Members of the Transylvanian Medicinal Plant Garden Association visited the garden of Dr. Cseke-Árkosi Katalin in Odorheiu Secuiesc, where they discovered an impressive collection of over 300 medicinal plant species and gained insight into the host’s experience and philosophy in herbal medicine and ecological education.
With the support of the Bethlen Gábor Foundation, our association successfully implemented a series of professional programs, including a medicinal plant field excursion and a two-day study visit, strengthening practical skills and professional knowledge in the field of medicinal plants.
On 21st October, Saturday, at 10 am, we held a workshop on medicinal plants for teachers in Odorheiu Secuiesc, at the headquarters of the Civitas Foundation.
On Friday morning, 13th October, the closing conference of the project was held in the Panorama Pension, together an exhibition of the communities own herbal products.
The volunteers team of the Transylvanian Herb Garden was present at the Fruit Festival of Odorhei Region (22-24th September) with a large variety of programs.
On 15th September we held an Open Day in Locodeni. The program included a workshop on the strategy of the Competence Center of Locodeni and right after that, a visit to the processing department, lecture room and show garden with the guidance of Csaba Jére.
More than 40 children and young people participated in the workshop about medicinal plants held at the Competence Center in Locodeni, organized on 10-11th August.
In 4 to 5 August, took place the open days event for the Competence Center located in Sic, Cluj County.
The members of the herb garden’s volunteers group prepared a nice spiral made of herbs and planted it.
The volunteers of the Transylvanian Herb Garden from Cluj and Odorhei regions travelled to Iernuțeni (Reghin), where they visited the farm of Csaba Szakács, forestry engineer.
On 7th July a plant collecting trip combined with knowledge exchange was organized in Inlăceni.
The members of the herb garden’s volunteers group prepared a nice spiral made of herbs and planted it.
A group of children and adults visited the Competence Center, where they could visit the herbal show garden and prepare spicy salt.
The Transylvanian Herb Garden participated at the City Days of Odorheiu Secuiesc (26-28 May) with a large variety of programs.
13-14 May was the date of the first Góbé Festival in Manchester.
The Transylvanian Herb Garden project, which originally was scheduled to end on 30th of April was extended till 31st October.
On 28th of April 2017, a part of the Cluj team worked very enthusiastic on the setting up of an experimental show garden for medicinal plants and herbs.
The plants collected together were stored at the drying place and after their primary processing they will be used as basic ingredient for different herbal teas.
Beside the representation of the member’s interests an important objective is to promote the processing of medicinal and aromatic plants in order to develop a sustainable agriculture. In the elaboration of the association’s program and its activities it is always an important aspect the integration of the disadvantaged people.
As a result of the meeting the main guidelines of the cooperation were set, a draft of the strategy was drawn up, which will be finalized by the project’s team.
The shortmovie presents the most important moments of the project considering the trainings and the knowledge transfer, it shows the beauty of the nature of this region and it reproduces the atmosphere of the main events, such as: the Barock Festival of Bonchida, the Open Day in Locodeni, the Fruit Festival of Odorhei Region and it introduces the people involved in the project.
The participants discussed and summarized the experiences gained last year and made plans about continuing the trainings and worked on the elaboration of the strategy of the Competence Center in Locodeni, within the frames of a workshop. Amongst the future plans was the founding of the Transylvanian Herb Garden Association.
It is used to heal bruises, sprains, bumps, to reduce bone, muscle, joint and rheumatic pains and inflammations accelerating the process of healing.
Onion is one of the most popular vegetables, being not only a food but also an important herb, which contains a large amount of vitamins and valuable minerals (calcium, phosphorus, potassium, sodium, magnesium, iron, zinc, copper, vitamins B and C). Due to its sulphur content, which gives its typical, pungent taste and smell, it has bactericidal effects, which are very important when our body is fighting against infections.
For our traditional Christmas dishes and drinks or even for the festive decorations, we often use spices which, besides their appearance and flavour, help us prevent or treat various diseases.
The penultimate training for volunteers within the frame of the project took place on the 22nd of October 2016. Due to the bad weather conditions it was held at the headquarters of Civitas Foundation. The trainer, Mr. Ferenc Lehel horticultural engineer presented very varied topics to his audience. In the first part of the training the participants got known medicinal and aromatic plants to be cultivated in an herb garden or even on larger fields and earned useful knowledge about their cultivation technologies.
On the 7th of October 2016, 8th grade pupils of the school of Lupeni visited the training center in Locodeni. They started to learn about medicinal and aromatic plants already at the herb stand of Fruit Festival. The next step was their visit to Locodeni.
At our booth we offered fresh and dried medicinal plant bouquets and tea mixtures, herb salts in a wide variety, herb oils and vinegars, as well as cosmetics based on medicinal plants and scented pillows. The Transylvanian Herb Garden could easily gain the title: the most aromatic booth of the festival.
On the 9th of September 2016 there was an open day in the training center of Locodeni. The varied programs and the nice weather attracted a large number of visitors. The participants of the medicinal plant training organized within the frame of the project played an important role in the preparation and realization of the program.
The trainers, Dr. Vârban Dan, professor of the University of Agricultural and Veterinary Sciences, as well as Mr. Florian Simion, general manager of S.N. Plafar S.A. București congratulated the participants at the end of the 5-month-long training.
It can be found along the pathways, in meadows and pastures, but it is also often cultivated. Depending on the weather conditions, it starts flowering at the beginning of May and it lasts until the middle of the summer. Its curative effect and volatile oil content is outstanding among other medicinal plants.
On the 5-9th of July 2016 the representatives of participants in the project Transylvanian Herb Garden made a trip to Switzerland. During the field trip organized by the Swiss Biodynamical Association, rich in programs carried out in a punctual and practical way, the group of 6 representatives visited several institutions, companies, and farms and participated at different activities where they gathered lots of everlasting experiences.
On the 28th of June, Mr. Raphael Stucki and Mr. Jean Michel Florin started their visit in Cluj County with meeting the participants of the training, and then together they visited the lavender garden of Simona Persecan.
The training held by Swiss trainers for representatives of local communities participating in the project took place in Locodeni on the 26-27th of June. The two trainers are experts with considerable experience and knowledge.
On the 25th of June two trainers participating in the project, Raphael Stucki and Jean-Michel Florin, have visited some spots and events in the neighborhood of Odorheiu Secuiesc in order to get known the natural characteristics of the neighborhood, the local groups participating in the project, as well as medicinal plant related initiatives.
Pupils in the 5th grade (5A) of Tamási Áron Primary School, led by Barabás Hanga form master, are regularly visiting the Transylvanian Herb Garden. In May they won an insight into the project during the School Otherwise Program.
On the 11-12th of June 2016, the team from Cluj formed during the training called „Social integration of disadvanteged people in rural areas through sustainable collection and processing of medicinal and aromatic plants” attended the Baroque Festivities organized in Bonţida.
The refreshing drink made of elderflower is very tasty in the hot summer. Due to its beneficial effects it is very popular: it can be used effectively in case of tiredness, nerves, disorders of the digestive system, respiratory tract infections.
The active substances in spruce sprouts have expectorant effects, it is used for making cough syrup that works as a natural expectorant, tempers cough and sore throat, soothes the respiratory tracts. It contains acid ascorbic, pine-needle resin, tannins, minerals, B2- and K-vitamins, carotinoides and volatile oil.
On the 21st of May, the local participants of the training organized in Odorhei, had the opportunity to apply their theoretical knowledge in practice, under the guidance of engineer Lehel Ferencz, in the herb garden of Locodeni.
The students learned first-hand information about the specific drying and processing of herbs, the plants used in the cosmetic industry, the possible confusions and the natural and artificial conditioning possibilities of plants.
In March began the knowledge handover on medical plants, their cultivation and processing among volunteer groups.
Within the frame of „School Otherwise” Week 2016, pupils of several schools from Odorheiu Secuiesc have visited Locodeni.
Also known as ramsons, the bear’s garlic is one of the first messengers of spring. According to the legend, after winter sleep bear clean their organism by eating bear’s garlic.
The second part of the training organized for people selected by volunteers of the project called „Transylvanian Herb Garden – Social integration of disadvantaged people in rural areas through sustainable collection and processing of medicinal and aromatic plants” took part in March 2016.
The birch sap is the juice won from tapping the birch tree. It is also called birch water and can be collected in the first three weeks of spring.
The training in county Cluj has started on the 11th of March 2016 at the headquarter of Civitas Foundation from Cluj Napoca, under the direction of Dr. Vârban Dan.
At the end of the winter the weaken organism might need the strengthening of its immune system.
Picking and processing medicinal plants can become a source of income or even a small enterprise for the inhabitants of Cluj County.
Mujna is one of the villages who participates at Fruits Festival not only with their marmelades and syrups
On the 7th of October we met the enthusiast herb gatherer population of Sâncrai, Dealu and Ulcani.
In Lăzăreşti we met the members of the active herb collector group, as well as their leader,
At the meeting in Inlăceni people from Păuleni have also participated, so we had a huge group
We met the women of Cecheşti in a wonderful lavender garden in the church yard, supping a delicious peppermint refreshment drink.
People in Chinuşu also make use of natural medicine, preparing tea or syrup, as well as other products of medicinal plants.
In Mugeni we met the herb collectors and users, as well as those who wish to become one of them.
In Fântâna Brazilor we met in a wonderful natural environment, where the participants shared their knowledge with each other.
The project and its aims have been presented at a meeting with local people from Crăciunel.
