Education is in the mission of Herbalists Without Borders. Food justice is health justice, and access to and knowledge of healthy foods is important for all ages. Teaching people how to grow their own food and herbs, how to use them, and how to take charge of their wellness is a part of empowering communities.
Teachers and Community Organizers are often at the forefront of community education models and participatory education is a fun and engaged way to learn.
HWB works to support the creation of gardens that are HWB Chapter/Clinic/Project Gardens as well as Community Initiative Gardens.
We know that providing tools and support to educators to help them teach not only about culturally relevant foods and plants but also herbal medicine, is a great way to reach communities.
Over the past few years, we have had many HWB Chapter/Clinic/Project gardens start, and have more and more inquiries from those designing gardens in other community spaces such as historical societies, school gardens, summer camp gardens, free town raised bed gardens, community center gardens, healing children's garden at a health center, a veterans garden, elder gardens, food pantry gardens, and more. HWB has a Certified Permaculture Designer and Medicinal Herb Farmer with over 45 years of gardening experience helping create pre-laid out garden designs and plans, growing guides, and more for HWB members to use.
We are expanding this program to include more support for that type of community work so that we can help get more fresh food and herbal support and education into communities.
These US seed grants are designed to enhance the nutritional, social, economic, or environmental health of communities.
Priority is given to projects that will benefit underrepresented groups, serve marginalized folks, and get food and herbs to those who need them, seed-saving projects that share back to HWB International.
As well as those that benefit communities of our Members with projects such as Community Gardens, Youth or Elder Gardens, Growing Food & Herbs for the Local Food Pantry, Educational Gardens, Growing Herbs for Free Clinics & Community Outreach, and serving underserved communities.
- HWB creates and provides access to resources including:
- Community garden technical support
- Pre-designed garden access for food and herb plots Including various sizes such as an herb spiral, 3x6 and 4x8 raised beds, 10x10 and 20x20 plots.
- Small seed grant kits for community initiative gardens in the US
- Nature education resources
- Food and herb education resources
- Permaculture tips and techniques for small gardens
- Themed garden ideas (tea garden, dye garden, bee/butterfly garden)
- Educational tools about the most common and safe to use of medicinal herbs
- Handouts and online tools for engagement ideas and activities about easy-to-use herbs and common culinary herbs
