Special Events This Saturday 3/25!
My friend, and Richmond Herbalism Guild founder, Laura Baum invites us all to take part in the Standing Rock Benefit event this Saturday at Strange Matter RVA, and talks about the part the guild has played in supporting the Standing Rock Water Protectors as well as why the cause is so important to the guild and those of us who work with plants and nature.
-Ash
Good morning everyone! Happy first week of Spring!
Laura, Richmond Herbalism Guild founder here to tell you about an amazing local market that will be taking place in Richmond this Saturday afternoon at the music venue Strange Matter! The market (2- 6 PM) is part of an ALL DAY 13 HOUR LONG benefit Strange Matter is holding to raise $ for Standing Rock legal funds. The market features some herbalism vendors from the guild including Laura from Laura’s Botanicals LLC, Myra from Black Apron Soaps, Ash from Black Earth Oracle, Meadow of Meadow Songs, Luke from Winged Roots Creations LLC. and Zayd Reese from New Moon Botanica.
We at the Richmond Herbalism Guild (RHG) are committed to supporting those Virginians who were/are working and praying at Standing Rock and other local pipeline demonstrations by way of fundraising, care packages, letters and attending solidarity events. We also discuss plant and water conservation within our class models.
In our guild community we have a few individuals who are very active in environmental stewardship and environmental activism. It is by getting to know these individuals that we have realized that there really is no point to teaching others about why plants can heal if we ourselves are not actively protecting the lands where these plants grow and flourish.
RHG assisted the Standing Rock movement by way of letters, fundraisers, benefits, prayers and community involved herbalism packages that contained herbal medicines for our friends at camp. These projects were very fulfilling for our guild participants. We appreciate everyone who contributed to the Grief Relief Herbal Care Package Drive. Every donation, good word, and plant part went to some awesome heart-felt and connected packages. We did not just send medicine, we sent purposeful medicine filled with good intentions.
One of the amazing individuals in our guild community is Vanessa Bolin, a Richmond VA area resident medic who served the Standing Rock camps. She was so selflessly committed to the camps spaces that she was one of the last people to be at the camp, only leaving when everyone else was leaving too. She is back in the area now and continues to help others organize for local efforts to stop the Atlantic Coast Pipeline. She was at the James River yesterday saying prayers in honor of World Water Day.
What is great about Strange Matter and their desire to hold this Saturday's locals market and benefit is that we will be raising support and funds that will go directly to the individuals who need them. This honors their sacrifices and validates their efforts to help protect our waterways and water sources. Raising legal funds will help them move forward, heal, and continue their important work. There are no conflicting sponsorships or paid ads. Just locals supporting locals.
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Let’s continue to ride this wave of support for our water protectors. Please plan to be at Strange Matter this Saturday 3/25 to shop at the market and say hello. There will be great shows afterwards and a dance party facilitated by Ice Cream Social, geared towards supporting the LGBTQIA+, POC communities, to seal the good vibrations of the weekend. Let’s help make this whole day one successful event.
Use the hashtag #strangematterstandingrockbenefit
Laura Baum
To learn more about the Richmond Herbalism Guild check them out on their blog or Facebook page. For more from Laura check her out on Facebook or visit her Etsy shop, Laura's Botanicals.
To get involved and support Standing Rock please consider donating to the following local RVA Water Protectors who need our help:
Vanessa Bolin Standing Rock Water protector Vanessa Bolin just got back to her home in Virginia and she has decided to sell almost all of her earthly possessions so that she can be free to travel, teach and lead actions to stop the pipelines! Please come and trade her money for some of her things.
HUGE YARD SALE! Everything must GO! Make an offer!!! Whole household stuff! Horse stuff too!
Friday 3/25 - Saturday 3/26 9 am - 6pm 1323 Wilderness Dr.
Richmond, VA
PLEASE SHARE!
And of course don't forget to visit us tomorrow at Strange Matter in RVA. The Richmond Herbalism Guild will be at the benefit market from 2pm - 6pm.