Joe Allawos , MS, Botany, Organic Gardening	Joe Allawos has spent the better part of his adult life studying plants.  He holds a Master of Science Degree in botany with a focus in Plant Systematics and is a full time Instructor of Biology at Asheville Buncombe College.  In addition, he is owner and operator of Sugar Creek Farm, an organic vegetable farm in Big Sandy Mush, North Carolina.  His pursuits in agriculture and botany have taken him from the high andes of Bolivia, Ecuador, and Argentina, to the Amazon basin of Northern Brazil, to the deserts of Northern Africa.
Denise Anthes, RN	Denise has been a registered nurse for 30 years. She has held positions in nursing education, as well as nursing staff and administrative roles. Currently, she is an independent educator, teaching courses on intuition development, energy medicine, physical and energetic anatomy & physiology, and animal communications. Her belief and knowledge of the universal connection among all beings is the foundation of her practice and teachings. She is also a Certified Healing Touch Practitioner, offering healing energy sessions for humans and animals. Denise received her Bachelor of Science in Nursing Degree from Trenton State College. She was awarded a MBA Degree from Webster University.
Frank Cook, BS, Herbalist	Though Frank Cook feels his roots in Appalachia, his botanical quest to meet the 5000 genera of plants in the world have led him to places as far as Africa and Peru, meeting healers and visiting sacred places. In Spring 2001 he walked from the Pamlico Sound across NC to Max Patch, observing nature and foraging edibles as he went. He considers plants his friends and gains connection with them through wildcrafting food and medicine as well as interacting with them as allies. In 1995 he became trained as an herbalist at the Northeast School of Botanical Medicine in Ithaca, NY, building on the foundation of a BS from Duke University '85.
Omar Cruz, Botanical Researcher, Author, Herbalist	Omar Cruz is a Botanical Researcher, Author, and Herbalist with Gaia Herbs in Brevard, North Carolina.  He combines a cultural background of southwestern curanderismo with his knowledge of drug design and pharmacognosy to bridge traditional herbalism with western medicine.  He is co-author of the textbook, “A Botanical Protocol Manual for Health Care Practitioners” and more recently, “Traditional Medicines from the Earth [2nd Edition]”.  He has been an invited lecturer and teacher at medical universities and teaching hospitals throughout the country as well as symposia both here and abroad.  He operates a no/low cost practice for those without adequate insurance or income in Brevard, North Carolina.
Ceara Foley, Holistic Herbalist, Certified Beekeeper	Powerfully attuned to nature at an early age, Ceara Foley’s passion has always been connecting to the cycles of life.  Her work with at-risk, inner-city children in PA, VA and CA sparked her love of healing through teaching. Ceara has led women’s spirituality circles since 1994, empowering women to reconnect with their inner and outer environments.  In Oregon she worked with Medicine Flower creating aromatherapy products for mind, body, and spirit. Ceara serves on the NC Natural Products Association board, is a certified herbalist and beekeeper, steward of Soulflower Botanical Sanctuary, Co-founder of NC Plant Savers and NC American Herbalist’s Guild, and ASHH director.
Sandi Ford, Holistic, Clinical Herbalist	Sandi Ford has been working with plants for beauty, food, and medicine for over fourteen years. She has studied at The Blue Ridge School of Herbal Medicine, The California School of Herbal Studies, and The Australasian College of Herbal Studies. President of the NC Chapter of the American Herbalist Guild, she maintains a clinical practice, teaches at various herb schools and is also a doula. An avid gardener, Sandi designs and promotes edible, medicinal, and native landscapes. She teaches that it is our daily relationship with the plants as food, medicine, and friends that is truly healing. She is currently pursuing a degree in nutrition.
Lisa Ganora, Phytochemisty, Traditional Herbalist	Lisa Ganora is a traditional herbalist of 18 years' experience and a specialist in the constituents of medicinal plants. She graduated Summa cum laude with Distinction as a University Scholar and with Distinction in Biology from the University of North Carolina and has won many awards in biology and organic chemistry. She has a website on phytochemistry (www.herbalchem.net), and a lifelong love for the healing herbs.Lisa's classes and workshops integrate science, art, and spirit to help us understand herbal medicine on the molecular level. Lisa is currently also on the faculty at the Southwest College of Naturopathic Medicine.
Jessica Godino, Licensed Acupuncturist	Jessica Godino has been connecting people with plants for over a decade. After training with wise woman herbalist Susun Weed she co-founded Red Moon Herbs. She believes that using medicines that come directly from the earth is the best way for us to remember our birthright as healers. Jessica is also a licensed acupuncturist working in Asheville, NC. She aspires to bridge two worlds, and bring the perspective and wisdom of eastern herbalism to deepen our understanding of western herbs.
Toyia Hatten, Community Herbalist, Office Goddess	Toyia Hatten fell in love with the ways we can work with and be spiritually connected with plants at a young age. Taking cues from her Father and Grandmother, she has incorporated this passion for plants into her everyday life, beginning her formal studies into the art of Herbalism in 2003 at ASHH. Feeling drawn onto her true path in life, she attended the Fundamental, Traditional & Clinical programs. Toyia currently focuses her herbal practice around increasing vitality and joy for life through stress reduction. She loves teaching herbal classes, and in her spare time keeps things in the ASHH administrative offices running smoothly.
Alan Muskat, Mythic Mycologist	Asheville's epicure of the obscure has persuaded thousands to sample rather than trample wild mushrooms. Drawing from his training with the world's leading mycologists and a Princeton degree in Deep Ecology, this "stand-up mycomedian" has enchanted audiences for nearly a decade. Ask anyone who knows the Mushroom Man: when it comes to bringing out the fun in fungi, he's the champignion.
Joie Power, Ph.D	Dr. Power is a retired, board certified neuropsychologist. She has nearly twenty years of clinical experience in both in- and out-patient settings and has undertaken extensive studies in aromatherapy and other alternative healing practices. She is well known as a speaker and teacher in the field of aromatherapy, essential oils, and alternative healing. Dr. Power has presented many scientific papers at national conferences and her articles on Aromatherapy have appeared in World Health News. She currently practices as a Wellness Consultant and Aromatherapy Educator and conducts group retreats and individual sessions in dreamwork, creative realization & earth-centered spiritual quests.
Camilo Sanchez, Doctor of Oriental Medicine, Master Acupuncturist	Camilo has been immersed in the healing arts for over twenty years. He began with yoga therapy and Ayurveda at Satyanada Ashram, India in ’82. In 1989 Camilo received his diploma in Oriental Medicine at the South East Institute of Oriental Medicine in Miami, Fla. where he also served as a faculty member for eight years. He has taught innovative courses in oriental & holistic medicine in Asia, Europe, North and South America. He now owns and operates the Yoga Training Institute in Charlotte, NC. There he offers individualized healing programs, yoga teachers training courses and classes in Universal Qi Gong and Chen style Tai Chi. His primary loves are nature and movement.
Whapio, Midwife, Director House of La Matrona	Whapio has attended women in birth for 20 years, and has educated women in the Arts of Midwifery and Healing for the past 13 years. She speaks and writes frequently about Sacred Midwifery and returning birth to the family, and has created Compassionate Birthing, a prenatal education series offering the rites of passage to parents wanting a transformative childbirth preparation experience. Whapio is the founder and Director of The House of La Matrona Holistic Midwifery Program.
Corinna Wood, Director, Red Moon Herbs	Corinna Wood is the director of Red Moon Herbs; making herbal medicines from fresh, local plants, with a focus on women's health, for over ten years. A gifted teacher and powerful visionary, Corinna has opened the hearts of thousands to the wisdom of the plants and their own bodies. Corinna's background includes an extensive apprenticeship with Susun Weed in 1993 as well as a B.S. in Biology. Corinna is certified as an herbalist, a fertility awareness teacher, and also in permaculture design. She lives at Earthaven Ecovillage, an intentional community in Black Mountain, NC. (RedMoonHerbs.com)