Thanks to our amazing community of members!
2025 was a rollercoaster of a year, with uncertainty looming, grants being frozen, and the non-profit world thrown into a complete free fall. Thanks to our strong community, we were able to navigate the situation and carry on with the work of our mission.
Membership & Community Engagement
Our membership remains strong, with 4,573 members. Join us!
United Plant Savers held the International Herb Symposium in Cincinnati Ohio for 600 participants. We provided over $54,000 in scholarships to participants.
Our annual roots and seed sale this fall resulted in over 672 orders, sending out over 1,500 goldenseal roots and 50 pounds of ginseng seeds to be planted.
We grew our Botanical Sanctuary Network by 24 new sanctuaries, with 345 sanctuaries across the county.
And even more to celebrate…
Symposiums, Workshops & Educational Events
United Plant Savers successfully hosted the International Herb Symposium in Cincinnati, Ohio, bringing together 600 plant lovers. We were proud to offer over $54,000 in scholarships to those who applied, ensuring broader access and participation. The theme of this year’s conference celebrated the Eclectics, further enriching the experience for all attendees.
We were also proud to host the Southern Ohio Forest Farming Weekend, providing hands-on learning opportunities. We also made valuable resources more accessible to the public, as our expanded research and library collection is now fully searchable online.
Hosting the 17th International Herb Symposium in Cincinnati
Representing plant conservation on a global level at the IUCN Conservation Congress
Hosting the Southern Ohio Forest Farming Conference
Traveling to the COP gathering in the Amazon on the Boat of Hope alongside indigenous leaders
We organized a free online presentation, Frankincense Unveiled: From Ancient Times to Modern Global Markets
We have expanded our herbal research library collection that is searchable online
Publications and Media
This year, we produced another outstanding edition of our Journal, sharing knowledge and updates with our community. Additionally, United Plant Savers was featured in an article in Edible Ohio, broadening our outreach and visibility.
There were many beloved articles in the 2025 edition of the Journal, and several stand out for their impact and insight, reflecting the depth and breadth of our community’s work and passion.
The Mansa Man: Preserving Yerba Mansa’s Legacy by Lauren Ann Nichols-Sheffler
When plants reach out to us, their messages can be as fleeting as a quick dream or as loud as a wake-up call when we are sick or injured, guiding our … Continue reading
Beyond Beauty — Lei for Healing by Keya Kai Guimarães
When plants reach out to us, their messages can be as fleeting as a quick dream or as loud as a wake-up call when we are sick or injured, guiding our … Continue reading
A Plant Lover With a Mission:Interview With Blanche Cybele Derby by Kirby Grimley
I wished I had a grandmother or mother familiar with plants, but they weren’t, which is why I was excited to read Euell Gibbons’ book … Continue reading
Research and Grant-Funded Projects
On-Farm Cultivation of Goldenseal
This year marked the successful completion of our two-year Ohio Specialty Crop Block Grant with Rural Action, focusing on “On-Farm Cultivation of Goldenseal.” We convened four goldenseal cultivation workshops at the United Plant Savers sanctuary (attended by 79 participants) and conducted a variety of cultivation, seed stratification, and root propagation experiments. These efforts yielded valuable insights, particularly in the effectiveness of raised bed cultivation and maintaining high levels of organic matter for optimal growth and yield.
Appalachian RESILIENCY Project
We also concluded our three-year ARC POWER project with regional partners, the “Appalachian RESILIENCY Project.” Our focus was on expanding access to herb processing and drying infrastructure for beginning producers in Meigs County. Through this initiative, we hosted two introductory Value-Added Products Workshops: “Goldenseal Post-Harvest Handling: Basic Washing, Drying, and Processing Considerations” and “Making Value-Added Medicinal Mushroom Products.” New equipment, including a commercial dehydrator, drum mixer/root washer, stainless mixing bowls, and stack and nest tubs, and the additional funding supported the development of a secondary space for herb processing, seed storage, and related activities at our “Herb Hub.”
