Herbalists Without Borders

Garden Planning for All: Designing Resilient, Accessible, and Engaging Gardens
2026-02-17 17:00 - 18:00 (America/New_York) | Zoom
February 17 @ 5PM Eastern – LIVE
Free for HWB Members | Suggested donation for non-members

This GroundWork session will guide participants through planning gardens of all sizes using permaculture principles. Topics include strategies for raised beds, integrated fields, and small or large garden spaces, as well as approaches to meet different goals such as child-safe gardens, accessible gardens, and multilingual signage. We’ll also introduce HWB’s seed grants, discuss our new growing assistance forum, and share how to reach out for ongoing support and community collaboration.
Learning objectives include:

Apply permaculture principles to plan sustainable and productive gardens.
Explore design strategies for diverse garden sizes and layouts.
Address goals such as child safety, accessibility, and cultural inclusivity.
Understand how to access HWB’s seed grants and growing support.
Integrate community engagement and resources into garden planning.

And more…

PRESENTER
Denise Cusack,
Co-Executive Director & Programs Director, Herbalists With out Borders
Denise first joined HWB in 2015 and volunteered as website coordinator before moving into the full time volunteer Executive Director role in fall of 2017. Denise served as ED for HWB from 2017-2022. She then served on the Board of Directors from 2022-2024, and returned as Executive Director in April of 2024. Denise also developed the US Seed Grant program and the US Donation Distribution Network, and continues to work as HWB Coordinator for both programs from her farm. Denise is also the Chief Editor and Designer of the Without Borders Magazine. READ MORE…

ABOUT GROUNDWORK
GROUNDWORK (Live!) 3rd Tuesday of every month at 5PM Eastern time
A live webinar that dives into key topics and foundations of community-based work. Learn about real-world models and get inspired to start—or deepen—your local efforts. GROUNDWORK webinars provide training, templates, and strategies for setting up community health projects, such as free clinics, disaster relief models, and herbal education, often utilizing sliding scale donations for resources.

ROUNDTABLE: Herbal Approach to Autoimmune Support
2025-11-18 08:00 - 17:00
November 18 @ 5PM Eastern – LIVE
Free for HWB Members | Suggested donation for non-members

Join Petra Sovcov as she explores natural strategies for supporting individuals with autoimmune challenges through the lens of clinical herbalism and functional wellness. Participants will gain an understanding of the pathology of inflammation and immune reactions, examining the mechanisms that drive chronic inflammatory responses and autoimmune dysfunction.
Central to the discussion is the 9 Pillars of Inflammation framework—a systematic approach to identifying potential root causes including candida/parasites, chronic stress/trauma, infections, endocrine disruptors, heavy metals, DNA repair deficiencies, chronic sensitivities, leaky gut, and nutritional deficiencies. This model provides students with a roadmap for comprehensive differential assessment and targeted formulations.
The course covers essential herbal actions and herb families specific to immune modulation, anti-inflammatory support, and tissue healing. Participants will learn to match therapeutic properties with client presentations, understanding how different herbs interact with immune pathways and inflammatory cascades.
Practical application is emphasized through formulation principles, teaching students how to create personalized herbal protocols that address multiple pillars simultaneously. The course concludes with case study review, allowing students to apply their knowledge to real-world scenarios, analyze complex presentations, and develop evidence-based herbal support strategies for autoimmune challenges.
All attendees receive a Certificate of Completion for 1 CEU hour.
Live 1-hour webinar
Downloadable webinar slides and handout

And more…

PRESENTER
Petra Sovcov, DNM, CHT
Co-Chair, Board of Directors, Herbalists With out Borders
Petra Sovcov is a Clinical Herbal Therapist and holds a Doctorate of Natural Medicine. She is the director of Healing House Natural Wellness. With deep expertise in Western Clinical Herbalism, Holistic Nutrition, and DNA/SNP analysis, she specializes in supporting individuals with chronic inflammatory conditions such as autoimmune disease.
Petra’s unique approach integrates her framework—the 9 Pillars of Inflammation—with genetic insights and clinical herbalism to help clients on their individual path.
Through virtual consultations serving clients across North America, she empowers individuals to reclaim their wellness through personalized, evidence-based, and traditional natural medicine. READ MORE…

ABOUT ROUNDTABLE
Join us for our new Clinical RoundTable series, where we review real case studies with an experienced clinical herbalist. Discuss assessment, intake, formulation, follow-up, and care strategies in a supportive peer learning environment from a practicing clinician. We will have different clinicians presenting a case study at each roundtable, providing different perspectives and experiences for those looking to deepen their clinical practice.

Learning Objectives

Explore clinical assessment skills through real-world case studies
Participate in case review and problem-solving
Gain insights into client care strategies and formulation approaches from different practicing clinicians

Results/Outcome from the Workshop
Participants will deepen their understanding of clinical herbal practice, assessment, and collaborative care planning through discussion and peer learning.
