Frequently Asked Questions

We offer full refunds up to two weeks after purchase. After that, we offer partial refunds that are bigger the more advance notice you give us.  Here’s how it works: 

If your cancellation occurs…

• More than 6 weeks before the class start date, 70% of your tuition paid will be refunded 
• Within 6-2 weeks of the class start date, 50% of your tuition paid will be refunded, or we can transfer you to another class session for an additional $200 admin fee 
• Less than 2 weeks before the class start date, no refunds except in case of dire emergency*; during this timeframe you can transfer to another session with an additional $200 admin fee, or get access to one of our online classes 

*Dire emergency = Death in immediate family, injury or illness that prevents class participation.

If you are not able to attend a class, please notify us as soon as possible using this form. 

Refunds for Online Classes

We offer full refunds for our online classes within 2 weeks of purchase. In order to qualify for a refund, you must have watched at least 4 lessons within the class/program. Contact admin@wildabundance.net to inquire about refunds for online classes.

Many of our classes are held onsite at on of the the Wild Abundance campuses in Barnardsville, NC. Others are held at similarly beautiful sites within 25-50 minutes of here.  For some of our classes, we will take field trips to other locations in the area. Our online classes are hosted online and available to anyone with an internet connection.

The Wild Abundance home campuses are located about 25 minutes north of downtown Asheville, off of the Barnardsville/Jupiter exit off of I-26 (Exit 15). You will receive detailed directions to our location after you register for a class.

It’s important to note, however, that our mountain campus is unconventional, and may not be accessible to all bodies. Visit this page to learn more about our campus to see if you’ll be comfortable here. A few key features to note: we have an outdoor shower and (permitted) outhouse instead of a traditional bathroom. The ground here is uneven and you may have to traverse rough steps and mild hills to access the outhouse and other facilities. Our online classes are an option for anyone who cannot travel, wishes to learn from home, or is not comfortable navigating the campus. 

We’re all about building community, but that doesn’t mean that you have to be super social or extroverted to participate in our classes. In fact, we believe that resilient communities need all kinds of people in order to thrive, and there’s not just one way to show up in a group. 

If you’re more introverted, you’ll have a chance to take space during breaks and after class, and won’t be pressured to participate in group activities. During our programs we host opening and closing circles, along with Q&A sessions where everyone is invited to speak up, share about their experience, and bring their voice to the group. All of this is optional! We also have a question board where folks can simply write what’s on their mind if they don’t feel drawn to speaking in groups.

In order to keep our spaces orderly, and help students feel grounded and connected, we invite folks to sign up for small chores around campus during classes. These usually take about 5 minutes to complete, so there is still plenty of time to prepare food, take a walk, etc. outside of class time. 

For those who are more outgoing, there are ample opportunities to chat and connect with fellow students who are also wanting that.

Once a class is open for registration, you’ll be able to click through to a simple form and share your information, choose your price on the sliding scale, opt for a single payment or payment plan, and sign up for the class. We process payments through PayPal, but you do not need a PayPal account to register and pay in full. If you are setting up a payment plan, a PayPal account is required. 

There are lots of Airbnbs in the immediate area. When you register for a class, we’ll share a list of especially close ones. There is also a hotel in Mars Hill, the closest town. Whatever your lodging, we recommend that you stay within a 25 minute drive to our campus, as class days are full and we don’t want you to feel rushed.

Depending on the class, you may be able to bring your younger child with you. We don’t allow any small children at our building classes. Generally, we like to encourage children to engage with the subjects that we teach about. If you’re wanting or needing to bring a small child to class, please check in with yourself about whether your child could be involved in the class or is self-directed enough to find something to do while you are in class. Parents are responsible for taking their child aside if they are distracting the class.

Please check in ahead of time with our administrative assistant about whether it is appropriate to bring your child to a specific class. If minors participate in the class (not just come and play on the side), their registration costs the same as adult registration. Please email admin@wildabundance.net for more information.

We believe that it’s important to learn and practice skills with groups of people of various identities and backgrounds. And, we see and understand that very real barriers exist for some folks to participate in hands-on and earth-based skills. We actively prioritize collaborating with and hiring instructors of color, and our scholarship and other outreach programs focus on students who identify as Black, Indigenous and People of Color (BIPOC). Additionally, we are engaged in an ongoing process of equity and inclusion work throughout our organization, and offer support for anyone we engage with who may experience racialized trauma in our spaces.

We do this with the help of a racial equity consultant who identifies as a Black woman, and is available on-call. When you register for a class you will receive more information about how to engage with this support system, should you need it.

We believe it’s important to learn and practice skills with groups of people of various identities and backgrounds. And, we see and understand that very real barriers exist for some folks to participate in hands-on and earth-based skills. We are committed to an ongoing, emergent process of equity and inclusion work in our organization, and strive to create a safer environment for all gender and sexuality identities.

If you are trans, non-binary, or gender non-conforming you are welcome to take these classes, but keep in mind that it’s likely that the majority of the students will be cis-women. We ask all students to share their preferred pronouns before and during class, in hopes that everyone will be accurately addressed and acknowledged for their gender identity. If you still don’t feel clear about whether or not these classes are right for you, please reach out for any clarification or support. We are open to your feedback and are in process with continually deepening our equity and inclusion practices. You can also submit totally anonymous feedback here. Email Parham (she/they) at admin@wildabundance.net with your questions or non-anonymous feedback.

Here’s more on the importance of correct pronouns from MyPronouns.org:

“Often, people make assumptions about the gender of another person based on the person’s appearance or name. These assumptions aren’t always correct, and the act of making an assumption (even if correct) sends a potentially harmful message — that people have to look a certain way to demonstrate the gender that they are or are not.

Using someone’s correct personal pronouns is a way to respect them and create an inclusive environment, just as using a person’s name can be a way to respect them. Just as it can be offensive or even harassing to make up a nickname for someone and call them that nickname against their will, it can be offensive or harassing to guess at someone’s pronouns and refer to them using those pronouns if that is not how that person wants to be known.”

We charge $15/night to camp for anyone who is not in the class. Payment must be made at least two weeks prior to class. Contact our administrator at admin@wildabundance.net to arrange for payment, and to give a heads up that you’ll be bringing an extra person. Arriving without payment or bringing an extra camper without requesting a spot incurs a $50 fee.

Parking is limited at our campus, so each student is only allowed one vehicle. This means your companion must ride with you; you cannot bring an extra car for a non-student.

Anyone who is not a student is not allowed in class spaces, the outdoor kitchen or outdoor shower during class times, from 9:00am-6:00pm each day. This is especially important for classes that are gender specific. You and your companion are welcome to cook supper together in the outdoor kitchen after class hours.

Finally, the campus is not open for wandering around. There are several private residences here and it can be disruptive for random folks to enter those spaces. If you bring a companion, they should plan to explore the national forest, downtown Asheville, or whatever other local attractions interest them during class time.