Herbalism

Greetings Everyone!

Wow! It has been quite some time since I published my first blog post. To be honest, I didn't intend to wait this long, but life just got in the way, you know how it is.

I must say, I was pleasantly surprised by the overwhelming number of comments on my initial post! While it didn't exactly go viral, I was only expecting a couple of comments at best. I want to express my gratitude to all those who took the time to comment or engage with my content. Your support and encouragement truly motivate me!

After going through the comments, I noticed that many of you are particularly interested in topics such as herbal remedies, gardening, and crafts. (And of course, Holly is especially eager to hear my thoughts on working with her!) I understand that I haven't been posting as frequently as I would have liked, but here we are now.

But before I dive into the main topic of this blog post, I want to take a moment to express how thankful I am for moving to Main Street, North Wilkesboro. We are soon approaching our one-year anniversary, and I must say, there were moments when I wasn't sure if we would make it. However, since relocating, we have had the pleasure of meeting so many wonderful new people and establishing valuable connections. Not to mention, the unwavering support we receive from our loyal local customers. We have even expanded our space to accommodate new vendors and increased the range of products we offer. It is safe to say that we are here to stay!

My Intro to Herbalism

Now, let's delve into the fascinating world of herbal remedies. I must admit that I am still relatively new to the field of herbalism. While I have been gardening for years, my focus has primarily been on flowers and houseplants.

My interest in herbalism was sparked by a single flower.

Last summer, a delicate little orange blossom unexpectedly sprouted where I had scattered wildflower seeds the previous year. Intrigued, I took a picture and embarked on a search to identify it. And there it was, the California Poppy. If you've seen The Wizard of Oz, you probably know what poppies are famous for. *In a witch's voice* "Poppies. Poppies will make them sleep." Yes, that's right, sleep!

It's important to note that California Poppy is not your typical poppy flower. Unlike its more well-known counterparts, these dainty orange blooms are low to the ground. According to various sources, including Healthline, California Poppy is known for its calming properties, ability to alleviate anxiety, promote better sleep, and induce relaxation. I thought to myself, "Well, that sounds incredibly useful!" Curiosity got the better of me, and I reached out to a friend who has experience in herbal crafting to confirm the flower's identity and find out what I could do with it. After a series of conversations, I decided to create a tincture. I gathered the necessary supplies and diligently crafted my own tincture. Fast forward eight weeks, and I now have a fantastic natural sleep aid. I also dried the remaining flowers and combined them with other teas for added benefits.

Now, let's move forward.

One day, as I was scrolling through Facebook, I stumbled upon a post about a Herbal Crafting Class being hosted at the Wilkes Heritage Museum in Wilkesboro. Unfortunately, I couldn't attend the class, but a thought crossed my mind, "What if I reach out to the teacher and arrange for a similar class here?" And that's precisely what I did. I contacted Melissa Hooker, we met, we brainstormed, and we made it happen! We organized a fantastic class on infused honey and tinctures.

Melissa has since become one of our vendors, offering her delightful honey from her own apiary, handcrafted teas from her garden, and more in our shop! If you're interested, you can find Melissa on Facebook here!  She always has so many projects going on!

Since then, we have expanded our collection of books on herbalism, foraging, tea crafting, and various related topics. We are eager to assist you in starting your own herbalism journey!

Are you curious about how to make a tincture? Let me know in the comments, and I could put together a detailed post explaining the process!

Lastly, don't forget to check out our wide range of books on Herbal Crafting! Also, stay tuned to our Facebook page to stay up-to-date with all the upcoming classes and events we have in store for you!

Signing out!
Erica