EP49: So You Want To Be A Herbalist

EP49: So You Want To Be A Herbalist

Author: Robin Harford November 7, 2023 Duration: 55:54

In this episode, #49 of the Eatweeds podcast, I sit down with Helen Kearney at the Betonica herb school on a lazy Summer day in the Devon countryside.

We dive into the added value herbalists bring to the strained National Health Service (NHS) and discuss Helen's path from being inspired by her grandmother to becoming a medical herbalist and educator.

We tackle the evolution of medicine since World War II, highlighting the crucial role of self-care and the struggle for herbal medicine's legal recognition.

Helen shares the comprehensive training that goes into becoming a skilled herbalist and how Betonica equips students with necessary business skills to make the practice successful.

Our discussion also spans the integration of herbal medicine into the NHS, social prescribing, and the need for herbalists to actively engage with their communities.

I wrap up the conversation by exploring how herbalism is becoming more inclusive, the shift in gender dynamics in the field, and Betonica's community-focused principles.

Helen details her vision for Betonica as more than just a school; it's a place that connects and builds community in response to healthcare challenges.

Join me in this episode for a direct discussion on personal experiences and insights into the future of medical herbalism.

Connect With Helen Kearney and the Betonica Herb School

Back Matter

Follow me (Robin Harford), for the latest updates and insights around foraging and wild food on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube.

And if you're ready to discover the secrets of Britain and Ireland's wild plants, get my bestselling foraging book. In it I teach you how to safely thrive from nature's larder.


There's a quiet revolution happening just outside our doors, in the hedgerows, parks, and forgotten corners of the landscape. Eatweeds Podcast: For People Who Love Plants is your guide to that green world, hosted by forager and ethnobotanist Robin Harford. This isn't just a list of what's edible; it's a deep, sensory dive into our relationship with the flora around us. Each episode feels like a walk with a knowledgeable friend, one who points out not just the names of plants, but their stories, their historical uses, and their place in both ancient traditions and modern kitchens. You'll hear conversations that weave together practical foraging tips with cultural anthropology, exploring how plants have sustained human life for millennia as food, medicine, and material. Robin brings on experts and practitioners who share their hands-on experiences, from turning acorns into flour to understanding the medicinal compounds in a common weed. The podcast moves seamlessly from the science of plant identification to the folklore buried in their old names, creating a rich tapestry that connects listeners directly to their environment. It’s for anyone who has ever looked at a plant and wondered, "What's your story?" This series provides those answers, fostering a deeper appreciation for the wild, often overlooked bounty that grows all around us, making every walk an opportunity for discovery and connection.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 58

Eatweeds Podcast: For People Who Love Plants
Podcast Episodes
EP37: Sound Walks [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:05:18
Emma Welton, a musician who lives locally to me discusses listening as a nature connection practice. How active listening can develop a deep empathic relationship with the natural world. The section on using sound to ide…
EP36: Nettle Eater [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 46:05
Tom Hirons is a nature based poet and storyteller. In this interview we discuss his work and how as creative humans we can all express our inherent wildness through creative and magical acts. Show notes at eatweeds.co.uk…
EP34: Prison Plants [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 41:14
Nicole Rose runs Solidarity Apothecary which materially supports revolutionary struggles and communities with plant medicines to strengthen collective autonomy, self-defence and resilience to climate change, capitalism a…
EP33: Foraging, Rewilding and Nature Connection [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 40:55
Lucy O'Hagan takes us on a journey exploring ancestral ways and rewilding, foraging and nature connection. Why do it and how relevant is it in a hyper connected digital world. Show notes at eatweeds.co.uk
EP31: The Importance of Ethnobotany - An Interview with Mark Nesbitt [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 28:34
Ethnobotany is the study of the interrelationship between people and plants, historically and cross-culturally, particularly the role of plants in human culture and practices, how humans have used and modified plants, an…
EP30: Edible City - Urban Foraging During Lockdown [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:03:36
John Rensten (author of Edible City) discusses how to keep foraging in a city during the coronavirus lockdown. How to stay safe, keep your distance and why foraging is vitally important for mental and physical wellbeing.
EP29: Calm Ease [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 11:23
A discussion on foraging, stillness and mindfulness as a way to work with difficult feelings during the coronavirus/COVID-19 pandemic.
EP28: Introducing Plant Talk [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 4:13
Introducing Plant Talk, a new supplement to the regular Eatweeds podcast show that encourages and prompts you to deepen your relationship with plants.