{"id":15804,"date":"2021-04-04T13:55:36","date_gmt":"2021-04-04T11:55:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/couplan.com\/training\/"},"modified":"2025-09-06T20:30:59","modified_gmt":"2025-09-06T18:30:59","slug":"courses","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/couplan.com\/en\/courses\/","title":{"rendered":"Courses"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Complete Online Course<\/strong><\/a><\/h3>\n

After over fifty years of guiding countless people in discovering plants through wild gastronomy workshops and soft survival experiences \u2013 always exciting, but necessarily short-lived \u2013 I felt the need to go further. Designing a course that would explore, in depth, the profound relationship between humans and the plant world seemed essential: a response both to growing interest and to my own desire to share more fully. The plant world is so vast, and the subjects I wished to explore so rich and numerous, that I chose to structure this training over the course of three years<\/a>.[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=”20px”][vc_tta_accordion active_section=”0″ no_fill=”true” collapsible_all=”true”][vc_tta_section title=”Founding of the Practical College of Ethnobotany” tab_id=”1743231658078-93bf0b17-2334″][vc_column_text css=””]The Practical College of Ethnobotany was established in 2008, after a long period of thoughtful and collaborative reflection. Over the years, we held eight in-person sessions, each launched every two years. But as interest in the field grew, so did our desire to make the program more widely accessible. We wanted to open the doors to anyone drawn to the vast world of plants and the deep, intricate connections that bind them to human life. This is what led us to offer the training online.[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_tta_section][vc_tta_section title=”Structure and duration of the Online Program” tab_id=”1743231658086-91fa8bb0-a8f8″][vc_column_text css=””]The online training offered by the Practical College of Ethnobotany unfolds over the course of three years, with a new thematic module released each month. You can begin at any time, and no prior knowledge is required. While three years may seem like a long commitment, it\u2019s merely the beginning of a lifelong journey with and within the plant world.[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_tta_section][vc_tta_section title=”A rich and comprehensive curriculum: 30 modules, 120 lessons and videos, and much more” tab_id=”1743232085400-2dc65f9c-7373″][vc_column_text css=””]This unique, globally unparalleled program consists of 30 modules, each comprising over 120 lessons, an equal number of videos, downloadable PDF resources, interactive quizzes, and practical exercises. It offers a dynamic blend of theory and hands-on experience, complemented by optional field courses led by former PCE students.<\/p>\n

Our pedagogical approach encourages autonomous, in-depth learning. Though rigorous, intellectually demanding, and designed at an academic level, the course remains accessible to anyone with curiosity and motivation. This comprehensive training offers a holistic understanding of plants \u2013 spanning botany, cooking, herbal medicine, anthropology, ecology, and more. It is designed to equip learners with the knowledge and tools needed to become professionals in the plant world and to foster a deeper, more conscious relationship with the living world \u2013 an essential foundation for acting wisely and effectively in today\u2019s changing environment.[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_tta_section][vc_tta_section title=”An innovative pedagogical approach” tab_id=”1743232170340-38350b3b-d2dd”][vc_column_text css=””]The subjects we explore are remarkably diverse: they delve into plants, people, and the intricate relationships they have woven over millennia, across continents and cultures. This course invites you to discover the many ways humans have used and understood plants, with an open mind and a global perspective. Far beyond technical knowledge alone, this training is an invitation to reflect, to reconnect, and to grow. It is, above all, a school of life.[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_tta_section][\/vc_tta_accordion][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row content_placement=”middle”][vc_column][vc_column_text css=””]<\/p>\n

Guided distance learning program<\/strong><\/h3>\n

This learning program<\/a> allows you to explore the plant world around you, wherever you may live, under the guidance of renowned ethnobotanist Fran\u00e7ois Couplan. Whether you’re just beginning or already seriously experienced, you\u2019ll deepen your understanding of nature and develop a meaningful, personal connection with plants.[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=”20px”][vc_tta_accordion active_section=”0″ no_fill=”true” collapsible_all=”true”][vc_tta_section title=”Learning Through Observation and the Senses” tab_id=”1743232344568-c1e68bc2-e188″][vc_column_text css=””]Over the course of a year, you will learn to identify plants through close observation and the use of all your senses. You’ll acquire the vocabulary to describe them accurately, discover their traditional and contemporary uses, and refine your skills in foraging and wild cooking. Step by step, you\u2019ll explore the diverse and fascinating ways humans have interacted with plants across cultures and time. By the end of the journey, you’ll feel more at ease \u2013 and more at home \u2013 within the fascinating world of plants.[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_tta_section][vc_tta_section title=”Plant profiles: a hands-on path to deeper learning” tab_id=”1743232344575-ebba7c73-2247″][vc_column_text css=””]At the heart of our distance-learning program are the \u201cplant profiles.\u201d These guided exercises invite you to observe plants in detail and record your findings using structured worksheets. You\u2019ll submit your observations directly to Fran\u00e7ois Couplan, who will return your work with personalized annotations to support your learning and sharpen your observational skills. He will also be available to answer your questions \u2013 by email, phone, or video call \u2013 throughout the course ensuring you\u2019ll feel supported every step of the way.[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_tta_section][vc_tta_section title=”Ten core lessons on botany and plant uses” tab_id=”1743232344586-f151fffb-55c6″][vc_column_text css=””]In addition to hands-on observation, the course includes ten foundational lessons on essential topics: botany, plant uses, potential toxicity, wild nature, nutrition, and more. Each lesson comes with a dedicated quiz to help consolidate and assess your understanding.[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_tta_section][vc_tta_section title=”Flexible one-year format + discount on the full Online Course” tab_id=”1743232344596-62c9f152-514c”][vc_column_text css=””]You can start the course at any time. It runs for twelve months and offers a thorough, practice-based introduction to the plant world. As a participant, you\u2019ll also receive a discount if you choose to continue with our three-year online program \u2013 for which this course is also an excellent preparation.[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_tta_section][\/vc_tta_accordion][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row content_placement=”middle”][vc_column][vc_column_text css=””]<\/p>\n

Training for Chefs<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Fran\u00e7ois Couplan offers professional chefs a personalized training program<\/a> in wild plant knowledge, enabling them to integrate these remarkable ingredients into their creative cuisine.[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=”20px”][vc_tta_accordion active_section=”0″ no_fill=”true” collapsible_all=”true”][vc_tta_section title=”Collaborations with world-renowned chefs” tab_id=”1743235114829-f5467329-43c5″][vc_column_text css=””]Over thirty years ago, Fran\u00e7ois began a long-standing collaboration with Marc Veyrat (Annecy, France), who has since become a close friend and culinary partner. Since then, he has introduced many acclaimed chefs to the world of wild plants, including Jean-Georges Vongerichten in New York, Carlo Crisci in Switzerland, Chris Hruskova in London, and Jean-Marie Dumaine in Germany. Today, the use of foraged plants is becoming a hallmark of contemporary cuisine. Chefs like Ren\u00e9 Redzepi in Copenhagen and many others around the globe now consider them as essential and inspiring as traditional ingredients. Their extraordinary flavors are simply too valuable to ignore.[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_tta_section][vc_tta_section title=”Fran\u00e7ois and Keiko in your kitchen with your team” tab_id=”1743235114841-c161fa34-6ff8″][vc_column_text css=””]To help you identify and use local wild plants in your culinary creations, Fran\u00e7ois Couplan and Keiko Imamura \u2013 master of traditional Japanese cuisine \u2013 will come directly to your restaurant. Together, they will guide you through the edible flora surrounding your establishment and suggest refined ways to highlight their unique flavors. They can also collaborate with your trusted farmers and help you establish a dedicated team of foragers.[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_tta_section][\/vc_tta_accordion][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row content_placement=”middle” el_id=”formation2″][vc_column][vc_column_text css=””]<\/p>\n

Introductory video course<\/a><\/h3>\n

Begin your journey alongside Fran\u00e7ois Couplan with short videos <\/a>that takes you into the heart of nature. Discover some of his favorite wild plants and benefit from his expert advice on how to fully enjoy the gifts that nature so generously provides.[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=”20px”][vc_tta_accordion active_section=”0″ no_fill=”true” collapsible_all=”true”][vc_tta_section title=”A series of twenty videos on Edible Wild Plants” tab_id=”1743235980867-674d5037-8a09″][vc_column_text css=””]This series features about twenty concise, informative videos dedicated to a subject Fran\u00e7ois has passionately explored for decades: edible wild plants.[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_tta_section][\/vc_tta_accordion][\/vc_column][\/vc_row]<\/p>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

[vc_row content_placement=”middle” el_id=”formation1″][vc_column el_id=”presentation1″][vc_column_text el_class=”” css=””] Complete Online Course After over fifty years of guiding countless people in discovering plants through wild gastronomy workshops and soft survival experiences \u2013 always […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-15804","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"yoast_head":"\nCourses • Edible wild plants • Fran\u00e7ois Couplan<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Participate in in-person and remote training courses on edible wild plants with Fran\u00e7ois Couplan.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/couplan.com\/en\/courses\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" 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