Root and Mushroom Medicines, Final Harvest, Embracing Food as Medicine, Supporting Cardiovascular & Kidney Health

Fall is a time to celebrate the harvest season, integrating medicinal herbs and remedies into our kitchens, and turning our attention to roots. With most flowers having bloomed and faded, the energy and medicine of plants retreat into their roots, preparing for the colder, darker months ahead. This natural cycle invites us to prepare root-based medicines, indulge in medicinal mushrooms, and establish herbal rituals that ground us in our bodies and homes.

Fall beckons us to care for our body’s Water element, crucial for kidney and cardiovascular health. After exploring a selection of plants and remedies perfect for the season, participants will craft and take home their own herbal salt and fire cider. Additionally, you'll receive a booklet filled with plant monographs and a variety of recipes to experiment with at home.

Please note: A materials fee of $15 is payable to Nora on the day of the event, accepted in cash or via Venmo.

About our Facilitator - Nora Toomey, Our Poet and Keeper of Plant Knowledge

Nora, a poet and Clinical Herbalist, embarked on her journey into herbal medicine guided by the wisdom of cherished sisters and friends. Her pursuit of herbal knowledge deepened through a rigorous Certified Clinical Herbalist program at the Berkeley Herbal Center in California, blending formal education with hands-on apprenticeship.

With a rich background in poetry, Nora has mastered the art of nurturing deep self-care rituals and embracing the healing journey with an open heart. She holds an MFA in Poetry from the California College of the Arts, alongside a Bachelor's degree in Writing and Women’s Studies, fueling her passion for the intersections between poetry, sound meditation, storytelling, and plant medicine.

After 15 years in California, Nora returned to the East Coast in 2020, where she co-founded Flower & Frequency, a plant and sound wellness company. Here, she launched her clinical practice and a line of herbal products.

Nora’s approach is characterized by warmth, intuition, and collaboration. As a community herbalist, she is dedicated to making herbal medicine accessible to all. Nora has contributed significantly to the community through volunteering with the People’s Medicine Project, serving at the Berkeley Herbal Center’s Community Clinic, writing for the Herbal Academy, and creating herbal programs for public libraries across CT, NY, MA, and RI.

Nora harbors a deep passion for assisting women who are grappling with addiction, childhood trauma, domestic violence, and those seeking strategies to manage stress and anxiety. She is particularly driven to empower women to unlock their creative potential and self-healing capabilities through the transformative power of plant medicine.