About HerbSpeak
HerbSpeak is an online resource hub for the conservation professional, as well as an entry point for the self-learner looking to engage their curiosity with nature. BROWSENEWSLETTERFor the conservation professional, there are materials, in-depth guides and resources to help you achieve your goals and make an impact in your community or on the landscape, whether you are looking to expand your professional knowledge or problem-solving a specific challenge.
For the self-learner, there are guides and informational articles to help you engage the world on your terms, starting with the Roadmap to Nature, where you can browse a curated list of questions and read more about each one.
Curated for both types of naturalists, HerbSpeak continues to grow and evolve over time with more curated resources, articles, stories, and materials with the goal for all resources to remain available without a paywall wherever possible. Still, everything is managed by a sole individual; curating these resources for free public release takes time and a significant amount of effort in collaborating with other individuals with varied expertise to ensure it achieves the goals and minimizes any potential harmful effects. If you like what is happening here, and want to ensure it continues, please feel free to either Support or Volunteer.
HerbSpeak’s mission is to make nature accessible in everyday life, fostering a love of learning and connecting you to resources that help make a difference.
The Origin of HerbSpeak
HerbSpeak first came online in April 2015. Before that, it existed for a long time as a vague idea and a search for answers. You’ll find that botany is the entry point for many of the articles and materials here, because of the author’s experience and own entry into ecology and conservation. It is, however, important to look at the world as an entire interconnected ecosystem; nothing exists in isolation, and every decision we make about the landscape has a cascading effect.
Every three years or so, HerbSpeak has received a major overhaul that changes and adapts its focus to narrow in on what it was truly meant to be: a conservation resource. In 2017, the focus adapted from the occasional nature-related article to a more coherent botany and scientific focus. In 2020, the focus shifted from solely plant knowledge into more ecologically-minded topics, continuing the scientific focus.
In 2023, the focus narrowed regoinally towards the northeastern United States as Destynnie continued conservation work based in Massachusetts. After spending 2024 co-founding and serving as President for a year at non-profit organization F.E.R.N., she determined that her goal for a hub of curated resources could still be achieved. In light of this experience, HerbSpeak began a complete restructuring in late 2025 – that is currently ongoing – to fulfill this vision.
This is a love letter to the world.
It is for the spiders tucked into their webs under mossy rocks, the trees that host caterpillars and birds and beetles, and the rolling clouds that relieve elephants of the heat during their migrations.
To the fox after a successful hunt, to the rabbit that narrowly escapes. To the plant that feeds that rabbit but seeks pollination from the beetle who cleans the forest floor. To the microbes that keep the soil healthy for the plant and feed the clouds for clean rain.
You and I are here to keep the balance. Let’s be good stewards and scientists.
Authored by Destynnie K. Berard (D.K. Berard)
Destynnie’s career background in marketing and communications has provided a unique perspective in conservation. Now, as a conservation advocate and community engagement specialist, she has 5+ years of experience leading innovative ecological initiatives that bridge the gap between scientific knowledge and community action.
From event management to volunteer coordination, she creates engaging conservation-focused messages that aim to cultivate environmental stewardship across communities and curate resources for conservationists.