About

Background

I’ve always had a passion for finding ways to bring nature into my life. Despite raising my family in the heart of the city, I embraced a country mindset by transforming my small urban lot into a vibrant garden filled with herbs and plants.  Even in limited spaces, I discovered how to grow an abundance of both nurturing food and healing remedies.

My journey into herbalism began in the mid-90s when I started incorporating herbs into my garden. What began as a love for gardening soon turned into a quest for deeper knowledge when my son and I both faced health challenges that modern medicine couldn’t resolve. I knew there had to be another way, and so I began my search for answers. Yet, I had no idea at the time that there were colleges that taught natural healing methods and principles so I did much self-study.

This led me to local herb days where I absorbed knowledge about the healing power of plants.  When I discovered a textbook by Dr. John R. Christopher, the father of modern American herbalism, his teachings spoke to me on a profound level.  And in 2007, I felt a calling to formally study his methods at the Dr. Christopher’s School of Natural Healing. This is the United States’ oldest herbal college still in existence, having been founded in 1953.

Despite personal setbacks—including two car accidents—I earned my Family Herbalist certificate in the fall of 2007, followed by a Nutritional Herbologist certificate in 2008, and my Herbalist certificate in 2011.  During this time, I also ventured into market farming herbs, blending herbal teas, and selling plant starts.  After enduring two more car accidents and other life events, I earned my Master’s degree from the School of Natural Healing.  

My education through the School included over 1,194 hours of coursework in:

• Nutrition and Health
• Vitalism
• Anatomy & Physiology
• Herbal Chemistry
• Botany
• Horticulture
• Pharmacognosy
• Herbal Therapies
• Formulary
• Preparations
• Herbal History & Traditions 
• And much more.

All the while, I have been on a mission to teach others the principles of natural healing, rooted in Dr. Christopher’s time-honored tradition.  I have taught classes on herb farming, herb identification walks, culinary and medicinal uses of herbs, natural healing, wholesome eating practices and more.

My Philosophy

I believe in empowering people to take control of their own health.  In the past, individuals understood the responsibility for their own well-being, turning to herbalists for guidance, not dependence.   My goal is to help people reclaim that same autonomy.  By educating others about the power of natural remedies, I aim to restore the knowledge that we all possess the ability to care for ourselves and our families using the healing power of plants.  Our bodies have been created with a blueprint for healing, we must learn to not get in the way of that.

True freedom comes from self-sufficiency in health. I’m here to guide you on that path.

A Tribute to Dr. John R. Christopher

While many herbalists have followed, it was Dr. John R. Christopher who pioneered the modern herbal movement in America. At a time when herbal medicine was nearly forgotten and even legally suppressed, Dr. Christopher fought to bring this knowledge back to the people.  He even went to jail several times in his aid to others.  Today, many famous herbalists owe their start in the field by having studied directly under Dr. Christopher.  His legacy continues to inspire me in my work.