Whether you grow your own herbs or purchase them from a bulk supplier, storing dried herbs properly will ensure they enjoy a long life filled with potency and freshness. In this article, we’ll share the basic rules of thumb for storing dried herbs (and tinctures, infused honeys, herbal oils, salves, and powdered herbs), plus we’ll impart our tips for finding the best high-quality bulk herbs to use in your home apothecary. The post Fiction Books Featuring Herbalists and Herbalism appeared first on Chestnut School of Herbal Medicine ..read more

Humble Creek Farm: Student Business Spotlight Interview by Juliet Blankespoor Photography courtesy of Humble Creek Farm Shaena Heartwood, owner of Humble Creek Farm – a medicinal herb, fruit, and flower farm offering herbal body care and ritual plant remedies. An Interview with Shaena Heartwood of Humble Creek Farm Are you interested in creating an herbal business compatible with homesteading and farming? How to start a business while creating a family and building a community? We think Shaena’s heartfelt honesty and vision will inspire you. Shaena Heartwood (she/they) is a grower, medicin ..read more

Herbal Aphrodisiac Shortbread Cookies Recipe and Photography by Sarah Snyder Other text by Meghan Gemma When we feel a longing to connect with our sensual side, herbal aphrodisiacs are an alluring option. Aphrodisiac herbs are plants that elevate, nourish, or sustain our sexual or sensual desires. How is this magic aroused in the body? Herbal aphrodisiacs work in varied and complex ways—while some are known to enhance libido and improve sexual function, others bring us into states of passion through more subtle channels. For example, some herbal aphrodisiacs widen our blood vessels and stim ..read more

Storing Dried Herbs and Herbal Preparations for Freshness and Longevity Written by Meghan Gemma and Juliet Blankespoor Photography by Juliet Blankespoor Fresh herbs can be bundled together and hung on a wooden rack to dry. Which are the best herbs to start your home herbal apothecary? Which medicinals can I easily grow to dry and store? Where do I buy dried herbs? Whether you grow your own herbs or purchase them from a bulk supplier, storing dried herbs properly will ensure they enjoy a long life filled with potency and freshness. In this article, we’ll share the basic rules of thumb for ..read more

Winter Spiced Herbal Bitters for Digestive Health Recipes and Photography by Sarah Snyder Other text by Meghan Gemma Everyone can benefit from a bottle of herbal bitters! Paradoxically, bitter herbs make life sweet, as they have a profound effect on our enjoyment of food—one of life’s great pleasures. You might also say they improve our relationship with food, as many digestive woes can be corrected simply by adding herbal bitters to the diet. Herbal bitters benefits include: Improve symptoms of digestive turmoil, including gas, bloating, cramps, indigestion, nausea, constipation, and even ..read more

Botánica Cimarrón: Student Business Spotlight Interview by Meghan Gemma | Photography courtesy of Botánica Cimarrón Star Feliz, owner of Botánica Cimarrón small batch apothecary and creative wellness company. An Interview with Star Feliz of Botánica Cimarrón Do ancestral herbal traditions inspire you? Are you intrigued by medicine that’s place-based, plant-based, and spiritual? Remedies that are cultural and rich? This is the kind of herbalism practiced by Star Feliz (they/them) of Botánica Cimarrón. Star is a clinical herbalist, full-spectrum doula, spiritual guide, and Chestnut School o ..read more

Herbal Gift-Giving Guide Written by Meghan Gemma Of the Forest Non-Alcoholic Festive Bitters by Xálish Medicines. Give the perfect herbal gift to your loved one Giving a great gift is an art. Giving an herbal gift is to know and love the plant person in your life. To help you find the perfect present, we’ve compiled an herbal gift-giving guide featuring special items from small makers to please your herbally-inclined loved ones. For fun and ease, we’ve grouped these gifts into categories suited to unique plant personas. Shopping for an herbalist who cherishes culinary traditions? See our s ..read more

Herbal Compound Butters for Festive Feasting Recipes and Photography by Sarah Snyder Other text by Juliet Blankespoor & Meghan Gemma Flavored culinary butters add thrill to any cuisine. Rich and sultry, compound butters generously lend a delectable flavor and silky texture to almost any dish. They can be slathered onto baked roots, fresh bread, and crackers or used to roast veggies or meat. Fruity, sour, and sweet butters are delicious with pancakes, muffins, or waffles. When you set the table with buttery herbal spreads, every occasion instantly feels special—from Sunday brunch to your ..read more

The Medicinal Benefits of Ashwagandha Written by Meghan Gemma Photography by Juliet Blankespoor Ashwagandha’s pungent roots, which possess a notoriously musky aroma, can be profoundly renewing for your health. If you experience overwhelm in your life—whether from insomnia, anxiety, or burning the candle at both ends—the medicinal benefits of ashwagandha bring many blessings. Ashwagandha calms and heals your nervous system, refreshes sleep cycles, invigorates immune resilience, and infuses your entire being with strength.  This charismatic herb heralds from India, the Middle East, and ..read more

Jewelweed: Student Business Spotlight Interview by Meghan Gemma Photography courtesy of Jewelweed Jodi McKee, owner of Jewelweed health and wellness boutique. An Interview with Jodi McKee of Jewelweed We recently had a conversation with Jodi McKee for our Student Business Spotlight series. Jodi is the proprietor and herbalist behind Jewelweed, a small-batch herbal apothecary and healing venue located just outside of Minneapolis, MN. The shop was named in honor of the local wildflower that grows prolifically nearby. Jewelweed offers an exclusive in-house seasonal line of handcrafted p ..read more