Columbines School of Botanical Studies
Field Notes: Botany, Herbalism, and Place at Oshala Farm
Field Notes: Botany, Herbalism, and Place at Oshala Farm
with Howie Brounstein & Steven Yeager—Together Again
Saturday–Sunday, March 28–29, 2026
Oshala Farm | in the Applegate Valley of Oregon
Come join us for a spring weekend immersed in the world of botany and herbalism among the living plants at beautiful Oshala Farm.
A unique event with Howie Brounstein and Steven Yeager together again after decades of teaching side by side at the Columbines School of Botanical Studies.
Perfect as a refresher for Columbines Alumni and equally welcoming to newcomers.
Topics May Include
- Botanical Terminology
- Plant Identification
- Plant Walks
- Western Herbal Concepts
- Wildcrafting Checklist
- Herbal Preparations
About the Instructors
Howie Brounstein and Steven Yeager are longtime botanical educators who both have been teaching for decades at the Columbines School of Botanical Studies, with extensive experience in plant identification, herbal medicine, and field botany. Known for their clarity, depth, and humor, they blend precision with playfulness to make complex concepts accessible.
About Oshala Farm
Nestled in the rolling hills of southern Oregon’s Applegate Valley, Oshala Farm is a certified organic herb farm known for its premier high-quality medicinal plants and breathtaking setting. Spring brings fresh growth, open skies, and a landscape perfectly suited for learning directly from the plants themselves.
Lodging:
Camp onsite at Oshala Farm or stay at one of the many nearby local accommodations in the Applegate Valley or Grant’s Pass.
Reserve your spot today and join us for a weekend of laughter and hands-on learning at Oshala Farm!
Winter Classes
Spring Herbal Concepts Lectures Series
Support Aplodontia Research
Help Us Protect One of North America’s Most Ancient Mammals
The Aplodontia or Mountain Beaver makes “haystacks” of plants neatly arranged around the opening to its home. Aplodontia is not a true beaver; it's just a common name.
Notice how carefully they arrange the stems facing the same direction in each bundle, like a bouquet.
Columbines School of Botanical Studies has been conducting long-term, field-based research on Aplodontia rufa, commonly known as the mountain beaver, a reclusive and ancient rodent species native to the Pacific Northwest. Despite its name, the mountain beaver is not a beaver, but it is a critical part of our regional ecosystems, living mostly hidden in dense vegetation near water.
Our team has spent years studying Aplodontia habitat, behavior, and ecological impact with detailed botanical, photographic, and GIS data. However, their elusive nature makes them incredibly difficult to observe directly. That’s where trail cameras come in.
