Diploma in Organic Medicinal Herb Growing
The complete professional training in herbal medicine. Four years of study, clinical practice, and apprenticeship, leading to qualification as a Master Herbalist.
Learn to grow, cultivate, and harvest medicinal herbs to professional standards. This diploma prepares you to grow medicinal herbs for clinical use, commercial production, or your own practice.
Course Delivery
Online + 18 Practical Saturdays
Duration
1 Year. Two structured terms
Start Date
March 2027. Enrolment now open
Fees
€3,850 (from €2,695 with funding)
The Diploma in Organic Medicinal Herb Growing is designed to provide students with comprehensive knowledge and practical skills in cultivating and managing medicinal plants. The programme prepares students to contribute effectively to sustainable medicinal plant production through a blend of online theoretical learning and practical days in the gardens of Core College.
Embark on a transformative journey into the world of medicinal plants with our comprehensive programme designed to equip you with the knowledge and practical skills to cultivate and harvest a wide range of medicinal herbs. Students will learn about practical growing methods, the benefits of veganic systems, and the vital connection between soil microbiomes and high-quality herb yield. The course is designed for anyone passionate about growing medicinal herbs, whether at home or at scale.
Whether you are a medical herbalist aiming to grow your own plants for clinical use or a grower looking to enter the expanding medicinal herb market, this course offers the expertise you need to succeed.
From Garden to Apothecary
Students and tutors share their experiences
While the growing of herbal medicine is a fast-developing industry, there is a distinct lack of quality education in this area.
Students Helena and Mo, along with tutors Klaus Laitenberger and Heiko Klee, explain what their involvement with this programme feels like.
Online study, practical training, and a summer school
2. Online Academic Content and Tutor Support
All academic content is delivered through Canvas, Core College’s virtual learning platform. Students complete one module at a time, each lasting three weeks. They have access to a variety of rich learning resources, including readings, videos, podcasts, and graded discussion forums. These forums enable students to collaboratively explore concepts in medicinal herb cultivation and foster a sense of student community.
Each student group is supported by a dedicated tutor who moderates the discussions. Tutors are also available via email or phone. Tutors help ensure that students stay on track and provide guidance as needed.
1. Course Delivery and Format
The Organic Medicinal Herb Growing Course employs a blended learning format that combines online academic content with face-to-face practical days in the organic medicinal herb gardens. This approach allows students to engage with theoretical concepts through the online platform while applying their skills during practical days scheduled throughout the year.
For students balancing work, family, or other commitments, the combination of flexible online learning with immersive practical experiences makes the programme very accessible while providing a thorough and engaging educational experience.
3. Practical Days in the Herb Gardens
In addition to online learning, students are required to attend a series of full-day practical sessions, 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., throughout the year.
The practical days consist of a series of workshops with Klaus Laitenberger and Heiko Klee. These practical days help students apply their theoretical knowledge through activities such as soil preparation, planting, crop management, and harvesting, all aligned with the growing season and ensure that students gain comprehensive practical skills in medicinal plant production, complementing the academic material covered in the course.
4. Summerschool and Herbal Clinic
The practical days also include extra days working in the herb gardens with Heiko. Most of these practical days are chosen by the student and completed in blocks of one to three days at a time.
Students are also required to attend the clinic for one or two days alongside students in the herbal medicine course. There will also be a summer school hosted by the team and course contributors.
The practical attendance on the programme makes up 18 days in all, including the summer school and clinic days.
“The practical days were unlike anything I expected. Working alongside Klaus and Heiko in the gardens gave me a completely different understanding of what it means to grow herbs properly, not just growing them, but growing them for a purpose.”
— Helena Walsh, Graduate
Taught and developed by specialists in organic growing, plant science, and herbal medicine
Klaus Laitenberger
Klaus Laitenberger is an organic grower, author and lecturer with over twenty-five years' experience in organic horticulture. He is the author of three widely respected gardening books and has been involved in the development of the medicinal herb gardens at Core College since their inception.
Widely recognised for his expertise in organic growing, Klaus is an inspiring teacher who brings a wealth of practical knowledge and experience to his students.
Helen Begadon
Helen Begadon founded Core College and is its director and academic lead. She has practised herbal medicine and iridology since the early 1980s, and holds a postgraduate certificate in education.
Alongside her passion for education on human herbal medicine, her particular interest is the herbal treatment of horses, work that has taken her across Ireland and to several other countries.
Heiko Klee
Heiko is a horticulturist with over thirty years' experience in organic growing, including more than nine years cultivating medicinal herbs in Ireland.
He oversees the college's certified organic medicinal herb gardens, leads the practical components of the Medicinal Herb Growing Course, and is core to the medicinal herb growing project at Core College. His expertise lies in sustainable organic growing methods adapted to Irish conditions.
Peter Jones
Professor Peter Jones was an Emeritus Professor at University College Cork. He co-authored the Diploma in Organic Medicinal Herb Growing with Helen Begadon and developed the plant science component of the course.
Peter’s research focused on the role of plant chemicals in plant interactions with pests and pathogens. He was also the founding director of the MSc in Organic Horticulture at University College Cork. His work continues to underpin the plant science teaching within the programme.
Fionnuala O’Neill
Fionnuala O'Neill is a plant scientist and ecologist with a particular interest in the preservation of Ireland's native woodlands and grasslands.
At Core College, she is module leader and author of the Botany and Plant Chemistry modules on the Herbal Medicine Programme and the Organic Medicinal Herb Growing course. Fionnualla organises the field trips on which students learn to identify plants.
Leonardo Piervitali
Leonardo Piervitali is an agronomist with over twenty years' experience in organic agriculture and the commercial cultivation of medicinal plants. His work spans viticulture, olive production, horticulture and ancient cereals, with a particular focus on soil health, biodiversity and sustainable farming systems.
As a lecturer and contributor to the Medicinal Herb Growing Course, he shares his extensive practical experience in large-scale organic cultivation.
Ronan Tormey
Ronan Tormey, Master Medical Herbalist, led a significant medicinal herb cultivation project in Ireland and brings a wealth of experience in managing large-scale herb production market and sales opportunities for international markets.
Iain Tolhurst
Iain Tolhurst has worked in the organic movement for over forty-five years and is a pioneer of stock-free, or veganic, organic horticulture and low-carbon local vegetable production. His farm runs on agroforestry, biodiversity and green manure systems. He was awarded an MBE for services to agriculture in 2023.
Iain is passionate about veganic growing and contributes to and lectures on the Medicinal Herb Growing Course.
In their own words
“There's a wealth of knowledge amongst the cohort of people that I'm attending this course with, and specifically the instructing staff, that's where I'm getting a lot of the information from. And that's what's really interesting in keeping me engaged in this."
— mo Osman. Graduate“I personally absolutely loved the course, and I thought the balance between academic coursework and relaxed garden days was a beautiful exercise in the expansion of both academic knowledge and the spiritual intuition that is so important when working with plants. Klaus and Heiko are incredible!”
— Kimberly Murray. GraduateNext steps ❋
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On successful completion of the programme, its assessments, and the field practice component, students are awarded a Diploma in Organic Medicinal Herb Growing by Core College.
This is a standalone qualification. Graduates are equipped to grow medicinal herbs to clinical and commercial standards, with a thorough understanding of soil science, organic production systems, and the specific requirements of medicinal plant cultivation. -
Study fees are €3,850 per year. This includes practical days. Students employed and residing in the Republic of Ireland are eligible for 30% funding through the National Organic Training Skillnet.
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The next course commences on the March 2027.
Frequently Asked Questions
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No. The programme is designed for anyone with a genuine interest in growing medicinal herbs. Students come from a range of backgrounds, including practising herbalists, gardeners, farmers, and people entering the field for the first time. The Discovery Call is the best place to discuss your specific situation.
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Eighteen full days across the academic year, including the summer school. The practical days are spread throughout the year and include both fixed workshop dates (with Klaus and Heiko) and student-chosen days that you can schedule in blocks of one to three days to suit your commitments.
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All practical days take place at Core College's certified organic gardens in Castlecomer, County Kilkenny. The summer school is also held at the college.
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Yes. Many students take the Herb Growing Diploma alongside or following the Certificate in Herbal Studies. The two programmes complement each other well. Speak to us on a Discovery Call about how to structure this.
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Graduates go on to grow medicinal herbs for their own clinical practice, supply herbs to other practitioners and dispensaries, develop commercial growing operations, or contribute to the growing medicinal plant sector in Ireland and internationally. The programme also provides a strong foundation for anyone interested in the agri-food or natural health industries.
Book a Discovery Call
Not sure if this is the right path for you? A Discovery Call is the best place to start.
A 20-minute Discovery Call gives you the opportunity to ask questions, understand how the course works in practice, and get a clear sense of whether it is the right step for you.
There is no pressure and no obligation. Many students tell us that this conversation simply made the decision feel clear.
You can simply phone the college during office hours to arrange this. The phone number is +353 56 4440254.