About the symposium

The Western Massachusetts Herbal Symposium is committed to creating an inclusive, welcoming, and celebratory gathering that honors the diverse relationships between humans and the plant world. We seek to honor the plant’s spirit of reciprocity by creating a vibrant space for sharing and learning from one another and creating networks of lasting relationships dedicated to the caretaking of the Earth and all beings. 

The inspiration to create this event arose while sitting beneath a grove of Yew trees at another herbal gathering in early June 2023. One of our organizers had sought the shady refuge of a beautiful stand of Yews in between workshops and as they sat beneath them arose a deep feeling of gratitude to spaces where plant lovers of all kinds could connect and share in their love of the plant world. Along with this deep, felt sense of gratitude, there was also a clear call of creative excitement, connection, and inspiration to create an event that celebrates the rich and diverse plant community happening right here in Western Massachusetts. The organizers wanted to connect and share with this rich community through a space of reverence and celebration for both the plant world and the humans who have heard the call to cultivate deep relationships to them.  Laura and Lynn hold this vision as their guiding light in organizing this symposium; in service to the plant and human communities of this region.

Meet the Organizers

A woman with curly hair smiling while gardening outdoors, planting or tending to green plants and yellow flowers on a garden path.

  • Laura (she/her) is an ecologically focused herbalist and community organizer whose work branches out to connect people, place, and plants throughout Western Massachusetts. She is deeply passionate about the ways relationships with plants can help humans cultivate healthy relationships to self and others.

    Laura runs Sage Green Botanicals Apothecary in Great Falls. Find her at www.sagegreenbotanicals.me

A woman with curly brown hair and glasses smiling outdoors, wearing a straw hat with a colorful band, in a garden with yellow and purple flowers.

  • Lynn (she/her) is a clinical herbalist, herb grower, teacher, and artist. Lynn practices herbalism through the lens of bioregionalism, mutual aid, body autonomy, & deep love of the Earth. She believes in the regenerative and connective healing that comes from being with the land and communing with the plants.

    Lynn crafts bioregional herbals under the name The People’s Gold. Find her at www.thepeoplesgold.co