Arcata workshop plants seeds for health and community resilience

A free community seed-planting and calendula-themed workshop was held at Stewart Park in Arcata on Sunday, Jan. 18, drawing neighbors to a two-hour outdoor gathering that blended arts, herbal lore and hands-on skill building. The event, part of Playhouse Arts' Outside Arts Light & Dark series, offered a short journaling and meditation session, information on calendula lore and properties, and instruction on creating origami seed holders intended for sharing and planting.

Organizers asked participants to bring a journal and pen, and noted that heavy rain would cancel the event. The simple logistics made the workshop accessible to Arcata residents and visitors who could arrive on foot, by bike or with a short drive to the park. Holding the program outdoors helped lower barriers linked to indoor-capacity limits and infectious disease transmission, while also connecting people with green space during the quieter winter months.

Calendula, a plant long used in folk and herbal medicine for skin healing and mild anti-inflammatory effects, was presented both as a cultural touchstone and a practical tool for home gardens. The workshop’s focus on seed saving and small-scale propagation intersects with larger community priorities in Humboldt County: local food security, pollinator habitat restoration and the transmission of traditional plant knowledge across generations. Participants left with folded seed packets and ideas for where to plant or share calendula in neighborhood plots, front-yard gardens and community beds.

Beyond the immediate activities, the gathering highlighted the role of arts-based programming in public health. Journaling and guided meditation provided low-cost mental health supports at a time when community members face housing stress, service gaps and limited behavioral health capacity. Free, outdoor arts and nature events can act as a form of upstream prevention, fostering social connection and lowering isolation without adding financial strain.

The event also pointed to policy and equity issues that influence who benefits from such programs. Public parks, nonprofit arts groups and volunteer networks are central to delivering no-cost offerings, but they require stable funding, inclusive outreach and transportation considerations to reach elders, low-income residents and people with mobility challenges. Weather-dependent cancellations reveal a need for contingency planning so that people who rearranged schedules are not left out.

For Arcata and greater Humboldt County, the workshop was a small but practical example of how community-based arts and plant stewardship can contribute to wellbeing. As the seed packets begin to sprout, the real test will be whether local institutions invest in sustained, equitable access to parks, programming and plant knowledge that help neighborhoods recover, connect and thrive.