Herbalists Without Borders is happy to introduce our newest chapter from San Severino Marche in Italy in the ​Italian Apennines, Erboristi Senza Frontiere, Sezione Appennino Centrale.

The headquarters for HWB Marche is in the office of the coordinator Karin Mecozzi, in San Severino Marche. Here is an introduction from Karin about her background:
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• Graduated as "Erborista" (Degree for herbalists at the Departement of Pharmacy, University Carlo Bo Urbino, 1996)

 

• Author of "Ars Herbaria, piante medicinali nel respiro dell'anno" and "Ars herbaria, Heilpflanzen im Jahreslauf"

 

• I am a qualified Expert in Anthroposophical Botany, Biodynamic Farming and Landscape Perception at the Free University of Spiritual Sciences  Goetheanum (CH), member of various research groups in Italy and Europe.

 

• I collect spontaneous mediterranean herbs , working on a product line with the medicinal plant Helichrysum italicum Don in the Marche.

 

• Since 1997 I teach traditional, modern and anthroposophical herbalism and "active perception" of landscape and healing plants. Since 2005 I am Active Member of PETRARCA European Academy for the culture of Landscape and Associazione culturale Thaleia. In my courses, I use a participative teaching method which comprehends a both humanistic - spiritual and scientific way. Currently, I am developing an educational project on healing plants, healing places (genius loci) and botanical experiencing and contemplation in the Apennines, in an ancient monastery (www.fonteavellana.it)

Karin blogs at karinmecozzi.com, and has posted an HWB introduction! ​

​​Interested in joining the HWB Marche chapter? First, join HWB as a member, and then contact the coordinator for your region!

On July 23rd, the Winona Herbal Education Society hosted the Savoring the Summer Luncheon in the picturesque Farmer's Park just outside Stockton, MN as a fundraiser event for Herbalists Without Borders. With the luncheon just the weekend after the flooding this area had experienced during the week prior to the luncheon, we weren't sure if the park would be in good enough shape for us but everything turned out perfect. Lora was even able to grab the closest shelter to the entrance so people would have no trouble finding us. We served ten guests, most of whom had not been to any previous WHES meetings.

​The food was simple and delicious. Lora Krall prepared the foods which were carefully selected to highlight herbs and to be served cold, making it ideal for a warm summer's day and a picnic setting. She began the meal with a sampling of an echinacea flower head to clean the palettes of our guests, explaining to them how it would taste, and feel. She went into detail in discussing how the taste and feel of the echinacea flower heads were an indicator of the quality of the echinacea. The next dish was a combination of garden greens and wild greens which included lambsquarters, and purslane. Diners could choose between a tarragon and dandelion vinegar dressing, or a more savory herbal vinaigrette that incorporated a touch of soy. The next course was a cool cucumber herb soup with pungent cilantro,  veggie roll-ups, one with herbed cream cheese and the other with hummus, followed with a melon compote with mint. The last dish served at this event was an elderflower bread pudding dressed with elderflowers and honey. Lora explained each dish, and shared ways in which she uses herbs at home in her day to day cooking. 

My contribution was web promotion, online purchasing options, and beverages. My signature lavender lemonade, and Elderflower Strawberry “Fizzie” tea. During the luncheon, I shared with our diners some of the work that Herbalists Without Borders does, and how donations from fundraisers such as the luncheon were vital to projects to People's Clinics, Trauma Trainings, and other work that HWB does. It was a small group, but they all seemed genuinely interested in learning more about HWB. I think one of our secret assets had to be Deb Becker-Galewski who is a member of HWB and attended the luncheon. She was able to share her own reasons and experiences as a member of Herbalists Without Borders.
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