6/29/2024
-10/5/2024
FROM GROUND TO CUP
FROM GROUND TO CUP WAS A SERIES OF WORKSHOPS LED BY HERBALIST REBECCA GUANZON, DESIGNED TO SHOW HOW PLANTS IN THE LOCAL ENVIRONMENT COULD BE USED FOR WELLNESS.
EACH SESSION FOCUSED ON SEASONALLY RELEVANT PLANTS FOUND ON THE CLARK'S 140-ACRE GROUNDS.
REBECCA SHARED THE HISTORICAL AND CONTEMPORARY MEDICINAL USES OF THE PLANTS AND THE FOLKLORE SURROUNDING THEM. REBECCA ALSO SHARED PERSONAL EXPERIENCES AND WISDOM FROM OTHER HERBALISTS. PARTICIPANTS WERE ENCOURAGED TO ASK QUESTIONS THROUGHOUT, FOSTERING A WELCOMING AND INTERACTIVE ATMOSPHERE.
REBECCA BROUGHT PLANTS AND DRIED HERBS FOR PARTICIPANTS TO TOUCH AND SMELL. FEELING THE SMOOTH TEXTURE OF MUGWORT’S LEAVES OR SMELLING THE EARTHY SCENT OF RASPBERRY LEAVES HELPED PARTICIPANTS CONNECT MORE DEEPLY WITH THE PLANTS AND THEIR NATURAL PROPERTIES.
THE SETTING ENHANCED THE INTIMATE, GROUNDING ATMOSPHERE. HELD OUTDOORS NEAR THE FRAGILE BEAUTY EXHIBITION, THE NATURAL SURROUNDINGS AMPLIFIED THE CONNECTION TO THE LAND. IN CASE OF RAIN, THE WORKSHOP MOVED INDOORS, WHERE A LONG TABLE MADE IT EASY TO PASS AROUND THE PLANTS AND FOSTER CONVERSATION.
AT THE END OF EACH SESSION, PARTICIPANTS CRAFTED THEIR OWN TEA BLENDS USING THE HERBS DISCUSSED. REBECCA GUIDED EACH PERSON THROUGH SELECTING PLANTS THAT RESONATED WITH THEM, ALLOWING THEM TO CREATE A PERSONALIZED BLEND. THE PROCESS OF BLENDING HERBS FURTHER ENGAGED PARTICIPANTS WITH THE PLANTS, COMBINING THEIR AROMAS AND NATURAL QUALITIES.
PARTICIPANTS LEFT FEELING ENCOURAGED TO FORAGE ON THE CLARK'S GROUNDS AND IN THEIR OWN BACKYARDS. MANY ATTENDEES TOOK NOTES ON HOW TO INCORPORATE THE HERBS INTO THEIR DAILY LIVES, AND FELT THAT THE WORKSHOPS OFFERED A DEEPER CONNECTION TO THE LAND AND THE NATURAL HEALING PROPERTIES OF THE PLANTS AROUND THEM.