Rural Europe on the move English_E_version_all | Page 80
CHAPTER 6
Knowledge - rural,
popular, scientific -
what counts?
knowing out of obscurity and into the to large pharmaceutical companies
attention of the public. Not only was or the state, it is not something that
this a way to preserve this knowledge, only those with more money can have
it also proved to be evidence to access to. No, it allows people to act
the women themselves that their autonomously; communities can care
was a resounding success and I left knowledge was culturally valuable. for themselves. This does not need to
with real energy to follow this path of We won the audience award at operate outside of health insurance
herbs further. I began to identify the Mediawave International Film Festival but can work alongside it. Others who
key people in my region who still hold in 2014. People were interested. came along were young mothers,
The first European Herb Gathering
traditional knowledge of medicinal keen to ensure the health of their
and aromatic plants. These are usually children, and rural women interested
elderly women who we found did not
even really consider themselves as
knowledge-holders. Their knowledge
was experientially gained, handed
Traditional
knowledge
I began to host herb workshops
in starting small herbal businesses to
increase the family income.
We began to see how herbs are
related to bottom-up sustainable rural
down from generation to generation. to hand this herbal knowledge development: harnessing traditional
This cycle has been disrupted; the onto others. We tried in particular herbal knowledge can increase
traditional ways no longer believed. to attract and support low-income the health and wellbeing of often
With the passing away of these families who cannot afford health disenfranchised rural communities
women, we feared we would also lose insurance. Sharing this knowledge as well as supplementing the income
the knowledge they hold. about collecting and using medicinal of individual households. Knowledge
plants would help reconnect them is stable, it cannot be taken away,
‘Traditional Herb Therapy in Odorhei with nature and be active in their despite political changes. It does
I made a film with a friend called
Region’ to try and hold on to this. own healthcare provision. This is the not need top-down funding or
We wanted to bring this rural, folk, important thing: traditional knowledge permissions. It allows people to look
supposedly non-scientific way of is free. It does not require payment after themselves and each other.
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