:Community Supported Herbalism

Herbalists Without Borders Community Outreach promotes community grassroots, cost-effective, plant-based health and wellness that is accessible to all people.

Community Outreach/Community Supported Herbalism

HWB has many projects and models that can combine into becoming a whole community centered framework of different projects that all complement and support holistic wellness for all. 

Community Outreach or Community Supported Herbalism (CSH) is the umbrella for the idea of mutual aid and community outreach projects that fill needs in local communities. Free Clinics, Community Apothecaries, Community Gardens, Seed Libraries and Seed Swaps, Education, Plant Walks, Disaster Relief, and more, all combine in a community model to work as a whole organism with different branches that support one another. 
  • Community Outreach In this framework can encompass many other types of community care and projects, including: 
  • ​Creating self care kits for the local unhoused community
  • Creating wellness packs to distribute at a local food pantry on community day
  • Creating online educational classes for local people on family herbal health and wellness
  • Partnering with local farms to provide food and herbs to local people 
  • Making 200 salve for aid and relief efforts
  • Assembling wellness support kits for local families In shelters
  • Creating care packages for refugees living along the borders

​Many HWB clinics/chapters/projects partner with local mutual aid or nonprofit organizations with shared vision to reach more people and consolidate their efforts. This  may include having an HWB community wellness table at a Food Not Bombs tent, partnering with Mutual Aid groups to get herbal support to protestors or community activists, or partnering with a local food pantry to donate excess food from community gardens or create care kits to distribute to unhoused folks with a mutual aid food truck. There are many ways to optimize our work and partner with others doing this work to reach more people. 

These projects often require community support, aid, mutual work and reciprocity, and solidarity to support those most In need In local communities. This partners well with HWB free clinics, community gardens, and other models of community outreach. 

For information or ideas on Community Outreach projects you could implement and organize in your own community, email Denise at office at hwbglobal.org. 

Community Apotheca Project

The word apothecary has its roots in the historical word apotheca, a place where special spices, herbs, cordials and wine were stored and the apothecarist was the person who prepared and dispensed these medicinal commodities within the materia medica.

In 80% of the world’s population, plant-based medicine IS primary health care. The Wise Woman Tradition, medicine for the people,  is shared person-to-person, based on nourishment with food and plants, self-love, compassion and heart centeredness. It encompasses activities such as serving a winter wellness tea at a Peoples Clinic, cooking up a comforting soup, applying a compress at a first aid station, blending a salve, making self care kits for local shelters, providing herbal care at a local food pantry table, even conducting a Plant Identification walk for a community that does not have access to much medicine.

Herbalists Without Borders Community Herbal Apotheca Project promotes community grassroots, cost-effective, plant-based health and wellness that is accessible to all people. This need is becoming more urgent due to high costs of mainstream medical care, lack of insurance coverage, along with the resurgence of folk herbalism integrating medicinal and nutritive plants grown regionally.  There is a strong need for sustainable, readily accessible herbs and herbal products at any given time, from prevention to times of community emergencies.,

What does a community apothecary look like? It can be a central location that houses the donated supplies and efforts of community outreach work, free clinics and more. In reality this is often a space in the home of a coordinator - such as a storage room or spare room - or is a donated space from a member business or school.  A community apothecary can be a concept as well, the idea that community works together to gather support that can be mobilized to serve those most in need in our communities. 

Project Coordinator: Community Outreach

Denise Cusack

Project Coordinator: Community Apotheca

Joanne Bauman

“Do not wait for extraordinary circumstances to do good; try to use ordinary situations.”
~ Jean Paul Richter


What is CSH?
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It's Community Supported Herbalism!
At Herbalists Without Borders we're big believers in CSH farms and projects. Community Supported Herbalism is a relatively new concept within the past 5 years.  Similar to CSA's, with Community Supported Agriculture programs there's an opportunity for individuals, families or households to become 'members' by purchasing annual or seasonal shares in an herb farm in exchange for a variety of regular seasonal herbs and botanical products.  By participating in a monthly share members receive regular shares of bulk culinary and medicinal herbs, plus other select botanical products that are delivered or picked up each month at convenient designated community locations.  The herbal goodies are typically organically grown, ethically wild crafted and handcrafted.   Each month members receive seasonally aligned botanical medicines, similar to the seasonal foods principle.  
An herbal share and delivery may include medicinal tinctures, tasty tea blends, infused herb oils, salves, vinegars, cordials and of course fresh culinary herbs.    
A CSH is one of the best ways to support regional organic growers, skilled herbalists and the overall local economy in a sustainable manner.  Herbal-focused CSA's transform the entire experience from connection to the land into the realm of plant-based heal care, wellness, and education.  What we call down to the ground green medicine for local people at Herbalists Without Borders.  CHS's enhance healthful options in communities--fresh herbs and botanical products to members in a way that seldom happens, similar to local community herbal apothecaries.  Each CSH has a unique design in its structure, philosophy, cost, and the products and services it provides to members. Some CSH programs are called by other names, such as herb shares, herb exchanges, community supported medicine (CSM), and community supported herbalism (CSH).

eGuides & Project Manuals

The HWB Community Herbal Apothecary Project Manual providing guidelines and resources for developing a local apothecary is available by clicking here or contacting our main office:   officeHWB@gmail.com

"Accessible Apothecaries" describing alternative economic models for Herbal Apothecaries. eGuides are FREE to our paying members.​

VOLUNTEER>>

COMMUNITY OUTREACH

​Our vision for the future is that every town, urban and rural would have a Community Herbal Apothecary!   HWB will link you with existing apothecaries, offers set-up and operations tips, in the future will disseminate a HOW TO GUIDE and trainings.
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Consider becoming a member  & volunteer on a project!

Herbalists Without Borders is sustained by volunteers, donors & members delivering herbal health, holistic wellness and humanitarian aid to those in need. ​​