The People’s Medicine: Herbal Allies for Social Movements – The Convergence

The People’s Medicine: Herbal Allies for Social Movements

zlotusmusic — Mon, 18 Sep 2017 22:52:21 +0000

Learn how herbal medicine is bringing the power of healing into the hands of the people and building culture in diverse social movements around the world, and gain hands-on experience with new herbal allies in this workshop.

Herbal medicine brings the power of healing into the hands of the people. Come learn how people around the world, from the MST in Brazil, to activists on the streets of Oakland, to the guardians at Standing Rock, have been using herbal medicine to nourish, heal, and strengthen our social movements. Participants will gain a deeper appreciation of women’s role in working with these plant allies, and of the historic, mythic and magical elements of folk herbalism. The facilitators will share introductions to some of our favorite herbs for healing and protection, as well as offer participants hands-on experiences building a relationship with these allies and making medicine.

We are three young permaculturists, farmers, activists, and herbal medicine students. We will weave stories from our diverse experiences with social movements around the world and empower participants to strengthen themselves and their communities using the powerful and accessible tools of herbal medicine. None of us are clinical herbalists but we have a passion for healing and would like to share an inspiring context to understand herbal medicine, and community-care, as a vital part of today’s social movements. We will use an interactive format that allows for participants to share their experiences throughout, as well as a chance for all participants to connect to selected plant allies through short powerful plant meditations and a hands-on medicine making portion of the workshop.

Presented by Mallika Nair

Mallika Nair

zlotusmusic — Mon, 18 Sep 2017 22:51:54 +0000

Mallika Nair is an environmental justice activist and the Founder and Director of Growing Together, an Oakland based fruit tree planting and environmental education organization (growingtogetherproject.org). As a first generation American, born in New York City, Mallika grew up at the intersection of cultures and between urban and natural wild spaces, and has made it her life work to heal that divide and bring people closer to the heart of the living world. Effie Rawlings’ interest in education, Agroecology, and community organizing was catalyzed by her family’s experiences farming seed, her time serving as Cryptologic Linguist in the US Army, and her introduction to processes of decolonization at Sisonke School, South Africa. Her interests found a nexus at the Gill Tract Farm, where she helped win the 20-year struggle to protect the land from pavement. Today, she farms, organizes, and teaches at the Gill Tract, recently joining some of its youngest farmers at the learner-led Five Creeks Studios. She also organizes internationally with the friends of the Landless Workers Movement of Brazil. Brooke Porter is a local Bay Area educator and artist who has taught a wide range of subjects from permaculture and gardening to Spanish and visual art. She has worked in Latin America on issues regarding women’s role in preserving traditional forms of agroecological farming and speaks both Spanish and Portuguese. During this pivotal moment in which our planet is faced with rapid climate change, ecological degradation, and social unrest she seeks to help create regenerative food systems. She is also an award winning photographer whose images span from birth photography to social documentary work.