In the midst of climate crisis, tuition hikes, end-stage capitalism and ongoing struggles for justice, Concordia students are experiencing deep burnout, grief, and rage. We are applying to the Sustainability Action Fund to meet this urgent need for affordable, justice-oriented care by expanding our Pay-What-You-Can (PWYC) herbal medicine program, investing in sustainable production equipment, and hosting a transformative workshop that empower students with tools for resilience and collective care.
Demand for our herbal remedies, especially for stress and mental health, consistently exceeds supply. With SAF’s support, we will restock our herbal program, acquire essential equipment (a hydraulic tincture press and herbal distiller), and host a workshop, *Herbs for Rage & Resilience*, co-facilitated by an Indigenous community herbalist and Le Frigo Vert’s resident Clinical Herbalist.
The equipment will allow us to sustainably produce extracts, hydrosols, oils, and salves in-house, drastically reducing costs and reliance on imports. In turn, this investment enables us to expand the reach of the PWYC program and make high-quality remedies continuously available. Workshops will demystify herbal medicine making, teaching students practical skills to make remedies themselves and situating health care as a collective practice of resilience and resistance.
This project also deepens existing collaboration with student-run initiatives such as Coop CultivAction, Sankofa Farms, Diasporic Herbalism, the Concordia Greenhouse, and the People’s Potato. Herbs sourced from these groups will be incorporated into our program, while our new tincture press and distiller will be shared across these groups. Beyond partnerships, the equipment will be made available to all Concordia students and Le Frigo Vert members, ensuring that knowledge and resources circulate widely. Through these interdependent networks, students gain access not only to remedies but also to the tools and skills to create them, strengthening Concordia’s ecosystem of mutual aid, sustainability, and collective resilience.
By investing in *Sustaining Rage & Resilience*, SAF will support:
* Expanded access to affordable remedies for students and marginalized community members
* Long-term sustainability of our Pay-What-You-Can Herbal Program through in-house production equipment.
* Hands-on, justice-based workshops that empower students with self- and community-care skills.
* Stronger student networks and interdependent resource sharing.
The forecasted impact is clear: Concordia students and marginalized community members will have increased access to affordable, high-quality herbal remedies; more opportunities to learn practical medicine-making; and deeper connections with community partners. Beyond meeting immediate health needs, this project builds long-term capacity for resilience, sustainability, and justice on campus.
YEARS FUNDED
2025
AMOUNT ALLOCATED
$4,980