Nestled in the hillside overlooking the ‘beautiful loch’ in the West Highlands of Scotland West Highland Herb garden is a place of peace, tranquillity and healing.
Aims
We believe that having a basic knowledge of keeping oneself well is a human right and that plant medicine is the people’s medicine. Our aims are simple, to provide sustainable and affordable locally sourced medicines for those who seek it through West Highland Herbal. We engage volunteers in gardening, a physical activity to promote wellbeing. We wish to further education in herbal medicine and encourage self help with herbs. Above all we aim to provide a peaceful and relaxing space for people, plants and wildlife.
Aims
We believe that having a basic knowledge of keeping oneself well is a human right and that plant medicine is the people’s medicine. Our aims are simple, to provide sustainable and affordable locally sourced medicines for those who seek it through West Highland Herbal. We engage volunteers in gardening, a physical activity to promote wellbeing. We wish to further education in herbal medicine and encourage self help with herbs. Above all we aim to provide a peaceful and relaxing space for people, plants and wildlife.
Our GardenThe garden is designed around a central fire pit, representing the vital force or energy. Our herbs live and grow in a very watery place and so the fire helps to balance the element of water. There are 4 main paths through the garden, representing the 2 solstices and equinoxes. The four sections of beds represent the four seasons and points on the compass. The herbs are planted according to their energetic activity. For example warming or cooling, drying or moistening. As my practice has evolved to include many herbal traditions, The garden has many influences notably traditional Western, Humoral, Chinese, Ayurvedic and Arabic. We built the garden and raised beds with recycled materials where possible, according to our ethos
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Our MedicinesOur herbs grow in a remote and somewhat untouched landscape. They grow with the benefit of added seaweed collected locally from the shore and our own homemade compost. We use our homemade liquid plant feed made from mineral rich ‘weeds’ such as comfrey, horsetail, nettles and yellow dock.
We dry our herbs for teas, tincture them fresh and make syrups, creams, infused oils and ointments. Volunteers are encouraged to get involved with this process. Once the garden is further established, we plan to offer a herb box crop share scheme during the growing months in future. |
Get InvolvedTo get involved with the project please contact us using the button below.
We hold volunteering sessions every few months throughout the season. We can only maintain the herb garden with the help of volunteers in the form of herbal students, wwoofers and members of the community. Accommodation in our static caravan and meals on working days are provided. You will also have the opportunity to meet likeminded people and gain some useful knowledge of herbal medicine. 2019 Dates: Summer: July 3rd- July 8th Autumn dates: September TBC |
