How I Became an Herbalist: My Dance With the Plants

I keep random pieces of colorful bark in my pocket in case I need an icebreaker in an awkward social situation.

Pink poppy Felicia,

My infatuation with herbal medicine started with college botany classes. Stamens, stigmas, and anthers were my first dates in what would become a lifelong love affair with plants. Today, I plan my vacations around botanical gardens, and I keep random pieces of colorful bark in my pocket in case I need an icebreaker in an awkward social situation.

Three decades into this journey as a plant–human matchmaker, I’ve owned just about every type of herbal business you can imagine: an herbal nursery, a medicinal products business, a clinical practice, and now a successful online herbal school specializing in bioregional, hands-on herbalism.

But I wasn’t always so inclined.

Curious what put me on the herbal path? I’ve just shared some of my herbal memoirs on the blog—who and what helped me become the herbalist and entrepreneur I am today. Come take a peek!