Emily Ruff, Director of Education for the Florida School of Holistic Living, is a community herbalist and health educator who has practiced the art and science of plant healing for over a decade. Her studies have taken her around three continents, where she has studied under indigenous healers of many traditions.

Ms. Ruff inherits a strong background in gardening and botany from her family, including several generations of small farmers and botanists. She completed apprenticeships with Rosemary Gladstar and George D'Arcy, studied ethnobotany at the University of Central Florida, and studied flower essences extensively with the Bach Foundation. Her work has also taken her to the woods of Central Florida, where she lived off the grid and applied the principles of holistic living in an extensive experiential research setting.

Emily is an international speaker and is currently serving her local community as a board member of Slow Food Orlando.  She has dedicated much of her work to preserving medicinal plants and their eco-systems as a member of United Plant Savers, and her recent work focuses on biodynamics, bioregionalism, and biorhythmic-influenced cultivation and healing.  She is past-president of the Herb Society of Central Florida, and is a published author whose writing is frequently found in regional publications.  She is recognized by membership in several professional organizations in the herbalism and holistic health field, and lectures throughout Florida to groups, organizations, garden clubs, and schools. 

Before joining the school, Ms. Ruff enjoyed a successful career in journalism, and helped establish four non-profit organizations which remain active and thriving today.  She traveled extensively teaching environmental justice and fair trade workshops around the country, and served as a US representative to numerous international environmental, fair trade, and social justice conferences throughout the world.

Michael Tiner, co-director, graduated from the University of Central Florida, where he studied chemistry, molecular biology and psychology. An experienced community organizer, Mr. Tiner has helped establish three successful non-profit organizations and has fought for many years to protect human rights to safe access to healing plants.  He has an extensive professional background in ethnobotany, horticulture, organic cultivation and landscaping.  An environmental technology specialist and marketing director by trade, Mr. Tiner studied herbalism through the Florida School of Herbal Studies under herbalist George D'Arcy.  With Ms. Ruff, he has been organizing within the local drum community and coordinating drum circle events since 2002.

George D'Arcy (1950-2005), herbalist and school founder, was a student and apprentice of Dr. John Christopher, Rosemary Gladstar and seven other herbalists whose training motivated him to found the Florida School of Herbal Studies.  Certifications as an EMT, Pharmacy Technician, and Nurse Assistant provided a context to bridge the gap between traditional healings and modern systems of wellness, which allowed Mr. D'Arcy a unique position to consult his clients to wellness with an intimate understanding of modern healthcare.  As a graduate of advanced programs at the Tracker School with Tom Brown, Mr. D'Arcy's teachings focused on integrating wellness with a relationship with our natural environment.

Our Instructors

Allison Marse, Holistic Nutrition - www.vibrantlivingorlando.com

Buddy Helm, Rhythmic Healing - www.buddyhelm.com

Jason Isla, Percussion and Drumming - www.givingworldpercussion.com

Tim Blank, Hydroponics - www.mytowergarden.com

Laura Norman, Reflexology - www.lauranorman.com

Michael Joseph, Nutrition - www.staffoflifenutrition.com

Sheri Winston, Wholistic Sexuality - www.sheriwinston.com

CourtneyKnickerbocker,  Survival Skills, Florida Master Naturalist

Ellis Knickerbocker, Survival Skills, Florida Master Naturalist

Chris Esposito, Survival Skills, Florida Master Naturalist

Vicki Braun, Kombucha and Kefir

Cat Rigby, Menu for the Future

Valleri Crabtree, Universe Responding - www.universeresponding.com


Our Staff

Jason Buckner, Director of IT - www.jasonbuckner.com

Donia Mitchell, Assistant Director

Stacey Matrazzo, Financial Coordinator

Patty Coulton, Programming Intern

Caitlin Battersby, New Media Intern

Jill Shea, Garden Intern

A.J. Cabiago, Garden Intern

Leann Drury, Moon Circle Leader

Henry Matutino, Moon Circle Leader

Michelle Coutinho, Graphic Design - www.infiniteeverything.net

Matthew Jones, Graphic Design - www.kuhlsolutions.com

Jaci Steinberg, Graphic Design Intern - www.drawingyouin.com

Jennifer Rivera, Graphic Design Intern

Viviana Werner, Graphic Design Intern - ucf-vwerner.deviantart.com