Gabrielle Cerberville, aka @chaoticforager or "the Internet's Mushroom Auntie," is a forager, mycologist, composer, and outdoor educator. Just a few of her current projects include a book, a TV series, and a Ph.D at the University of Virginia in music composition and computer technologies. You can find her at www.chaoticforager.com, or on all socials as @chaoticforager.
Meghan Henshaw has spent many years studying the plethora of ways in which medicinal plants are woven into the fabric of everyday life. This has led her all over the United States and abroad where she has worn many hats as a field researcher, wildcrafter, herbalist, and educator. Her medicinal plant studies began with an internship with a large herb company twenty years ago and was followed by formal botanical study in herbal science and ethnobotany. Meghan currently has a private practice in Cincinnati and sees clients for one on one herbal support and bodywork. As Ocotillo Herbals, she teaches herbal classes throughout the Midwest and crafts a line of herbal products which emphasize bioregional plants using herbs she grows in a community garden in the city. Visit ocotilloherbals.com to learn more.
Sarah Kent is an award-winning naturalist and published entomologist. She is dedicated to advancing food sovereignty, fostering life skill development and ensuring safe access to green spaces for the Black community. In her spare time she enjoys creating art, baking, gardening, foraging and enjoying Cincinnati’s music & culinary scene!
Victoria Hennings is an Ohio-based artist, activist, and environmental educator. Victoria currently works as the co-lead of Black Girl Environmentalist Cincinnati, the co-director of Cincinnati Sovereign Soil Collective, and the Community Engagement Coordinator at the Civic Garden Center. In her spare time, she brings whimsy into the world through Hijabi Geek Studios. She is passionate about sharing knowledge and creating collaborative spaces through the world around us. Her community-building is informed by solarpunk and Afrofuturist ideologies. Victoria loves bringing people together, especially around plants, games, and the arts. You will often find her with tea and books!
Cole Perry has been in youth work for 20 years, mostly outdoor ed but currently teaching high school Spanish at Clark Montessori. Cole loves learning and sharing what they know about our other-than-human relatives, mostly plants and mushrooms. Catch Cole talking about how to identify things in the woods that people can eat. Their favorites include mayapples, persimmons, and all of our native Allium species.
Liz is an herbalist, a forager and is certified in teaching Yoga to both kids and adults. Liz teaches in several studios and schools throughout Cincinnati and Northern KY and loves teaching Yoga to students of all ages and levels. Outside of Yoga, Liz completed a one year project of not buying food from grocery stores. Instead Liz eats food grown by local farmers, by herself or food that she has foraged and is known as the Grocery-Free Yogi. Learn more at https://www.lizvirgo.com/
Amy Gable of YAM HAPPY believes that art is the way she knows how to pursue happiness, and that teaching that path is how she can best build-up and support her community. She draws inspiration from the natural world, human connection and the community. Amy enjoys guiding folks to explore their imagination, while building confidence and bringing happiness. She believes everyone is an artist, and loves to see folks of all ages create and play. Amy teaches locally in Cincinnati, Ohio, from sustainable art projects to crochet. You can find her at local art shows set up with projects for folks to stop and play for a bit. (ie spin art, tie dye, and more) As a daycare provider, Amy uses art as a tool for growth and development. Currently, her favorite ways to create are fiber based projects, stained glass, book arts and exploring new mediums. Visit her on Instagram as @yamhappy13 or on Facebook as Yam Happy. 🌈❤️✌️
Ninti has a passion for serving her community, the youth in particular. She works as a doula supporting conceiving, pregnant and postpartum mothers and is dedicated to practicing with a holistic-forward approach where possible and ensuring that my families are educated and advocated for in every step of their journey. She incorporates herbal remedy and night-nanny as a part of her work and looks forward to sharing with the youth at the gathering.
Lindsey and Paul Cencula love foraging for wild foods, medicines, and ingredients. In addition to a healthy fascination with mushrooms and mycellium, they are passionate about sacred, healing, and delicious spices you can make using the plants you forage from the woods and YOUR OWN YARD. They also love teaching the next generation of kids all about the magic of plants and how to be good relatives to our non human siblings.