Speakers
at Herb Fest
Meet our panel of speakers.
We will update as they are confirmed.
Fernanda Botelho
Author - Herbalist
Alice Cadina
Natural Food Chef
Sofia Máximo
Trainer
Rita Roquette
Clinical Herbalist | Bloom Sativum
Olivia Fite
Clinical Herbalist | Collective Wonder Herbs School
Maureen Robertson
Clinical Herbalist | The Herbal Path
Daisy Mae
Clinical Herbalist | Cerotonia Gardens
Pamela Sousa
Herbalist | Pharmacia das Ervas
Paulo Alves
Biologist and Researcher | Floradata
Márcia Luz
Aldeia Sabão
Eva Monteiro
Biologist | Associação Tagis
Cândida Ramos
Biologist and Master in Ecology and Environment
Satya Kaur
Teacher | Trainer | Midwife | Entrepreneur | Celebrant
Maria Mota
Biologist and Herbalist | Anima Botanica
Antonella Vignati
Nutritionist, Naturopath & Herbalist
Anne McIntyre
Medical Herbalist & Ayurvedic Practitioner
João Beles
Naturopath and Acupuncturist
Rosa Pinho
Biologist
Curator of the Herbarium
of the University of Aveiro
Planeta Cura
João & Beatriz
Sílvia Martins
Biological Engineer and Trainer
Sentidos da Terra
Miguel Silva
N.A.E.C
Carmen García Donoso
Herbalist | Herbanostra
Fátima Pereira
Cooking Around
Manuel Martins
N.A.E.C
David Fernandes
Quinta do Minhoto - Eco Turismo
Fernanda Botelho
Author - Herbalist
Fernanda Botelho studied medicinal plants at the Scottish School of Herbal Medicine. She lived 17 years in England where she attended the Anthroposophical Society and did training in Botany, Phytotherapy and Pedagogy.
She studied Montessori and Waldorf pedagogy. She took the Botanical Garden Guide course at the University of Lisbon.
She is the author of a children's book collection "Salada de Flores", "Sementes à Solta" and "Hortas Aromáticas.
Since 2010, she has published an annual Medicinal Plants Diary, "Uma Mão Cheia de Plantas que Curam", "As Plantas e a Saúde", "Ervas que se Comem" and "Flores que se Comem".
She is co-author of "My Herbarium of Medicinal Plants" and "Natural Cosmetics".
Organises walks and workshops on recognition of medicinal and edible plants at the invitation of various associations, schools and municipalities.
She is a collaborator of the Eco escolas programme.
She is one of the founders of the group Sintra sem Herbicidas (Sintra without Herbicides).
She has written for Radio Clube de Sintra and is a regular guest on several television programmes, mainly on RTP1. She writes about medicinal plants in websites and magazines.
She has two blogs where she puts her eyes and words, oscillating between the soul of the days and the heart of things. She likes to communicate, travel, garden and photograph. She has several writing and travel projects in hand, feet, head and heart, especially heart.
Sofia Máximo
Coordinator of social and environmental projects
Sofia Máximo is passionate about practical knowledge about conscious eating and the enchantment of using marvellous spontaneous herbs.
It was through her contact with permaculture that she grew to love the importance of a more sustainable lifestyle, a subject she loves to explore and teach in schools and informal settings.
A member of Zero Waste Youth Portugal, she is involved in voluntary activities on various fronts, considering her mission to instil these values of respect for nature and love for authentic, ecological cooking in her children, André and Eva.
I bring influences from Ayurvedic food and herbalism to my unique way of cooking. My dishes bring out the power, colours and flavours of vegetables and the use of plants is carefully considered, taking into account their medicinal properties and respect for the cycles of nature. My mission is to serve health at every meal.
The Hortalice brand was created to put all these skills into practice and take care of people. Sometimes with food, sometimes with natural therapies - which almost always involve food. Today Hortalice is a platform with the mission of spreading health and conscious eating practices around the world. I offer consultancy services to restaurants, spas and hotels looking to implement conscious eating. I run workshops on natural cooking, women's health and herbalism. I also facilitate women's circles. I believe that my profession is also a form of personal development and my passion is to cook on retreats around the world that are aligned with my purposes. Living in Portugal for two years, I've already left my mark in places like: - My Mother's Daughters (Lisbon) - O Frasco, Bio & Local (Lisbon) - Hotel Lilases Boutique House & Garden (Mora, Alentejo) Training: - Social Communication at ESPM (SP/Brazil) - Gastronomy by NOS Escola (RJ/Brazil). - Ayurvedic Nutrition with Laura Pires, Nourishing the Senses course (SP/Brazil) - Natural Gynaecology and Flowers of the Moon by Anna Sazonoff (Curitiba/Brazil)
Rita Roquette
Trainer
Bloom Sativum
Rita Roquette (Porto, 1987, lives and works in Lanheses, Alto Minho) is an herbalist, artist and educator.
Graduated in Communication and Editorial Design, from an early age she made botany her favourite subject and from 2010 to 2018 she studied with various herbalists in the USA, where she took the Professional Herbalist course at the East West School of Planetary Herbology.
In 2011 she started Bloom Sativum and offers direct experiences with wild cuisine, medicinal applications and crafts with spontaneous plants.
She is the author of the Guia Artesanal das Plantas Selvagens (Artisanal Guide to Wild Plants), the Caderno de Receitas Espontâneas (Spontaneous Recipes Booklet) and regularly publishes booklets on herbalism and the plant world.
She organises volunteer work and forestry study visits for Reflorestar Serra de Arga, which she complements with Forest School activities for the younger generation. She also currently manages CRIA - an agro-ecological nursery and offers consultancy on landscaping projects.
Olivia Fite
Clinical Herbalist
Collective Wonder Herb School
Olivia has a Masters in Western Herbalism from the University of Maryland Integrative Health (2009-2012).
Olivia opened her own apothecary (OHerbals) in 2013 and has shared her love of plant medicine with hundreds of people both in the clinic and in the classroom.
Olivia moved to Portugal in 2018 and founded Collective Wonder Herb School in 2021, where she continues to teach to this day.
Olivia currently resides in rural Alvaiázere with her husband and two children.
Maureen Robertson
Clinical Herbalist
The Herbal Path
Before that my academic studies included BSc (Hons) Pharmacology & MSc Plant Chemistry & Pharmacology.
I co-founded the Scottish School of Herbal Medicine in 1992 and was Director of Research until the BSc & MSc courses closed in 2010.
My practice is continually evolving and has been informed by the energetic approach to Herbs (Ayurveda & Humoral Medicine); Goethean Science and more recently Medical Astrology.
My consultations are more like a individual workshop, taking 3-4 hours including Art therapy, full case history, natal chart interpretation, introducing the patient to living plants in the garden appropriate to them, showing them how to harvest their herbs and be involved in their medicine preparation (eg mixing herb tea and infusing their intention).
My clinic is on a rural herb farm with different cultivated areas and areas offering herbs from wild harvesting which help stock my dispensary.
Daisy Mae
Clinical Herbalist
Cerotonia Gardens
Her life has always been about understanding the Wisdom of the natural world and our connection within it.
She qualified as a medical herbalist in 2004 and has been working as a full time clinician and facilitator of learning ever since. She is a gardener, meditator and is passionate about the Plants and the Trees.
Daisy is the founder of Ceratonia Gardens a centre for healing and education in the Algarve.
Daisy offers consultations, herbal workshops & courses, retreats, mentorship and one to one tuition.
João Beles
Naturopath and Acupuncturist
Naturopath, acupuncturist, musician and composer.
He has dedicated 20 years of his life to training naturopaths and teaching people about the health benefits of using medicinal plants.
Over the years he has spread this knowledge in various ways, from publishing books on medicinal plants, appearing on television and radio programmes, sharing on social media, retreats, hikes and festivals.
He spreads his music through musical projects such as Migna Mala, Puracura and on his own.
Márcia Luz
I was born in Lisbon in 1981. Although I lived in an urban environment, I spent summers with my grandparents in Trás-os-Montes.
After studying Advertising and Marketing and working in that field for a few years, I decided to change my life, volunteered and travelled.
In 2011 I met my partner Eric in Moldova, when we were doing the European Voluntary Service. In 2014, we got married and settled in the Monte dos Carvalhos eco-community.
It was there that we started making soap. We created a soap with the natural resources we had (olive oil and plants) and that was as kind as possible to the earth.
In 2019, we moved to Vale de Prazeres and created Aldeia Sabão, using the best of what nature gives us to create quality products and promote a simpler, healthier and waste-free lifestyle.
In 2021, we opened our physical eco-store in Fundão.
Pamela Sousa
Herbalist | Pharmácia das Ervas
Pamela Sousa, (Tondela, 1986; lives and works from Gavião, located in one of the branches of the Serra do Caramulo).
Born in Portugal, she spent most of her adult life abroad, mainly in Iceland where she lived for many years in an eco-village.
While her fascination with spontaneous flora dates back to childhood, much thanks to the plant books in her parents' library, it wasn't until 2013 that she decided to delve into the subject of medicinal herbs academically.
He thus completed courses in Vital Nutrition (Vegan, plant-based) and Iridology at the Irish School of Herbal Medicine, and also trained as a Medical Master Herbalist, Herbalist in Portuguese, at the same institution.
After completing the Herbalism course in 2018, he returned to Portugal and founded the Pharmácia das Ervas project. A project with an ecological, natural and sustainable philosophy, which contributes to the dissemination of herbal medicine.
Pamela also facilitates various activities such as walks to identify wild flora, as well as workshops related to natural health and well-being; and also on natural cosmetics.
She also develops activities for school audiences where the theme of plants, ecology and climate change intersect.
Pamela also develops activities for school audiences where the theme of plants, ecology and climate change intersect.
Rosa Pinho
Bachelor in Biology, Master in Marine and Coastal Sciences, Attending the Doctoral Programme in History of Science and Science Education.
Curator of the Herbarium of the University of Aveiro. Area of specialisation: Botany, taxonomy of vascular plants, ethnobotany.
Curator of the University of Aveiro Herbarium.
Paulo Alves
Biologist and Researcher | Floradata
Scientific director of the company Floradata with an extensive background as a researcher at CIBIO/INBIO.
Graduate in Biology with research work in the fields of biodiversity and conservation, ecosystem services, vegetation and landscape ecology, ecological monitoring and biological invasions.
He has extensive experience in scientific studies, land management and planning projects (he is currently coordinator of the conservation team for various management plans for the ICNF), and environmental impact assessment studies for various types of projects.
He regularly contributes data on the taxonomy and chorology of vascular flora to various international projects, including Flora Ibérica and Flora Europe, and has (co-)authored more than half a hundred published works in the form of scientific articles or book chapters.
He has also worked in the field of biodiversity and ecosystem services.
Sílvia Martins
Biological Engineer and Trainer | Senses of the Earth
Native of Porto, 43 years old, mother of two boys and passionate about the world of medicinal plants and natural products.
Graduated in Biological Engineering from the University of Minho (Braga, Portugal), with a Master's Degree in Food Chemistry from University College Cork (Cork, Ireland) and a PhD in Phytochemistry developed in three institutions: University of Minho (Braga, Portugal), Universidad Autónoma de Coahuila (Saltillo, Mexico), Federal University of Pernambuco (Recife, Brazil).
Co-founder of the brand NaturSense - Cosmética Natural (2014-2021) based in the city of Lençóis (Chapada Diamantina, Bahia, Brazil), @natursense_brasil.
In 2020, she launched the "Practical Guide to Medicinal Plants of the Chapada Diamantina - Volume I" in the city of Lençóis (Bahia, Brazil), where she lived for 10 years.
She returned to Portugal in 2021, and founded the brand Sentidos da Terra, a project based in Vila Verde (Braga).
Trainer in the field of medicinal plants and natural cosmetics since 2017 (in person and online).
Natural Cosmetics (2014-2021).
Maria Mota
Biologist & Herbalist | Anima Botanica
She trained as a midwife in 1994 and shares her knowledge of 40 years of yoga and 9 years as an obstetrician through "The Mother's Journey" training. She has been training Kundalini Yoga instructors since 2001.
Satya allied with the Red Tent movement in 2012 and has been leading circles coinciding with the lunar cycle since then. Her commitment to herbalism and agroforestry systems has manifested and intensified over the last 6 years.
Seasonal, collective and personal rituals have permeated the courses she teaches and events she organizes as a way to transform patterns and elevate perceptions.
Antonella Vignati
Nutritionist, Naturopath
& Phytotherapist
Escola Saúde Integral da Mulher
I have additional specific training in Vegetarian and Vegan Nutrition in pregnancy, breastfeeding and early childhood by the Scientific Society of Vegetarian Nutrition (Italy).
In addition to this, I am a Naturopath and Phytotherapist graduated in 2010 after 4 years of full-time studies, with successive specializations in: Phytotherapy for Women's Health (Certified Women's Herbal Educator) with Dr Aviva Romm. Final work on the use of herbal medicine in fertility.
Herbalism at the Giardino di Pimpinella School (Italy). Western Herbal Medicine according to Traditional Chinese Medicine principles, 3 year Diploma course at Van Nghi Institute, with Dr Jeremy Ross and Dr Tan Bleinroth.
I am an Educator of Natural Family Planning (Sensiplan).
Planeta Cura
Our project consists of a constant exploration of the potential of plants, we try to take advantage of them at all levels.
From this comes our work, and from there we arrive at distillations, natural cosmetics, spices and other herbal preparations.
We work in a regenerative way and bearing in mind the need to respect the plants and the ecosystems in which they are inserted.
We love working with wild plants or plants that we have reproduced ourselves, from which we know the provenance, and we prioritise reproducing plants using seeds and cuttings from wild specimens.
From there we produce part of our raw materials. We see the sharing of knowledge as emancipating and fundamental, which is why we love to teach and talk about what we know and learn from the interactions that arise from it.
Sharing knowledge is fundamental and emancipating.
Cândida Ramos
Biologist and Master in Ecology and Environment
Eva Monteiro
Biologist | Associação Tagis
Miguel Silva
N.A.E.C.
Born in 1981, he trained in the plastic arts, mainly self-taught, where he devoted himself to painting and printmaking for over a decade.
The appeal of the Earth and his deep knowledge of the elements made him look at landscapes as canvases for co-creation, which he has dedicated himself to for the last 15 years.
Loving fruit trees, but also horticulture and forestry systems, he has learnt through empirical knowledge of doing and observing. He has been fortunate enough to travel for years through Central America, the Caribbean and South America, as well as the Iberian Peninsula and Europe, where he has seen and learnt about such diverse systems and approaches to cultivation with the Earth, ranging from Anthroposophy, Agroforestry, Andean ancestral methods, cultivation methods in tropical rainforests, Iberian Agroforestry, etc...
Co-creator of N.A.E.C. works with Manuel Martins on the project to implement Resilient Orchards, Native Root, and Experimental Orchards, and is currently a permanent consultant in Horticulture and Fruit Growing at the biodynamic company Aphros Wine.
He has been collaborating since 2011 with the Ass. Colher para Semear (Harvesting for Sowing), as well as with the Prados de Luya Association in Valladolid on the themes of fruit growing and horticulture.
He is co-founder of the Rural Vivo Association (ruralvivo.org), where he currently participates as a social mediator and co-producer of Community Artist Residency programmes.
Annie McIntyre
Clinical Herbalist
I've always been passionate about all things herbal! I have been practising as a herbal specialist for over 40 years and also have training in massage, aromatherapy, homeopathy, counselling and Ayurvedic medicine.
I run a busy practice from Artemis House in the Cotswolds, integrating Western herbalism and Ayurveda into my patient care and herbal prescribing. I have lectured widely on herbalism and Ayurveda in the UK, Europe and America, run courses at Artemis House and run guided herb walks through my spiral garden, which represents a journey through a woman's life expressed through herbs.
I have written several books on herbal medicine and Ayurveda, including Healing with Flowers, The Complete Woman's Herbal, Healing Drinks, Herbal Medicine for Children: Western and Ayurvedic Perspectives, The Complete Herbal Tutor, The Ayurveda Bible and Dispensing with Tradition: A Guide to using Indian and Western Herbs the Ayurvedic Way.
I am a member of the National Institute of Medical Herbalists, a member of the College of Practitioners of Phytotherapy and a member of the Ayurvedic Professionals Association.
Carmen García Donoso
Herbalist | Herbanostra
Como arquiteta de formação, encontrei inesperadamente a minha verdadeira vocação no mundo das plantas em 2013, na "Heilpflanzenschule" Alcimia, em Berlim, onde embarquei na minha viagem ao Herbalismo.
Esta paixão recém-descoberta tornou-se uma força cativante, levando-me a explorar ainda mais o reino da alquimia das plantas sob a orientação de José Medeiros em Mafra, Portugal, a aprofundar a Botânica para a Humanidade na Universidade da Extremadura, em Espanha, e a avançar com os meus estudos em Herbalismo na Herbal Academy com sede em Bedford, EUA, onde estou atualmente a completar os meus estudos avançados de herbalismo.
Desde 2018, tenho-me dedicado de todo o coração ao Herbalismo educacional, conduzindo workshops, cursos e visitas guiadas de ervas para a identificação de ervas selvagens medicinais e comestíveis para pessoas de todas as idades na comunidade da Extremadura em Espanha.
O meu amor pelo entrelaçamento de diversas culturas é evidente na minha formação. Embora espanhola de nascimento, vivi na Alemanha e em Portugal, onde desenvolvi um profundo apreço pelas suas culturas herbáceas distintas.
Nos meus esforços educativos, misturo perfeitamente o conhecimento tradicional das plantas com as mais recentes publicações científicas, apreciando o privilégio de recolher a sabedoria herbal ancestral dos meus queridos participantes.
Contribuí com a minha experiência para instituições como a Universidade Popular de Badajoz, escolas e autoridades municipais da Extremadura.
Desde 2020, dirijo a plataforma online www.herbanostra.net, com o objetivo de divulgar o conhecimento das plantas além-fronteiras e de estabelecer ligações com entusiastas de todo o mundo.
Fátima Pereira
Cooking Around Project
Founder of the Cooking Around project, whose mission is to provide tools for a more conscious, inclusive and ecological diet;
Passionate about the fascinating world of wild herbs, she has been bringing them more and more into her kitchen so that more people know and respect the herbs that surround us.
Love for the fascinating world of wild herbs.
Manuel Martins
Nascido numa aldeia da Serra do Gerês em 1961, teve a fortuna de aprender a ler à luz da vela, subir a vezeira ao monte como pastor e poder contemplar as noites e os dias das diferentes estações em contacto directo com a Poesia da natureza.
Trabalhou ao longo da vida em diferentes ofícios, tendo nas Artes Aplicadas passado grande parte do tempo, entre a pintura, a carpintaria e a decoração.
Sendo um auto-didacta por natureza, há mais de 20 anos que o interesse pela fruticultura tem-lhe guiado para um conhecimento profundo na matéria, aprendendo por múltiplas experiências e sobretudo com o contacto directo com especialistas de todo o mundo com quem comparte conhecimento.
Actualmente têm um Pomar de Experimentação e de Reserva Genética que conta com uma coleção de Macieiras de mais de 200 variedades a par de outra centena de fruteiras de outras espécies, onde faz um contínuo trabalho de investigação em variedades frutícolas, com o objectivo de obter Variedades Resistentes a doenças para um tipo de Fruticultura Resiliente – Isenta de qualquer tipo de tratamento.
Desenvolve também um trabalho com plantas sub-tropicais adaptadas a climas frios: (quintadossentidos.wordpress.com).
Co-criador do Núcleo de Agroecologia do Campo do Gerês(N.A.E.C.) em 2011, têm feito desde então uma prospeção importante de variedades frutícolas da Região na salvaguarda de um património genético. Há uma década que oferece cursos de poda e enxertia de forma altruísta a propósito de Jornadas e pequenos Cursos que o N.A.E.C. promove. Trabalha na implementação de Pomares Resilientes no projecto Raiz Nativa e é consultor em fruticultura na empresa biodinâmica Aphros Wine.
Carmen García Donoso
Herbalist | Herbanostra
David Fernandes
Quinta do Minhoto - Eco Turismo
Nascido em FRANÇA, 1 de junho 1974, filho de Pais emigrantes, está em Portugal desde 1985.
Licenciado em Turismo, é Guardião da Quinta do Minhoto
e Presidente de Junta no 3° Mandato
Áreas de interesse:
Agricultura Biológica e Biodinamica
Ecologia
Bioconstrução
Xamanismo
Cultura Celta
É Buscador de Visão , Dançante do Sol e Temazcaleiro.
Manuel Martins
Tickets coming soon
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Herb Fest Portugal is organised by Satya Kaur &
KARAM KRIYA SCHOOL.
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