Episode #7: Rebecca Beyer on syncretism in Appalachian Folk Herbalism, moral questions surrounding wildcrafting, cultural appropriation and more.

Episode Seven of the Ground Shots Podcast.

A conversation with folk herbalist, teacher, witch and forager Rebecca Beyer of Blood and Spicebush, out of Barnardsville, NC on Appalachian folk herbalism, wildcrafting questions, acknowledging all the different folks who contributed to the practices of Appalachian folk herbalism, southern Appalachian plant lore and more.

We talk about:

a few plants in the southern Appalachia and the folklore around them

different ways to think about how to responsibly teach about Appalachian folk herbalism

acknowledging the erasure of the contributions of West African folks to Appalachian folk herbalism practices due to white supremacy

ethical questions and ponderings around wildcrafting in different bioregions

the need for conversations around dispelling the myths surrounding rural Appalachian folks as 'primitive ancestors' 

Links: 

http://www.bloodandspicebush.com/

https://www.sassafras-school.com/

Becky's instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bloodandspicebush/

Becky's facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/bloodandspicebush/ 

 episode photo by: Shauna Caldwell

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Theme music: Mother Marrow

Produced by: Opia Creative

Rebecca Beyer on YouTube:

Meet Pokeweed, Phytolacca americana, and learn a few fun facts about its uses in Appalachia as a medicine, food and magical ingredient. The rich cultural heritage of the Mountain South would be incomplete without poke salat in the Spring and poke root salve for the bumps and lumps of life.