Herbal clinic, apothecary and school focused on holistic, plant-centered wellness.
11/11/2025
I sometimes take my basic stability for granted.
Even amidst peri-menopausal mood swings and a turbulent society, I don’t lean too far off centre, or if I do, I am able to regain my balance.
I have two wise old teachers who nurtured this ability, from a young age, they are the Ocean and Nature.
I am eternally grateful for their presence at my doorstep, and their ongoing guidance and reminders of the natural rhythms of life.
Ocean tides tell us that change is inevitable, and occurs several times a day. It keeps harmony through consistency.
Nature reminds us, through the seasons and the life cycles of plants, that large scale change is natural. There is a greater balance within the flux.
The word stability comes from the Latin stabilitas, which means firmness, steadfastness, or security.
My stabilizing force is a connection to my Soul and Life Purpose. It permits me to surrender to change, welcome it; I ebb, flow and grow.
These teachers are available to all of us; they only ask that we slow down and observe.
💚🌱🩵🌊
11/10/2025
Did you get your ticket yet?
The Canadian Herb Conference is this week, Nov. 13-16, online.
Connect with the Canadian herbal community and expand your knowledge of herbal medicine thanks with an incredible lineup of teachers.
Code for a discount: Bloom25
See you there!
🌿 The herbal community is gathering! 🌿
We’re thrilled to share that 35 teachers + panelists are already confirmed for the Canadian Herb Conference 2025 ✨ with even more still to come.
This year’s theme, Diverse Minds, Common Ground, dives into how herbalism supports the brilliance of neurodiversity and the full spectrum of nervous system health.
Here’s what you can look forward to:
📚 40+ in-depth workshops & panels
🌱 20–40 CE Hours (continuing education)
💬 Live chat + global herbal networking
🌿 The Mycelial Marketplace
What better place to contemplate the cycles of life-death-rebirth than the garden!
10/27/2025
Bloom launched into a new year of herbal study in September.
I am delighted to welcome students to levels 1-4 holistic herbal wellness programs. 💚
We've met twice in Halifax, Blue Forest and online.
So far we've met many local plants, walked through forests and vacant lots, made tinctures, syrups, glycerites, juices and liniments.
We've dug roots, peeled bark, tasted hips and haws directly from the branch. We've plucked seeds from their nest and learned about poisonous look-a-likes. Giant old birch and apple trees have cradled us through dream journeys.
We've determined our Ayurvedic doshas and are all set to relate to herbs and health through the lens of energetics, and our taste buds. Withania milky tea is now a staple in the fall diet.
We've made new friends and shared common ground, which is our love of plants and quest for holistic wellness. 💚
"Dear Savayda, The long drive back gives the advantage of having time to reflect on the amazing day that was. Thank you so much. The energy of Blue Forest and having the possibility to spend time there is a gift. The strong smell of pine and sweet forest from our walk stayed with me and this morning, gray and rainy, still has me longing for more time in the woods. It has only been two classes and already I feel I'm learning so much, a whole world is quietly opening and inviting me in. I really enjoyed my nightly ritual of ashwagandha withania decoction. I'm not sure it helped me sleep, maybe in the first week or two, but I felt (still feel) more grounded for sure. I look forward to adding rituals with aromatherapy and routines to keep in balance my strong vata tendencies... haha. I'm also discovering my little backyard has more treasures than expected." ML
10/27/2025
10/23/2025
This will be a great herbal learning opportunity and occasion to connect with the Canadian herbal community.
I'm presenting a video tour of my home and herbal retreat centre, Blue Forest Shores.
Receive a discount by using coupon code: bloom25
10/21/2025
Student-lead clinic openings this week:
Thursday 1 pm & Friday 4:20 pm
$25, in person or online
Register via the Bloom Institute clinic page, link in comments.
10/20/2025
Canadian Herb Conference
Online, November 13-16
Use discount code: Bloom25
10/16/2025
While leaves fall, witch hazel blooms!
Tree Medicine Workshop
Sunday, Oct. 19, 10-1, Point Pleasant Park
We'll meet this and many other trees that hold secrets, stories and medicine.
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Contact The Practice
Send a message to Bloom Institute of Holistic Living & Learning:
I can remember my first herb walk as a young herbal student, we gathered under a hawthorn tree loaded with red fruit in a park at Jericho beach in Vancouver before heading off on a path of discovery that changed my life forever. My teacher, Don Ollsin, drew my attention to multiple common weeds such as dandelion, plantain and yarrow, that I had passed a thousand times before but didn’t recognize as medicine. I was filled with awe as I met each plant and learned it’s many virtues. I was enchanted and have been since.
My greatest delight as a herbalist comes from helping to create that moment of awakening to the plant world in others. I have been enjoying my role as a herbal educator here in the Maritimes for sixteen years. The common goal in each of the hundreds of classes and herb walks I’ve lead has been to open the gateway of learning nature’s remedies to bring health and vitality to body, mind and spirit. This remains true now as I expand in new directions as a herbal educator.
The Bloom Institute for Herbal Studies grew out of my previous Mayflower Herbal Studies. The recently launched Bloom Institute for Holistic Living and Learning Inc. is the culmination of twenty five years on the herbal path as a student, clinical herbalist, educator and plant mentor. Bloom is an officially registered private career college operating the Bloom Herbal Practitioner Program. The Bloom vision is to help place a herbal practitioner in every sizable town in the Atlantic region. Our communities need access to traditional and herbal healing practices.
The Herbal Practitioner Program opens a career path for those with a strong calling to become a voice for the plants and to establish a clinical practice, helping others with their healing potential. Graduates will receive a diploma in herbal medicine and will be qualified to register as a professional herbalist with the various herbal associations within Canada and abroad. As the profession of herbal medicine gains increasing recognition by the public, government and the integrative medicine community, herbal colleges such as Bloom are seizing the opportunity to guarantee the highest quality education, comprised of core herbal skills, medical science, traditional and modern healing technologies, research and clinical expertise. A distinguishing feature of the Bloom Institute is the plant centered learning; at least 2/3 of the herbal instruction will come from direct, hands-on experience with plants. Another unique feature of Bloom is the inclusion of Mi k’maq and indigenous healing traditions of Canada.
The Bloom Institute will continue to offer the popular year-long introduction to herbal medicine program, along with the children’s programs and a multitude of workshops and seminars on herbalism and holistic health practices.
The Bloom Institute is a growing community of individuals awakening to the power of plants for healing and the many inspired living strategies emerging from traditional wisdom combined with new innovations. I must express much gratitude to the Bloom team of advisers, instructors and collaborators who form the foundation of Atlantic Canada’s new herbal college - Yaro Darmos, Hal Richman, Gaelle McNeil, Chanchal Cabrera, Ember Peters, Daniel Wiseman, Maryna Cassar, Dr. Zenovia Ursuliak, Dr. Elizabeth Gold, Robbie Gueli , Jayme Melrose, Joel Denny, Lynn-Marie Mattie, James Christian, Michael Vertolli, Bev Maya and many others.
Thank you for taking the time to visit this page. Like plants, the Bloom community is growing daily, we welcome you to join us in building the herbal movement.
