Medical Ethnobotany
Ethnobotany is the study of the interrelationship between plants and people. We have depended on plants for survival throughout civilisation as a source for food, materials for building shelter and shaping crafts and of course healing teas, salves, inhalants and other preparations for health.
This course offers an opportunity to learn more about this traditional system of healing and the plants that are found useful. It begins with aspects of the botany of the plants and ends with a simple experiment to show how we can assess the value of a plant extract.
No prior background in the study of plants and their medicine is required. A certificate of completion will be provided but this is not a full academic course.
Healing Roots Online Group Discussion
Join us virtually for a screening and discussion of the documentary Healing Roots.
We are asking the question, 'Are we losing our traditional knowledge?'
Healing Roots Forum
Join us virtually for a screening and discussion of the documentary Healing Roots.
We are asking the question, 'How dependent are Barbadians on traditional methods of healing?'
Tour, Tea, Wine and Paint
The Biocultural Education and Research Programme will be hosting an event in the Ethnobotanical Garden at Andromeda Botanic Gardens. Enjoy an afternoon tour of the gardens, relax, sip tea or wine, while expressing your colouring creativity with our book Yabisi Guada. This book was launched one year ago and celebrates our heritage and connection to plants.
1-Day Seminar
Join us for a one-day seminar on the discussion of traditional medicine in Barbados: attitudes, patterns of use and efficacy as a model for health care reform in the management of NCD's.
An evening with Dr. Cassandra Quave
Dr. Quave is an internationally recognized Ethnobotanist who is actively engaged in unlocking the value of plants for bioactive agents. Her recently published book, The Plant Hunter, has received awards and acclaim for the sensitivity and importance of the narratives.
Do not miss registering for this evening on April 14th when we host Dr. Quave at Andromeda Botanic Gardens.
Contact Ms Sharon Cooke, curator at the Andromeda Botanic Gardens to register!
PPFTF Biennial Symposium
The focus of the symposium is 'Unlocking the Potential of Plant Biodiversity for Food Security, Health and Culture. The event is being sponsored by Andromeda Botanic Gardens, Coco Hill Forest, Ocean Spray Apartments, the Foundation for Food and Agriculture and Lydia Nicole Graphic Design. Invited speakers from the Caribbean, USA and Africa will share their research and professional activity within the focus areas. Other activities include a special cocktail event in celebration of The Plant Hunter, Dr. Cassandra Quave, a hike through Coco Hill Forest, tea and wine sampling and tours of Andromeda Botanic Gardens.
Ethnobotany Workshop
Attention Ethnobotany Enthusiasts
We have just the event for you to start your 2023 learning on the right track.
Come and be guided in the use of plants in biocultural traditions with Ms Lian Gittens (Herbalist) and Dr Sonia Peter (Natural Product Chemist).
Contact Ms Sharon Cooke, curator at the Andromeda Botanic Gardens to register and one can be sure to garner a wealth of knowledge during this unique immersion in nature’s beauty!
Plants of Scotland District (KBA)
View highlights from our 2021 Field Study conducted in the Scotland District, a Key Biodiversity Area.
World Environment Day 2022
Join us for June 04, 10 am to 3pm as we celebrate World Environment Day 2022 at Andromeda Botanic Gardens.
Tour the developing Ethnobotanical Garden, enjoy talks on medicinal plants that are active against viruses that cause colds and flu, use plant dyes to colour pages from the colouring book Yabisi Guada and see more of the BERP work programme. The book Seed Under The Leaf will be available and signed by the Director.
The garden is free to locals. Tours of the Ethnobotanical Garden will be conducted every hour. Specialty juices are available at the garden cafe'. Try the turmeric, ginger and lime blend!
Come on up! The Garden is beautiful and contributing to out Plant Biodiversity.
Plant Biodiversity & Traditional Medicine
The Biocultural Education and Research Programme is a grantee of the Global Environment Facility Small Grants Programme, UNDP. We are excited to work with GEF SGP, other grantees Youth Equipped to Achieve (YEA) and Codrington College to present the symposium Plant Biodiversity and Traditional Medicine on April 6th and 7th, 2022. Overall we take a look at the historical context of plant usage on the island of Barbados, the modern relevance and the youth perspective. Please join us and register at the link above.
Plant Medicine Online Forum
The Biocultural Education and Research Programme promotes the conservation of plant biodiversity and traditional knowledge. These sessions will offer a platform to reinforce the value of biocultural traditions.
Annual General Lecture
Our centenarians were born in the early 1900s.
Our ancestors were enslaved during the 1600s to 1800s. How was their survival linked to their plant knowledge and biocultural traditions?
Click the event titles above for more information.