As some of you may know, I ran a wild-harvested, hand-crafted herbal apothecary for almost five years in Mississippi from 2013-2017 called Sweet Gum Springs Apothecary. I created and ran the apothecary with another herbalist for the first two years, Mandi Sanders, a wonderful herbalist. At the apothecary, we crafted Mississippi’s (and one of the … Continue reading
Filed under herbs …
Peruvian Pepper Tree and Why Invasive Plants Matter
When I moved to Santa Barbara, CA with my family, just this past April, I quickly took note of a tree that reminded me of weeping willow. It’s furrowed trunk greatly contrasted, the light feathery leaves that fanned the air. And, it was everywhere around Ojai and Santa Barbara. There is even a Pepper Tree … Continue reading
Zine: Seasonal Living with Herbs & Food of the Deep South
THIS ZINE IS SOLD OUT… A project I’ve been working on for 8 years or so has finally come to fruition! Some of you have read previous blog posts on traditional foods ways, herbal medicine, and living with the seasons. While others of you have actually attended a course or workshop with me. Well, this … Continue reading
Pistachio Purslane Pesto
I don’t know why I haven’t thought of this before. A traditional pesto recipe has the green goodness of sweet basil that requires the zing of a little lemon juice. Enter purslane, stage right. Purslane is THE Omega-3 powerhouse of the plant kingdom. It also has a slightly sour taste to it, making it an … Continue reading
Settling Into My New Bioregion (Coastal California)
In April, my small family moved to Santa Barbara, CA for my husband’s work. Thankfully, my work with plants and people is pretty portable (another p-word please?). Considering that my work with plants really began in CA, it feels good to bring it back home after about 9 years in Appalachia and the Deep South. … Continue reading
Motherhood and the New Ring on My Tree
It’s finally springtime. And, I’m feeling the warm sun thawing the last, cold-knuckled grip of winter. I have never been so ready for spring (clutches table in front of me and locks you in a exasperated stare). My little one, born in late October, is now 5 months old. Through the short days and long … Continue reading
Privet & the Healing Potential of Invasive Species
Privet (Ligustrum sinense) I just survived the privet trimming. Of course, this dance with privet (and what a wild dance as it grows like crazy) got me thinking about the traditional use of this plant as well as new scientific information coming out about it. I’ve always had a thing for invasive plants. In my … Continue reading
Plant Love & the Interns’ Final Projects
August 3, 2017 Sniff, sniff… Just had the most wonderful call with the interns last night. It was our last call as I’m simplifying things to prepare for the birth of this little one. Two of them have worked with me directly at the apothecary. And, one was a friend who became a satellite intern, … Continue reading
Tales from a 3-day Herb Course in Mississippi
I didn’t know who would sign up. But, I knew I would show up no matter what. Before I left Mississippi to move to Tennessee this April (2017), I wanted to leave a heaping package of ‘thank you’ behind. So, I crafted a 3-day herb course for Spring 2017. We met one Sunday each month … Continue reading
A Recap: Foraged Farmacy Intensive
Reposting this from my old website, http://www.sweetgumsprings.com, to this one (as I am about to shut down the other website). I feel really satisfied with the recent intensive, Foraged Farmacy: Crafting Your Own Medicine Chest in Clinton, MS which took place the last weekend of May 2016. This was the third time Jen Stovall and … Continue reading
Lindsay Kolasa 