Entering her 14th year as a medicinal herbalist, Holly practices in the "Wise Woman Tradition" of western herbal medicine. She owns and operates Vineyard Herbs Teas & Apothecary, teaches and mentors students and apprentices in traditional herbal healing and wild plant identification/gathering, and she writes articles and an upcoming documentary about women herbalists of the world (to learn more, please visit www.HollyBellebuono.com).
A native of Asheville, North Carolina, Holly spent 11 years in Boone after earning her Master's Degree in Public Administration and Environmental Policy. In the rich, lush mountains of the Southern Appalachians, Holly began gardening and landscaping as Head Gardener at the historic 20+ acre Mast Farm Inn in Valle Crucis, N.C. She traveled as a WOOFER (Willing Worker On Organic Farms) across England, Scotland and Ireland working in gardens at intentional communities (including Findhorn, Scotland) and for private families.
Holly earned a Certificate of Therapeutic Herbalism through David Hoffmann's (herbalist California and Wales) Phytotherapy course, but her primary source of education/training has been following around old-timers in the mountains and learning one-on-one with other herbalists. Tromping deep into the forest has been her best form of education yet.
Teaching plant identification, plant history, wilderness education, edible and medicinal use of Appalachian herbs and trees, and primitive living skills for both children and adults has been the focus of Holly's herbal business. She's taught at children's and environmental camps including Turtle Island Preserve, a 1,000+ acre wilderness and educational preserve, Buffalo Cove Outdoor Education Center, Eagles Nest Children's Camp, and Sassafras Earth Education. Holly served as the Program Director for Appalachian Voices, a 501-C-3 environmental advocacy non-profit specializing in their Sustainable Forestry Task Force, then she and her husband Rocco and their two children moved from the rich forests of Southern Appalachia to the seaside resort island of Martha's Vineyard.
Here, Holly's classes and workshops evolved to include the ubiquitous wonderful weeds as well as the special ocean-loving plants of coastal Massachusetts. She implemented Discovery Friday, a hands-on experiential learning Life Science curriculum for K-5th grade students at a local elementary school, and she offers apprenticeships, mentorships for high school aged students interested in herbalism, and is available for private consultations.
Holly's articles have been published in The High Country Writer's Association Journal, The Appalachian Voice, Carolina Mountain Living, United Plant Savers Journal of Medicinal Plant Conservation, and Martha's Vineyard Magazine, as well as other regional trade publications. She has been a guest lecturer for the North Carolina Herb Association, for the Caldwell Community College, for Appalachian State University, for Watauga College, for the Martha's Vineyard nursing program, and at the Polly Hill Arboretum. Holly is available for lectures and classes regarding herbalism, health, and specific herbal qualities; Appalachian botany and folklore; women's issues such as natural pregnancy, introducing children to herbalism, herbal inspiration for young women; and Mesopotamian mythology, Goddess cultures, and world mythology.
Holly's most recent project is a research documentary about the women of the world and their healing plants. Having spent the past year traveling, researching and interviewing women from every continent on earth, Holly will publish in book form and is creating a power-point presentation for conferences and schools. The presentation will enjoy its first showing in 2010 on Martha's Vineyard.
Click here for details about booking Holly for a speaking engagement.
