Healing with the Elements – Weekend Retreats with Betzy Bancroft & Emily Ruff

Nestled within the embrace of the forest, immerse yourself in a sanctuary of nourishment, learning, and restoration, where each day is carefully crafted to inspire the mind and rejuvenate the spirit. Engage in guided activities rooted in the wisdom of the elements, with guided plant walks, seasonally inspired medicine making, nourishing meals crafted from local ingredients, and a myriad of activities on the land offering inspiration and relaxation. Each month explores a different element in-depth:

• June 26-28 – Air (themes of spring and rejuvenation)
• July 24-26 – Fire (themes of summer and balance)
• August 21-23 – Earth (themes of autumn and nourishment)
• September 25-27 – Water (themes of winter and wellness)

Each weekend’s schedule follows the rhythm of the forest with time for learning, expanding, and relaxing.

Nourish your body and soul: Throughout the weekend, indulge in nourishing, locally sourced meals prepared with love by our talented chefs.

Restore in our serene sanctuary: Camping under the canopy of towering trees, you’ll find respite and rejuvenation in the tranquil embrace of nature. Rustic cabin lodging is also available.

Join Us in Reconnecting with the Elements: Whether you seek solace in the serenity of the forest or crave deeper connection with the healing potential of the elements, our weekend series offers a sacred space to rediscover your connection to nature and nourish your mind, body, and spirit.

Book Your Retreat Today: Spaces are limited for this intimate and immersive experience. Reserve your spot now and embark on a journey of self-discovery and transformation in the heart of the wilderness. Register 30 days in advance of any weekend for a $50 early bird discount, or, register for the full four-part series and save $280. Scholarships are available. Primitive camping is included in your tuition. Platform camping and private cabins (with shared restroom and showers) are available for rental on a first-come, first serve basis. Several local inns are offering student rates for those wishing for private off-site lodging.

Weekend Schedule:

Weekend begins informally on Friday evening with an introduction, and ends Sunday after lunch. Tuition includes vegetarian meals, served Friday dinner through Sunday lunch.

Friday

• 3-6 pm Check-in
• 6 pm Dinner
• 7:30 pm Orientation

Saturday

• 8 am Breakfast
• 10 am Garden walk
• 12-2 Lunch
• 2-6 Seasonal Workshop and Preparation
• 6-7:30 Dinner
• 7:30 Evening Activity

Sunday

• 8 am Breakfast
• 9 am Forest walk
• 12 pm Lunch followed by closing activity

  MEET YOUR GUIDES:

Betzy Bancroft, RH(AHG)

Plants started growing into Betzy like fungal hyphae grows into roots early in her life, giving her a deep appreciation for their magic and gifts. She’s lived next door to Sage Mountain for the last 20 years, where she spends a lot of happy hours in the forest. Betzy’s currently writing a book on preparing and administering herbal remedies to be published by Chelsea Green in early 2026.

In 1987 she began formal study at Herbal Therapeutics School of Botanical Medicine (now David Winston’s Center for Herbal Studies) and went on to teach herbal pharmacy, field botany and other subjects as an assistant instructor at the school. Lucky to be in the only class of David’s that continued for 3 years, Betzy went on to complete two graduate courses in clinical herbalism at the school as well. During this time she worked as staff herbalist and general manager at Herbalist & Alchemist, David’s herbal products company.

Still an avid student, she has taught classes in herbal medicine, wild edible plants and the medicinal uses of food throughout the Northeast for over three decades, including many herbal and agricultural conferences. Betzy also teaches at the Vermont Center for Integrative Herbalism and occasionally the ROOTS School. At VCIH she is also a clinical practitioner and mentor in the students’ clinic.

For many years Betzy served as the office manager for United Plant Savers, the non-profit organization dedicated to the conservation of native medicinal plants and their habitats. She is currently a member of UpS’s Advisory Board, and actively advocates for forest conservation especially locally.

Admittedly more of a forager than a gardener, Betzy loves to cook nourishing food, make ferments, knit warm things, plant chestnut trees and pursue various other creative endeavors. Plants are truly her friends, and she feels ever inspired by the natural world—all its varied beings and the amazing interconnections and beauty that make up the great web of life. Betzy loves to share the herbal wisdom she feels very blessed to have learned.

Emily Ruff

Emily serves as director of Sage Mountain Botanical Sanctuary. The founder of the Florida School of Holistic Living and Florida Herbal Conference, she is a community herbalist who has practiced the art and science of plant healing for fifteen years, and has integrated herbs into hospice settings for over a decade. Her studies have taken her around three continents where she has studied under healers of many traditions, including an apprenticeship under renowned herbalist Rosemary Gladstar. She is a death doula, a Hospice volunteer, and has worked in ceremony and ritual at end-of-life with family, friends, and community.

Her background in gardening and botany came in childhood while wandering the wilderness and digging in the sandy soils of Florida with her grandfather, a tobacco farmer turned urban gardener, and her father, a botany and astronomy professor. Emily’s classes have been described as “heart-filled,” “enriching,” and “empowering,” creating a bridge between the teachings of our ancestors and the technologies of our modern world.