Herbal Radio

This week's episode of Herbal Radio features the botanical spiritualist, conservation-focused farmer, and owner of Creasy Jane's herbal remedy store, Ruby Daniels. As a young girl, Ruby spent many of her summers in West Virginia roaming around the outdoors and crafting herbal concoctions with plants she'd find along her adventures. Inspired by her grandmother, a wise herbal healer in her community, Ruby was intrigued to unlock the spiritual connection between humans and the botanicals surrounding us. Today, Ruby is an advocate for sustainable farming and wild harvesting practices through her soil conservation work with USDA, along with sharing Afrolachian history and herbal remedies through her business, Creasy Jane's, which was inspired by her grandmother and many other herbal healers in her community. Want to hear more from Ruby on Herbal Radio? Click here to listen to our BIPOC Community Herbalist Group Discussion! Click here to visit Creasy Jane's Herbal Remedies! Ruby Daniels is a Soil conservationist tech with USDA, a farmer, manufacturer of herbal products, and herbalist/owner of Creasy Jane's. Creasy Jane's was formed to provide education, produce products, and provide fresh produce to the local community. Ruby Daniels gained her knowledge from her elders in West Virginia and expanded her plant knowledge by attending the Maryland University of Integrative Health. Ruby received a Master of Science in Therapeutic Herbalism, Ruby focused her study on Afro-Lachian foods and herbs, field botany, and phytochemistry. She previously worked with a non-profit organization as a consultant in the Agroforestry industry in West Virginia and is a board member of United Plant Savers. In addition to her work, Ruby Daniels works on cultural preservation and education focused on African American relationships with the plants of Appalachia. Ruby Daniels and Creasy Jane's mission is to educate the public about the power of plants and how to use them to support wellness. Join our community! Subscribe to the Mountain Rose Herbs newsletter Subscribe to Mountain Rose Herbs on YouTube Follow on Instagram Like on Facebook Follow on Pinterest Read the Mountain Rose Herbs blog Follow on TikTok Strengthening the bonds between people and plants for a healthier world. Mountain Rose Herbs www.mountainroseherbs.com

Welcome back to Herbal Radio plant people! We're thrilled to share this special episode with you this week to highlight the BIPOC herbalist community in acknowledgment of Black History Month. We've opened our platform up to amplify the voices of 5 BIPOC community herbalists and activists for an impactful and thought-provoking group discussion. Our featured guest host and long-time good friend, Lucretia Van Dyke, is joined with Christina Lynch, Khetnu Nefer, Tyrone Ledford, and Ruby Daniels to explore the topic of Black History Month and share their unique and collective experiences being Black individuals in the world of herbalism. We'd like to extend our gratitude for joining us for this necessary and impactful discussion today. Thank you, as always, for tagging along for another botanical adventure! About the herbalists: Lucretia Van Dyke, author of "African American Herbalism" has been in the wellness industry for over 25 years, and is a Holistic Educator, Herbalist, Sacred Sexologist, Ceremonialist, and world traveler. One of the foremost experts on southern folk healing arts, Lucretia integrates rituals, plant spirit meditation, holistic food/herbal medicine, and ancestor reverence into people's practices. Teaching herbal classes, cooking, storytelling, and foraging in the woods learning native medicine are what charges her soul. Check out Lucretia on Instagram! Christina Lynch is a community herbalist and entrepreneur based in Tallahassee, Florida. She received her Master's degree in Human Resources and Employment Relations from Penn State University, and her Bachelor's degrees in Accounting, Finance, and HR Management from Florida State University. In addition to her role as the Interim Executive Director for the American Herbalists Guild, Christina is the Chief Executive Officer of Trydent Consulting, President of the Board of Red Hills Small Farm Alliance, and a board member of Florida State University's Accounting Department, Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Big Bend, and Florida School of Holistic Living. Khetnu Nefer is the founder of the Gullah Geechee Herbal Gathering, an herbal conference for Black and Indigenous herbalists and community that takes place in Johns Island, SC. Khetnu is a Certified Holistic Health Practitioner, Educator, Massage Therapist, Herbalist, Reiki Master, Author, Vibrational Sound Therapist, African Dance Professor, and founder of A Soulful Touch Wellness. Check out A Soulful Touch on Instagram! Check out the Gullah Geechee Herbal Gathering on Instagram! Tyrone Ledford, a native of Compton, CA received his Bachelor's Degree from California State University, Fullerton in Child & Adolescent Development with an emphasis in Early Childhood Education. He later received his Master's Degree from Pacific Oaks College in Human Development/Social Change. Tyrone, who is the co-founder of Holistic Divine Innovations, founded and organized the Ridgecrest Community Garden and Herbal Zen Garden. Tyrone has been gardening intentionally for 10 years and grows a combination of fruits, vegetables, and herbs for both culinary and healing power. Tyrone's experience extends as far as growing herbs to create his own teas and tinctures, and educating communities on how to grow their own food and how to use plants for their nutritional value and medicinal properties. Tyrone's goal is to introduce individuals to the natural resources our earth provides and to increase fresh organic food resources throughout communities. Tyrone hopes to help you create a sustainable garden because he believes health is wealth. Visit the Ridgecrest Community Garden on Facebook! Ruby Daniels is a Soil conservationist tech with USDA, a farmer, manufacturer of herbal products, and herbalist/owner of Creasy Jane's. Creasy Jane's was formed to provide education, produce products, and provide fresh produce to the local community. Ruby Daniels gained her knowledge from her elders in West Virginia and expanded her plant knowledge by attending the Maryland University of Integrative Health. Ruby received a Master of Science in Therapeutic Herbalism, Ruby focused her study on Afro-Lachian foods and herbs, field botany, and phytochemistry. She previously worked with a non-profit organization as a consultant in the Agroforestry industry in West Virginia and is a board member of United Plant Savers. In addition to her work, Ruby Daniels works on cultural preservation and education focusing on African American relationships with the plants of Appalachia. Ruby Daniels and Creasy Jane's mission is to educate the public about the power of plants and how to use them to support wellness. Join our community! Subscribe to the Mountain Rose Herbs newsletter Subscribe to Mountain Rose Herbs on YouTube Follow on Instagram Like on Facebook Follow on Pinterest Read the Mountain Rose Herbs blog Follow on TikTok Strengthening the bonds between people and plants for a healthier world. Mountain Rose Herbs www.mountainroseherbs.com

This week's Plant Stories episode features the marine herbalist, purveyor of seaweeds, and founder of Mermaid Botanicals, Kristy Bredin. With a passion for exploration, wildcrafting, and utilizing the medicinal plants of the Pacific Northwest, Kristy found herself drawn to the eldest marine ancestors of all botanicals we know today, seaweeds! We sit down with Kristy and learn about her journey that began through apprenticeships with wise herbalists who embarked her on her journey into the vast ocean of herbalism, wildcrafting, and seaweed activism. Kristy shares with us her profound knowledge of the ancient history of seaweeds, responsible seaweed harvesting practices, utilizing seaweeds as plant medicine, and even her recipe for kelp pickles! As always, we truly hope you enjoy today's Herbal Radio episode, thank you for tagging along with us for this marine botanical adventure! Kristy Bredin began her journey as an herbalist in 2009, when she began a two-year apprenticeship with herbalist Robin Rose Bennett in New York. Over the years she has studied clinical herbalism with Chanchal Cabrera, Paul Bergner, Matthew Wood, and Margi Flint. For the last decade, she has worked with Ryan Drum, wildcrafting medicinal herbs and cultivating an in-depth knowledge of traditional Western herbalism and local plants and seaweeds. Since 2013 she has been sharing plant remedies of the Pacific Northwest through Mermaid Botanicals. Mermaid Botanicals now encompasses Ryan Drum's Island Herbs since he retired from wildcrafting in 2019. Kristy is passionate about exploring the natural world and working with wild plants in ancient and creative ways. She supports folks in re-engaging and integrating with their natural environment through wild plant medicine work. She currently offers classes locally and internationally on seaweeds, wild plants, and healing with herbs and is working on a book about seaweeds for health and healing: Marine Herbalism, to be published in 2029. Learn more about Mermaid Botanicals here! Click here to preorder a copy of Kristy's book, Marine Herbalism! Visit Kristy's Seaweed Resource Page here! Important – If you are interested in harvesting your own seaweeds, be sure to check the fish and wildlife regulations, limits, and permitting for recreational harvesting within your local area. Regulations and permits will vary from state to state, and there may be additional regulations or restrictions regarding beach access or harvesting on beaches that are part of State and National Parks. Join our community! Subscribe to the Mountain Rose Herbs newsletter Subscribe to Mountain Rose Herbs on YouTube Follow on Instagram Like on Facebook Follow on Pinterest Read the Mountain Rose Herbs blog Follow on TikTok Strengthening the bonds between people and plants for a healthier world. Mountain Rose Herbs www.mountainroseherbs.com

*Disclaimer - This episode explores themes of sexual nature and may not be suitable for all audiences.* Herbal Aphrodisiacs | Tea Talks Roundtable In this "Tea Talks Roundtable," Jiling discusses Herbal Aphrodisiacs with herbalists Kimberly Gallagher, Lucretia Vandyke, Marie White, and jim mcdonald. We explore: Defining "aphrodisiac" "Aphrodisiac" herbal actions and examples How we can make space for pleasure as a culture Delicious aphrodisiac recipes Botanical lubricants Topical kava preparations Some beautiful sensual poetry Learn more about these herbalists below: 🌿KIMBERLY GALLAGHER, author of Aphrodisiac, co-founded LearningHerbs.com. She created the Wildcraft! board game and wrote the Herb Fairies book series. Kimberly is an ordained minister at her Trail of Beauty ministry, where sacred sensuality is at the heart of her work. 🌿LUCRETIA VANDYKE, author of "African American Herbalism" has been in the wellness industry for over 25 years, and is a Holistic Educator, Herbalist, Sacred Sexologist, Ceremonialist, and world traveler. Visit Lucretia at LucretiaVandyke.com and on Instagram @Lucretia.Vandyke 🌿MARIE WHITE is an herbalist and author. A lover of nature and humans, Marie is passionate about community building and climate care. She is the author of The Intimate Herbal ('22) and the upcoming The Herbal Doula ('24). Follow Marie on Instagram @marie___white 🌿JIM MCDONALD is a community herbalist, wildcrafter, medicine maker, writer, and teacher. Visit jim at herbcraft.org and herbcraft.podia.com for Michigan herb classes, workshops, weed walks, and other opportunities to infuse oneself in the medicine of plants. 🌿JILING LIN is a Licensed Acupuncturist (L.Ac) and herbalist in Ventura, CA. A clinician and teacher, Jiling is also a passionate traveler, artist, and adventurer. Visit Jiling at JilingLin.com, Instagram @LinJiling, and Facebook @JilingLAc. Sign up for her newsletter here. Resources: The Energetics of Aphrodisiacs Free Herbalism talk with jim mcdonald Herbs for Baths: How to Make a Relaxing Herbal Bath at Home Learning Herbs blog by Marie White Join Kimberly Gallagher and Stef Frenzl for their upcoming Fall 2024 course, Herbal Secrets for Intimacy Aphrodisiac, by Kimberly Gallagher The Intimate Herbal, by Marie White Discover the roots of modern-day herbal remedies, plant medicine, holistic rituals, natural recipes, and more that were created by African American herbal healers throughout history with Lucretia Vandyke's book African American Herbalism Elements of Intimacy, by Caffyn Jesse Adaptations farm on Big Island, as a potential source of noble kava Pleasure Activism, by adrienne maree brown Join our community! Subscribe to the Mountain Rose Herbs newsletter Subscribe to Mountain Rose Herbs on YouTube Follow on Instagram Like on Facebook Follow on Pinterest Read the Mountain Rose Herbs blog Follow on TikTok Strengthening the bonds between people and plants for a healthier world. Mountain Rose Herbs www.mountainroseherbs.com

This week's guest on Herbal Radio is the wise-spirited author and curandera (ku·ran·de·ra), Felicia Cocotzin Ruiz. We recorded our interview with Felicia prior to her keynote presentation for the 2023 Fall Virtual Free Herbalism Project, so be sure to check out her recorded presentation after listening to this episode! In Felicia's words, Curanderismo (ku·ran·de·ris·mo) is a 500-year-old traditional healing practice that is still in existence today. It is influenced by Spanish, Indigenous Mexican, the Moors, West African, and Native American traditional healing practices, and is a result of the blending of these cultures during colonization. Today, we sit down with Felicia and learn about her family who originated from northern New Mexico. She reflects on her childhood spent uncovering the power of plant medicine through her great-grandmother, who was a naturally gifted and knowledgeable elder curandera. Felicia's youthful eyes were fascinated by her great-grandmother's ancestral medicine-making practices, which soon blossomed her intrigue into connecting with the Indigenous principle of one's medicine being one's food. Shaped through the lens of her ancestors, her practice led her to publishing her book on elemental recipes and rituals, Earth Medicines. As always, we truly hope you enjoy today's Herbal Radio episode, thank you for tagging along with us for another botanical adventure! Felicia Cocotzin Ruiz is a traditional healer, award-winning author, and indigenous foods activist recognized for her work with food and lifestyle as medicine. As a child, she was deeply influenced by her great-grandmother, who was well-known in her New Mexico community as a curandera. Also called by the healing medicine, Felicia honored her own spirit and began learning folk herbalism, whole food cooking, and other holistic modalities with Indigenous teachers across the Southwest–where she works with the sun, the moon, and the elements, offering medicine workshops and one-on-one healing sessions for her community. Felicia's work has been featured in Spirituality & Health, Forbes, Bon Appétit, and several other media outlets including The Original Americans episode on Padma Lakshmi's Taste The Nation (Hulu). Felicia presents frequently around the country on traditional healing practices, culinary medicine, holistic wellness, and Native American food sovereignty for nonprofits, universities, and museums–including the Smithsonian National Museum of the American Indian. Click here to watch Felicia's keynote presentation from the 2023 Fall Virtual Free Herbalism Project! Click here to learn more about Felicia's practice through her business, Kitchen Curandera! Check out Felicia on Instagram! Join our community! Subscribe to the Mountain Rose Herbs newsletter Subscribe to Mountain Rose Herbs on YouTube Follow on Instagram Like on Facebook Follow on Pinterest Follow on Twitter Read the Mountain Rose Herbs blog Follow on TikTok Strengthening the bonds between people and plants for a healthier world. Mountain Rose Herbs www.mountainroseherbs.com

Today's Herbal Radio episode features the enthralling storyteller and creative alchemist, Sarah Greenman. Sarah is a profoundly talented artist, cultural worker, community organizer, storyteller, and a true archeologist of the soul. Thomas and Sarah sit down and chat about her upbringing in a household full of thespians who'd break out in theatrical tunes at the drop of a hat, her detailed recollections of climbing the steep staircase leading to her grandmother's art studio as a young child, and the numerous creative paths she has embarked on to blossom into the botanical artist and passionate community-driven person Sarah is today. Sarah's passion for unearthing buried stories of those left without a voice in our past and present-day is profound across each of her paintings and collaborative work within her community, and you'll certainly be left with new perspectives on the natural world that surrounds us after listening to today's episode. Be sure to check out more on Sarah Greenman's artwork and community efforts detailed below. Thank you for tuning into Herbal Radio, we're so happy to have you tag along with us for another botanical adventure! Sarah Greenman (she/they) is a playwright, painter, facilitator, and Executive Director at the American Leadership Forum of Oregon. As an artist and community organizer, Sarah's work is joyful, inclusive, strategic, and fiercely focused on collective liberation. She loves reading, music, camping, botany, the sea, and spending time with her children, Charlie and Katie. Sarah holds a BA in Creative Writing with a Women's Studies emphasis from Mills College. Sarah's plays have been produced in New York, Oakland CA, Berkeley CA, Portland OR, Santa Maria CA, and Seattle WA. Sarah is also a graduate of the Pacific Conservatory Theater (PCPA). Sarah formerly served as Creative Director and then Operations Director for StateraArts, a national nonprofit creating pathways that bring women and non-binary creators into full and equal participation in the arts. Originally from the Central Coast of California, Sarah now resides in rural Eastern Oregon. Visit Sarah's art gallery here! Check out Sarah's own podcast - Collaborative Alchemy Podcast here! Check out Sarah's blog - The Bohemian Home here! Join our community! Subscribe to the Mountain Rose Herbs newsletter Subscribe to Mountain Rose Herbs on YouTube Follow on Instagram Like on Facebook Follow on Pinterest Follow on Twitter Read the Mountain Rose Herbs blog Follow on TikTok Strengthening the bonds between people and plants for a healthier world. Mountain Rose Herbs www.mountainroseherbs.com

This week's episode of Herbal Radio episode features the all-encompassing wise woman and holistic healer, Corinna Wood. As the founder and former director of the Southeast Wise Women Herbal Conference for 15 years, Corinna has a true passion for providing safe community spaces that allow women to connect through shared herbal passions. Today, Corinna sits down with us and reflects on her childhood growing up in La Spezia, Italy, and fondly shares her earliest memories of weaving through towering grape arbors in the backyard of her cobblestone home and squashing buckets of grapes between her toes alongside her brother as a young girl. After moving back to the States and finding herself amid a rocky transitionary period of her life, Corinna turned outwards towards her passion for plants to reconnect with her journey of inner growth and healing. She sought out reconnection through bonding with women in her community and discovered her newfound purpose to provide a space for women of all walks of life to find the community she once was seeking herself. Founding the Southeast Wise Women Herbal Conference served this very purpose, and has since been the largest herbal conference in the country. Corinna will be offering her annual limited-time free seminar from January 24th - February 3rd, so be sure to check out the link attached in the description below to register for this once-a-year opportunity that will focus on healing the mind, heart, and soul from the passionate and wise woman herbalist herself. We truly thank you for tuning in with us for today's Herbal Radio episode, we're thrilled to have you tag along with us for another botanical adventure! Corinna Wood A visionary teacher of holistic healing and women's wisdom for over 30 years, Corinna Wood is well-known in the herbal community for her caring and loving teaching style and the generous wisdom she so willingly shares. Corinna founded and directed the Southeast Wise Women Herbal Conference, the largest herbal conference in the country, which ran for 15 years. Today, she supports women worldwide with earth-based tools and techniques for inner growth and healing—a medicine chest for your mind, heart, and soul! Join Corinna's free seminar (limited time only!): Self-Healing the Wise Woman Way Join our community! Subscribe to the Mountain Rose Herbs newsletter Subscribe to Mountain Rose Herbs on YouTube Follow on Instagram Like on Facebook Follow on Pinterest Follow on Twitter Read the Mountain Rose Herbs blog Follow on TikTok Strengthening the bonds between people and plants for a healthier world. Mountain Rose Herbs www.mountainroseherbs.com

In this "Tea Talks Roundtable," Jiling discusses the work of the Stonefruit Community Herbalists with the Stonefruit Herbal Collective: Michelle Soto, Jocelyn Kirkwood, and Vilde Chaya Fenster-Ehrlich. Roundtable Topics Their individual journeys into herbalism How the Stonefruit Collective came to be How herbs may be shared freely Building a free and sliding scale clinic The relationship between the Wild Cherries Herbal Studies Program and Cutting Root Farm A simple tip for how herbalists can begin cultivating welcoming spaces for transgender, gender-queer, and non-binary folks The importance of humility and deep listening About the Herbalists 🌿 MICHELLE SOTO (she/ they) is a fashion forward herbalist, educator, gardener, dog lover, and community organizer. She runs Cutting Root Farm and is part of the Stonefruit Community Herbalists in western PA. Visit Michelle at CuttingRoot.com 🌿 JOCELYN KIRKWOOD (she/ they) is a Community Herbalist and Somatic Experiencing Practitioner residing in Pittsburgh, PA. They are part of the Stonefruit Community Herbalists, teaching at the Wild Cherries Herbal Studies Program, and an herbalist at the Three Rivers Free Clinic for the People. Jocelyn co-founded the Lake Effect Free Alternative Health Clinic, and has been an herbalist there for nine years in Cleveland, OH. 🌿 VILDE CHAYA FENSTER-EHRLICH (she/ her) is a lover of play, games and mischief, to bend the world and grow connections within and between us. She is an herbalist, teacher, and consummate hostess living in Western Massachusetts, who loves crafting sweet and magical spaces of feelings and resistance for her communities of gender weirdos. 🌿JILING LIN is a Licensed Acupuncturist (L.Ac) and herbalist in Ventura, CA. A clinician and teacher, Jiling is also a passionate traveler, artist, and adventurer. Visit Jiling at JilingLin.com, Instagram @LinJiling, and Facebook @JilingLAc. Get her free Nourishing Life (養生) template, Five Phases (五行) outline, or sign up for her newsletter here. Resources Learn more about the Stonefruit Herbal Collective and Wild Cherries Herbal Studies Program at WildCherries.org Competent Care for Transgender, GenderQueer and Non-Binary Folks, a resource for herbalists and other practitioners, curated by clinical herbalists Vilde Chaya Fenster-Ehrlich and Larken Bunce Wild Current Herbalism Advanced Clinical Herbal Skills program Join our community! Subscribe to the Mountain Rose Herbs newsletter Subscribe to Mountain Rose Herbs on YouTube Follow on Instagram Like on Facebook Follow on Pinterest Read the Mountain Rose Herbs blog Follow on TikTok Strengthening the bonds between people and plants for a healthier world. Mountain Rose Herbs www.mountainroseherbs.com

Cathy Skipper is an international teacher, plant person and healer who brings 30 years of teaching, healing, and plant experience, her highly-attuned intuition, and her mastery at "seeing the person within" to all her work. Cathy says, "All my work is based on my own journey as a wounded healer. I coach and teach from a place of experience. I am totally familiar with navigating the unconscious realms, the ancestral realms, the plant and animal realms. I am a menopause midwife, helping women rebirth themselves as they go through the initiation of menopause into their wise-eldership." Jiling and Cathy discuss: Healing the whole person Aromatic medicine and the psyche Plants and inner alchemy Making the unconscious conscious Navigating the psyche through scent Working with scent sticks Trusting the symbols Quieting the inner critic Ancestral healing Visit Cathy Skipper at: AromaGnosis.com CathysAttars.com About Jiling: Jiling Lin is a Licensed Acupuncturist (L.Ac) and herbalist in Ventura, CA. Visit Jiling at JilingLin.com, Instagram @LinJiling, and Facebook @JilingLAc. Get her free Nourishing Life (養生) template, Five Phases (五行) outline, or sign up for her newsletter here. Join our community! Subscribe to the Mountain Rose Herbs newsletter Subscribe to Mountain Rose Herbs on YouTube Follow on Instagram Like on Facebook Follow on Pinterest Read the Mountain Rose Herbs blog Follow on TikTok Strengthening the bonds between people and plants for a healthier world. Mountain Rose Herbs www.mountainroseherbs.com

Happy almost-New Year plant-enthusiast listeners! For the last episode of Herbal Radio in 2023, we'll be shaking things up a bit from the usual plant adventure we find ourselves embarking on each week. After a busy year filled with interviews, Thomas and Jiling sit down and share laughs, insightful moments, and highlight some of the most impactful conversations they've had in 2023. Throughout the year 2023, we had the pleasure of featuring an array of enthralling guests, including soulful tunes from Leah Song and Chloe Smith of Rising Appalachia, insightful discussions on the importance of community with the one-and-only Rosemary Gladstar, entertaining stories on her encounters with lightning as a child from the wonderful storyteller Margi Flint, as well as captivating discussions with Richo Cech on his seed-seeking adventures in Africa, and so much more! We've had such a wonderful year sharing voices and stories from many folks throughout the herbal community and beyond, and we're so excited to share more with you in the upcoming year. From the entire Herbal Radio family, we hope you have a peaceful and welcoming New Year! Join our community! Subscribe to the Mountain Rose Herbs newsletter Subscribe to Mountain Rose Herbs on YouTube Follow on Instagram Like on Facebook Follow on Pinterest Read the Mountain Rose Herbs blog Follow on TikTok Strengthening the bonds between people and plants for a healthier world. Mountain Rose Herbs www.mountainroseherbs.com