Heading back into the school season means that we are entering into a new season of needs. Even those of us without children at home feel the subtle shift—altered traffic patterns, busier schedules, and the ripple of energy that comes as our communities gather again for learning. This transition also brings considerations for personal well-being, particularly with the heightened exposure to group settings where our bodies may encounter new stressors (and maybe even some cooties). 

By the time September rolls around, the summer garden and markets have mostly had their say. The jars of dried herbs are stacking up, the freezer is filling up, and my family is back to wearing sweaters in the morning. This is when I start thinking about my herbal pantry and what needs restocking and what can go.  

My family always has grand goals of getting out to the mountains once a month for a couple nights of tent camping from May through October. Camping in the shoulder months often means chilly temperatures and rain, which we’ve gotten good at dealing with. Mosquito season, however, can be a little more daunting. A few summers ago, we were camping at a Southern Oregon lake with friends who had school-age children. The mosquitos were SO vicious, particularly for the kiddos, and I spent the whole time kicking myself for not having made a batch of herbal mosquito repellent beforehand. Our friends had some over-the-counter natural spray, but it was passing-useless and none of us wanted to douse the children in a toxic DEET-based repellent. I vowed never to be caught by surprise again. Now this natural spray is a must-have for camping and any other activity that puts us close to water and mosquitos.

Meet the family whose commitment to crafting the finest organic jojoba oil in the world transcends trends and spans generations.

With any herbal practice, conservation and protection should be the first part of the conversation. Safety and sustainability are vital when foraging. In today's world, countless individuals share images of plants they've harvested, often asking, "What is this, and what can I use it for?" This highlights the importance of education. Understanding herbs involves responsible usage, not just identification. Prioritizing education promotes wildcrafting practices that respect nature while ensuring safety and realizing the benefits of herbs.

If you’ve ever swished coconut or sesame oil around in your mouth first thing in the morning, you’ve already dipped your toes into the Ayurvedic practice of oil pulling. I’ve been using this technique for years, and it’s one of those daily rituals I keep coming back to—for fresh breath, healthy gums, lymph drainage, and that clean-mouth feeling that just feels good!

Spring cleaning provides the perfect moment to refresh your home and embrace the new season's charm. This year, consider enhancing your routine with natural cleaning methods that are not only environmentally friendly but also gentler on your health, especially if you deal with sensitivities. 

As an herbalist I’ve learned to lean into the changing seasons, embracing the ebb and flow of life, death, and rebirth that happens in the natural world all around us. Observing and celebrating these cycles has helped me to become a better medicine maker, knowing that as the plants around me change, I change as well. My body moves through these same seasonal cycles, from youthful exuberance, through powerful strength and eventually waning into my season of slumber. This is an accurate observance whether I consider this seasonal cycle as a daily occurrence, and annual one, or the changes I experience as I move through my lifetime. The seasons are all around us and the only constant is change.

I don’t know about you, but I am ready for all things spring!  Here in Oregon, we are just coming out of several months of rain and overcast skies, and as the spring buds and blooms begin to emerge, I dive headfirst into the season. (Even though many of us Oregonians know this as “False Spring” because we get a few wintery surprises before real spring arrives.)  Yet, I still move forward with my spring cleaning and crafting season. 

I’ve always been curious about dish soap bars. As a person who tries to reduce single-use plastics in my home, dish soap was one of the areas that needed some work. In full transparency, I had the same doubts I had when I made my homemade liquid laundry soap with soap nuts. Luckily in both cases, I was wrong and can once and for all ditch another source of plastic in my home!

As fallen leaves speckle the ground and the air turns crisper by the day, many of us are reaching for our fuzziest pair of socks, steaming hot beverages, and lighting our favorite candles to savor the essence of the cozy fall season. During this chilly time of year when most of my time is spent indoors, I often wish I could be enveloped by the scent of a misty morning walk through the forest; without needing to bundle up in ten separate layers to stay warm. Luckily, one of my favorite pastimes during the holiday season is making DIY crafts for my loved ones, so capturing the inviting aroma of the forest by dusting off my candle-making supplies was a no-brainer. Introducing—acorn spice candles!