Herb Society Student Group

20th January 2025

There are many reasons for people to join the Herb Society, but the thing uniting us all is a fascination with plants and the benefit that can be found by bringing them into our lives – whatever our favoured approach to doing so.

Continual learning

With so many herbs, each with multiple virtues, and all influenced by context, season, symbiosis, dosage and individual experience – not to mention the histories, cultural associations and folk lore surrounding our native and more exotic plants – many members are enrolled in a training course of some kind, furthering their knowledge of the application of herbs in their chosen field, be it medicinal, horticultural, gardening, skincare, craft, growing or other therapeutic or practical purpose.  Aligned with these studies, the Herb Society Student Group supports those who are enrolled on a course of study. The group provides a virtual study-buddy to help keep you on track, test ideas and learn from others at a similar stage of learning.

The Herb Society Student Group

The Student Group within the Herb Society is here to support and encourage you, whatever your level of herbal studies. It’s a means for you to benefit from being part of a membership group with like-minded souls. By learning together we are able to share, discuss, test ideas and provide pathways to further knowledge. It’s a collaborative approach designed for mutual benefit, whatever your current level of herbal understanding, by exploring and questioning together we shed new light, even on old topics. 

As Doris Lessing said:  ‘That is what Learning is. You suddenly understand something you have understood all your life, but in a new way.’

What?

So what’s involved in the Student Group? Most importantly this group is intended to be shaped by its participants so, to an extent, it’s what you want it to be. We expect the group to morph and mould as the interests and participants wax and wane. There’s no compulsion to join, but as you experience the joy of inquisitive interaction with fellow herb-lovers we hope you’ll find it compelling to join. We’ll set out some starter topics and then collaboratively form future agendas depending on the interests of the group with the intention of covering as wide a scope as possible, from medicinal use of herbs through the plethora of culinary, practical, artistic, scented, traditional and new uses of herbs, as well as keeping each other informed on any herbal news, research and updates. 

Where and when?

Given the geographical spread of our Herb Society members, meetings of the Student Group will be held online, so your only limitation should be access to Zoom and wifi.  Meetings will take place every other month, initially on weekday evenings.  The first meeting will be held on Wednesday 22nd January at 7pm. Please do get in touch before then to ensure you receive the joining details. 

How to sign up?

You need to be a member of The Herb Society to join the group. The Herb Society provides a range of benefits including a subscription to our 3 times yearly journal Herbs, a regular e-newsletter, an online archive of past content and much more. Visit our membership page at https://herbsociety.org.uk/product/annual-membership to learn more  To make sure you don’t miss out on information about the Student Group and any forthcoming meetings, send an email to support@herbsociety.org.uk to be put on the comms list for this group. Please do share any details on your current herbal studies and particular areas of interest that you’d like the group to consider.  Please note that the group is volunteer led, as are most elements of the Herb Society. There is always an opportunity for you to get more involved if you are able, we’d be happy to hear your ideas.

‘Tell me and I forget, teach me and I may remember, involve me and I learn.” Benjamin Franklin