How Mountain Rose Herbs Supports Natural Park Management
Lithia Park is a lively cultural hub in the heart of Ashland, Oregon. Each year, over a million people visit the bustling, yet peaceful park to stroll, jog, cycle, or just admire the landscape that winds along the brisk Ashland Creek. The 100-acre park also provides habitat and food sources for many species of plants, pollinators, animals, and fish. The well-balanced ecosystem of the park is attributed largely to the integrative maintenance practices that were put into place in 2010 which allows less than 1% synthetic herbicides and pesticides to be used within the park, and then only if there is a severe public safety hazard present.
The Importance of Herbal Events | Featuring Jesse Wolf Hardin
Jesse Wolf Hardin joins us for a very special podcast episode with Thomas Dick, to discuss the importance of in-person herbal events. The timing couldn’t be more perfect as many herbal events are taking place throughout the country. Wolf poetically describes the tradition and range of herbal events as well as how to choose which herbal event is best for you. Perhaps most touching, Wolf reminds us that herbal events are a space of holding community, sharing knowledge, forming support systems, and building your plant loving family. Whether you’re new to herbal events or a seasoned veteran, be prepared to be inspired by the potential of attending an in-person herbal event this year.
The Benefits and Uses of Blackberry with jim mcdonald
We recently took a plant walk with our friend jim mcdonald to learn more about blackberry. The common blackberry is part of the Rubus genus that we love for its delicious annual berries and the healthful properties this prickly botanical offers. Like other members of its genus, blackberry is a cooling astringent and has a wealth of antioxidant flavonoids in its leaves and roots. The leaves are a mild astringent that is particularly wonderful in tea blends, while the roots have more powerful astringent qualities.
jim also shares two of his favorite tea blends that include blackberry leaves that you won’t want to miss!
The Story of Mountain Rose Herbs: An Interview With Owner Shawn Donnille
For over two decades, Shawn Donnille has led the growth of Mountain Rose Herbs as a pioneer of sustainable practices in tea, spices, herbs, essential oils, and more. In this interview, you’ll hear the story of how Shawn built a company with a steadfast commitment to planet over profits. From eradicating all conventionally grown products from the company’s product line to launching a zero waste program, Shawn has consistently initiated bold and daring changes.
In this live conversation, our founder Raj speaks with Shawn about the journey so far, and what’s coming next. We’re proud to call Mountain Rose Herbs a partner and inspiration
Events as the Backbone of the Herbal Community
Herbalism in America has grown exponentially since we launched the Good Medicine Confluence back in 2009, and what was then only a small handful of herbal conferences has since exploded into dozens of annual gatherings. These range from huge international events to intimate bioregional ones. Each has its own distinguishing focus and following that makes them stand out. The Confluence is known for blending scientific classes with magical approaches, ecology with spirituality, and ancient traditions with the latest research and new alternative methodologies. Folks drive or fly from across the country to attend their favorite gatherings – not just to expand their herbal knowledge and healing skills, but to network with others and delight in the plant healer community!
Interviews on Herbal Radio with Thomas Dick | Featuring Ryland Engelhart of Kiss the Ground
We first met Ryland Engelhart and Finian Makepeace, co-founders of Kiss the Ground – a nonprofit raising awareness for regeneration through storytelling, education, and advocacy – at Natural Products Expo West in 2022. Since our initial meeting, we knew that we shared foundational values with these inspirational leaders, such as the importance of soil health and sustainable agriculture, sparking our interest to want to get to know them and the organization better.
Food as Medicine | Tea Talks Roundtable
In this “Tea Talks Roundtable,” Jiling discusses the topic of “Food as Medicine” with herbalists Christa Sinadinos, Rona Leah, Jana Kilgore, and Mary Colvin. With our collective herbal experience as two professional cooks, three book authors, two herb school founders, and five herbalists working with different populations, teaching styles, and botanical expertise– you can expect a fun and delicious conversation!
We explore:
everyday strategies to integrate Food as Medicine into your average diet and lifestyle
delicious culinary spices
common wild herbs (in different bioregions) to supplement standard kitchen herbs
easy to find foods and herbs that can be used medicinally while traveling
breakfast strategies and considerations
nutritional snacks
different preparations for common wild herbs
specific recipes like Rona’s Herb Sauce, Demulcent Waters, Christa’s Schug, and Jana’s Morning Chai!
Meet The Makers: Featuring Kevala Ayurvedic Skin Care
It was not until I found Ayurveda that I began to understand that the things I disliked about myself were the very things that made me perfect and were a beautiful representation of who I was meant to be—a driven, compassionate warrior goddess. Ayurveda gave me permission to love myself and teaches that we are deeply interconnected and yet so uniquely divine!
We are connected not just in spirit, but also to the universe and all its elements. We are vibrant like the sun, we are spirited like the air, and we are patient like the earth. The energies of Vata, Pitta, and Kapha govern the way we look, our likes and dislikes, our tendencies, our careers, hobbies, and so on.
Plant Stories | Featuring Michelle Guerrero Denison
This week on Plant Stories, we’re releasing our interview with Michelle Guerrero Denison. Michelle is an herbalist, formulator, educator, and the founder of The Twig & Feather. Michelle resides in Southern California and talks about how through her family’s own health challenges, she found herbalism and holistic wellness.
Refreshing, engaging, and open-minded, Michelle’s plant stories are human centric. It’s clear her passion resides in listening to and assisting others on their personal wellness paths. Michelle’s life experiences and philosophy transfer over to her approach to herbalism as well as the ways she shares her herbal knowledge. We hope you enjoy this wonderful conversation with our friend Michelle!
Inspired by the needs of her family, Michelle has been studying herbalism for the past decade or so and opened her online shop in 2019. She practices western herbalism, with a holistic focus. She has had the opportunity to study with several wonderful teachers, and readily admits that she will probably be learning for the rest of her life. Her true passions lie in personal consultations, teaching, and writing. All of these are opportunities to get personal and see how herbs can change a life.
The Enchanter’s Green: Vervain, Wood Betony, and St. John’s Wort | Featuring Kiva Rose Hardin
This podcast episode is the presentation that Kiva Rose Hardin gave for the Fall 2022 Free Herbalism Project. This was a virtual event that took place over Zoom on October 14, 2022.
Kiva states, Vervain, Wood Betony, and St. John’s Wort were some of my earliest herbal allies when I took my first steps on the plant healer’s path. These three herbs are nervines, but so much more! They have a long history as sacred and magical plants across many cultures. Medicinally, all three are often categorized as calming but also have profound tonifying effects and myriad healing actions that are not always as well-known as they should be. In the class, I will cover my personal experiences with the herbs, including specific indications, application, medicine making, dosage, folklore, and more!
