Knowledge Share Description

The Caribbean is a network of islands rich in culture, biodiversity and medicines. With a primary mix of Afro-indigenous peoples and different European countries, various traditions around food, music and healing are based in ancestral methods of resistance and power. One of the densest and most biodiverse regions of the world, herbal medicine is intimately intertwined with spirituality and protection, resilience and rebellion and everlasting traditions in the Caribbean, an echo of our ancestors’ use and knowledge. We will be learning about the wild medicines and traditions throughout the islands, from spices and seasonings to herbs traditionally used for invisibility when fighting off colonizers. As we learn, we redevelop our connection and hear the words of our ancestors to heal and continue to do so, while speaking of their knowledge and becoming vehicles for its dispersal and preservation.

Knowledge Share Includes

• The cultural makeup of the Caribbean

• The history of food and medicine and how they influence each other on the islands

• Traditional foods and preparations as medicine

• A list of wild and popularly uses plant medicines found throughout the Caribbean, their histories and traditions

Cost

$35 - BIPOC or low income

$75 - standard or reparations (If you have financial abundance, this is our pay-it-forward option to fund our full tuition scholarships)

The zoom link will be sent 1-2 days prior to the knowledge share. Recording will be available for 30 days.

For scholarships please email herbancura@gmail.com with subject Plant Medicines of the Caribbean

Accessibility Information

*ASR (automated) captioning provided

*Live captioning & ASL interpretation may be available with advance notice

*Spanish interpretation may be available with advance notice (Si requiere interpretacion por favor mande un email a herbancura@gmail.com)

Virtual Gathering

Zoom link will be sent out via email 1-2 days before knowledge share

5:00pm - 8:00pm Eastern Standard Time

Class will be recorded and available for 30 days.

Facilitator

Brandon Ruiz (he/him) is a Community Herbalist and Urban Farmer based in Charlotte, NC. He directs Yucayeke Farms, a community project based on providing affordable access to culturally-relevant herbalism and foods through local farming and educational resources. His focus is on Caribbean medicines and herbalism of the American South.