Chestnut School's Herbal Relief Fund
Join us to support the impacted herbalism community in Western North Carolina
Hurricane Helene brought devastation to the Chestnut School of Herbal Medicine and our local community. Our library, apothecary, and much of our business equipment—including photography and video gear—were destroyed in the flooding. Almost all of Juliet Blankespoor’s personal belongings were also lost in the disaster.
All of our staff are alive and accounted for, and our student services team (not located in Asheville) is up and running!
In the wake of this loss, so many of you have asked how you can help, and we are deeply touched by your care and support.
Unfortunately insurance and FEMA will not be able to cover our business losses, so we’re turning to our beloved herbal community to help us rebuild our apothecary and provide herbal support to care for others affected by this tragedy.
Not only will we restore our medicine-making supplies, but we also plan to become a hub for assisting other small herbal businesses affected by the hurricane. Additionally, we’ll gather resources for mutual aid organizations that use natural medicine to support those grappling with the grief and trauma of surviving this natural disaster.
How you can help
We are asking for support in two key ways:
1. Donations to our GoFundMe
Any amount is deeply appreciated! Your contributions will help with:
-
- Securing a storage facility to receive, process, and organize donations.
- Purchasing dispensing supplies (labels, bottles, packaging, etc.).
- Labor costs for coordinating the distribution of donations to mutual aid organizations and small herbal businesses in Appalachia impacted by Hurricane Helene.
- Juliet’s former apprentice, Annie, will lead this project. She has over a decade of experience in emergency medicine and mutual aid.
- Rebuilding Chestnut School’s apothecary and library and supporting other local herbal businesses affected by the storm. (Please contact us if you were affected, and we will add you to the list!)
2. Physical Donations of Herbs and Herbal Preparations
We need to limit our intake to the freshest, most potent medicine. Please note the following requirements:
Categories of herbs that are needed most (with examples):
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- Alteratives: nettles, red clover, milk thistle, burdock, dandelion, gotu kola, yellow dock
- Nervines: milky oats***, tulsi (holy basil), chamomile, lemon balm, lavender, valerian, skullcap, rose, mimosa, linden, motherwort, passionflower, vervain
- Adaptogens: ashwagandha, eleuthero, tulsi (holy basil), jiaogulan, reishi, rhodiola, schisandra
- Immune support: echinacea, spilanthes, astragalus, medicinal mushrooms, Japanese honeysuckle, usnea, calendula, elderberry, elder flower
Herbal preparations:
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- Dried Herbs: They must be less than one year old and have the name, plant part, and location where they were grown or gathered. If purchased, please include the supplier’s information.
- Tinctures: They must be alcohol-based and clearly labeled with weight-to-volume ratios and alcohol percentages. Please send only tinctures in dispensing bottles—no mason jars. Wrap these in protective cushioning so they won’t break and spill.
- Infused Vinegars and Glycerites: They must be less than one year old in dispensing bottles and clearly labeled with ingredients and other details as outlined above. Helpful to have for those who avoid alcohol.
- Infused Oils: They must be less than one year old and in dispensing bottles. Please label with the same details as above.
- Salves: Must be less than one year old and ready for distribution. Please include all pertinent information as outlined above.
- Small Bottles from Herbal Companies: These must have been bottled within the last year. We will share these directly with impacted individuals.
- Essential Oils: Unopened bottles only, protectively wrapped.
If you have any questions about medicine you would like to donate, please email info@chestnutherbs.com.
Juliet is especially interested in restocking her Southwestern and Rocky Mountain medicine! If you have been a student of Michael Moore or 7Song, you likely know just what she wants.
**UPDATED REQUEST LIST (11/1/24)**
- St John’s Wort oil or salve
- Muscle Salves – Arnica, Cayenne, Menthol, etc.
- Rose glycerites
- Non-alcoholic nervine glycerites
- Mushroom extracts
- Raw honey for wound care
- Immune stimulants and anti-bacterial herbs
- Digestive bitters
- Fire cider
- Nervine/Sleep tea blends
Since Juliet is currently displaced, Katie and Mike of Kestrel Herb Farm have generously offered their storage facility as a temporary receiving and staging location.
Please send your herbal donations to:
Kestrel Herb Farm
55 Lanzi Ledge Rd
Leicester, NC 28748
You can also help by sharing the link to this page on your social media, website, or even via email. Spreading the word is a powerful way to support our efforts.
Herbal Relief Fund Updates
(11/1/24)
We are pleased to share an update on our Herbal Relief Fund, which has reached an impressive $76,000 (both through our GoFundMe campaign and our recent enrollment fundraiser) thanks to your generous contributions.
This support has enabled us to assist small businesses impacted by Hurricane Helene including:
We’ve also been able to fund six first aid projects (both mobile and stationary clinics) in some of the hardest-hit areas of Buncombe, Madison, Yancey, and Mitchell Counties. These pop-up clinics and grassroots initiatives are particularly effective in reaching affected communities, as the volunteers are local residents who have already established trust and rapport with those they serve.
As we move forward, we remain committed to providing further assistance where it is most needed in the coming weeks.
We’re continuing to accept monetary donations through our GoFundMe campaign, and herbal medicines and supplies can be sent directly to Kestrel Herb Farm, our current hub for herbal relief efforts.
Please send your herbal donations to:
Kestrel Herb Farm
55 Lanzi Ledge Rd
Leicester, NC 28748
Thank you from the bottom of our hearts for your ongoing support!
We’re deeply grateful for the herbal donations that have poured in from near and far
Your gifts have already begun making a difference in our community’s healing efforts. Each carefully packaged donation—and heartfelt note—carries not only the beautiful medicine inside but also your thoughtfulness and care. Thank you for helping us rebuild. Your kindness is felt every day.
We extend our warmest thanks to everyone who has contributed supplies, including:
- 7Song
- Angi H. of Piney Mountain Herbals
- Anne of Hawk Meadow Farm
- Brandy S. of Oak Spirit Apothecary
- Claire N. of Four Flower Botanical Medicine
- Emily F. of Unabandoned Herbals
- Emily S.
- Gem Daily Essentials
- Healing Spirits Herb Farm
- Herb Pharm
- Jamie J. of Homestead Iron and Missouri Herbs
- Jen L.
- Joy H.
- Katie H. of Goodness Botanicals
- Kim D.
- Leslie, Mila, and Matt G.
- Lilly S.
- Lindsay V.
- Melissa D. of Return to Wellness
- Oshala Farm
- Phyllis H. of Winter Sun Trading Co.
- Sara W. of Dreamtime Gardens
- Sheila H.
- Steffi W. of River Raven Herbs
- Tartan Ribbon Herbals
- The Mother’s Garden
- Verna, Rose, and Bill C.
- Yael B.
We are overwhelmed with gratitude for the love and support of this community.
Together, we can rebuild not only our apothecary but also help our herbal friends and community who are also suffering in the aftermath of this hurricane. Thank you for being part of our journey toward healing and recovery.