow, Learn & Connect

🌱 Internship Opportunity: Grow, Learn & Connect 🌿
Are you a plant lover, herbal medicine enthusiast, or gardener eager to get your hands in the soil? 🌾🌻
Join medical herbalist Chanchal Cabrera and soil biologist Thierry Vrain for an immersive, hands-on experience in small-scale farming, medicinal plant cultivation, and nature therapy.
✨ Learn about growing food & medicine
✨ Deepen your relationship with plants
✨ Experience community gardening in action

📅 Spring & Fall 2025 Sessions:
🌿 March 31 – May 16
🍂 September 15 – October 31
(2-week minimum stay, preference for longer stays)
In exchange for 25 hours/week of work-trade, you’ll receive room & full board at our beautiful 7-acre herb farm on Vancouver Island. 🌊🌿
Spots are limited—apply now!

https://www.innisfreefarm.ca/events/internships/

#HerbalInternship #HerbalMedicine #OrganicFarming #PlantWisdom #CommunityGardening #NatureTherapy #HerbalistLife #RegenerativeFarming #Internships #innisfreefarm

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Innisfree Farm is located on the unceded traditional territories of the Pentlatch, Eiksan, Sahtloot and Sasitla peoples, the people of the K’ómoks First Nation who call this valley home. We are grateful for the opportunity to live, learn, work and play, take care of and share this land.