An Herbalist’s Perspective on Weedy Species: Appreciating the Uninvited Plants in Our Gardens and Cityscapes

In this talk from Steph Zabel we will become more acquainted with the often over-looked or misunderstood plants that we label as “weeds.” These tenacious plants show up in our gardens, flourish in abandoned city lots, and grow through the cracks of our sidewalks. Although they are often unwanted visitors in our human-made environments, they actually offer us many unexpected benefits. These so-called invasives or weeds can be foods or medicines and even help repair damaged ecosystems. This talk seeks to offer another perspective on the wild and weedy species that grow all around us. Some of the plants that we will come to a greater understanding of are Japanese Knotweed, Dandelion, Plantain and Garlic Mustard, among others.

Steph Zabel is a community herbalist and educator in Somerville, MA. She has always had an affinity for the plant world and studied horticulture, biology, and ethnobotany throughout her undergraduate and graduate years. Steph works in the botanical collections of the Harvard University Herbaria and is also the founder and organizer of Herbstalk, a local educational event that teaches people about herbalism. In addition to leading herbal classes, Steph offers individual holistic health consultations, handcrafts herbal medicines, and runs her business Flowerfolk Herbal Apothecary.

All Somerville Garden Club meetings are free and open to the public. Meetings are usually held the second Wednesday of each month at the Tufts Administration Building, (TAB), 167 Holland Street, second floor, wheelchair accessible. Parking is available, and the building is a ten-minute walk from the Davis Square MBTA stop.