A growing number of people are finding the 40-hour work week more unfulfilling than ever in our post-pandemic world. Many city-dwellers are looking for more ways to feel connected to their communities and the natural environments around them. People are actively seeking new ways to gain autonomy in a country that has spent the last 3/4’s of a century industrializing our food and healthcare systems, making so many of us feel detached, frustrated, and often helpless. With food recalls, pesticide use, poisoned water, and forever chemicals looming over our every breath and bite, it can feel incredibly hopeless for the average person who’s just trying to take care of their self and family. From health fad to faux pas, it’s hard to keep up with all of the ways it feels like we are being micro-poisoned from one day to the next. As a result, more traditional and independent methods of food production and self reliance are becoming increasingly popular. The study of herbal medicine is no different.

Recently, I finished a pretty impactful read titled The Courage to Be Disliked, and I haven’t been able to shut up about it to anyone who has gotten within 5 feet of me. One of my biggest takeaways from the book based on Alfred Adler’s Adlerian Psychology, was his belief that a fundamental component of Happiness and Well-Being come from a sense of community-feeling. Adler believed that one of the ways in which a person can develop a healthy sense of self is through contributing to others in meaningful ways. By focusing on contributing to others, we can find purpose, joy, and perhaps most importantly, true happiness that is not dependent on a need for recognition, but a genuine desire to contribute to something larger than one’s self. This brings me to self-reliance, which isn’t at all what it sounds like.

Despite its name, Self Reliance doesn’t have to be so isolating. In fact, shifting small components of our lifestyle by making accessible changes can significantly improve our feelings of community and reduce feelings of helplessness. Skipping the grocery store for a few locally grown produce staples once a week, for example, is an incredible way to support your local farmers (and protest against a larger, defunct food system, if that’s your thing). The local farmers market is a great place to witness self reliance first hand, build community, and learn about how and where the food you feed your family is coming from- all while supporting another family. It creates a symbiotic relationship between a farmer and their community that benefits everyone who participates.

Self reliance doesn’t have to mean doing everything yourself, from scratch. Self reliance can also look like sourcing and supporting small businesses and giving back to your community. You’d be totally shocked at how many local businesses are down to make a non-monetary trade for other goods and services. In fact, it’s the aspect of working Farmers Markets I miss the most.

Since I finished The Courage to Be Disliked (I highly recommend the audio version, its presented as a comical, relatable dialogue between a stubborn young man and an older philosopher that is narrated by two passionate voice actors), I have been seriously contemplating all of the ways that I might be able to shift my focus to a more community-centric approach as a professional Herbalist. How can I give back in meaningful, tangible ways that not only make me feel good, but that also offer the invaluable gift of autonomy that so many of us crave?

And then it hit me. Education. I’m not talking about shoving some unsolicited advice down uninterested throats on my Instagram reels. I am here to supply real, hands-on, skill sharing that is approachable, accessible, can benefit the whole family, and be passed down for generations just like in the old days (when people had to either make it or trade for it if they needed it).

It is truly a powerful experience to have the ancestral knowledge that allows you to whack some kitchen ingredients together that can soothe a sore throat, tummy ache, minor injury, or provide nourishing vitamins and minerals in the dark, winter months.

If learning about herbal medicine has ever appealed to you, but you don’t have thousands of dollars and excess time to invest in a full-blown 600+ hour Herbalist Certificate program, than you might be interested in the future of my Herbalism endeavors. Keep reading to get a taste of what’s to come.

It’s a concept I’ve been rolling around in my brain for nearly two years now, but haven’t had the capacity or, if I’m honest, motivation to move forward with. Initially, I felt like I needed to set up a professional space to film myself, have fancy recording equipment, lighting, marketing materials, video and content editing experience and software, etc. It felt overwhelming and out of reach. I don’t want to edit hours and hours of content, nor do I know how to. These obstacles had me feeling pretty averse to taking the leap, that is, until I recently had an inspiring conversation with a friend who owns a small business of her own.

Through shifting my own mindset and allowing the concept to change forms in an effort to bring the educational curriculum to the public sooner rather than later, in addition to feeling more inspired than ever to contribute to community-feeling, the Herbal Activity Boxes were born. Well, they will be born, and soon!

What will these Herbal Activity Kits provide? Think of them like a hands-on herbal medicine making workshop from the comfort of your own home.

All materials will be shipped straight to your door, with the exception of a few common kitchen tools. Detailed step-by-step instructions + photos will be provided, and you will have the liberty of choosing when, where, and how long you would like to spend making your herbal remedies.

The first in a series of Herbal Activity Boxes will launch November 4th, right in time for Holiday Shopping with plenty of time to make extras for loved ones. I have received an unprecedented amount of interest in Herbal Medicine Making Workshops, and I anticipate these boxes to sell out quickly. The first ‘workshop in a box’ will teach you How to Make an Herbal Salve, and will come with the following materials:

There will be a limited quantity of boxes available due to seasonal beeswax availability. The Herbal Salve Making Kits above will cost $46 each (valued at over $75 in materials alone!). If you are interested in pre-ordering the very first Herbal Activity Box to ensure you don’t miss out, you can Pre-Order Here.

Coupons cannot be applied to Herbal Activity Boxes at this time. Boxes will ship with plenty of time before the holiday’s.