Check out these frequently asked questions to find what you are looking for. If you don’t find what you are looking for here, you can contact a member of the team here.
General Questions
What is a Masterclass?
The masterclasses are online classes that are focused on just one aspect of DIY herbalism. These classes are designed to fit into your already busy life. They are broken down into easily consumable bite-size pieces of 15 to 20 minutes in length. Most masterclasses can be completed easily if you set aside 15 minutes just 4 or 5 times during the month. Many of our members complete several masterclasses in a weekend.
What’s included in the monthly membership?
The membership consists of five things:
Week 1 of the month - you get a masterclass which is a course on an herbal topic that is broken down into easy to complete lessons. The masterclass includes a hands on component to help you master the topic and make it part of your intuitive herbal knowledge, growing your confidence.
Week 2 of the month - you'll get a printable, workbook, or recipe book that you can download, print out, and use right away. Many of our members keep these in a binder so that they have access to them off line.
Week 4 of the month -- we'll have a live question and answer time where we can go deeper on the topic that was in the Bundle of Herbal Love. These last about 50 minutes.
There is a Private Facebook group associated with the membership where members can also ask questions and grow into community.
There are other surprises that are just for members, but I can't tell you those or it would spoil the surprise.
Are there ways members can connect with each other?
We are beta testing a daily zoom room / virtual work space, where members can meet with each other, chat about their herbs or anything else that comes up. This is an unsupervised meeting just for members to get together and make friends. If you want to try it out, go to the facebook group and find a buddy (at least one day before you want to meet.) The first time is always the hardest, so don't be shy.
Then download the zoom app to your phone or devise. Follow the link to the open meeting. Cameras are enabled when you join the meeting and you'll need to unmute your mic so you can chat together. The meeting can be recorded if you want (optional).
Join the zoom meeting with your herb buddy and chat any time. The virtual workspace is open all day, every day, so it doesn't matter if you are in another time zone, as long as you and your buddy mutually agree on the time.
Herbalism doesn't have to be lonely. Go here in the Facebook group to make a date with your herb buddy now!
How long do I have access to each monthly masterclass? Is it something I have to rush to finish?
You have access to each Herbal Masterclass for as a long as you remain a member in good standing. Once a masterclass is added to the membership portal it will remain there for all members to enjoy and learn from.
I don’t have all the supplies on hand to be able to complete all the recipes. Which supplies are the most important?
That depends on your individual needs. I will add a shopping list to each Bundle of Herbal Love, but the goal is to have a supply cupboard of herbs that you can draw on anytime you have a need to make one of the DIY projects.
So if someone in your family has a rash or eczema, you would keep on hand the supplies to make those remedies for skin inflammation on a regular basis and buy in bulk, to save money. But if there is a DIY Project for Diaper Rash Salve and you don't have a baby in diapers, you wouldn't have a need to purchase zinc oxide, a staple in diaper rash salves. You might already have onhand the other ingredients though like beeswax, olive oil, cocoa butter and lavender or frankincense essential oil.
Will the monthly live Q and A sessions be recorded?
Yes. You'll find the monthly live Q and A sessions here, about 48 hours after the live Q and A session ends.
I don’t have a garden. I live in the desert. Can the DIY projects be done with purchased dried herbs, too?
Yes, 99% of the projects can be made with dried herbs and purchased herbs without changing the recipes or the outcomes. There is a list of herb suppliers in the resource section of the membership site to help you find herb suppliers that are close to you.
What is the DIY Herbalist Path?
The DIY Herbalist Path is a metaphor that helps us find out where we are on the path to becoming a confident and intuitive herbalist. It also helps us know where we should be focusing our time in our herbal studies and what our next step is. You can find out where you are on the DIY Herbalist Path by taking the quizz here. (coming soon.)
How long do I have access to each monthly masterclass?
You will have access to each monthly masterclass for as long as you are a member in good standing. There is no time limit for completing the monthly bundle. You do not have to complete each month's masterclass before going on to the next month's masterclass. You can choose to only complete the masterclasses that are relevant for you.
However if you stop being a member of the DIY Herbal Fellowship you will no longer have access to the membership site and therefore you will lose access to the catalog of masterclasses as well.
I’m a member. How do I enroll in one of the Masterclasses?
It's easy to enroll in any of the masterclasses on the site
I’m having trouble viewing the videos, the audio or the pdfs
Often, this issue is caused by a browser problem on your computer. If you're not sure what browser you're using you can check out here: https://www.whatsmybrowser.org/
Here are some basic browser troubleshooting steps that are a great starting point to try and resolve the problem on your own.
- Clear cache and restart the browser. Also check if you’re using the newest version of the browser. Update the browser if necessary.
- Try a different browser (we like Google Chrome)
- Try an Incognito / Private Window (this will rule out an issue with browser extensions).
- Restart the device (it's a cliche but it works!)
- If possible, try a different device! If you are using a desktop computer, can you view videos on your phone?
- If possible, try a different internet connection! School and/or corporate firewalls occasionally block our video provider.
Windows 7 can sometimes be the cause of the glitch. Windows 7 is no longer supported by Microsoft. Please try accessing the site using a different device.
If none of these actions resolves your issue, please contact support. Robin@thediyherbal.com can work with you to resolve your issue.
When I try to print the slides they are too big to print
What’s the difference between the membership and your courses at Joybilee Academy?
The courses at Joybilee Academy are generally longer. They don't have active support, so there are no live Q and As, no coffee chats, no dedicated Facebook group to ask questions or get feedback. Its for people that want to learn from me but don't need or want active support. The courses are also static. No new material is added once the course is published. Only one of the classes in Joybilee Academy has a certificate on completion.
On the other hand, the membership has a monthly masterclass that is designed so that you can watch each lesson during a coffee break, for those that don't have a lot of time. There is an active component focused on hands on application for the lessons. We learn better when we apply what we learn through hands on projects, so we integrate that into the classes. You have something to show for what you learned. There is a live monthly Q and A where the members can ask questions and get feedback. It is recorded so those who can't make it live can view it. Also (the fellowship part) we have a monthly coffee time (not recorded) where members can get together and build relationships, network, and share. Quarterly, inside the membership, we'll do challenges and games to help with implementation and improve how much people remember of the masterclasses. These are great for making progress on your goals and cheering others on, building relationships inside the community.
The membership has a dedicated Facebook group where members can connect, ask questions, get feedback, share information. I'm in that group daily.
How much time does it take to complete a masterclass? I don’t have a lot of time.
You'll want to have at least one hour a week to dedicate to the DIY Herbal Fellowship, to complete at least one masterclass a month, do the hands on projects, participate in the Q and A and the coffee chat. If you don't have that much time, you might feel frustrated inside the DIY Herbal Fellowship because you'll miss the interaction and the support. If you have more than one hour a week available, you'll be able to do several masterclasses each month. Each masterclass takes between one hour and 1 1/2 hours to complete. You'll get a certificate after you complete each masterclass, so you'll have a record of the time you've invested in your herbal learning.
Membership Questions
What is a Masterclass?
The masterclasses are online classes that are focused on just one aspect of DIY herbalism. These classes are designed to fit into your already busy life. They are broken down into easily consumable bite-size pieces of 15 to 20 minutes in length. Most masterclasses can be completed easily if you set aside 15 minutes just 4 or 5 times during the month. Many of our members complete several masterclasses in a weekend.
What’s included in the monthly membership?
The membership consists of five things:
Week 1 of the month - you get a masterclass which is a course on an herbal topic that is broken down into easy to complete lessons. The masterclass includes a hands on component to help you master the topic and make it part of your intuitive herbal knowledge, growing your confidence.
Week 2 of the month - you'll get a printable, workbook, or recipe book that you can download, print out, and use right away. Many of our members keep these in a binder so that they have access to them off line.
Week 4 of the month -- we'll have a live question and answer time where we can go deeper on the topic that was in the Bundle of Herbal Love. These last about 50 minutes.
There is a Private Facebook group associated with the membership where members can also ask questions and grow into community.
There are other surprises that are just for members, but I can't tell you those or it would spoil the surprise.
Will the monthly charge be taken automatically on my card or will I need to remember to pay every month?
When you joined the DIY Herbal Fellowship, you signed up for a recurring monthly membership fee. It will automatically be charged to your account on the monthly anniversary of the day you became a member. You don't have to do anything. Everything is automatic.
How long do I have access to each monthly masterclass? Is it something I have to rush to finish?
You have access to each Herbal Masterclass for as a long as you remain a member in good standing. Once a masterclass is added to the membership portal it will remain there for all members to enjoy and learn from.
How long do I have access to each monthly masterclass?
You will have access to each monthly masterclass for as long as you are a member in good standing. There is no time limit for completing the monthly bundle. You do not have to complete each month's masterclass before going on to the next month's masterclass. You can choose to only complete the masterclasses that are relevant for you.
However if you stop being a member of the DIY Herbal Fellowship you will no longer have access to the membership site and therefore you will lose access to the catalog of masterclasses as well.
How do I update my payment method?
This video will guide you through to update or change your payment method in your dashboard:
I’m a member. How do I enroll in one of the Masterclasses?
It's easy to enroll in any of the masterclasses on the site
Why do you need my mailing address?
Please use your best mailing address when you give us your contact information. While there are no physical products included with the monthly membership purchase, there are periodic surprises that may be mailed out to members, so your mailing address is required when you register.
To ensure that parcels mailed to you don't get returned by the post office, please keep your mailing address up to date. Periodically we will ask members to update their mailing address in their member account so that we can make your experience as a DIY Herbal Fellowship member awesome.
What’s the difference between the membership and your courses at Joybilee Academy?
The courses at Joybilee Academy are generally longer. They don't have active support, so there are no live Q and As, no coffee chats, no dedicated Facebook group to ask questions or get feedback. Its for people that want to learn from me but don't need or want active support. The courses are also static. No new material is added once the course is published. Only one of the classes in Joybilee Academy has a certificate on completion.
On the other hand, the membership has a monthly masterclass that is designed so that you can watch each lesson during a coffee break, for those that don't have a lot of time. There is an active component focused on hands on application for the lessons. We learn better when we apply what we learn through hands on projects, so we integrate that into the classes. You have something to show for what you learned. There is a live monthly Q and A where the members can ask questions and get feedback. It is recorded so those who can't make it live can view it. Also (the fellowship part) we have a monthly coffee time (not recorded) where members can get together and build relationships, network, and share. Quarterly, inside the membership, we'll do challenges and games to help with implementation and improve how much people remember of the masterclasses. These are great for making progress on your goals and cheering others on, building relationships inside the community.
The membership has a dedicated Facebook group where members can connect, ask questions, get feedback, share information. I'm in that group daily.
How much time does it take to complete a masterclass? I don’t have a lot of time.
You'll want to have at least one hour a week to dedicate to the DIY Herbal Fellowship, to complete at least one masterclass a month, do the hands on projects, participate in the Q and A and the coffee chat. If you don't have that much time, you might feel frustrated inside the DIY Herbal Fellowship because you'll miss the interaction and the support. If you have more than one hour a week available, you'll be able to do several masterclasses each month. Each masterclass takes between one hour and 1 1/2 hours to complete. You'll get a certificate after you complete each masterclass, so you'll have a record of the time you've invested in your herbal learning.
I’ve enrolled in herb classes from other herb schools that I didn’t complete. Can I successfully complete anything inside the DIY Herbal Fellowship?
Joining the DIY Herbal Fellowship can give you the support you need to complete the courses you've already signed up for, if you still have access to them. Many of our members are also working through certificate programs at Herbal Academy or other herb schools. They use the support and the methods we teach in the DIY Herbal Fellowship to help them systematically work through their other courses and retain the information they are learning.
The masterclasses inside the DIY Herbal Fellowship are different than what you'll find in other herb schools. We have success built into each masterclass. The lessons are designed to be completed during a break time, so that busy women don't get left behind. (Aren't we all very busy!)Each lesson inside the masterclasses are just 15 to 20 minutes long. The hands on projects can be done in the margins, while you are working on other things, like supervising homework, or waiting for dinner to cook. You don't need to wait till you have a few hours alone-time to get started. 15 minutes can be a start.
Also you'll enjoy quarterly implementation challenges to encourage you along your journey. These include games or other strategies to keep you moving forward to reach your goals and master the aspects within herbal studies that are important to you.
If you have a life challenge though, and can't complete the monthly masterclasses for a period of time, you don't lose access to them, as long as you remain a member in good standing. The masterclasses will wait for you.
How is the DIY Herbal Fellowship different from other herbal programs like the Herbal Academy?
At the DIY Herbal Fellowship, we emphasize homegrown and foraged herbalism. We teach how to grow your own medicine, so you aren't dependent on the global supply chain for your wellness.
In the classes from other herb schools you'll get a long list of herbs you need to buy in order to complete the classes and a lot of these herbs are from herbal traditions from tropical climates, so you will need to buy imported herbs, that may have been in storage a long time before they reach you. Herbs you can grow and harvest close to where you live have been challenged by the same stressors that you've been challenged with and they have the unique metabolites that you need to thrive.
We also provide a list of herbs that you can buy if you don't have access to a garden or places you can forage, but growing your own gives you access to that unique property in herbs, that you can't buy in a store.
Herbs and Essential Oils Questions
I have a question about herbs or essential oils that is related to the monthly masterclass, where can I ask that?
I'm so glad you have questions!
You can ask your question in the monthly Q and A by submitting the form here. Chris or one of our experts will answer your questions in the monthly Q and A live session so that the answer is recorded for everyone who might also have the same questions. All live Q and A sessions will be recorded. Links to the recordings can be found here. Look for them about 48 hours after the live event ends.
Thanks for participating in the membership and asking your questions. That's what make the DIY Herbal Fellowship such a unique and awesome experience for everyone.
I have a question about herbs and essential oils that isn’t part of the monthly masterclass topic, where can I ask my question?
The best place to ask questions that are outside the focus of the monthly topics is the Facebook group here or in the course forum on this site.
Can I wash tincture bottles and dropper bottles for use as packaging for gifts?
Yes, wash them with hot soapy water and rinse well to remove any trace of soap. Allow the bottles to air dry before using.
Should herb infused oils be stored in tinted glass bottles?
Ideally yes. But if you don’t have access to tinted glass bottles you can store in clear glass bottles and keep your product stored in a cool dark place, protected from heat and light.
Is it safe to use aluminum tins for lip balms and salves?
Ideally you want to use steel tins or glass. Aluminum is strong and light weight and for some products that would be in the tin for a very short time, it might be acceptable. For a lip product or a product that might be used on broken skin or near lymph nodes, like underarm deodorant I would avoid using aluminum packaging.
What program can I use to make printable labels?
I use Pic Monkey or Canva to create the labels. I save the label as a jpg file and then use Avery labels templates to create a printable label file that I can then print on my own blank labels.
What should be included on the label
- Name of the product, even a silly name
- How to use the product
- What the dose or serving size is , if any
- Ingredients or allergy alerts, like “contains tree nuts”. (important)
How is the DIY Herbal Fellowship different from other herbal programs like the Herbal Academy?
At the DIY Herbal Fellowship, we emphasize homegrown and foraged herbalism. We teach how to grow your own medicine, so you aren't dependent on the global supply chain for your wellness.
In the classes from other herb schools you'll get a long list of herbs you need to buy in order to complete the classes and a lot of these herbs are from herbal traditions from tropical climates, so you will need to buy imported herbs, that may have been in storage a long time before they reach you. Herbs you can grow and harvest close to where you live have been challenged by the same stressors that you've been challenged with and they have the unique metabolites that you need to thrive.
We also provide a list of herbs that you can buy if you don't have access to a garden or places you can forage, but growing your own gives you access to that unique property in herbs, that you can't buy in a store.
Packaging Herbal Products Questions
Can I wash tincture bottles and dropper bottles for use as packaging for gifts?
Yes, wash them with hot soapy water and rinse well to remove any trace of soap. Allow the bottles to air dry before using.
Should herb infused oils be stored in tinted glass bottles?
Ideally yes. But if you don’t have access to tinted glass bottles you can store in clear glass bottles and keep your product stored in a cool dark place, protected from heat and light.
Is it safe to use aluminum tins for lip balms and salves?
Ideally you want to use steel tins or glass. Aluminum is strong and light weight and for some products that would be in the tin for a very short time, it might be acceptable. For a lip product or a product that might be used on broken skin or near lymph nodes, like underarm deodorant I would avoid using aluminum packaging.
What program can I use to make printable labels?
I use Pic Monkey or Canva to create the labels. I save the label as a jpg file and then use Avery labels templates to create a printable label file that I can then print on my own blank labels.
What should be included on the label
- Name of the product, even a silly name
- How to use the product
- What the dose or serving size is , if any
- Ingredients or allergy alerts, like “contains tree nuts”. (important)
Accounts and Billing Questions
Will the monthly charge be taken automatically on my card or will I need to remember to pay every month?
When you joined the DIY Herbal Fellowship, you signed up for a recurring monthly membership fee. It will automatically be charged to your account on the monthly anniversary of the day you became a member. You don't have to do anything. Everything is automatic.
I need to change my credit card information. Where can I do that?
You can change your credit card information in your dashboard under "Order History".
My credit card expired so the payment didn’t go through how can I make sure I don’t lose my membership?
Contact support as soon as possible so that we can make sure your account isn't cancelled and you don't lose your Founder status and all your accumulated achievements. It's important to let us know because if your account is cancelled we don't have a way to restore the achievements that you've already earned.
How do I update my payment method?
This video will guide you through to update or change your payment method in your dashboard:
Why do you need my mailing address?
Please use your best mailing address when you give us your contact information. While there are no physical products included with the monthly membership purchase, there are periodic surprises that may be mailed out to members, so your mailing address is required when you register.
To ensure that parcels mailed to you don't get returned by the post office, please keep your mailing address up to date. Periodically we will ask members to update their mailing address in their member account so that we can make your experience as a DIY Herbal Fellowship member awesome.
Support Questions
How can I contact support?
You can contact support by emailing membercare@thediyherbal.com or you can contact support using any one of the ways listed on this page.
We want your time as a member of the DIY Herbal Fellowship to be amazing, so if things aren't working for you, please let us know so that we can fix it.
When I try to print the slides they are too big to print