I’m Johanna, a single mother of two who immigrated from Bogotá, Colombia to the US when I was a child. I’m the herbalist at The Sanctuary, a community garden in Newburgh, New York—a city where more than 70% of residents are Black, Indigenous, and People of Color. The Sanctuary is a place where we grow food, share knowledge, and create an inclusive space for art and connection.
My work at The Sanctuary is guided by a desire to address food insecurity, the lack of green spaces in Newburgh, and the loss of traditional herbal knowledge—issues that deeply affect our community. Through workshops, I teach people how to use plants for wellness and empowerment. For example, participants learn to make Anise Hyssop + Oregano + Garlic with honey and apple cider vinegar, a preparation that strengthens immunity, and Mugwort + Marigold + Calendula Medicinal Smoke Wands, handcrafted for spiritual purposes and to refresh and purify spaces. Together, we harvest herbs from the garden, learn about their properties, and talk about caring for ourselves and the land. In doing so, I nurture wellness, reconnection to the land, and community care.
For me, herbalism is about community, healing, and remembering where we come from. I want my children, and others in our neighborhood, to grow up knowing the power of plants, the value of sustainability, and the importance of reconnecting with our roots—ways of being I felt disconnected from during my own childhood. Everything I use comes directly from The Sanctuary gardens, grown and tended with care by myself and other volunteers. Each plant we harvest is part of a larger cycle of learning, sharing, and community connection.
My work at The Sanctuary is guided by a desire to address food insecurity, the lack of green spaces in Newburgh, and the loss of traditional herbal knowledge—issues that deeply affect our community. Through workshops, I teach people how to use plants for wellness and empowerment. For example, participants learn to make Anise Hyssop + Oregano + Garlic with honey and apple cider vinegar, a preparation that strengthens immunity, and Mugwort + Marigold + Calendula Medicinal Smoke Wands, handcrafted for spiritual purposes and to refresh and purify spaces. Together, we harvest herbs from the garden, learn about their properties, and talk about caring for ourselves and the land. In doing so, I nurture wellness, reconnection to the land, and community care.
For me, herbalism is about community, healing, and remembering where we come from. I want my children, and others in our neighborhood, to grow up knowing the power of plants, the value of sustainability, and the importance of reconnecting with our roots—ways of being I felt disconnected from during my own childhood. Everything I use comes directly from The Sanctuary gardens, grown and tended with care by myself and other volunteers. Each plant we harvest is part of a larger cycle of learning, sharing, and community connection.
