The Courses of the School of Evershade
Choose a classroom. Begin wherever curiosity leads.
Evershade offers courses in historical writing systems, botanical study, traditional preparations, manuscript arts, creative practice, celestial studies, and the records of beasts and beings.
Each course is organized into lessons and units that can be studied independently or followed in sequence. Lessons are free to access and may include readings, visual references, practical exercises, projects, quizzes, and additional study materials.
Select a course to learn more and begin studying.
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RUNES & ANCIENT WRITING
Professor Thistleloom Webblethorn
Runes & Ancient Writing examines the development of writing from the earliest recorded systems through the alphabets and scripts of the ancient and medieval world.
Students study how writing systems developed, how symbols represented language, the materials and tools used to create inscriptions, and the ways scripts changed as they moved between cultures. Individual studies include Mesopotamian cuneiform, Egyptian hieroglyphs, Phoenician, Greek, Etruscan, Ogham, Elder and Younger Futhark, Anglo-Saxon Futhorc, Gothic, Roman numerals, and related writing traditions.
Lessons combine history with the study of surviving inscriptions, letterforms, writing conventions, and practical exercises in reading and producing historical scripts.
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HERBOLOGY
Professor Beryl Fernfoot
Herbology is the study of plants through botany, observation, cultivation, historical use, and practical plant work.
Students learn plant anatomy and identification, including roots, stems, leaves, flowers, fruits, and seeds, while examining how plants grow, reproduce, and respond to their environments. The course also introduces cultivation, harvesting, drying, preservation, botanical documentation, and the historical ways people have studied and used plants.
Practical work encourages students to observe real specimens, maintain records, and apply what they learn through activities and projects.
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POTIONS
Professor Crimblebrew Muddlenook
Potions examines the methods and materials traditionally used to prepare and preserve botanical and other natural ingredients.
Students study tinctures, infused oils, balms, salves, scrubs, syrups, tonics, teas, oxymels, vinegars, steams, compresses, and related preparations. Lessons cover the purpose and process of each method as well as equipment, measurements, ingredient handling, storage, labeling, safety, and record keeping.
The course combines historical apothecary traditions with practical study, allowing students to understand both how preparations are made and why different methods are used.
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SCROLLWORK
Professor Quillberry Nocturne
Scrollwork examines the history and craft of writing, calligraphy, and manuscript production.
Students study historical writing tools and materials, including quills, inks, parchment, paper, pigments, and other materials used by scribes and manuscript makers. Lessons explore scripts and letterforms, page layout, illumination, decorative techniques, manuscript construction, and the methods used to preserve written works.
Practical exercises allow students to experiment with the techniques they study and develop their own work using historical manuscripts as reference.
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CREATIVE ARTS
Professor Cogbranch Timberclank
Creative Arts focuses on learning through drawing, painting, sculpture, construction, design, and traditional craft.
Students explore artistic materials and techniques through individual studies and practical projects. Many projects connect with subjects taught elsewhere at Evershade, giving students opportunities to reconstruct historical objects, illustrate what they are studying, work with traditional materials, and interpret academic subjects through art and making.
The course emphasizes observation, experimentation, craftsmanship, and the development of practical creative skills.
The Head Student is drawing this classroom.
Her picture will hang here.
CELESTIAL STUDIES
Professor Vesper Glimmerwick
Celestial Studies examines how people have observed, recorded, interpreted, and understood the sky throughout history.
Students study constellations and their associated myths, historical astronomy, the movement and observation of celestial objects, star charts, celestial navigation, calendars, timekeeping, and instruments used to observe or measure the sky. The course also examines the historical development of astrology and the zodiac within the cultures that practiced them.
Studies combine astronomy, history, mythology, and primary historical traditions to explore the changing relationship between human societies and the night sky.
The Head Student is drawing this classroom.
Her picture will hang here.
THE BESTIARY
Professor Sable Rookmere
The Bestiary follows the creatures themselves — dragons, unicorns, the kraken, Bigfoot, lake monsters, ghosts, and more — through their whole recorded lives: when and where each was first told, the tales told of it, where it was supposedly spotted afterward, the superstitions people kept because of it, what it actually is, and why its story endures in the forms it takes today.
Students learn how each tradition began and grew, and what real animal, event, place, or belief stands behind it. Every lesson adds one entry to the scholar's own bestiary, written to the Keeper's standard: the creature and its depictions, first told, the tales, spotted, what people watched for, what it actually is, and still with us. The course emphasizes sources, close reading, and honest sorting — every line in an entry is marked as a tale, a sighting, or a fact.
STUDYING AT EVERSHADE
Courses at Evershade are free to study and open to anyone. There is no enrollment period or required schedule. Begin with the first lesson of a course or explore individual subjects as they interest you, and work through the material at your own pace.
LESSONS & COURSE MATERIALS
Each classroom is divided into lessons and units. Depending on the subject, lessons may include written instruction, historical sources, diagrams and visual references, demonstrations, quizzes, practical exercises, research activities, or creative projects.
Any materials needed to complete an activity will be listed with the lesson. Many exercises can be completed with common household or school supplies, and alternatives will be suggested when practical.
ASSIGNMENTS & PRACTICAL WORK
Assignments are provided for students who would like to take their studies further. These may include worksheets, written exercises, observations, experiments, art projects, practical demonstrations, or other work related to the lesson.
Unless otherwise stated, assignments are optional. Students may use as much or as little of the additional coursework as suits their own studies.
STUDY SCROLLS
Additional printable materials may accompany individual lessons and courses. Study Scrolls can include worksheets, reference sheets, visual guides, templates, project materials, and expanded activities.
Free resources will be provided within the classroom when available. Additional Study Scrolls may also be found in the School Shops.
BOOKS & ADDITIONAL READING
Some subjects have expanded printed volumes available through the Evershade Bookstore. These books are intended for students who would like a more extensive reference, workbook, journal, or long-term companion to their studies.
They are supplementary and are not required to access Evershade's lessons.
OPTIONAL SUPPLIES
Some lessons may include links to useful tools, materials, books, or other items for students who would like to build their own collection of classroom supplies.
You may also occasionally find optional selections chosen to help recreate the materials, tools, or study environment associated with a subject. These are never required unless a lesson clearly identifies a material as necessary for a particular activity.
A note about recommended materials: Some links to books, tools, or supplies may be affiliate links. If you choose to purchase through one of these links, Evershade may receive a small commission at no additional cost to you. Recommendations are selected for their relevance to the course or activity.
A Note from the Founder
Evershade is for anyone who wants to learn something.
You don't need to be a certain age, have any particular background, or be studying for a specific reason. You might be here for homeschool enrichment, personal study, a creative project, or simply because you found a subject interesting and wanted to know more about it.
Evershade is an independent educational project, so there are no official grades, credits, degrees, or qualifications here. Take what interests you, complete the activities you find useful, and learn at your own pace.
You'll probably notice that some classrooms are further along than others. Evershade is still growing, and I add new lessons, units, illustrations, projects, and resources as they're completed. If you reach the end of what's currently available in a course, it doesn't mean the class is finished. It just means I haven't finished building the next part yet.
I'm glad you found your way here.
Kali Howell
Founder, School of Evershade
Where learning feels magical.