
DESCRIPTION
An immersive training and overview in traditional homesteading and herbal medicine practices brought to you by the co-founders of Atabey Botanicals, a social enterprise dedicated to supporting you develop practical applications of sustainability into your lifestyle that will improve your health and well being and protect the environment. During the course you will learn how to create your own line of non-toxic natural products and free yourself from a dependency on wasteful commercialized goods. This course provides introductions into fermentation, distillation and herbalism to build the foundations for training students in the techniques needed to be able to safely create their own personal care products and promote holistic wellbeing in their home and environment.
Course Content Includes:
- Herbalism and Fermentation Overview
- Brewing Alcohol and Vinegar
- Live Culture Pickles, Dairy Kefir, and Probiotic Sodas
- Steam Distilling Alcohol, Hydrosols & Essential Oils
- Infusions & Extracts
- Soap Making
- Household Cleaning Products
- Hand and Lip Balms
- Lotions, Body Creams and Butters
- Natural Deodorant
- Homemade Hair Care
- Resource Packet with Recipes for Further Independent Learning & Practice
- Each student will take home a selection of their own products created during course
Tentative Schedule
Evening Arrival | Monday, May 12
6:30 PM – 7:30 PM Cena
7:30 PM – 8:00 PM Brief Introduction
Day 1 | Tuesday, May 13
8:00 AM – 9:00 Desayuno
9:00 AM-10:00 AM Tour and Workshop Overview
10:00 AM-11:30 AM Introduction to Herbalism & Fermentation at home
11:30 AM – 1:00 PM Brewing Alcohol & Vinegar
1:00 PM- 2:30 PM Almuerzo & Siesta
2:30 PM- 4:00 PM Raw and Probiotic Foods
4:00 – 6:30 PM Free time or continue practice
6:30 – 7: 30 PM Cena
Day 2 | Wednesday, May 14
8:00 AM – 9:00 AM Desayuno
9:00 AM – 10:00 AM Introduction to Natural Skin Care
10:00 AM – 11:30 AM Steam Distillation
11:30 AM – 1: 00 PM Infusions & Extractions
1:00 PM – 2:30 PM Almuerzo & Siesta
2:30 PM – 5:00 PM Artesian Soap Making
5:00 PM – 6:30 PM Free time or continue practice
6:30 PM – 7: 30 PM Cena
Day 3 | Thursday, May 15
8:00 AM – 9:00 Desayuno
9:00 AM – 11:30 AM Waterfall or La Iguana Chocolate Tour
11:30 AM – 1:00 PM Natural Household Products
1:00 PM – 2:30 PM Almuerzo & Siesta
2:30 PM – 4:00 PM How make Hand & Lip Balms
4:00 PM – 6:30 PM Free time or continue practice
6:30 PM – 7: 30 PM Cena
Day 4 | Friday, May 16
8:00 AM – 9:00 AM Desayuno
9:00 AM – 11:00 AM Lotions, Creams & Butters
11:00 AM – 1:00 PM Making your own deodorant
1:00 PM – 2:30 PM Almuerzo & Siesta
2:30 PM – 4:00 PM Natural Hair Care
Instructor(s)/Teaching organization bio(s)

Atabey Botanicals
In our daily lives, we are continuously seeking to live in a way that is more aligned with our Permaculture ethics, which include the care and wellbeing of all living things as well as a sharing of that which we have in abundance. We recognized we were not alone in this pursuit and decided to partner with like-minded individuals to turn our personal efforts into a collective solution as young entrepreneurs. Atabey Botanical’s strives to be a model social enterprise that demonstrates it is possible to provide affordable, premium quality products using nothing but all natural ingredients while eliminating waste streams and using exclusively re-usable and recyclable packaging. Through Atabey Botanicals, we want to help others reclaim the skills needed to free themselves from a dependency on wasteful commercialized products with questionable ingredients. Whether you want to start your own business or are looking to reduce waste and eliminate toxins from your environment, we want to support you on your journey.

Sharleen Marie
Sharleen is an environmental educator, born and raised in the Caribbean Archipelago of Puerto Rico. She holds multiple degrees, including a Bachelor’s degree in Environmental Sciences from the University of Puerto Rico and a graduate certificate in Nature-based Early Childhood Education from Antioch University New England. She has worked and collaborated with non-profit organizations and schools to develop and establish garden-based education programs that let her weave threads of love, education and natural wellbeing. Captured and inspired by the energy and healing powers of herbs, she co-founded and directs Atabey Botanicals, to continue her journey in promoting natural healing through the application of healthy and holistic principles and support others to embrace the transition from being dependent consumers to becoming responsible and sustainable producers. When not surrounded by children or a garden you can find her reading, dancing, fermenting, practicing mindfulness and yoga, snorkeling or hiking somewhere on a coast or in one of the many mountains she loves.

Connor Froyen
Born on a small organic farm in the Pacific Northwest US, Connor has spent much of his adult life living and working on farms and in restaurants, in communities around the world. Connor is currently a PhD Candidate in Social Ecology at the University of California-Irvine, and in 2017 he completed a year long apprenticeship at Rancho Mastatal. His research focuses on supporting sustainable entrepreneurship in rural Latin American communities because he believes in the power of education to unlock our collective latent potential. In addition to co-founding Atabey Botanicals, he has over 7 years of professional cooking experience, 10 years of home brewing experience and has been experimenting with making natural home care products since childhood. When not working with students or buried in his research, you can find him happily experimenting in the kitchen, frolicking in nature, reading a book, doing yoga, practicing meditation or enjoying a delicious brew.

course start and ARRIVAL dates
The class begins at 9 a.m. on May 13, 2019. The night before the class begins, May 12, 2019, is included in the cost of the class. We will also have a brief meet and green on the evening of May 12.
course end and departure dates
The last day of the class is May 16, 2019. The night of May 24, 2019 is included in the cost of the class.
COST
$450 USD
Includes all food, lodging and instruction.
Your registration, a confirmation from us that there is space in the class and a $100 non-refundable deposit will secure your spot in the course. You can make your deposit with PayPal below or go to our Payment page for more information and options.
We have partial scholarships available for this class. Please inquire at [email protected] and/or fill out an application here

LANGUAGE
This class will be taught in English.
ACCOMMODATIONS
All food and lodging is included in the cost of the course. Students will stay in the Ranch bunkhouse with options for upgrades. We provide high quality mattresses, linens and blankets. Please see our Accommodations page for more information.
COURSE PAYMENT
Please see our Payments page for more information about how to pay.
GETTING TO RANCHO MASTATAL
Please see our Directions page for detailed information on how to get to Rancho Mastatal.
ENROLLMENT
To enroll in the class, please fill out our Online Registration Form.
questions
For more information about this class and Rancho Mastatal please contact us at [email protected] , call us at +506 2200-0920 or text/WhatsApp us at +506 8539-1404. You can also follow us at:
http://ranchomastatal.com/ (sign up for our newsletter at the bottom of this page)
https://www.instagram.com/ranchomastatal/
https://www.facebook.com/ranchomastatal