What are the plants that tie us to our ancestors and sense of place? Brooke Bridges, Twink Williams Burns and Rebecca Guanzon share intimate stories about their relationships with the land and their ancestors. Although the three women come from different backgrounds and grew up across the country, the ancestral homelands of the Stockbridge-Munsee Mohicans and the plants that grow in the Berkshires are key to their herbal journeys and healing pathways.
All are invited to gather around a bonfire and sip on tea blends created by the herbalists. Stay after the readings for an intimate conversation with the panelists to hear more about their experiences as practicing herbalists.
The event is free.
About the herbalists
Brooke Bridges is the owner, head herbalist, and formulator of Brooke’s Botanicals, her all-natural skin, hair, and self-care business. From working as a child actress in Los Angeles to her current role as CSA assistant manager at Soul Fire Farm, an Afro-Indigenous community farm in Petersburgh, New York, Bridges has had a unique journey. Through mental health challenges; a cross-country move; and a deep connection with regenerative agriculture, farm-to-table cooking, and plant medicine, Bridges has transformed into an advocate for using plant medicine and looking to spiritual plant connections and nature immersion for healing.
Twink Williams Burns is the founder of Ancestor Seeds, an heirloom seed company located on the ancestral homelands of the Stockbridge-Munsee Mohicans, specializing in vegetable and herb seed varieties that are culturally significant across the Black diaspora. Burns believes that every seed holds the story of the past and the hope of the future. She believes that connecting with the plants that sustained, nourished, and healed generations of people in your family is a powerful way to connect with your personal history. Drawing from the legacy of many storytellers before her, Burns brings the story and glory of individual plants to life by joyfully weaving together history, place, culture, culinary traditions, and plant-based remedies from around the world.
Rebecca Guanzon, a trained herbalist and practitioner of multiple energetic healing modalities, brings over twenty years of experience with trauma-informed care practices. She is a graduate of the Chestnut School of Herbal Medicine, specializing in medicine making, foraging, and herbal immersion. As a neighborhood herbalist, she promotes mutual aid by distributing free goods and cultivating an intimate circle of accountability partners. This work and active community convenes at Wild Soul River, an abolitionist herbal gathering space in Williamstown that Guanzon co-owns with her partner justin adkins.
By the Way Berkshires is a digital magazine exploring creative life and community — art and performance, food and the outdoors — and I’m writing it for you, with local voices, because I’ve gotten to know this rich part of the world as a writer and journalist, and I want to share it with you.
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Hancock Shaker Village welcomes visitors to meet their newest farm babies – lambs, piglets, calves, chicks and kid goats, and enjoy events and activities throughout the Village.
Hancock Shaker Village welcomes visitors to meet their newest farm babies – lambs, piglets, calves, chicks and kid goats, and enjoy events and activities throughout the Village.
Igor Simões (State University of Rio Grande do Sul / Clark Fellow) explores the absence of Black Brazilian artists in the international debate on art and the history of Afro-Diasporic art.
Hancock Shaker Village welcomes visitors to meet their newest farm babies – lambs, piglets, calves, chicks and kid goats, and enjoy events and activities throughout the Village.
Naumkeag's annual Spring Celebration returns for its 5th year, as the eight acres of gardens bloom with bulbs to celebrate spring in the Berkshires.
Families with children up to 6 years old are invited to join Mass MoCA museum educators for a storytime and related exploration in the galleries.
Hancock Shaker Village welcomes visitors to meet their newest farm babies – lambs, piglets, calves, chicks and kid goats, and enjoy events and activities throughout the Village.
In this two-part class, botanist Ted Elliman will focus on the wildflowers that grow in Berkshire County’s spring woods.
The Clark screens classic films — Manhatta, inspired by Walt Whitman, and Rien que les heures, showing the life of Paris from dawn to dusk.
Naumkeag's annual Spring Celebration returns for its 5th year, as the eight acres of gardens bloom with bulbs to celebrate spring in the Berkshires.
Hancock Shaker Village welcomes visitors to meet their newest farm babies – lambs, piglets, calves, chicks and kid goats, and enjoy events and activities throughout the Village.
May’s First Friday comes to North Adams with Flower Power — with live music, food trucks and vendors, openings and events focused on starting fresh.
First Fridays @ Five brings a new festival to downtown Pittsfield, with fire dancing with Opal Raven Cirque at Persip Park, a makers market and beer garden, live ceramics and more.
Founded by singer-guitarist Sean Walsh, The National Reserve blend R&B, Laurel Canyon lyricism, New Orleans funk, late night soul, and bluesy rock ‘n’ roll.
Tom Ingersoll and Melissa LeVangie-Ingersoll look at trees in the Spring season and witness their unique characteristics with and without leaves.
This four-part class will revisit trees through the seasons and witness their unique characteristics with and without leaves.
Locally roasted coffee, native plants or gently herbed hand cream ... the regular Pittsfield Farmers Market welcomes in farmers and artisans together.
Berkshire Botanical Garden will hold a workshop in creating and using herbal infused oils — lip balms, skin salves, and roll-on perfume/bug repellent.
Naumkeag's annual Spring Celebration returns for its 5th year, as the eight acres of gardens bloom with bulbs to celebrate spring in the Berkshires.
Berkshire Botanical Garden’s 90th outdoor season opens with the their annual community celebration steeped in history and tradition.
Naumkeag's annual Spring Celebration returns for its 5th year, as the eight acres of gardens bloom with bulbs to celebrate spring in the Berkshires.
Every first Sunday of the month, Pete Toigo and Dave Bartley bring a morning of music — soulful jazz and blues with Pete on bass and Dave piano and vocals.
Inspired by May's First Sunday Free theme, 'Giddy Up!' , the Clark offers a free display of works on paper in the Manton Study Center for Works on Paper.
Hancock Shaker Village welcomes visitors to meet their newest farm babies – lambs, piglets, calves, chicks and kid goats, and enjoy events and activities throughout the Village.
In this Research and Academic Program lecture, Michael Gaudio (University of Minnesota / Clark Professor 2023–2024) explores Native burial mounds.
On the day of each new moon — believed by many to be a time of rebirth — visitors to Like Magic at Mass MoCA are invited into Grace Clark’s 'In a new light (Healing Dirt).'
Inspired by the open jams from the formative era of jazz, Band leader Luke Franco and host Brian Kantor will hold a monthly evening of music.
Naumkeag's annual Spring Celebration returns for its 5th year, as the eight acres of gardens bloom with bulbs to celebrate spring in the Berkshires.
Each supper at Hancock Shaker Village offers authentic Shaker recipes prepared by a local chef and served communal style followed by a Shaker focused program.
Naumkeag's annual Spring Celebration returns for its 5th year, as the eight acres of gardens bloom with bulbs to celebrate spring in the Berkshires.
Works on Paper invites artists of all experience and skill levels to work closely with thematic selections of drawings from the Clark’s collection.
The Lenox Farmers Market returns on Friday afternoons with live music by Berkshire Busk and organic produce, sweets, breads and more.
The Sheffield Farmers Market returns outdoors with some 20 vendors — from pickles, seasonings and garlic, to Naji’s Mediterranean Cuisine, baked fresh wheat-free breads, local meats, honey and maple syrup and more.
Come join Tipsy Carol AKA McBoozle in her third fabulous singalong at The Foundry and add your gloriousness to her songs about spring, new beginnings and flings ...
The Berkshire Botanical Garden holds their 47th Annual Plants-and-Answers Plant Sale on May 10 and 11, curated by BBG’s horticulture staff.
The market returns with fruits and greens and cheeses, locally roasted coffee and brewed cider — popsicles, mushrooms, Berkshire Mountain Bakery sourdough bread, fresh berries ...
Chocolate peanut butter cookies, fresh flowers, jams and pickles and cheeses ... the North Adams Farmers Market returns weekly with more than a dozen farmers and makers.
Naumkeag's annual Spring Celebration returns for its 5th year, as the eight acres of gardens bloom with bulbs to celebrate spring in the Berkshires.
Learn basic blacksmithing skills at Hancock Shaker Village’s coal-fired forge with instructor Rick Ryer, one of the Village’s experienced blacksmiths.
Naumkeag's annual Spring Celebration returns for its 5th year, as the eight acres of gardens bloom with bulbs to celebrate spring in the Berkshires.
Working with the BBG’s vegetable garden, chef and farmer Miriam Rubin will harvest from the garden, then head into the kitchen to make a multiple-course meal.
Decorate a token of appreciation for the mothers and maternal figures in your life at the Clark’s card-making station, listen to a free chamber music concert and more.
This year's Lenett Fellows, Ricardo Mercado Ruiz and Destini Ross (Williams College M.A. Class of 2024), present the work they have produced during their fellowship.
The Clark invites visitors to look contemplatively as a way to engage with works of art from the museum’s collection.
Dewey Hall holds storytelling events with a group discussion exploring themes, similarities and contrasts within the stories as a whole
The West Stockbridge Farmers Market offers fresh produce — fruits and vegetables in season, eggs, meats and cheeses, breads and baked goods, fudge and jams and more.
Jean Vigo’s film exposes the seedier side of life on the French Riviera, contrasting the labor of low-paid workers with the idle tourists as the city prepares for carnival.
Elizabeth and the Catapult, Autumn Nicholas and Monica Giraldo offer an intimate evening of songs and stories unbounded by tradition, pre-conceptions and expectations.
Families with children up to 6 years old are invited to join Mass MoCA museum educators for a storytime and related exploration in the galleries.
A Clark educator will lead a tour of the permanent collection galleries to talk about the Institute's history and work.
Hancock Shaker Village holds a reception to celebrate the artists whose exquisite work appears throughout the Village this summer.
A Clark educator leads a thematic tour of highlights of the Clark’s Impressionist art collection by artists like Renoir, Monet, Pissarro and Cassa.
Clark educators lead a free program with slow engagement with nature and art — a mindful walk in the woods to engage your senses and an experience with art in the galleries.
Conceived by performer, composer and American Modern Opera Company (AMOC*) member Keir GoGwilt, Zarabanda Variations bring together a group of visionary composers, improvisers and performers.
People living with dementia and their care-partners can join the museum on select Mondays for open-ended conversations about art.
David-Jeremiah, the artist of I Drive Thee, this year’s public spaces installation at the Clark, celebrates the launch of the exhibition publication.
A Clark educator will lead a tour of the permanent collection galleries to talk about the Institute's history and work.
Of Words and Music explores creative pairs of works with the same text settings by Tallis, Haydn, Biebl, Lauridsen, Barber, Bloch, and Burleigh, among others.
Naturalist and wild edibles enthusiast Arianna Alexsandra Collins from the Hoosic River Watershed Association and Offerings for Community Building leads a foraging walk
Hancock Shaker Village offers an outdoor yoga class ... with goats. Goats roam freely as you strike your poses with a certified yoga instructor.
A Clark educator will lead a tour of the permanent collection galleries to talk about the Institute's history and work.
Every first Sunday of the month, Pete Toigo and Dave Bartley bring a morning of music — soulful jazz and blues with Pete on bass and Dave piano and vocals.
