ABC Honors 'Godmother of American Herbalism'

AUSTIN, Tex.The American Botanical Council (ABC) gave its inaugural Mark Blumenthal Herbal Community Builder Award to renowned herbalist Rosemary Gladstar. Known to many as the "Godmother of American Herbalism," Gladstar is a teacher and author whose efforts have helped develop the American herbal community. She has founded multiple schools of herbal education, co-authored countless books and leads community-building events such as conferences and herb-focused journeys.

I know of no other herbalist who has done more to create a sense of relationship, community, and identity among herbalists and others with a strong interest in herbs and herbal healing than Rosemary," said ABC founder and executive director Mark Blumenthal. Her energy, enthusiasm, passion, creativity, love and generous spirit are bountiful and contagious. There is no one like her."

Gladstar opened her first herb shop, Rosemary's Garden, in the 1970s, and she co-founded the Traditional Medicinals tea company in 1974. Since then, she founded the country's oldest herb school, California School of Herbal Studies, and multiple conferences and symposiums.

In those early days when herbalism and herbalists were first peeking up from underground,' there really wasnt very much going on herbally at all," Gladstar said. "We were rather isolated; there werent newsletters, gatherings, or schools that I know of in the US that served to bring us together. [So,] these early gatherings were revolutionary, really, and had a lot to do, I think, with nourishing and creating an herbal community."

Gladstar will accept the Mark Blumenthal Herbal Community Builder Award at the 8th Annual ABC Botanical Celebration and Awards Ceremony in March in Anaheim, California.