For a time, the humans, the bears, the deer, the fox, the rabbits, the fish, each insect, each bug, and all of the plants lived in harmony. They all moved through the world with grace and respect. The humans asked permission through prayer and left offerings for the food they took. And there was balance.

But one day the humans began creating better tools and those eventually became weapons. They grew numerous and forgetful. The prayers were lost. Permission forgotten. And the offerings vanished.

The rest of earth’s creatures began to come together complaining that the human settlements were growing larger and more numerous. That the respect was gone. The balance disrupted.

The solution to the growing human communities was illness, each animal giving ailments that related to their own natures.

But the plants had pity. Whenever humans call upon them for healing, they will often freely give themselves. And this is how humans learned to identify plant healings in relation to the animals, such as deer medicine, bear medicine, raccoon medicine and so on.

This is a short retelling of a Cherokee story about the origin of human disease and the plants that offered the gift of healing.

I thought of this story as I considered what to write today as an update for Wild Indigo Herb Fest. Although money is a huge part of what makes events happen, gifts are part of the equation.

We need gifts of course, but we also want to give back to show gratitude for the individuals, organizations, and businesses that want to help us create this annual event focusing on the foundations of community herbalism.

We are an all volunteer-run event. Gifts help us raise the funds needed to get a fledgling event off the ground.

EARLY REGISTRATION

Early registrants for the main conference, May 28-30, are people that believe in the mission of providing herbal education in community herbalism and mutual aid. They believe in the intention of creating a space to connect with other herbalists. They understand the need to retreat from the “muggle” world to be among other plant people. They believe that the people behind Wild Indigo Herb Fest are going to make it worth it (we will!).

They are founding members.

People who register before November 1 will be honored as founding members with herbal gifts at the conference, first dibs in room choice (based on what they purchase), and names mentioned on our website (with permission).

Register for the main conference at Wild Indigo Herb Fest here (the intensives [May 31] are still being organized and we’ll let you know as soon as possible who’s coming and what they are offering):

SPONSORSHIP

The gifts we offer sponsors is putting your business name, logo, and link on our website and programs. Depending on the level of sponsorship more gifts are offered including vendor tables and complimentary admission to the event. If your business is interested in being a sponsor, take a look at what we offer.