HWB is hosting a series of HWB Chapter Features so you can get to know a little bit more about HWB Chapters and their Coordinators as well as find out what Chapters do, and how they are working in their communities. ​

​HWB Green Wisdom Chapter Coordinator: Gigi Stafne

How long have you been a Chapter Coordinator: 12 years 

Tell us a bit about yourself and herbalism in your life: Herbalism has been a longtime calling for most of us involved in Herbalists Without Borders and Green Wisdom School of Natural and Botanical Medicine. A passion for plants, people and this precious planet! Sit knee-to-knee with me sometime I and I will share the adventurous storylines.

Tell us about your Chapter: Our Herbalists Without Borders Chapter has quarterly meetings.  These are often tele-conference format since we cover a large region in the Upper Midwest and Lake Superior region. In the earlier years they were most often in-person meetings. On average there are 7-13 people attending a meeting and volunteering at our HWB Free Peoples Clinics.

HWB is hosting a series of HWB Chapter Features so you can get to know a little bit more about HWB Chapters and their Coordinators as well as find out what Chapters do, and how they are working in their communities. 

​We asked Laura a few questions about her Chapter, experiences, and how she works in her community.

HWB Richmond, VA Chapter Coordinator: Laura Baum

How long have you been a Chapter Coordinator: Since March 2018

Tell us a little about yourself: I am the founder and organizer of Richmond Herbalism Guild founded in February 2016 to be an epicenter for local herbalism in Richmond Virginia. Working with herbs through organizing with others has been a tremendous learning experience. 

Can you tell us a bit about your Chapter: We follow the guidelines to meet at least once quarterly so that we don't swamp ourselves with meetings. We have success with doing a long meeting once quarterly with breakfast and guest practitioners to come teach us new skills and we are planning a fall training series on topics such as listening skills, deescalation strategies, urban food justice, and overdose prevention. We are using materials provided by HWB and also plugging into local agencies to do these trainings as they relate to the work that needs to be done here in our city. We keep sign in sheets for our meetings.

Tell us a little about any upcoming Chapter activities or events you are hosting: We are currently working on creating our own individualized working sets of summer formulas for general public dispensing. These formulas are agreed on by everyone through email and in person meeting. At our last meeting we created our own vision statement which we will introduce to the public at a planned forum on Plant Sustainability with Dr. Susan Leopold executive director of United Plant Savers June 13th here in RVA. We will be introducing our HWB team and making our first public statement of our intention to the community at the event. 

​The Virginia League of Conservation Voters and Richmond Herbalism Guild present Essentially Sustainable, an evening of guest speaker presentations on sustainability in the essential oil industry. Experts in the field will be gathering to discuss herbalism, health, and sustainability.

There is no fee for the event. Open to the public.

We are so honored to announce our featured speakers: Susan Leopold executive director of United Plant Savers Jade Shutes director of education New York Institute of Aromatic Studies.

https://www.facebook.com/events/560867137627785/?active_tab=about
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To find out more about becoming a member of Herbalists Without Borders visit:
lherbalistswithoutborders.weebly.com/member-benefits.html

To find or join a Chapter visit:
http://herbalistswithoutborders.weebly.com/find-a-chapter.html