Herbalism in the Blue Ridge:
The Wise Woman Retreat
September 25–27, 2026
This year our focus is the wise woman — her body, her plants, her nourishment, and her becoming. If you are in the peri, meno, or post-menopausal stage of life, or simply curious about what herbalism has to offer women in transition, this retreat was made for you. Registration is open for Fall 2026 and spots are limited.
“Phenomenal woman, that’s me." — Maya Angelou
There is a moment in every woman’s life when something shifts. The body speaks differently. The calendar feels less urgent. The question is no longer who am I becoming but who have I always been. This retreat is for that moment.
Herbalism in the Blue Ridge is an immersive gathering rooted in the wisdom of plants, the energetics of the body, and the extraordinary passage of women through peri, meno, and post-menopause. Led by master herbalist and author Kat Maier, whose groundbreaking work Energetic Herbalism has shaped the way a generation of healers understand the body and its relationship to the plant world, this weekend is an invitation to know yourself more deeply and to nourish yourself accordingly.
Over the course of the weekend you will learn to read your own constitution, understand the energetics of this life stage through an Ayurvedic lens, explore the plants that speak most powerfully to women in transition, and discover the foods and recipes that nourish and sustain. You will move your body with intention, walk the land, practice yoga in the forest, and gather in the evening around the fire for ritual, story, and the kind of conversation that only happens when wise women are finally in the same room together.
Maya Angelou wrote about a woman who carries her joy in the arch of her back and the sun of her smile. That is the woman we are gathering for. The phenomenal woman. The sovereign wise woman. The one who is still becoming.
Come find out who she is.
The Experience
The retreat experience is designed to nurture the body and mind, featuring morning hikes, yoga sessions in the forest, Pilates in the barn, and farm to table meals prepared with locally sourced, herbaceous ingredients. As attendees immerse themselves in the tranquil surroundings and the rich knowledge shared by award winning author and herbalist Kat Maier, they will leave with not only practical herbal skills but also a refreshed spirit, reawakened to the wonders of nature and the healing it provides.
Who This Retreat Is For
This retreat is for you if you are navigating the changes of perimenopause, menopause, or the post-menopausal years and are ready to meet that transition with knowledge, curiosity, and community. It is for you if you are lying awake at 3am, if your body feels unfamiliar, if you are looking for answers that go deeper than a prescription. It is for you if you have never touched an herb in your life and for those who have been growing their own medicine for years. All that is asked is that you show up open.
What You Will Take Home
You will leave Heirloom Springs with more than you arrived with. Practically speaking you will have a working knowledge of the plants that support women in your stage of life, recipes and food wisdom to carry into your kitchen, and herbal preparations made by your own hands. More than that you will leave with a deeper understanding of your own constitution and what your body is asking for, a map for navigating this passage with more ease and less fear, and the memory of a weekend spent in the company of women who understand exactly where you are.
Meet Our Host
Kat Maier RH, (AHG) is the founder and director of Sacred Plant Traditions, a center for herbal studies in Charlottesville, Virginia. One of her greatest accomplishments has been to train many clinical herbalists who have gone onto to begin other schools, apothecaries or open practices. In clinical practice for over 30 years, Kat teaches internationally at universities, conferences, and herbal schools. She is coauthor of Bush Medicine of San Salvador Island, Bahamas. As a passionate steward of the plants, Kat also served as president of United Plant Savers and was the recipient of the organization’s first Medicinal Plant Conservation Award.
Weekend Schedule
Our focus for this year is women in the peri, meno, and post-menopausal stages of life, exploring the energetics of this passage through herbalism, movement, food, and the wisdom of the natural world.
All retreats are fully all-inclusive. Your investment covers all experiences, all meals prepared with seasonal and farm-grown ingredients, accommodations at the Elston Inn on the beautiful Sweet Briar College campus, and your custom Heirloom Springs toiletry kit waiting in your room on arrival.
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Interactive Farm Tour with herb and animal introductions
Welcome Refreshments featuring farm herbs
Workshop 1: Energetics of Menopause — More than Simply Hormones
Natural medicine is about working with the individual rather than the pathology. In this class we will explore constitutions — who we are as women — and how different body types mean different needs and different solutions. This goes far beyond increasing estrogen or progesterone and looks to whole body health as deeper support for this honored process of aging. We will work with the beautiful language of Ayurvedic doshas and look to energetics as a way to read our inner landscape.
Nature walk to a peaceful outdoor yoga class
Happy Hour (both cocktails and mocktails available)
Farm-to-Table dinner and dessert served outdoors under the stars
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Coffee & Light Breakfast
Morning Hike
Pilates Mat Class in the Barn — focus on osteoporosis, pelvic floor, and nervous system
Workshop 2: A Closer Look — Working with Specific Challenges
In this class we will break down specific challenges including bone density, hot flashes, and hormone replacement therapy, as well as what bioidentical hormones are and whether they are truly natural. We will leave generous time for Q&A and personal questions.
Farm-to-Table lunch served outdoors
Garden stroll — identifying and exploring herbs in their living context
Workshop 3: Medicine making session — crafting a tea blend and tincture, with discussion of forms including capsules, vinegars, and calcium extractions, and the pros and cons of each
Free Time on the Farm
Evening Restorative Yoga
Happy Hour - featuring farm-foraged herbs
Dinner Under the Stars
Fire ceremony — Vision of Aging and the Wise Woman
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Coffee & Light Breakfast
Morning Hike
Pilates Mat Class in the Barn — focus on post-menopause, nervous system, and longevity
Workshop 4: Going Forward with Grace - So much about this sacred time has to do with our nervous system and how to navigate our changing selves, our roles, and our culture. We will look at plant allies for anxiety, sleep, and depression so we can move through this time with the wisdom and grace we are intended to walk with. We will revisit the stories shared at the fire and honor them as women always have in traditional cultures.
Reflection Time on the Farm
Farm-to-Table Brunch featuring Heirloom Springs’ Signature Quiche
Send Off
Departure
“I arrived not knowing what to expect and left with a refreshed spirit. The workshops were woven seamlessly into a program that included physical activity and encouraged quiet time for reflection. Incredibly delicious and healthy food, beautiful surroundings, and the company of a small group of interesting and delightful women. I have referred back to my notes several times since returning home.”
— R.W., Herbalism in the Blue Ridge Attendee