Why EcoCulture?
Without clean water, clean air, clean food, a healthy environment and sustainable and regenerative design practices, cultures cannot survive. We recognize the essential role that sustainable living and eco-consciousness plays in the preservation of culture and of life itself. Raíces Eco-Culture programming fosters exploration, study and application of ecological, sustainable, and “green” living practices for individuals, families and communities to build a future where culture and nature can flourish and thrive.
Below are some quick highlights from our EcoCulture program branch from 2018.
Herbal Circle and Knowledge Exchange
This new program launched in the spring of 2018 grew directly out of 2017’s Sustainable Living Workshop Series. Herbal Healing workshop presenter and Raíces BOD member Angela Lugo spent time speaking with participants after her 2017 workshop who came from a variety of cultural backgrounds and healing traditions. This conversation inspired the beginning of Raíces Cultural Center’s Herbal Circle and Knowledge Exchange, where members of the local community from a diversity of backgrounds and cultures meet monthly to discuss and exchange knowledge, as well as stories and traditions related to herbal healing and a variety of healing arts. The group has grown to include members from around the world, from countries in North and South America, the Caribbean, Africa and Europe.
Want to join the herbal circle in 2019?
Read more about our circle and register as a member here.
The first successful year of the herbal circle meetings and the impact they have had on its members has inspired our digital archive team to create an oral history project on herbal healing traditions, and their impact on modern communities and our understanding of culture. Keep an eye out for news on this in the Spring of 2019!
Raíces Seed Library
The Raíces Seed Library took a brief hiatus of lending seeds in the growing season of 2018, dedicating our seed donation efforts on relief and recovery support in Puerto Rico. Seed was needed for community and school gardens, agroecological farms and projects, and home gardeners.
We will resume our lending program in the growing season of 2019. Want to become a member and be a part of creating a local stock of clean and organic seed?
Read more and sign up on our Seed Library page.
Want seeds but not ready to be a seed saver? You can still support Raíces EcoCulture with your seed purchase from our SeedsNow Online Seed Shop.
Raíces EcoCulture Gardens
It was a great growing year for Raíces EcoCulture Gardens, as we continue to learn about new ecological gardening techniques and how we can create our own culture of caring for the earth and her beings while we also provide our own families and communities with food, healing and cooking herbs, locally adapted seeds and food for pollinators. Check out some of the photo galleries from our growing season below.
Support Raíces Cultural Center’s EcoCulture Program Branch
Our EcoCulture programs are currently volunteer based with materials and supplies being covered by generous donations from our community members and supporters. Your support helps us to continue our work in preserving and educating about biodiverse, resilient ecosystems and the natural arts, from the perspective of a diversity of cultures and traditions.
Please make a tax deductible donation to Raíces Cultural Center, a NJ Nonprofit Corporation!
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