Why Herbal Medicine?

Has your neighbor ever offered you some fire cider or your friend recommend elderberry syrup at the onset of a cold? Have you ever eaten ginger or garlic then felt invincible? Ever wonder why?

In this conversation, we will gather around to explore the roots of western herbal medicine and learn about how herbalism shows up in our kitchen, our first aid kits, our self-care toolboxes, and our lives in general. We will delve into the wonders of plant medicine and explore how plants have so much to offer us when we slow down a bit and open ourselves up to the wisdom they have to share.

This conversation will truly be rooted in what folks bring to it. We will be loosely following an outline rooted in the importance of holism, vitality, sovereignty, and sustainability. We will explore the different body systems, the complexity that whole-plant medicine offers us, the ways that herbs already show up in our lives, and the importance of herbs as food as medicine to help us heal our physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual bodies. I will gush about plants all day long and I would love to gush with you to ensure your questions are explored and your wonderings are deepened.

All ages are welcome to join this conversation, though our time together we will be a bit sedentary and mostly conversational so keep that in mind. If your kids are excited about plants and want to learn more about their impact on the body, have them join! If they are more excited to learn by doing and too much info all at once is overwhelming, have them join us in a medicine making class or an herb walk :) We will be doing a little bit of walking and sitting on uneven ground in the gardens - if you have an accessibility need please reach out to [email protected]

Please contact us if you'd like to organize a private workshop for your family or group at [email protected]

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Mer is a community herbalist with the intention to share their love of herbal medicine with folks to deepen our connections with ourselves, each other, and the land. Mer is a farmer educator at NVF with a passion for learning, sharing, and being in awareness of the beauty all around us. Mer’s classes are centered in building honorable relationships with plants that decolonize our relationships with nature, health, and healing. Her intention in these spaces is to foster mindful awareness and cultivate abundant joy as we explore the expansive world of plant medicine.