When Shawna Coronado was diagnosed with osteoarthritis in her spine she changed her lifestyle, from job to eating habits. Gardening, including herbs, became part of that shift. As a writer she began sharing her journey with others. She’s so good at it, she became a regular speaker at Mother Earth News Fair, a series of educational festivals held in cities around the country. Herbs are among the various earthy topics presented.
If you haven’t heard about the Fairs, take a look. The list of topics and industry speakers has me drooling – aromatherapy, beauty products, kombucha, organic everything and more. Only two events – Pennsylvania and Kansas – remain in 2017, and I’m too busy for both. This year. But, I’m eagerly anticipating next year’s schedule and plan to add one to my calendar.
Shawna, who’s been involved for years, is enthusiastic as a speaker and attendee. She anticipates more than 400 people will attend her one-hour presentation on “Arthritis in the Garden,” where she talks about using diet, exercise and gardening techniques to reduce chronic pain.
Herbs can play a simple role here. She advocates using more of them to flavor wholesome food in place of additive-laden dishes.
She will also talk about “Gardening Hacks” (or simple solutions) one of which is using wine bottles to edge your garden. And, another to fill wine bottles with water and turn upside down into garden for slow-watering when you’re away. (You’ll just have to drink more wine.)
While the fairs draw thousands, they’re still small enough for personal interactions with experts. When someone asks Shawna a question about a problem plant, she says her first response is usually, “What’s your soil like?” The answers go on from there.
For those worried they won’t fit in, Shawna says the audiences are “part modern, suburban folks with small gardens and big dreams and part homesteaders who are into farming and may raise animals.”
The fair includes a bookstore (my weakness) and herb vendors.
If you can’t make it to Shawna’s talk, check out her book 101 Organic Gardening Hacks, just published in January. And, watch for her book The Wellness Garden to publish in November. Meanwhile, the folks at Mother Earth News are working on next year’s fair schedule.
