About The West Virginia Herb Association
Our mission
Our Mission Statement: West Virginia Herb Association is a 501(c)3 registered non-profit, educational organization whose mission is to promote the ethical and environmentally sound propagation, cultivation, harvest and use of herbs in West Virginia. The WVHA provides a forum for those interested in herbs by creating opportunities for members to get to know one another, to network, share knowledge and experience, and build community. We are a diverse network of people with a wide range of knowledge across many regional states. Our primary focus areas are: herb cultivation, medicinal herbs, culinary herbs and herbal crafts
Today we are working to live up to our founders mission while staying close to the beauty of the earth and adjusting to the digital nature of communication. Until just the last few years the association primarily worked by telephone and mail, only recently adopting email and social media. To this day we believe in the human connection to each other and the communities in which we live. Many of our members still live off-grid or in areas where cell reception is inaccessible. (the below links do not work yet, but will soon)
Meet Board of Directors
Eugene Breza
President
Born May 7th, 1950
Inner city of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
Did well in school. Became the Senior Patrol Leader in the Boy Scouts as a teenager and became an Eagle Scout.
Engineering scholarship Penn State University⊠switched majors to botany. First class in botany with the head of the department. He was drier than all the specimens of twigs and branches sitting on the shelves for 50 years. Dropped out of college determined to learn more from nature herself.
In 1974 moved to Gilmer County West Virginia on 176 acres. Had a son, named Sun. Bought a pair of horses on 24th birthday. Built an original passive solar 6-sided log house with a forty-foot span self-supporting roof. First in area to install solar panels, 1986.
He lost two years of life⊠1980 - 81 from dioxin poisoning: Aka Agent Orange.
The first week of November of 1978 picked and ate some pears from a tree in Calhoun County. A year later broke out with chloracne where a quarter sized hole below the left side of the rib cage opened right through to the muscle underneath. Skin began to itch severely all over the body... had to scratch every fifteen minutes. Could not go out in public. Had no idea what it was. Saw a doctor who had no idea. No doctors to diagnose it in the public sphere.
The couple with whom he was moving lumber from a house where the pears were picked⊠finally gave him a clue,,, that pear tree was sprayed by the electric company... killing it. Obtained a formula from the Edgar Cayce Foundation out of Virginia Beach after deducing it was a liver problem. It was composed of eight herbs, a few of which were remembered... elderberry flowers, quinine, sarsaparilla and juniper berries mixed in a gallon with a pint of alcohol. The formula worked... all symptoms including patches of oozing skin five inches long and 3 inches wide ended!
In 1987 became vice president of the West Virginia Native American Coalition.
Went back to college 1995. Editor of the Glenville State College newspaper the Mercury and the Kanawhachen yearbook in 1997. First time the Kanawhachen was produced entirely on computer. Graduated with one of the very few multidisciplinary degrees in natural science and journalism.
1998 founding member of the Gilmer Arts and Heritage CouncilâŠwas secretary.
Became president of the Central Appalachian Arts and Crafts Cooperative in 2009. Opened store in Sutton WV in 2010... Ran it for two years.
Became certified in the One Year Part Time Practical Training in Biodynamics in 2012. Capping the lifelong interest in working with the land and growing gardens, harvesting herbs, foraging wild plants and mushrooms. learning to optimally preserve this abundance and to prepare nourishing and delectable dishes that being a back to the land homesteader entails. Has found more than one secret of nature and gleaned much from publications and knowledgeable people about the natural world which he has shared when the opportunity arises!
Has two small businesses, Tanner Leather Work which started in 1988 where he makes all manner of leather items and Deep Gourd Supply started in 2012, where he makes many products out of the gourds, herbs and vegetables he grows and forages..
Discovered how to make and use colloidal silver in 2015 when a young Great Pyrenees dog's injury would not heal.
Elected president of the West Virginia Herb Association at the 2024 fall conference.
Today... living relatively content on the hill where he first settled in WV with a horse and five cats, looking out over the world.
Deaonna Crowe
Vice President
Deaonna Crowe has lived in Ohio, West Virginia,
and Missouri, and currently resides in Stonewood,
with property in Upshur County. She is
passionate about the outdoors, including hunting,
fishing, and exploring medicinal plants.
Deaonna specializes in teaching the use of wild plants in
everyday cooking and herbal medicine.
Deaonna is an accomplished cook, participating in
and judging wild food cooking events in North
Carolina and West Virginia.
Deaonna has authored
two cookbooks and was inducted into the National
Wild Food organization. With over 20 years of
experience in wild food cooking, Deaonna has been
immersed in this lifestyle from an early age.
Deaonna has also taught free cooking classes in
Harrison County, including sessions for individuals
with special needs, and is dedicated to helping
others achieve their goals.
Theresa Gain
Treasurer
Theresa Gain
Treasurer
RN MSN
Registered Nurse for 50 years âą 44 years of VA Service âą Former School of Nursing Faculty
Wife, mother - career reflecting more than five decades of service and compassion, as a proud âold-schoolâ nurse. Theresa spent 41 years working in nearly every critical care specialty across area hospitals, as well as 3 years in residential rehabilitation settings.
Bette Angle
Secretary
She is a retired U.S. Army JAG Corps officer who worked extensively on consumer law issues and, while stationed in Europe, collaborated with Kripo and Interpol on counterterrorism investigations. She retired due to physical disability and Crohnâs disease, which led her to herbal studies beginning in 1981 under Dr. Judy Griffin to support digestive comfort.
She holds an MBA in Marketing from the University of Texas at Arlington and a bachelorâs degree with a double major in Management and American Literature, plus a minor in Real Estate. During her studies, she served as Secretary of the Business Constituency Council, helped oversee a $10 million student union fund, and was recognized in Whoâs Who and the National College Directory.
She earned her Master Gardener certification through Texas A&M and later transferred it to West Virginia University. After moving to West Virginia in 2010, she served on the Master Gardener Board, where she rewrote and streamlined the state bylawsâreforms that are still in use today.
She operates Grassy Creek Farm, where she wild-harvests native medicinal plants and grows non-native herbs using high tunnels, hydroponics, and raised beds. She has developed over 50 herbal products spanning medicinal, culinary, spiritual, household, and cosmetic uses.
She has written the âBetteâs Bedsâ gardening column since 2010, teaches Wilderness Survival for 4-H, and has received multiple awards, including Master Gardener of the Year and two Governorâs Awards for volunteer service and environmental education.
Her first book on herbal teas was published in 2025, with a second book on heart-healthy cooking forthcoming. She regularly teaches gardening, herbalism, business, and parliamentary procedure at the New River Community & Technical College.
She is an advisory board member for the Farmer Veteran Coalition, where she helped author bylaws and best-practice handbooks used nationwide, and currently represents the Appalachian region. She is also leading efforts to bring the National AgrAbility Program to West Virginia in partnership with major universities.
She holds certifications in Good Agricultural Practices and Better Process Control, a West Virginia Nursery License, and continues to grow, teach, write, and mentor across agriculture, herbalism, and community leadership.
Roy Ramey is a small farmer in Cabell County, WV.
He practices regenerative agriculture for livestock as well as forest farming including medicinal herbs, maple syrup and mushrooms.
Roy is a retired Army officer and combat veteran. He enjoys developing low cost farming methods suitable in Appalachia and sharing those lessons with others so the knowledge is not lost.
He lives on their family farm with his lovely wife Fran and their teenage daughter whom they homeschool.
Roy Ramey
Member-at-Large
Mary-Heather Fajardo is a West Virginia herbalist and founder of Journey on Natureâs Path. She is passionate about preserving Appalachian plant knowledge and helping others integrate herbs into daily life in practical, accessible ways.
Through education, community engagement, and garden-based and foraging learning, she encourages individuals to reconnect with nature and build confidence in working with local plants.
Sonja Casey
Committee member
Sonja Casey is a West Virginia native and practicing herbalist with training in clinical herbalism and nutritional support. Her approach integrates traditional herbal wisdom with modern holistic perspectives and a strong commitment to ongoing education.
Sonja Casey
Committee member
Donna Vavrek
Member-at-Large
is a former librarian and Peace Corps volunteer. She became fascinated with herbs hanging in the markets of Paraguay. She and her husband live on a 50 acre farm in Gilmer County, WV. They have a few cows and a large garden. She is a master gardener and has grown various culinary herbs since 1985. Her favorite herbs are oregano, summer savory, thyme, rosemary and basil.
Jen Hoyer comes from a long line of PA Dutch farmers, with family roots in the region dating back to the late 1700s. Raised with a deep connection to land, food, and traditional plant knowledge, her early experiences included gardening, foraging, and learning ancestral stories of herbal use passed down through generations.
Jenâs personal healing journey with digestive health in adulthood reaffirmed the powerful role of herbs and teas in daily wellness, inspiring a deeper commitment to plant-based living. She integrates traditional herbal wisdom with modern health practices through gardening, tea-making, and continued herbal education. Jen is a certified group fitness coach, holds a Wholistic Nutrition certificate from CCBC, and is currently completing the Intermediate Herbal Course with Herbal Academy. She resides just outside Baltimore, Maryland, where she tends her vegetable and herb garden and continues to cultivate a lifestyle rooted in movement, nourishment, and plants.
Jen Hoyer
Committee member
FOUNDERS
Founders
Marion Harless
Marion says, "Remember that virtually every plant from the smallest sundew and lichen to the largest oak tree have multiple uses for human beings and other beings. The plants, their habitats and co-inhabitants should all be treated with conservation and respect. Be sure to share your home-grown wild and tame plants and your knowledge with others. If you grow herbs only for the money, shame on you."
Nona Conley
Nona was incredibly kind, patient, generous. Her joys included innovative research in closed-loop blue-green algae tilapia, the creation of travel trail which included growers, producers and crafts-people, grower of plants and herbs at Wildwyck Herbs, and being a pragmatic organizer. She also used to make the signs for many conferences and was big on giving hugs.
Dot Montgillion
Born in Oklahoma, dot moved to West Virginia after many years of botanical research at the USDA facility in Bethesda, MD. She was a real botanist and was known to thousands for her huge herbal product displays at events. She constantly and freely shared her knowledge with anyone who asked. Her presence made everyone feel happy, even with her unique sense of humor.
Myra Bonhage Hale
Myra primarily grew lavender and made hydrosols and essential oils on her La Paix Herb Farm near Alum Bridge, WV. She is also an accomplished impressionistic-style painter.
Sue Meyer
Sue holds a MFA in printmaking. She was a keen plants-woman and ran the WVU greenhouses collaborating with faculty and students on plant research and development.
Nicole Molnar
One of Dot's apprentices, she moved to WV from Ohio and became an herbalist and energetic founding member.
Linda Cristen
Linda was an especially wonderful human being, gentle, and very one with nature. Butterflies would land on her and stay.
Nicole Gauthier-Schatz
Originally from Quebec, Canada she currently teaches yoga & mindful meditation through the WVU Medicine Wellness Program and enthusiastically helped to start the WVHA.
Founder Quotes
Observe and learn from everything. Smile and laugh a lot. Sing, whistle and dance if you wish.
~ Marion Harless, Herbalist
đ± Growing Knowledge
Preserving Tradition
Building Community
The West Virginia Herb Association exists to support the ethical and environmentally responsible growing, harvesting, and use of herbs throughout our state.
We aim to connect people who love plants â whether they are gardeners, herbalists, crafters, or simply curious learners â and create opportunities to share knowledge, experience, and community. Our focus includes cultivation, medicinal and culinary herbs, and traditional herbal crafts.
As we continue to grow and adapt in a digital world, we remain grounded in personal connection, respect for the land, and the rich Appalachian plant traditions that shape our region. đżđ
Join a Growing Association
Help Us Share Herbal Knowledge so that Future Generations can stay connected to the plants and traditions that have supported people for centuries. When this wisdom is shared, itâs preserved â passed down with care, respect, and intention â ensuring it doesnât disappear with our generation.
Spread Herbal Knowledge
Understanding the traditional uses of herbs and new scientific studies