Teachers
Featured Teacher Saturday
Dr Jody Noé, ND
Speaking Saturday at 10:15am
Dr. Noé runs Natural Family Health and Integrative Medicine in North Stonington, CT and specializes in integrative oncology, HIV/Aids and chronic disease. She is also an experienced practicing herbalist and was a practicing midwife in the past. She works to facilitate integration of mind, body and spirit, which requires patient participation in their own healing process.
Dr. Noé practices traditional Cherokee medicine as taught by her Cherokee elders. This is a practice that encompasses mind, body, and spirit. She was accepted as an official apprentice in 1987 by Crosslin F. Smith, high medicine priest of the Keetoowah, cherokees of the western band of Cherokees in Tahlequah, OK. She was adopted into the Smith family shortly after starting her apprenticeship. This is a unique honor reserved for few. Prior to this she was taught by the elders of the eastern Cherokees, Mary U. Chiltoskey, "Mama" Geneva Jackson, and Amy Walker. Dr. Noé continues to study with her elders and practices traditional Cherokee ways.
Featured Teacher Sunday
Claudia Ford, PhD
Speaking Sunday from 9am-12pm
Dr. Claudia J. Ford has had a career in international women’s health and development spanning three decades and all continents. Claudia is a midwife and ethnobotanist, who studies traditional ecological knowledge, women’s reproductive health, and sustainable agriculture. Dr. Ford is on faculty at Rhode Island School of Design where she teaches Women’s Studies, Indigenous Knowledge, Environmental Literature, and Environmental Justice. Claudia serves on the boards of The Orion Society, a community that publishes Orion literary magazine, and the Soul Fire Farm Institute, committed to ending racism and injustice in the food system. Claudia is the director of an on-farm artists’ residency program, and she is a writer, poet, and visual artist; a single mother who has shared the delights and adventures of her global travel with her four children.
Teachers
Maggie Hatzpanian, RN, Herbalist
Maggie has been a practicing Registered Nurse for many years, which has given me much knowledge and insight into health and wellness as well as disease processes- both acute and chronic- and how they effect our lives. Over the past 15 years Maggie has been working with plants and their healing properties for maintaining health and vitality. Growing and wildcrafting medicinal plants has been a big part of her life, as well as learning about the plants and their habitats around her- and always giving back to the plants and the land that gives us so much!
Dr. Martine Delonnay, ND
Dr Martine Delonnay is a Naturopathic Doctor licensed in the State of Vermont. She also is a foreign educated Medical Doctor. Dr Delonnay is member of the AANP (American Association of Naturopathic Physician), MSND (Massachusetts Association of Naturopathic Doctors) and the RIANP (Rhode Island Association of Naturopathic Physician). Her experience with both the conventional and Alternative aspect of Medicine put her in an ideal position to bridge conventional and holistic healing.
Jessyloo Rodrigues
Rhode Island native & Farming Herbalist, Jessyloo Rodrigues, grows and curates the Parcel Apothecary Herbal CSA in Providence, RI. Her urban herb farm specializes in medicinal herbs & bio-diverse produce. It also functions as a cocktail farm, growing for and educating bartenders interested in working with local botanicals. She’s been studying Herbal Medicine since 2002 & farming professionally since 2004 in lush mountain valleys, riparian forests, southwestern desert, tropical permaculture, beachfront meadow, and concrete jungle. www.Herbaloo.com
Ryan T. Bouchard and Emily Schmidt 
The Mushroom Hunting Foundation teaches people how to safely hunt for edible wild mushrooms. They have a gorgeous new book and mind-blowing slideshows, and they teach private classes: guided mushroom walks, and in-depth classes called Mushroom Festivals. Co-founders Ryan T. Bouchard and Emily Schmidt also teach special classes for restaurant staff.
Bonnie Kavanagh, R.N./Herbalist
Bonnie Kavanagh is a second generation nurse and herbalist and is currently the herbalist on staff at Seven Arrows Farm in Attleboro, MA. Bonnie has been in health care for over 35 years and teaching herbal medicine for over 25 years. She is a regular presenter at the International Herb Symposium and the Women's Herbal Conference, a Plant Pioneer and loves to introduce people to the wonders of the green world.
Mary Blue
Mary advocates for personal and planetary healing through herbs, nutrition and lifestyle. She focuses on using herbs to SUPPORT HEALTH, not treat disease. Mary's healing philosophy also revolves around community, activism, education, social justice, and health justice . She is the founder of Farmacy Herbs, Radherb, Sage Healing Collaborative and Herbal Aide.
Ed Burr
Poet, artist, herbalist, and sometimes landscaper, Ed has no money or formal education, but has an extensive understanding of the natural world. Forty-seven plus years of wandering in the woods and rolling in the grass has given Ed the opportunity to witness life as it vibrates from season to season.
Ed possesses the gift of gab and desire to share his knowledge of a world most of us step on or over to get wherever we think we're going.
Ed owns and operates Bay Road Botanical, a six acre farm and sanctuary focusing on endangered and at risk medicinal plants, fungi, and the lich(en).
Marnie Thamel, CCN, Master Herbalist, Certified Health Coach, RYT
Marnie began her herbal studies in 1999 at the School of Healing Arts in San Diego, CA. She continued at The Natural Healing Institute in Encinitas, CA, where she earned her Certificates in Clinical Herbalism, Master Herbalism, and Certified Clinical Nutrition 2001-2004. She has studied with various Herbalists, Naturopthic Doctors, Doctors of Oriental Medicine, Nutritionists and healers. In 2013 she completed the State University of New York’s Health Coach program, which has allowed her to help more clients. Empowering people to make healthy choices and feel better brings her great joy.
Rachel Playe is herbalist, herb farmer and owner of Radia Herbs. Rachel has been farming for 10 years and studying herbalism for 5 years. Radia Herbs grows many of the herbs that are in their herbal products from their 1 acre farm in Cranston, RI. Radia also sells fresh and dried herbs to chefs, makers and other herbalists. Check out her website for me information: www.RadiaHerbs.com
Teachers
Sakinah Abdur- Rasheed
Sakinah is a life long herbalist. She has been teaching herblism and working as a practicing herbalist since the 1970's. She is also a dedicated community activist and works to stand up for women and the environment. She runs Sakinah's Herbs and WEHEAL. She is trained in Sufi healing, and utilizes spiritual healing and local herbs in her practice.
Mira Silverman
Mira Silverman is a nurse-herbalist building her nest in Rhode Island. She has been in this lifetime a child in Brooklyn, an anthropologist in the Hudson Valley, an artisan in Mexico, and a plant-loving earth-wanderer. Mira received her formal training in herbal medicine at the California School of Herbal Studies before returning to school to become a registered nurse. She has a deep passion for accessible, integrative healthcare and she believes in the power of plants to help us reclaim the vitality and resilience of our bodies, our environment, and our communities.
Anna Fox
Anna became inspired by the magic of plants through her study of Ayurveda. She studied Ayurveda through the California College of Ayurveda and is an Ayurvedic Health Educator~ using this as a lens for her herbal practice. She has studied Western herbalism at Farmacy, completing all three levels of the Herbal Education Training Programs offered, most recently the Residency Program at the Sage Healing Collaborative. She is the Production Manager at Farmacy, where she makes herbal products, oversees interns, leads workshops and conducts herbal consultations.
Karen Talbot
Valerie English, RN & Gary Parent
Valerie English is an RN specializing in maternal-child health. She also holds advanced certifications in Reiki, EFT, and detoxification. Gary Parent is an author, iridologist, detoxification specialist, Reiki master, teacher, and filmmaker.
Brook Kelly Norvish
Brooke Kelly Norvish is the owner and herbal educator at Botanicals By Brooke located in Kingston, MA. Connecting and working with botanicals has been a part of Brooke's life since childhood. She has completed Rosemary Gladstar's "The Science and Art of Herbalism” and has studied with established and well-respected herbalists such as Rosemary Gladstar, Susan Clements, Bonnie Kavanaugh, Mary Blue, Rocio Alarcon, Margi Flint, and Alisa Skywalker. Brooke offers a variety of one-day workshops as well as 10 month long herbal programs. To learn more about Brooke and her offerings go to: www.BotanicalsByBrooke.com
Jennifer Nino
Jennifer Nino of Jenza's Garden has be active in the herbal community for years and counts Mary Blue as one of her teachers. She has an Herbal Teaching Garden located in Northwest RI. In the Winter months she teaches herbal classes targeted to beginners. As spring approaches she opens her garden with the help volunteers in the form of Friends of Jenza's Garden. In the summer she is active in the garden holding classes, and growing Magical Herbs. Come fall when the garden is put to bed she teaches broom making classes.
Molly is an herbalist, traveler, language teacher, and bee lover. She has worked on farming projects in the Sacred Valley of Peru and on the development of natural cosmetics with Maasai women in Tanzania. Most recently she has been traveling throughout South East Asia learning about traditional foods, searching for wild bees, and teaching English to children. You can read more about her adventures on MollyBHagan.com.