Biography

Community Herbalist Sarah Sorci is the owner of Sweet Flag Herbal CSA. She is a 2014 graduate of the Holistic Herbalism program at the Blue Ridge School of Herbal Medicine (BRSHM). For Sarah, herbalism is the perfect combination of natural gardening and permaculture, forest ecology, counseling skills, anatomy/physiology, nutrition, world culture and history, botany and chemistry, art, writing, and connecting with nature. In addition to the CSA, she offers educational workshops and personal consultations. Sarah graduated from Denison University in 2007 with a Bachelors in Environmental Studies/Sustainable Development. Since then, she has worked to connect people with plants, nature, and food. Sarah spent 3 seasons apprenticing and working for organic vegetable and herb farms. She is also a former coordinator of the Chautauqua County Rural Ministry (CCRM) Gleaning Project. There, Sarah planned garden-based education for all ages, working with the Dunkirk City School District, Erie 2 BOCES, the Fredonia and Jamestown farmers markets, Job Corps, and more. She worked with local farmers to distribute excess produce to local food pantries, and supported community and school garden efforts. Sarah developed and coordinated CCRM's Cooking and Nutrition Program, which was awarded the NYS Hunger Prevention and Nutrition Assistance Program Best Practice Award in 2013. Sarah moved to North Carolina in 2013 to complete a Horticultural therapy program alongside the BRSHM program. While completing her studies, she worked as a horticultural therapist at St. Gerard House, implementing a pre-vocational vegetable and herb garden program for individuals with autism. Sarah is excited to be back home in western New York. She is the proud Executive Board president and volunteer at Greystone Nature Preserve in Fredonia, NY, where she is developing a Native Medicinal Plant trail. Sarah offers medicinal and edible plant events several times a year at Greystone. Sarah has always felt most alive and herself when immersed in nature. She is passionate about knowing the ecosystem in her home region, and sharing this learning pursuit with others. She is grateful to combine her love of plants, people, and community in her work with Sweet Flag Herbs. Find her at www.sweetflagherbs.com and on Facebook at www.facebook.com/sweetflagherbs/