Short Summary
Our dream is to create a place where people can learn about herbal medicine while learning how to get healthy. This March, our dreams became a reality: We are building Wellspring Mountain on the grounds of a former youth camp in northern North Carolina. In addition to classroom space and lodging, the property includes a 450-acre nature preserve.
We need your help in funding the remodeling, trail maintenance, woodland gardens, greenhouses, and other amenities. With your help we will create a successful holistic education and retreat center. You can see the classes we have already scheduled by going to www.wellspringmountain.com.
Who We Are
Thomas Easley is an herbalist, author and teacher with almost two decades of experience in the natural health world. Steven Horne is professional member and past president of the American Herbalists Guild with over 35 years experience as an herbalist and educator.
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What We Need & What You Get
We need $25,000 to start the remodeling process and have the doors open by summer. By the time we open we expect to be able to host 75 people comfortably, including class space, lodging and meals.
We have a variety of great perks, including books, discounted classes, retreats, and camping packages. We’ve already scheduled many of the best herbalists and educators in the country to do weekend intensives, and we are adding skills classes daily. Some of the classes already on the schedule include Pulse Diagnosis with Matthew Wood, Traditional Appalachian Folk Medicine with Phyllis Light, Herbal Wilderness First Aid with Sam Coffman, Dental Health with Leslie Alexander, and Traditional Western Constitution with Jim McDonald.
If we don’t reach our full funding goal, the funds we raise will still go towards the opening and maintenance of the center.
Stretch goals
What if we exceed $25K?
The camp and nature preserve has been vacant for four years. There are miles of hiking trails that need to be restored, a shower house that could use a makeover, and additional log cabins to be built. Eventually, we would like to move towards energy self-sufficiency with solar and wind power.
The Impact
We believe that living in harmony with our natural surroundings and community is key to sustaining life for future generations. Many of us have lost the skills our ancestors had, skills that emphasize self-reliance and the empowerment of community. Through teaching skills such as herbal medicine, sustainable wild crafting, healthy cooking, gardening, primitive engineering, and wilderness survival, we at Wellspring Mountain can help to pave the way for a more sustainable future.
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We need you to help make this vision a reality. Contribute now, take a class in the future, or just come hike in nature with us. We look forward to working with you!
Risks & Challenges
Many of our instructors and classes for the coming year are booked. In the event that an instructor cancels, we will give you the option to take another weekend class of equal value or to reschedule your visit when that instructor has been rescheduled.
Other Ways You Can Help
One of the best things you can do to help us reach our goal is to share this campaign via social media.
Just click on the icons below to help us spread the word.