Among the old-growth Redwoods of Northern California, my herbal journey began in the late 1990s. Having thousands of acres of ancient forests to explore, my primal self was awakened.
I wanted to live off the land, eat wild foods, wildcraft herbs and make all my medicine. And so I did that blissfully for years. Then a desire to become an acupuncturist came over me and I completed a four-year master’s degree and passed the licensing boards. I opened a clinic and worked closely with my community to provide much-needed healthcare. Seeing clients and helping people heal themselves is the most rewarding experience, but I knew I had to share the wisdom of herbalism and Chinese medicine with as many people as I could.
And so I left the comfort and shelter of the wilderness to live in Denver, with views of towering downtown buildings instead of majestic forests and Mother Ocean. It is now easier to teach at conferences throughout the US and abroad, and I have the opportunity to work at Colorado School of TCM and Colorado School of Clinical Herbalism.( Not to mention I now actually have consistent, high-speed internet which was hard to get anywhere I lived in Humboldt County, Cali.).
I know it was the right decision because everything has fallen nicely into place since I moved here over a year ago. This year’s teaching schedule is filling in nicely and I have the time to both see a few clients and continue to work on my herb book, “Plant Songs.”
Here are my 2016 teaching dates through June:
Saturday, March 5, 2016 – Sunday, March 6, 2016
The Roots of Chinese Medicine
Festival of Herbs Series
Dandelion Herbal Center, Kneeland, CA
Dandelion Herbal Center website
Saturday, April 16, 2016
Adaptogens
Hosted by the Rocky Mountain Unit of the American Herb Society
1710 S. Grant Street,
Denver, CO
Friday, May 27 to Monday, May 30, 2016
Classes to be Announced
Northern California Women’s Herbal Symposium, Laytonville, CA
Thursday, June 16 to Sunday, June 19, 2016
Clinical Aromatherapy; Soul Revival: Conscious Evolution
Mountain West Herb Conference, Breckenridge, CO
My website is constantly being updated with new classes, webinars and blog posts.
This week I’ll leave you with the tea that made me fall in love with herbalism and our plant allies. It is a delicious and nourishing tea that will leave you feeling more than satisfied. Stay wild!
Recipe: Wild Humboldt Tea (wildcrafted with reverence)
Ingredients:
Handful of fresh nettles
Handful of fresh violet leaves and flower
Handful of fresh plantain leaves
Small amount of fresh dandelion leaves
Small amount of fresh prunella flowers
Instructions:
- Infuse all ingredients in the sun in a glass quart jar.
- Infuse one to four hours or overnight on a full or new moon if desired.
- Strain herbs out or be like us herbalists and strain through your teeth or just eat the herbs too.
When energy flows, wellness grows.
Oh my gosh! I’ve been considering attending Colorado School of Clinical Herbalism. Do you have a blog post about how you lived off the land, happily? I’m interested. And I am so intrigued by that title, Plant Songs 😉
I highly recommend the CSCH! I don’t have a blog about how I lived off the land but thank you for giving me an idea for a post. Plant Songs is the title that the plants chose and I’m happy it is resonating with you.