Enroll before July 18, 2026
Welcome to Botany in an Hour’s Plant Family Challenge. Join me and a group of fellow students as we walk through the process of studying plant families together.
How it Works:
You’ll choose one plant to study in depth, record what you learn, and then learn how to apply the knowledge that you have gleaned to other plants in the same family.
What’s Included:
- Motivation to study together with a group of like-minded people.
- Botany Basics Workbook to ensure that we all have the basic Botany knowledge that we need (don’t worry, it’s easy stuff).
- Printable Journal Templates as a way to record your learning.
- Personal Guided Step-by-Step study process.
- Community Forum to comment when you have an “Ah-ha” moment or think of a question.
- Ability to share in the learning of others and group discussions.
- Session opens July 20, 2026 and runs through August 31, 2026.
Space is limited to 20 students. Register Now!
Most people learn plants one by one — a random assortment of names and facts that never quite stick. But botanists think in families. When you understand a plant family, every new member you meet starts to make sense. You already know how it grows, what it needs, and what it can do.
That’s exactly what this six-week guided study gives you.
What You’ll Be Able to Do
By the end of the study, you’ll be able to:
- Recognize members of the plant family of your choice on sight — in the garden, on a walk, or at the farmers market.
- Grow more plants from this family successfully, knowing what conditions they prefer and why.
- Use them — in the kitchen, in remedies, or in your garden ecosystem.
- Think like a botanist — so every new plant you encounter is easier to understand.
How It Works
Each week, you’ll receive a focused assignment that builds on the last. You’ll observe, journal, grow, and explore — at your own pace, on your own schedule.
At the end of the six weeks, every student’s notes, journal entries, and photos are compiled into a Plant Family Workbook — a shared study guide built by the whole group and named by your study group. If you choose to contribute, you’ll receive a printed copy as a lasting reference, enriched by dozens of other learners’ observations.
And the community doesn’t close when the study ends. You’ll have 6–8 weeks after the final assignment to keep asking questions, sharing discoveries, and connecting with fellow students.
Who This Is For
This study is a great fit if you:
- Anyone who’s doesn’t know their plant families.
- Any home gardener, homesteader, or herbal enthusiast ready to go deeper.
- Learn best by doing — observing, journaling, and getting your hands in the soil.
- Want a structured framework without rigid deadlines or live sessions.
- Are a homeschool parent looking for an immersive, nature-based study you can do alongside your students.
What’s Included:
- Six weekly guided assignments organized in a private community on this website.
- Community discussion forum where you can post questions and get replies from your fellow students as well as personal feedback from your instructor (me!).
- Ability to submit photos and documents of your learning for feedback through a private, dedicated webpage.
- Opportunity to contribute to the “Plant Family Workbook” at the close of the study – a printed, spiral bound documentation of all the study notes from every contributing student for a modest, added charge at the end of the course.
- 6-8 weeks of community access after the study ends.
Pricing & Enrollment
Founding Member Rate: $75
(Price increases to $105 for future study groups)
Enrollment closes July 18 or when the forum is full.
There is only space for 20 students. Register Now!
This session begins July 20, 2026 and runs through August 31, 2026.
Can’t attend this session?
Don’t worry. The next session runs October 12, 2026 through November 23, 2026.
A Note from Rachel
I built Botany in an Hour because I don’t want plant knowledge to be overwhelming or inaccessible to anyone. Learning to study plant families is the next step beyond knowing basic Botany if you want to develop life-long plant skills that you can take to the garden, into your kitchen, home apothecary, and instill in your kids.
Join me for this chance to go deep into one plant family and realize how much you already know, learn from fellow students, and come away with something real. I can’t wait to see what our first group study discovers!
FAQ
What plant family will we be studying?
Each student will choose a different plant to begin their study from. So theoretically, each student could focus on a different plant family. This is especially exciting as you’ll be exposed to valuable, real-life experiences from fellow gardeners in our community discussions, and the printed Plant Family Workbook that each student has the option to contribute to at the end will be rich and full of plant family knowledge.
Do I need any prior botany knowledge?
Not at all. Before the guided study begins, you’ll receive a free workbook from me that includes the simple, Botany Basics that you’ll need to know. It’s super simple and you probably already know it all already. Whether you’re a complete beginner or someone who already grows a garden but wants to go deeper, the weekly assignments are structured to build upon the knowledge you already have and teach you how to take it deeper and apply it broadly.
What does a typical week look like?
Each week you’ll receive a single task or assignment. It will be simple and easy to complete. Once completed, you’ll be asked to upload a photo in the community forum so that we can discuss and benefit from each other’s study. My aim is that you should be able to complete your weekly assignment in less than an hour, but specific time might vary by student – some taking less time, some taking a little more.
Is there a live component or set meeting time?
No. This is entirely self-paced. There are no live sessions, no Zoom calls, and no hard daily deadlines. You work through each week’s assignment on your own schedule. The only real deadline is completing each week before the next one opens — though life happens, and there’s some flexibility built in.
How do I submit my notes and photos?
Everything is submitted directly through the website. Each week you’ll login here through the Plant Family Challenge page where there will be simple upload option under each week’s assignments. There you can share your written notes, journal entries, sketches, and photos. No new apps or addition subscriptions required.
What is the Plant Family Workbook?
The Plant Family Workbook is a compiled guide built from the notes, journal entries, and photos submitted by the students in your study group. At the close of the study, your group will get to choose a name for your workbook — making it truly your own. I will gather all of the collective learning from the group (participation is totally optional) and compile it into a single reference document that will be printed, bound, and sent to every participant. It’s one of the most unique parts of this program — your finished workbook has the potential to reflect dozens of plant families, unique perspectives, experiences and learning by your fellow students, and observations that no single student could have gathered alone. (Note: There will be a modest additional cost to have the workbook printed and mailed to you.)
When do I receive the Plant Family Workbook?
The workbook is compiled and distributed after the final week of the study. Depending on the size of compiled study, this typically takes 1–2 weeks after the last assignment closes. You’ll receive a printed copy in the mail within 2-3 weeks of the study’s close.
What happens after the 6-week study ends?
The community study page remains open for 6–8 weeks after the final assignment. It will close once the next study group opens. During that time you can continue asking questions, sharing what you’re growing or noticing, and connecting with fellow students.
What if I fall behind?
Do your best and don’t stress. The assignments are designed to build on each other, but even partial participation gets you into the Plant Family Workbook and the community. If something comes up, just pick back up where you left off. This is a self-study after all, and if you miss a week, just pick up where you left off. Assignments can be completed and simply or as in-depth as you have the time for so you could easily catch back up if life happens and you need to step away for a week.
Is this appropriate for children or homeschool families?
Absolutely! The content and assignments are written for adult learners but work beautifully as a family study. Many homeschool families love this kind of nature-based, hands-on study. It can fit easily into the daily rhythm of homeschooling or homesteading. In fact, if you are doing this study with your children alongside you, I encourage you to pay close attention to your children’s observations. They often will see and notice things that we adults miss which is very valuable to this type of study.
What do I need to participate?
Not much. The biggest thing that you bring to the table is the ability to think and observe. After that you’ll need a way to record your learning – a journal or notebook, a piece of paper and pencil, or digital notepad or word processor. Use whatever method feels easiest and that you gravitate towards most naturally. Printable botany journal pages will be made available to you in the downloads section of the community forum for your use if needed.
What if I don’t have the plant that I want to study growing near me?
That’s okay. You can use any books or online resources that you have available to you. You don’t have to have any particular plants growing near you in order to complete this study.
Is there a refund policy?
Because the Plant Family Challenge and printed compilation workbook is built from everyone’s contributions within the community forum, refunds are not available because access opens immediately once the study begins. If you have questions before enrolling, please reach out at hello@botanyinanhour.com — I’m happy answer questions and help you decide if this is the right fit for you.
I have a question that isn’t answered here.
Send me a message at hello@botanyinanhour.com and I’ll get back to you as soon as I can.