Bonnie Lenneman

Bonnie Lenneman (she/they) describes herself as an “herbalist, forager, cook, wildcrafter, and gardener.” Her love for plants began with her mother, Michele Lenneman, and her “Bumpa” (great-grandfather), Frank Bishop.

Bonnie has studied traditional medicine and foodways at the John C. Campbell Folk School in Brasstown, North Carolina; the Lane’s End Homestead in Brasstown; the BotanoLogos School of Herbal Studies in Clayton, Georgia; and the Terra Sylva School of Botanical Medicine in Madison County, North Carolina. “Ultimately, though,” Bonnie says, “the plants have been my greatest teachers. It has been through curious exploration of and deep relationship with the woods, fields, and gardens around me that I have learned to trust my own intuition and senses in developing my skills as an herbalist.”

Bonnie has been an instructor at the John C. Campbell Folk School since 2015, teaching and assisting classes in traditional foods and herbalism. She is also actively involved in the earthskills movement -- through her work with the Firefly Gathering, she helps facilitate the sharing of traditional skills and ancestral knowledge around the region. She shares herbal products and seasonal offerings with her community through her business, Hearth & Hedge.

“Up until very recently in human history,” Bonnie explains, “herbal medicine and traditional foods were the primary method of healing practiced throughout the globe. Herbal medicine ties us to our ancestors… connects us to the land we inhabit, [and] empowers us to take our health into our own hands.”

Bonnie will use her Emerging Traditional Artists Program award to deepen her connection to her local community and compensate those who share their knowledge with her. She also hopes to offer her own workshops at low or no cost, to share her skills in an accessible way. “My hopes for the future are to become a respectful and knowledgeable community herbalist,” Bonnie says. “Ultimately, my dream is to carry on herbal traditions and inspire others through living a life well-lived, in deep relationship with the plants, and in service to my community.”