Balkan Folk Medicine: A Project by divlja

Plants have a unique way of speaking to us and holding us, and I have always felt a deep belonging around them. My family has always been plant people, like many Croatians I know, and that love passed down to me unbridled. Today, I look to the preservation of our folk agriculture and herbalism as an intangible way to hold many other tangible things I could not; It is no secret Balkan folk have experienced continuous trauma over the centuries that have left us with separation of families, mental and physical illness, and death. It has been no different in my family. Even our culture, with all its associated trauma, seemed hard for them to hold at times; and yet to me, our folklore and plants symbolize a conversation with my ancestors, both recent and long ago, that provides a depth that is not limited neither by story, painful emotions, nor words left unsaid. It is the form of healing our people engaged in as a way of preservation of their health, and a relationship they engaged in with the lands they loved so.

Balkan Folk Medicine: Preserving and Advancing the Culture
"Balkan Folk Medicine" will dive deep into existing Balkan Folk Medicine practices and herbs to create a systematic catalog of Balkan herbalism plants and concepts. An intensive period of qualitative and quantitative interviewing will ensue, where I will perform interviews online as well as in person. The goal exists to go back to the Balkans for extended periods and perform research. For the full research proposal- scroll down.

After a systematic catalog is created, I will create educational materials to be shared via workshops, online, and collaborations, that will serve as a healing benefit for other herbalists, Balkan people, and all people interested.

Balkan medicinal herbs will be grown here in Brooklyn in a highly sustainable fashion, and I will promote awareness about our herbs and important agricultural/environmental practices. Sustainability measures include drip irrigation, utilization of grey and rain water, and utilization of in-house compost exclusively to create organic soil, and soil remediation via compost, mushrooms, and filter plants. With the herbs grown, I will be creating herbal medicines and formulations unique to Balkan Folk Medicine, to be sold with my business divlja. The medicinal formulas will include such things as healing teas, herbal extracts, salves, hair and skin care formulas and more, available at an affordable price at  www.divlja.com .

The profits will go not only to allowing me to make a living, but to nonprofits in the Balkans.

The ultimate aim of this project is to create a comprehensive and easily accessible, systematized catalog of Balkan Folk Medicine concepts and herbs, while further promoting our ancient medicine traditions so they may be upheld in current farming and herbal practices both amongst people of the Balkan diaspora, and in the actual Balkans, with a healing benefit to all peoples.

DONATION REWARDS

If you're interested in trying our products, but also want to donate, feel free to claim your donation reward!
$10+ 1 Tea Blend 
$20+ 1 divlja Fresh Face Mask
$45+ 1 divlja Fresh Face Mask+1 Tea Blend
$70+ 1 divlja Fresh Face Mask+ 1 Tea Blend + 1 Botanical Elixir
$100+ 1 divlja Fresh Face Mask + 1 Tea Blend + 1 Botanical Elixir + 1 customized Scalp Massage Oil
$120+ 1 divlja Fresh Face Mask + 1 Tea Blend + 1 Botanical Elixir + 1 customized Scalp Massage Oil + 1 Heavenly Hair Serum OR Scalp Balance Serum
$150+ I will offer you a customized array of products!

Sub Out any Fresh Face Mask for: 2 Tea Blends or 1 1 oz Botanical Elixir

For more, check us out at:

IG: @divljabrookyln
FB: https://www.facebook.com/divljabrooklyn/
Website: www.divlja.com
Email: [email redacted]

Balkan, Slavic, and Caucasus Herbalism FB group: Balkan Slavic and Caucasus Herbalism 



For those who are curious, this is a breakdown of the project plan as well as a general budget.

A. Research
I. Pre-Research
This portion of the project will consist of digging into existing research to formulate ideas of questions and concepts that exists or need to be explored. This portion will be purely exploratory. I will also research people and organizations I can conduct interviews with.
II. Research
This portion of the project will consist of more methodical research, and synthesizing of information I find in the secondary research. I will also be conducting interviews during this portion.
III. Coding & Cross-Referencing
I expect this to be the longest portion of the research portion of "Balkan Folk Medicine". It will include coding all interviews and creating free-style organization of the information I found via research and interviews. I will first cross-reference interview material with present research material. I will then follow this up by comparing my information to other popularly established systems of medicine like Ayurveda, Traditional Chinese Medicine, and Western Herbalism, to find similarities and differences.

B. Materials and Communication
IV. Materials
This portion of the project will consist of creating educational materials for myself, fellow herbalists, Balkan folk, and anyone interested, to learn more about the medicine system and how we can apply it to our lives, our health systems, and our farming practices.
V. Communication
This portion of the project will consist of communicating the materials and learned information via research journals, social media, workshops, and more.

C. Growing and Brand Inclusion
VI. Growing
This will be the most labor intensive and directly costly part of the project, and will consist of me growing herbs and creating formulations specific to the research.
VII. Brand Inclusion
This will be the final part of the project, and will consist of me incorporating my unique Balkan heritage products into my business.

Estimated General Budget- $11,500
Labor Hours (~400) & Travel to Interviewees- $8000
Research Compensation for Interviewees- $1000
Materials Cost- $400
Research Cost- $100
Herb and Product Development- $2000