Welcome to The Herbarium’s intensive on Sustainable Herbalism with herbalist Meghan Henshaw. Thank you for joining us! There are three sessions in this intensive, including two written lessons and a narrated video presentation.
With so much to navigate in the herbal world, it can be hard to know where to begin when it comes to conservation, sustainability, and ethical business choices. However herbalists express their botanical passions, from farming to clinical practice and everything in between, our love for plants is what unites us all. This love often leads to lifelong relationships with our herbal allies and a desire to see them thrive.
As we work toward a truly sustainable herbal industry, it’s equally important to support equitable relationships with those who cultivate and wildcraft the plants we rely on for health and happiness. After all, true health extends beyond the individual and includes all living beings from plants and people to ecosystems and the planet as a whole.
In this three-part Sustainable Herbalism Intensive, herbalist Meghan Henshaw will guide you through ins and outs of eco-friendly herbalism and help you weave sustainable practices into your work with herbs:
Session 1—True Sustainability in the Herb Industry: An Intersection of Social and Environmental Issues
Did you know that global herb sales have increased threefold within the past 20 years? Since the majority of plants in commerce are wild harvested, it’s more important than ever to understand the supply network that brings the plants out of the fields and into our teacups. Get the full picture of what sustainability looks like in the herbal industry, which will help you support sustainable practices with your purchasing decisions—and inspire your own herbal business!
Session 2—How Herbalists Can Contribute to Conservation and Sustainability
With so many plants struggling from overharvesting and habitat destruction, what can individual herbalists do in the face of such a challenge? Quite a bit, as it turns out! Through the many diverse roles we play, herbalists are uniquely positioned to contribute to conservation. Learn the many ways you as an herbalist can become a steward and advocate for the plants while also supporting your communities.
Session 3—Navigating Sustainability and Ethical Business in Herbalism
Discover practical, real-world guidance for how to navigate sustainability and ethics in the herbal industry from the inside out! You’ll be inspired by luminary businesses and organizations that are lighting the way with humanitarian and ecological efforts, and learn some key questions to ask ourselves as consumers and herbal business owners about how we help create a better world.
Let’s get started!
