Eugene, Oregon

Spring In-Person Free Herbalism Project

Date: May 7, 2023
Time: 10 am – 4:30 pm
Venue: Mount Pisgah Arboretum

Speakers include esteemed herbalists Dr. Christopher Hobbs, Richo Cech, and Jiling Lin. Local botanist and herbalist, Logan Keister will lead two morning herb walks.  Herbalists Without Borders Eugene Chapter will conduct a First Aid Salve workshop before presentations commence. Come early to learn how to make an all-purpose salve and walk away with your own sample. Live music from Casanostra will be sure to get you on your feet! Food and free tea will be available at the event, as well as local botanically inspired vendors.

FHP is a free event. We can’t wait to see you at beautiful Mount Pisgah for a day of herbal inspiration, rain or shine!

Schedule of Events

10:15 – 11:00
Herb Walk with Logan Keister*

11:15 – 12:00
Herb Walk with Logan Keister*
Workshop with Herbalists Without Borders Eugene
Learn how to make a first aid salve and take a sample home.

12:15 – 1:15
Five Elements, Five Hydrosols with Jiling Lin
Experience five hydrosols through the Wheel of the Year, circling through the Five Phases (五行) of East Asian medicine.

1:30 – 1:45
Music Break with Casanostra

1:45 – 2:45
The Family Herbalist with Richo Cech
Ways to keep us alive and help us thrive through food, spices, and health management on a family level.

3:00 – 3:15
Music Break with Casanostra

3:15 – 4:15
The Transformative Power of Medicinal Mushrooms with Dr. Christopher Hobbs
Discover the major wellness benefits of medicinal mushrooms.

*Herb walks can only accommodate small groups and 
will be offered first-come, first-serve.

Please note that this event schedule is subject to change.

Dr. Christopher Hobbs is a fourth generation, internationally known herbalist and mycologist, licensed acupuncturist, herbal clinician, research scientist, consultant to the dietary supplement industry, expert witness, botanist, public speaker, and author of over 20 books and numerous articles with over 40 years of experience. He is the author of the recent book “Christopher Hobbs’s Medicinal Mushrooms, the Essential Guide,” with German and English editions.

 He earned his Ph.D. at UC Berkeley with research and publication in evolutionary biology, biogeography, phylogenetics, the chemistry of plants and fungi, and ethnobotany. Now faculty at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst. Find Christopher Hobbs at christopherhobbs.com, Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube.

Richo Cech started his professional work as an archaeologist and ethnobotanist in East Africa.  Upon his return to the United States in 1978, he began cultivating and saving the seed of medicinal plants.  Over the years, his gardens have become the basis for Strictly Medicinal Seeds, growers of organic, open pollinated and GMO-free seeds and plants of medicinal herbs, aromatics, succulents and permaculture perennials. Richo and his family produce a popular yearly, hand-illustrated seed catalog that provides access to this collection of common, quirky, eclectic, and bizarre seeds and plants.   His books include “Making Plant Medicine” (2000), “Growing At-Risk Medicinal Herbs” (2002/2017), and “Growing Plant Medicine” (2022). 

Richo is an expert in domestication of wild plants, has botanized worldwide, and is responsible for the introduction of scores of medicinal herb species including Andrographis, Artemisia annua, Ashwagandha and Ashitaba, to mention just the “A’s.”  These days, on his farm in Williams, Oregon he continues to grow diverse seed crops, harvesting and planting seeds every day, with faith and love. Find Richo at strictlymedicinalseeds.com, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and Pinterest.

Jiling Lin, L.Ac. 林基玲 is a Licensed Acupuncturist (L.Ac), herbalist, and yoga teacher. Her integrative medical practice in Ventura, CA and holistic workshops, retreats, and writings empower thriving health and environmental stewardship in our bodies, communities, and world. Interweaving nature, art, movement and ritual, Jiling teaches classes ranging from seasonal wellness to immersive Five Elements (五行) retreats. Co-founder of Horizon Healing, faculty for the Esalen Institute, writer for Mountain Rose Herbs and various publications, and host for “Tea Talks with Jiling” on the Herbal Radio podcast, Jiling is also an avid traveler, multidisciplinary artist, and wilderness adventurer. Find Jiling backpacking the Sespe, surfing at C-Street, and on JilingLin.com, Instagram @LinJiling, and Facebook @JilingLAc.