The Black Herbal Knowledge Exchange

The Berkeley Herbal Center welcomes you to the first ever Black Herbal Knowledge exchange. This package day of classes showcases Black herbal wisdom, providing a space to learn, share, create, and commune. Each steward will provide a unique offering that prioritizes the Black and Brown experience, nurturing classrooms of care, understanding, and unity. By attending, participants are collectively creating an expectation in herbal schools across the state to honor the history and legacy of Black and Brown people in herbalism and beyond. We look forward to sharing space with you at this unprecedented experience in the Bay Area. 

“It’s time for our people to make an investment in wellness and place value on our health and well being.” - Shereel Washington 

Black North American Herbalism: Plants, Food & Medicine with Shereel Washington

10:30 - 12:00 

In this class, you will explore the medicinal plants, foods, and herbal remedies used by early Black North Americans during the era of enslavement. Black North American herbal medicine is a sophisticated practice brought to the United States by enslaved Africans who carried a rich tradition of plant healing. This tradition proved to be highly effective and is well-documented in historical records. These healers used their extensive knowledge to treat the enslaved community and were often relied upon by their enslavers; their practices are notably mentioned in the medical journals of Francis Porcher. Key features of this healing tradition include a holistic approach that emphasizes the full use of each plant, bioregional plant usage, and accessible medicine-making techniques utilizing readily available resources. This healing tradition is rooted in deeply embodied knowledge, where "wisdom undergirds knowledge."

All About Seamoss Gel with Symone Butler

12:30 - 2:00

Join Symone Butler, herbalist and founder of Hella Healthy Essentials, for an immersive, hands-on workshop exploring the nourishing world of sea moss. While sipping a warm cup of herbal tea infused with sea moss gel, Symone will share the history of sea moss, its health-supporting benefits, and the many ways it can be seamlessly incorporated into daily life. The experience includes a live, step-by-step demonstration of preparing sea moss gel from start to finish, with opportunities for participants to assist along the way. 

What’s Included:

• Complimentary herbal tea infused with sea moss gel
• Guided grounding 
• Sea moss gel demonstration
• Sea moss gel to take home

Skin Preparation Using Honey with Tamu

2:30 - 4:00

Herbal honey for facials is a potent way to cleanse, soothe, moisturize and brighten skin. It is also a wonderful way to bring more medicinal plants into your natural skincare routine. During this class participants will mix up an herbal honey using local, raw honey and skin nourishing medicinal plants.Tamu will also share her supremely nourishing, all natural full facial regimen that has supported her healthy glowing skin for over 30+ years. Each participant will leave with an herbal honey recipe, a jar of the herbal honey we mix up in class and knowledge of a full facial regime to support vibrant skin.

Documentary Screening of Little Medicine Thing: Emma Dupree, Herbalist  (1979) with Lucky Ruiz

5:00 - 6:30

Are you a BIPOC that’s interested in herbalism, food as medicine, beauty and wellness, and communal gatherings? Have you been looking for a place to commune with other like-minded, passion driven people to share your stories and experiences in wellness spaces and curiosities on plant medicine? 

In honor of Black History Month,  Berkeley Herbal Center staff member, Lucky Ruiz, is hosting a screening of Little Medicine Thing: Emma Dupree, Herbalist  (1979) followed by a community discussion where guests will be facilitated through a chat on herbal ancestors, where we do and don’t see ourselves in realms of wellness, and how we can support each other’s dreams and endeavors as healers of color. 

To learn more about Ms.Emma Dupree, read Black Herbalist Spotlight: Emma Dupree, by Safiyyah Bazemore. 

Concessions are included. 

This event prioritizes Black and Brown people with each class holding a capacity of 25 students. If you are interested in participating in a selective class, but can not attend all three, please send an email to [email protected]. 

No BIPOC will be turned away for lack of funds, if you are in need of a discounted ticket please email [email protected] or call (510) 930-8050 . 

If you can not make the event and would like to support the Black Herbal Knowledge Exchange or pay it forward for someone’s ticket,  you can make a donation here. 

Saturday, February 21, 2026

All Day Event 

The Berkeley Herbal Center

Strawberry Creek Park 

1250 Addison St. Suite G

Berkeley, CA 94702

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