Meet Andrea Jimenez: The Latina entrepreneur behind Herb Club LA

Andrea Jimenez is a Chicana herbalist and founder of Herb Club LA, a community-driven initiative that brings sustainable farming workshops to Los Angeles’ inner-city communities. Her mission is to connect people with their roots, their land, and their food while promoting wellness and environmental sustainability. 

Photo Credit: Instagram @herbclub_la

Growing up in a Mexican-American household in Southern California, Andrea learned about the medicinal properties of plants from her grandmother, whose family had been using herbs for healing for generations. She became interested in the environmental and social justice aspects of herbalism and decided to pursue a career in that field.

It was in her field biology class that Andrea had the opportunity to become a Certified Naturalist after learning about the native flora and fauna of the land in and around Los Angeles. This opened a whole new world of understanding the connection between our health and nature.

Photo Credit: Instagram @herbclub_la

Andrea started Herb Club LA in 2018 alongside Rose Fairley to get locals to connect with the land in a truly personal way, and as a way to share her knowledge and passion with her community. She began by teaching workshops on how to grow herbs and vegetables in small urban spaces and eventually expanded her offerings to include classes on herbal medicine, plant identification, and sustainable farming practices.

It wasn’t again until the lockdown that she completely understood that deepening our connection to mother nature was truly important and finally mustered the courage to invite others to reconnect with the land and its creatures.

Herb Club LA’s workshops take place in community gardens, schools, and other public spaces throughout Los Angeles, with a focus on reaching people who may not have access to traditional wellness resources. Andrea believes that by teaching people how to grow and use herbs, she can help them connect with their cultural heritage and take control of their own health and well-being.

Photo Credit: Instagram @herbclub_la

According to the Herb Club LA’s website, “our modern lifestyles keep us in a constant fight or flight state stuck in survival mode, which perpetuates fear- and fear perpetuates disconnection from ourselves and each other.” Therefore, the company believes that “reconnecting with the land and with each other is a crucial step to improving the health of individuals, communities, and our environment.”

In addition to her work with Herb Club LA, Andrea is also a community organizer and advocate for environmental justice. She is passionate about creating a more sustainable and equitable food system and believes that by empowering people to grow their own food and medicine, we can build stronger, healthier communities.

Photo Credit: Instagram @herbclub_la

Andrea’s work with Herb Club LA has received recognition from local and national media outlets, as well as from organizations such as the Los Angeles Food Policy Council and the National Young Farmers Coalition. She continues to inspire and educate others through her workshops, speaking engagements, and advocacy work, and is committed to making herbalism and sustainable farming accessible to all.

We caught up with Andrea for our Earth Day Special, airing next week exclusively on LATV Network. Stay tuned!