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The Elder Tree Podcast

The Elder Tree Podcast

By The Elder Tree

The Elder Tree is a not-for profit organisation, empowering people through grassroots herbal education and earth skills, and providing affordable holistic healthcare opportunities. This podcast showcases a myriad of herbalists, herbal educators, permaculturalists and other amazing plant medicine folk from around Australia doing inspiring things.

There are four segments to the podcast:

- Herbal Education: Presented by Twiggy Dawn
- Permaculture Herbalism: Presented by Tonielle Christensen
- Sacred Herbalism: Presented by Stephanie Hazel
- Self Care With Herbs: Presented by Jessyca Bosscha
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2. Introduction to the Permaculture Herbalism Segment

The Elder Tree PodcastOct 02, 2022

00:00
01:01:09
75. Ritual Herbalism: Stephanie Hazel on Sacred Herbalism

75. Ritual Herbalism: Stephanie Hazel on Sacred Herbalism

This is a special edition episode - a deep exploration of all things ritual and herbal by Stephanie Hazel.
In this episode, Stephanie delves into what ritual is, why it's important for us as healers and herbalists, and how to start creating and practicing rituals that make sense for your ancestry, life and culture.
She discusses the myth of the world tree, the importance of the imaginal realms to human wholeness and how ritual is a crucial part of entheogenic plant culture.

**Please note: This was an emergency episode. There is quite a bit of background noise and we apologise profusely for this!

Mar 25, 202454:01
74. Growing More Medicine and Alchemilla: Tatiana Dawn on Permaculture Herbalism

74. Growing More Medicine and Alchemilla: Tatiana Dawn on Permaculture Herbalism

Tatiana Lustre Dawn, also known as Twiggy, the multifaceted force behind Alchemilla Herbals and founder of The Elder Tree and this podcast. As a Mother, Herbalist, Teacher, Journalist, and Permaculturalist, she wears many hats with passion and purpose.

Driven by a deep connection to plant medicine, Twiggy is dedicated to growing, harvesting, and crafting remedies, focusing on wild and naturalised plants.

Tatiana's reverence for plants is evident in her ceremonial work, where she collaborates closely with traditional medicine keepers across various lineages. She is strongly called to learn, carry and teach sacred devotional medicine songs from different cultures. She has been initiated as a Sahumadora and works with fire, smoke and ash for healing, purification and protection.

Twiggy uses social media and other online platforms to share her wisdom. She hosts regular workshops, classes, apprenticeships, and an online Meandering Medicine program.

She is a sought-after speaker at community events and herbal gatherings nationwide. Twiggy is currently writing a book about how to grow, harvest/wild harvest and manufacture plant medicine to extract and retain the potency of the herbal constituents.

Takeaways:

  • Permaculture is not just a gardening technique but a mindset that can be applied to various aspects of life.
  • Inheriting a permaculture property and running a community garden can be rewarding experiences that allow for the continuation of sustainable practices.
  • Integrating herbalism in permaculture gardens provides additional benefits and self-sufficiency in terms of health and well-being.
  • Plantain is a versatile and valuable herb that serves as a medicine chest in one plant and can be used for various purposes.

Chapters:

00:44 Permaculture as a Mindset

03:30 Integrating Herbalism in Permaculture

09:31 The Importance of Herbal Medicine

12:39 Specific Herbal Plants in the Garden

23:05 Personal Experience with Plant Medicine

28:02 The Birth of Alchemilla Herbals

34:43 What's Alive and Thriving

36:59 Upcoming Events and Online Course

46:57 The Importance of Medicinal Plants in the Garden

49:35 Parting Message: Grow Medicine

CONNECT:

Website: https://www.alchemillaherbals.com.au/ Meandering Medicine Program: https://www.alchemillaherbals.com.au/meanderingmedicine Instagram: @alchemillaherbals Facebook: AlchemillaHerbals


SHOW NOTES:


**THE ELDER TREE TROVE PATREON COMMUNITY**

You can join our Patreon ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and gain a deeper connection to our podcast. Pay only $2 per week to have access to bonus and often exclusive resources and opportunities- plus support the Elder tree at the same time! 

To find out more about The Elder Tree visit the website at ⁠⁠⁠⁠www.theeldertree.org⁠⁠⁠⁠ and donate to the crowdfunding campaign ⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠.

You can also follow The Elder Tree on ⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠⁠⁠sign up to the newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Find out more about this podcast and the presenters ⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠. Get in touch with The Elder Tree at:  ⁠⁠⁠⁠asktheeldertree@gmail.com⁠⁠⁠⁠

The intro and outro song is "⁠⁠⁠⁠Sing for the Earth⁠⁠⁠⁠" and was kindly donated by Chad Wilkins.  You can find Chad's music ⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Mar 16, 202452:59
73. Flower Codes, Spagyrics and Ancestral Herbalism: Heidi Wedd on Herbal Education

73. Flower Codes, Spagyrics and Ancestral Herbalism: Heidi Wedd on Herbal Education

Heidi Wedd is a herbal educator and the author of "Wild Flower Walker: A Pilgrimage to Nature on the Bibbulmun Track." She is passionate about reawakening and deepening our innate connection with Nature, and facilitates circles in nature connection, herbal alchemy & plant spirit communication. Her history is deeply embedded with plants, herbalism, homeopathy and midwifery.


In this interview Heidi shares her experiences of studying herbal medicine with Kim Dudley and Homeopathy with Isaac Goulden and her story of going to Findhorn and learn directly from Dorothy Mclean who is one of the founders of Findhorn. She shares her experience of being a midwife for 10 years within the hospital system, which lead her to working with midwives in Alice Springs on indigenous communities where shee met a teacher who immersed her in shamanic practices with plants.


Heidi and I discuss the significance of connecting with ancestors and the relevance of ancestral knowledge in herbal medicine. We explore the ancestral lineage of plants and the interplay between plants and human ancestry. We have a great chat about spagirics and alchemy in herbal medicine, highlighting the transformative and evolutionary process involved in creating potent plant medicines. In this conversation, Heidi shares her practical and simple approach to alchemy and shares how the three parts of spagyrical tincture (spirit, soul, and body) are essential in alchemical processes.


Heidi emphasizes the importance of experiencing alchemy in person and the healing exchange between humans and plants. We also explore the power of myth and storytelling in herbal education. Heidi shares her beautiful upcoming offerings and courses and shares her visions a future where herbal education is integrated and people feel comfortable and confident working with plants.


Heidi's Website:https://wildflowerwalker.com/

Heidi's IG:https://www.instagram.com/wildflowerwalker

Heidi's Link Tree:https://linktr.ee/wildflowerwalker

Substack:https://substack.com/@mythicliving

Purchase Heidi's book as an Ebook:https://www.booktopia.com.au/wild-flower-walker-heidi-wedd/ebook/9780463675861.html




To find out more about The Elder Tree visit the website at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.theeldertree.org⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and donate to the crowdfunding campaign ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.


You can join our Patreon ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠and gain a deeper connection to our podcast. Pay only $2 per week to have access to bonus and often exclusive resources and opportunities- plus support The Elder Tree at the same time!⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.patreon.com/theeldertree⁠⁠⁠⁠


You can also follow The Elder Tree on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠sign up to the newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Mar 09, 202401:08:50
72. A Food as Medicine Approach to Herbalism: Nena Aleschewski on Self Care with Herbs

72. A Food as Medicine Approach to Herbalism: Nena Aleschewski on Self Care with Herbs

Nena Aleschewski BNat IBCLC is a naturopath, nutritionist, herbalist and International Board Certified Lactation consultant. She has been in clinical practice at Goulds Natural Medicine in nipaluna, Hobart, Tasmania for over 14 years and has a passion for optimising the health and wellbeing of women, babies and children. She particularly loves to weave the magic of herbal remedies and food-as-medicine into all the lives she comes across, and strives to bring simplicity and connection into everyday healthy living.
Nena grew up with natural medicine- as a child her mum would use homeopathic remedies to support the family’s health. She has a strong early memory of family friends growing Echinacea in their garden. Her family grew food and Nena remembers ‘food herbs’ like garlic being used regularly.
After experiencing ill health in a foreign country and feeling particularly helpless, Nena had a strong desire to be able to help herself and support her own health, which inspired her to study a Bachelor of Naturopathy at Southern Cross University. She credits some wonderful herbal elders she encountered during her studies, for encouraging her passion for herbal medicine. Following university, Nena was lucky enough to gain an internship at Gould’s, which included growing and manufacturing herbal medicines and cemented her passion for using plant medicines.
Nena shares one of the biggest barriers to regularly prioritizing herself is the need to hold everything- and the guilt of letting something go in order to be able to carve out time for herself. Which ball will she let fall? It’s a feeling many of us would be familiar with…
We chat about the vicious cycle of hearing the screams from our bodies and minds for the need for self care, but the lack of motivation that sometimes accompanies this time.
Nena speaks about her garden and how spending even a couple of moments here connecting with the plants, can help to lift vitality.
And finally, Nena offers some really clever and practical tips for helping us to weave herbs into our days using a food as medicine approach…
**CONNECT**
You can connect with Nena here:
Gould’s Apothecary:
www.gouldsnaturalmedicine.com.au/nena-aleschewski
Instagram: www.instagram.com/naturopath_nena/
Facebook: www.facebook.com/naturopath.nena
**THE ELDER TREE TROVE PATREON COMMUNITY**
You can join our Patreon ⁠here⁠ and gain a deeper connection to our podcast. Pay only $2 per week to have access to bonus and often exclusive resources and opportunities- plus support the Elder tree at the same time!
To find out more about The Elder Tree visit the website at www.theeldertree.org and donate to the crowdfunding campaign here.
You can also follow The Elder Tree on Facebook and Instagram and sign up to the newsletter.
Find out more about this podcast and the presenters here. Get in touch with The Elder Tree at: asktheeldertree@gmail.com
The intro and outro song is "Sing for the Earth" and was kindly donated by Chad Wilkins. You can find Chad's music here and here.
Mar 03, 202451:40
71. Daoism and Ageing with Soul: Mason Taylor on Sacred Herbalism

71. Daoism and Ageing with Soul: Mason Taylor on Sacred Herbalism

Daoist Tonic Herbalism is an ancient tradition from China that works with adaptogenic and tonic herbs to extend life, and support soulful ageing. In this episode, Stephanie Hazel interviews Mason Taylor, one of Australia's major proponents of this tradition through his business Superfeast. They ponder the often ignored question: What does it take to age well? And what's the point of ageing well?


Show Notes:

* You can find Mason Taylor's business 'Superfeast' and their range of Di-Dao (grown in traditional ways) tonic herbs here.

* We discuss Stephen Harrod Buhner's book 'Plant Intelligence and the Imaginal Realms' briefly. (It's amazing!)


**THE ELDER TREE TROVE PATREON COMMUNITY**

You can join our Patreon ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and gain a deeper connection to our podcast. Pay only $2 per week to have access to bonus and often exclusive resources and opportunities- plus support the Elder tree at the same time! 

To find out more about The Elder Tree visit the website at ⁠⁠⁠⁠www.theeldertree.org⁠⁠⁠⁠ and donate to the crowdfunding campaign ⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠.

You can also follow The Elder Tree on ⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠⁠⁠sign up to the newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Find out more about this podcast and the presenters ⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠. Get in touch with The Elder Tree at:  ⁠⁠⁠⁠asktheeldertree@gmail.com⁠⁠⁠⁠

The intro and outro song is "⁠⁠⁠⁠Sing for the Earth⁠⁠⁠⁠" and was kindly donated by Chad Wilkins.  You can find Chad's music ⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Feb 24, 202401:01:04
70. Five Elements Theory, Urban Gardening and Body Relating: Dan Winter on Permaculture Herbalism

70. Five Elements Theory, Urban Gardening and Body Relating: Dan Winter on Permaculture Herbalism

Dan Winter is a multi-disciplinary bodyworker and Epigenetic Health Coach who supports his community to understand their body better so they can live empowered and meaningful lives. Dan believes that when we understand the fundamental laws of nature and apply them in our lives, we unlock our capacity to heal. Ever since he can remember, he has been curious about human potential. The challenges he's met in his health journey have fuelled his interest to look deeper, listen and learn to optimise his own function across many areas of health to live a life in harmony.
In this conversation, Dan and I discussed the importance of permaculture and how it serves as a lens for viewing life, particularly his bodywork. He shares his understanding of the Chinese Five Elements theory, Ayurveda, Zenthai Shiatsu, and Permaculture principles as useful modalities to integrate nature into health and well-being.

Takeaways:

  • Permaculture is a lens for viewing life and understanding nature's underlying principles and threads.
  • Integrating plants in an urban environment is possible through creative solutions like neighbourhood gardens and potted plants.
  • The sweet leaf is a versatile and resilient plant that can thrive in tropical climates and provide a continuous source of nutrition.
  • Plants can be utilised for health and healing, supporting the body's natural processes and addressing specific imbalances.
  • The five elements theory, derived from traditional Chinese medicine, provides a framework for understanding the cyclical nature of life and the interconnectedness of body and environment.

Chapters:

00:00 Introduction and Importance of Permaculture

02:09 Studying Permaculture and Applying Principles

05:13 Applying Permaculture Principles to Body Work

07:58 The Pattern to Detail and Integration Principle

09:21 Integrating Plants in an Urban Environment

12:47 Favourite Plants and Medicinal Diet

16:14 Must-Have Plant: Sweet Leaf

19:11 Utilising Plants for Health and Healing

25:23 Understanding the Five Elements

31:28 What's Alive and Thriving: Personal and Professional Life

CONNECT:

Website: www.bodyrelate.com.au
Facebook: Body Relate 
Instagram: @bodyrelate
Work with me: https://brelate.simplybook.me/v2/
Radio show FB page: https://www.facebook.com/CairnsFM891?mibextid=kFxxJD

SHOW NOTES:


**THE ELDER TREE TROVE PATREON COMMUNITY**

You can join our Patreon ⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠ and gain a deeper connection to our podcast. Pay only $2 per week to have access to bonus and often exclusive resources and opportunities- plus support the Elder tree at the same time! 

To find out more about The Elder Tree visit the website at ⁠⁠⁠www.theeldertree.org⁠⁠⁠ and donate to the crowdfunding campaign ⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠.

You can also follow The Elder Tree on ⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠⁠sign up to the newsletter⁠⁠⁠.

Find out more about this podcast and the presenters ⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠. Get in touch with The Elder Tree at:  ⁠⁠⁠asktheeldertree@gmail.com⁠⁠⁠

The intro and outro song is "⁠⁠⁠Sing for the Earth⁠⁠⁠" and was kindly donated by Chad Wilkins.  You can find Chad's music ⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠.

Feb 16, 202443:55
69. Healing and Education Combined: Pat Collins on Herbal Education

69. Healing and Education Combined: Pat Collins on Herbal Education

In this episode of the Elder Tree Podcast, Twiggy Dawn interviews herbal elder Pat Collins who resides on  Wanaruah land down in Musswellbrook. Pat has been a herbal teacher and herbal clinician for 32 years and opened the Total Health and Education Centre down in 1997 which is an inspirational place incorporating learning and healing for her community.


Pat really advocates home herbalism and loves to see people feeling confident to identify medicine, make their own medicine and use that medicine for their health and their family's health.Pat has written a whopping 8 books and I have been stocking her book "Wondrous World of Weeds" for over a year now.  Pat was a cub leader for around 20 years, which inspired her book "Bush Wise", the founder of the Pat Collins Total Health and Education Centre. Pat shares her journey of becoming a herbalist and opening the centre in Musswellbrook, in NSW.


She discusses the herbal products she makes and sells, including creams, syrups, and cleansers. Pat also talks about her involvement with the Indigenous Plants for Health Association and the importance of preserving and researching native plants. She offers regular workshops and a correspondence course to teach people how to make their own herbal remedies.


Pat emphasizes the importance of incorporating health and education and connecting with nature through bush camps. In this conversation, the guest discusses the importance of connecting with nature and the need for more education in this area.


  • Connecting with nature is essential in a fast-paced society and can help overcome fear and disconnection.
  • Community and support are crucial in herbal learning and can be found through events like the Wise Women Gathering.
  • Continual learning is important in the field of herbalism, and teaching what you learn can be fulfilling.
Feb 09, 202456:30
68. A Vision for Plant Connection, Healing and Learning: Elder Tree founder Twiggy Dawn on Self Care with Herbs

68. A Vision for Plant Connection, Healing and Learning: Elder Tree founder Twiggy Dawn on Self Care with Herbs

Twiggy Dawn is a Mother, Herbalist, Permaculturalist, Educator and founder of the Elder Tree.  Folks if you want to hear all about the vision for the Elder Tree from our founder, this episode is for you! Twiggy is passionate about growing, harvesting and making medicines and also has a keen interest in wil & naturalised medicines. She loves connecting people to the plants and also to their own ancestral roots.  She has been entranced by plant medicine for as long as she can remember, forming an early interest in witchcraft and fairy lore and making potions from plant material as a child. She honours the plants as teachers with deep reverence and respect. During our chat, Twiggy shares how her experiences working with suboptimal herbal materials and feeling frustrated with offering only surface level herbal symptom relief to customers,  inspired her to birth her business Alchemilla Herbals where she has really stepped into a teaching role through her many workshops which help to activate the home herbalist in participants. During a transformative experience at Pindara farm in Tasmania after the birth of her daughter where she helped grow, harvest and make herbal medicines, Twiggy shares how her dream for a space for healing and learning with plant medicine began to solidify into her vision for the Elder Tree. It’s really lovely to hear Twiggy speak passionately of her vision for the Elder Tree and as this episode was recorded towards the beginning of our podcast journey, this vision is now beginning to become a reality… Chatting about self care, Twiggy shares the pillars of health that encapsulate what self care means to her and how it’s really important for her to start her day mindfully, rather than jumping straight in… She speaks about balancing her time and allowing herself enough time in the outdoors amongst nature and her plant friends, engaging all her senses- smelling, tasting and listening to the plants. Twiggy takes us on a little journey amongst her plant friends, sharing how when she connects with a long term ally, Motherwort, all her senses are awakened… Towards the end of our chat, Twiggy shares some beautifully accessible ways for us to invite herbs into our daily rituals, using simple techniques and ingredients and finding ways to connect with the plant allies that grow around us… **CONNECT** Alchemilla Herbalshttps://www.alchemillaherbals.com.au/ ** Find out about Twiggy's new online course 'Meandering Medicine' to learn about herbs in a deep, gentle, explorative way here https://www.alchemillaherbals.com.au/meanderingmedicine Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/alchemillaherbals/?hl=en https://www.facebook.com/AlchemillaHerbals/ **SHOW NOTES** How do I use herbs in my daily life? Isabell Shippard **THE ELDER TREE TROVE PATREON COMMUNITY** You can join our Patreon ⁠⁠here⁠⁠ and gain a deeper connection to our podcast. Pay only $2 per week to have access to bonus and often exclusive resources and opportunities- plus support the Elder tree at the same time!  To find out more about The Elder Tree visit the website at ⁠www.theeldertree.org⁠ and donate to the crowdfunding campaign ⁠here⁠. You can also follow The Elder Tree on ⁠Facebook⁠ and ⁠Instagram⁠ and ⁠sign up to the newsletter⁠. Find out more about this podcast and the presenters ⁠here⁠. Get in touch with The Elder Tree at:  ⁠asktheeldertree@gmail.com⁠ The intro and outro song is "⁠Sing for the Earth⁠" and was kindly donated by Chad Wilkins.  You can find Chad's music ⁠here⁠ and ⁠here⁠.
Feb 02, 202439:11
67: The Body Cries the Tears: Sacred Work in Clinic with Jimi Wollumbin on Sacred Herbalism

67: The Body Cries the Tears: Sacred Work in Clinic with Jimi Wollumbin on Sacred Herbalism

"The body cries the tears the soul cannot shed."

What is healing? How do we bring ‘the Sacred’ into a natural medicine clinic? Is this necessary for true healing to happen? These are the tricky questions untangled by Jimi Wollumbin and Stephanie Hazel in this episode of Sacred Herbalism. 


(TLDR: Jimi’s take is that Healing is not the absence of disease, but rather the roaring presence of soul.)


We mentioned the following people, books and opportunities:

The Wild Edge of Herbalism - a 4 month initiation into plant relationships and sacred stories with Stephanie Hazel. Book a virtual coffee date here and we can chat about if this is right for you, and how you can start deepening into plant relationships right now.

Or email me and I’ll send you a course outline. 


Jimi Wollumbin’s Apprentice Lounge is available here.


Francis Wellar’s Wild Edge of Sorrow (Yes he inspired my course name!!) available here.


We discussed the idea of The Meaning Crisis - articulated by the excellent John Vervacke and available here as a free audio course.


May be you enriched by these teachers and these ideas.


Finally, about the Elder Tree:

To find out more about The Elder Tree visit the website at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.theeldertree.org⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and donate to the crowdfunding campaign ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

You can join our Patreon ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠and gain a deeper connection to our podcast. Pay only $2 per week to have access to bonus and often exclusive resources and opportunities- plus support The Elder Tree at the same time!⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.patreon.com/theeldertree⁠⁠⁠⁠

You can also follow The Elder Tree on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠sign up to the newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Jan 25, 202401:00:41
66. Sociocracy Basics Explained and Dynamic Decision-making Tools: Tonielle Christensen on Permaculture Herbalism

66. Sociocracy Basics Explained and Dynamic Decision-making Tools: Tonielle Christensen on Permaculture Herbalism

In this illuminating episode, join Tonielle as she unveils the transformative world of Sociocracy as a way to collaborate within groups and how dynamic decision-making tools can ensure facilitation can be fun and effective. She explains Sociocracy as a governance and meeting process and who it's most useful for. Drawing from her experience and training, Tonielle provides insights into the diverse applications of Sociocracy across different contexts. Delving into the core values and principles, including equivalence, effectiveness, and transparency, she navigates through the intricacies of consent versus consensus decision-making. The episode culminates in an exploration of the Sociocratic Circle Method process, the principles and practices of this methodology and how it relates to a new pattern of organisation structure. The dialogue covers an array of Sociocracy aspects, including roles and responsibilities, double links, facilitation, rounds, and meeting protocols. Additionally, it sheds light on integrating dynamic decision-making tools, offering her 'behind the scenes' session plan as inspiration for application in The Elder Tree context. Wrapping up with a thoughtful discussion on the significance of group agreements and feedback, the episode underscores their pivotal role in fostering a harmonious and productive work environment. Tune in for a captivating exploration of Sociocracy's transformative potential! Chapters: 00:00 Introduction and Background 06:30 What is Sociocracy? 18:20 Values and Principles of Sociocracy 26:21 Dynamic Decision Making 35:30 Applying Sociocracy in Different Contexts 46:40 Consent vs Consensus Decision Making 59:32 Process of Sociocracy 01:10:25 Roles and Responsibilities 01:12:11 Double Links 01:16:02 Facilitator and Secretary 01:18:31 Rounds and Decision Making 01:24:34 Different Approaches to Rounds 01:27:45 Additional Resources 01:37:01 Introduction and Icebreaker 01:37:30 Check-in and Overview 01:38:38 Group Agreements 01:39:07 Check-out and Feedback 01:40:32 Dynamic Decision-Making Tools 01:50:11 Appreciative Challenge 01:51:36 Dotocracy 01:55:02 Additional Resources

RESOURCES & BOOKS:


Jan 25, 202401:41:46
65. The Goulds Paradigm: Greg Whitten on Herbal Education

65. The Goulds Paradigm: Greg Whitten on Herbal Education

Greetings everyone from Lutriwita AKA Tasmania.  I am down here on an incredible herbal adventure-  of which one of the main goals and pivitol points of the trip was to go to Goulds farm and meet Greg Whitten. 

I have wanted to meet Greg ever since I purchased his massive book "Herbal Harvest" 13 years ago (it was released 25 years ago).  I have never come across anything like this book and it really inspired, motivated and educated me.  It came at a time when I was running an essential oil company, preparing to enroll in uni, was feeling disgruntled at the lack of herbal medicine education opportunities, and was hungry for a herbal teacher to teach me in person. 

Since that day I first opened the book I have vowed to go and meet him.  So here I am on this beautiful island which seems to be the perfect land for propagating temperate climate herbs and therefore propagating wise herbal elders such as Greg.Greg has had over 35 years of experience in growing high quality herbs and has been operating his current farm since 1995 where he grows around 80 species of medicinal plants. 

Greg co-owns Goulds which is a business that has been around Hobart since 1880 and it first started out as a pharmacy-  back when pharmacies were mostly herbs anyway.   Greg purchased Goulds 17 years ago with his daughter Dawn Whitten, her partner Jason Hawrelack and their friends Belinda and Daniel Robson, with Greg managing the farm and medicine making facilities, and the others managing the clinic and apothecary in Hobart.Goulds is the only example in Australia of multi practitioner clinic and apothecary, which grows and makes a large portion of its medicines.  The Goulds farm is organic and biodynamic and one of the things which makes it really special is that they still do everything on the farm by hand without machinery. 

Greg has quite an inventor streak and loves to create or re-invent innovative tools for weeding, growing, harvesting and making herbal medicine.  If you look on my Alchemilla Herbals facebook page you will find photos of my tour of his farm and medicine making area.Greg is such a humble and wise elder and one of the many things that I really appreciate about him is that he is so forthcoming with his knowledge-  he doesn't have any of that edgy industry mindset, doesn't harbor any trade secrets and also recognises that as he prepares for retirement, the knowledge must be in the hands of the next generation.  I hope that you enjoy this interview where we discuss his book herbal harvest which took 5 years to write on a typewriter.

We also discuss the internship program which used to run at Goulds.  This is a topic that I am particularly interested because The Elder Tree will run internship programs.  On this trip so far I met about 6 people who completed this program and it was great to hear about it from Greg and also hear a bit about what he calls the "Goulds Paradigm" , and his journey at Goulds and Green Pharm.  There are some areas of the interview where we geek out a bit on ratios medicine making, and botanical names.

Found out more about Goulds here:https://www.gouldsnaturalmedicine.com.au/Follow them on Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/GouldsNaturalMedicine/Follow them on Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/goulds_natural_medicine


To find out more about The Elder Tree visit the website at ⁠⁠⁠www.theeldertree.org⁠⁠⁠ and donate to the crowdfunding campaign ⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠.


You can join our Patreon ⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠ ⁠⁠⁠and gain a deeper connection to our podcast. Pay only $2 per week to have access to bonus and often exclusive resources and opportunities- plus support The Elder Tree at the same time!⁠⁠⁠www.patreon.com/theeldertree⁠⁠


You can also follow The Elder Tree on ⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠⁠sign up to the newsletter⁠⁠⁠.

Jan 12, 202452:52
64. Sustainable skin care, the benefits of tree hugging and living in harmony with nature: Kaja Skraskova on Self Care with Herbs

64. Sustainable skin care, the benefits of tree hugging and living in harmony with nature: Kaja Skraskova on Self Care with Herbs

Kaja Skraskova is a scientist and plant lover. When she was 11 years old, Kaja dreamt of opening an old style apothecary- a place sought after by people who needed to reconnect with herbs to heal. Kaja’s roots are in the Czech Republic and after embarking on a pharmacy degree in Prague and being lured down the research path, it was a research trip to Tasmania that set in stone her path towards creating a bush apothecary. 

Kaja is passionate about sustainable skin care and her Herbae Thylacini skin care range aims to raise awareness of the interrelationship between humans and the plant world, with a focus on re-discovering traditional medicines, and finding better ways to live in harmony with nature.

It’s fascinating to hear of Kaja’s study of the constituents of native Australian plants and the crossover between their European counterparts which are used by herbalists across Australia…we ponder how and if it might be possible for non indigenous Australians to use native Australian plants medicinally, in a way that does not misappropriate the knowledge of the traditional custodians of the land on which they grow. 

Kaja’s living far from home and support networks, while running a small business and raising 2 small children - and the theme of ‘it takes a village to raise a child’ threads through our conversation- we mourn the model of existing in immediate family silo’s where it’s difficult to find the time and space for self care.

Kaja is a big picture thinker and questions the idea of self care as only individual care- pondering is it more pertinent to ask- what does my community need, my neighbour, my work colleague- and watching the ripples of good will and connection flow from helping one another.

Along with being a passionate plant lover, Kaja’s a skilled herbal medicine maker and I loved picking her brains about different herbs and manufacturing techniques.

Towards the end of our interview, Kaja shares the most unique and nourishing herbal recipe that she uses to sneak extra herbal goodies into her two young daughters- I can’t wait to try it and I’m sure you’ll love it too! 



https://herbaethylacini.com.au/


Connect with Kaja here:

https://www.instagram.com/herbae_thylacini/?hl=en

https://www.facebook.com/herbaethylacini/


**SHOW NOTES**

Goulds Apothecary https://www.gouldsnaturalmedicine.com.au/apothecary

Penelope Ody's Complete Medicinal Herbal

https://www.amazon.com.au/Complete-Medicinal-Herbal-Penelope-Ody/dp/156458187X


**THE ELDER TREE TROVE PATREON COMMUNITY**

You can join our Patreon ⁠here⁠ and gain a deeper connection to our podcast. Pay only $2 per week to have access to bonus and often exclusive resources and opportunities- plus support the Elder tree at the same time! 

To find out more about The Elder Tree visit the website at www.theeldertree.org and donate to the crowdfunding campaign here.

You can also follow The Elder Tree on Facebook and Instagram and sign up to the newsletter.

Find out more about this podcast and the presenters here. Get in touch with The Elder Tree at:  asktheeldertree@gmail.com

The intro and outro song is "Sing for the Earth" and was kindly donated by Chad Wilkins.  You can find Chad's music here and here.

Jan 03, 202401:04:56
63. The Complexity of Knowledge: Prof. John Bradley on Sacred Herbalism

63. The Complexity of Knowledge: Prof. John Bradley on Sacred Herbalism

Can knowledge belong to a place? Can knowledge belong to a people? And what happens when we force other cultures to prove that their ways of knowledge also have a place at the table? What is lost when we lose the ability to hold many perspectives at once, and what happens when languages that knowledge emerges from disappears? In this more-academic-than-usual (but hopefully still relevant and mind-bending) Stephanie Hazel interviews her university Anthropology lecturer, John Bradley. John taught Stephanie at UQ in 2006 on the topic of Indigenous Ethnoecology.

This conversation explores epistemic violence and the exclusion of non-western ways of knowing, and does this through stories about cycad palms, about university arrogance, and about Snow Lions disappearing with glaciers melting. John shares the real lived experience of the Yanyuwa people of Arnhem Land - what living 'in relationship' with the rest of ecology actually looks like through kin-centric ecologies.The conversation also highlights the loss of indigenous languages and knowledge and the role of language in preserving plant medicine knowledge.


If you want to read more about Yanyuwa kinships systems, here is a free pdf book about Yanyuwa Law, co-authored by John Bradley.

And here is another one a bit less about Law, and more about Kinship. Warning: both of these are heavy, but fascinating!


You can check John out on LinkedIn.



Key Points:

  • Unlearning is essential to include other ways of knowing and challenge Western-centric perspectives.
  • Cultural appropriation and epistemic violence occur when knowledge is taken without acknowledgment or understanding of its cultural context.
  • The loss of indigenous languages and knowledge poses a threat to the preservation of plant medicine knowledge. Traditional plant knowledge is complex and diverse, and it should be respected and embraced in herbal medicine practices.
  • There is a need to acknowledge and value the authority and complexity of Indigenous knowledge in herbal medicine.
  • Curiosity, imagination, and a willingness to embrace complexity are essential in understanding plants and their relationships.


**THE ELDER TREE TROVE PATREON COMMUNITY**

You can join our Patreon ⁠⁠here⁠⁠ and gain a deeper connection to our podcast. Pay only $2 per week to have access to bonus and often exclusive resources and opportunities- plus support the Elder tree at the same time! 

To find out more about The Elder Tree visit the website at ⁠www.theeldertree.org⁠ and donate to the crowdfunding campaign ⁠here⁠.

You can also follow The Elder Tree on ⁠Facebook⁠ and ⁠Instagram⁠ and ⁠sign up to the newsletter⁠.

Find out more about this podcast and the presenters ⁠here⁠. Get in touch with The Elder Tree at:  ⁠asktheeldertree@gmail.com⁠

The intro and outro song is "⁠Sing for the Earth⁠" and was kindly donated by Chad Wilkins.  You can find Chad's music ⁠here⁠ and ⁠here⁠.

Dec 26, 202358:20
62. Gardening Resources, Pip Mag and Balance: Robyn Rosenfeldt on Permaculture Herbalism

62. Gardening Resources, Pip Mag and Balance: Robyn Rosenfeldt on Permaculture Herbalism

Join us on this episode as we delve into the world of permaculture with Robyn Rosenfeldt, the visionary behind Permaculture Pip magazine. Robyn wears many hats – from being the founding publisher and editor to an art director, photographer, writer, bookkeeper, and the tea lady.

Amidst the hustle, she finds solace in surfing, balancing a life that revolves around her haven in Pambula, NSW, with her partner and three children, as they tend to a lively household that includes three sheep, four chickens, a rooster, and five ducks.

In this conversation, Robyn speaks to the insights she gained in her Permaculture Design Course, which sparked her passions beyond the garden, weaving together her roles as a creator and nurturer to birth the vibrant Pip mag, and she shares the meaning behind the name.

Venture into Robyn's world as she advocates for using edible plants to enhance well-being, unveiling her favourite botanical berry allies and her ways of cultivating and using Garlic.

We discuss the environmental impact of purchasing herbs and the transformative journey of growing your own. From the feathered friends in her backyard to the allure of bushtucker foods, Robyn imparts the wisdom of balance in life, drawn from her love for surfing and the grounding sanctuary of her garden.

As a special treat for our Trove Patreon Members, Robyn extends a generous gift – her "Sow, Know, Grow" ebook, a testament to her dedication to sharing knowledge and fostering a community of mindful living. Tune in for a captivating conversation that delves deep into the heart of permaculture, sustainable living, and the vibrant tapestry of Robyn's creative life.

TAKEAWAYS:

  • Permaculture is an important aspect of sustainable living and connects individuals to the earth and their community.
  • Growing and consuming fresh, nutrient-rich food is beneficial for health and well-being.
  • Garlic is a versatile and easy-to-grow plant that offers both culinary and medicinal benefits.
  • Berries are a valuable addition to any garden, providing antioxidants and delicious flavours.
  • Finding balance in life is essential for overall happiness and productivity.
  • PIP magazine offers a range of ebooks and resources for those interested in permaculture and sustainable living. Growing your own herbs reduces your carbon footprint and eliminates the need for plastic packaging.
  • Some herbs are perennial and can be grown indefinitely, while others need to be replanted each year.
  • Pip Magazine offers valuable resources on topics such as chickens and bush tucker.

SHOW NOTES:

00:00 The Importance of Permaculture

02:00 The Creation of PIP Magazine

04:17 Integrating Plants into Life

07:17 Must-Have Plants in the Garden

10:47 Growing Garlic

13:24 Utilising Plants for Health

19:10 Growing Berries

24:19 Finding Balance in Life

28:37 Thriving in Life

33:42 Ebooks and Resources

37:18 Christmas Presents and Farewell

39:01 Benefits of Growing Your Own Herbs

40:09 Appreciation for Pip Magazine

CONNECT:

PIP Mag: https://pipmagazine.com.au/www.pipmagazine.com.au
Instagram
Facebook
Youtube

How to Grow Garlic: https://pipmagazine.com.au/grow/how-to-plant-garlic-2/

**THE ELDER TREE TROVE PATREON COMMUNITY**

You can join our Patreon ⁠⁠here⁠⁠ and gain a deeper connection to our podcast. Pay only $2 per week to have access to bonus and often exclusive resources and opportunities- plus support the Elder tree at the same time! 

To find out more about The Elder Tree visit the website at ⁠www.theeldertree.org⁠ and donate to the crowdfunding campaign ⁠here⁠.

You can also follow The Elder Tree on ⁠Facebook⁠ and ⁠Instagram⁠ and ⁠sign up to the newsletter⁠.

Find out more about this podcast and the presenters ⁠here⁠. Get in touch with The Elder Tree at:  ⁠asktheeldertree@gmail.com⁠

The intro and outro song is "⁠Sing for the Earth⁠" and was kindly donated by Chad Wilkins.  You can find Chad's music ⁠here⁠ and ⁠here⁠.

Dec 21, 202344:43
61. Following the Mystery of Medicine: Lily Aagren on Herbal Education

61. Following the Mystery of Medicine: Lily Aagren on Herbal Education

This episode is a thought provoking discussion with Lily Aagren aka Lily of the Herbs, who is a herbalist, permaculturalist and ZenThai Shiatsu practitioner on Warrandjuri country in Warrandite, Victoria.
In this conversation, Twiggy and Lily discuss their journeys in herbal medicine and the need for a more nuanced approach to herbalism education in Australia. Lily shares her experiences learning herbal medicine through volunteering and skill sharing, as well as her motivation to become an educator.


They also discuss the challenges and limitations of herbalism education in Australia, and the importance of reclaiming and celebrating different aspects of herbalism. They both express their excitement for the future of herbalism in Australia and the potential for more diverse and accessible education options.


In this conversation, Twiggy and Lily discuss the accessibility of herbs, the power of inspiration and manifestation, the importance of land accessibility and community living, the integration of herbalism into daily life, the empowerment and sovereignty that comes with herbalism, the impact of connections and planting seeds of inspiration, the availability of herbs in supermarkets, current herbal allies, upcoming offerings and trainings, and closing thoughts on trust and gratitude takeaways.


🌳Volunteering and skill sharing are valuable ways to learn herbal medicine
🌳There is a need for more nuanced terminology and recognition of different aspects of herbalism
🌳Herbalism education should be accessible and cater to different learning styles and interests
🌳The landscape of herbalism in Australia is changing, with more diverse education options emerging Herbs can be made more accessible by supporting herb growers and organic farmers
🌳Inspiration and manifestation play a key role in creating the future we want to see
🌳Land accessibility and community living can enhance the practice of herbalism
🌳Herbalism empowers individuals to take control of their health and make informed choices
🌳Connections and sharing inspiration can have a ripple effect and create positive change
🌳Exploring different herbal allies can provide unique benefits and support
🌳There are various offerings and trainings available to deepen knowledge and practice of herbalism
🌳Trusting the journey and expressing gratitude are important aspects of the herbalism journey.
Chapters
00:00Introduction and Background
02:01Journey in Thailand
04:12Working with Fresh Herbal Medicine
06:29Connection with Plants in Traditional Cultures
07:44Relaxed Attitude towards Healing
08:30Journey of Learning Herbal Medicine
11:10Learning through Volunteering and Skill Sharing
14:00Becoming an Educator
19:11The Way of the Herbalist Course
24:00The Need for Nuanced Terminology in Herbalism
29:51The Changing Landscape of Herbalism in Australia
38:00The Future of Herbalism Education
43:27Making Herbs More Accessible
44:07Inspiration and Manifestation
45:05Land Accessibility and Community Living
46:03Daily Integrated Practice and Health Sovereignty
47:12Empowerment and Sovereignty
47:48Creating Connections and Planting Seeds of Inspiration
48:06Herbs in Supermarkets and Unexpected Discoveries
49:15Current Herbal Allies
53:14Upcoming Offerings and Trainings
55:37Closing Thoughts and Gratitude


Show Notes:


Lily's website:

https://www.lilyoftheherbs.com/


Find her on IG:

@lilyoftheherbs


The book mentioned:

Herbal Harvest by Greg Whitten



To find out more about The Elder Tree visit the website at ⁠⁠www.theeldertree.org⁠⁠ and donate to the crowdfunding campaign ⁠⁠here⁠⁠.


You can join our Patreon ⁠⁠⁠here⁠ ⁠⁠and gain a deeper connection to our podcast. Pay only $2 per week to have access to bonus and often exclusive resources and opportunities- plus support The Elder Tree at the same time!⁠⁠www.patreon.com/theeldertree⁠


You can also follow The Elder Tree on ⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠sign up to the newsletter⁠⁠.

Dec 13, 202358:53
60. Finding the Sacred in our Everyday: Brenda Rogers on Self Care with Herbs

60. Finding the Sacred in our Everyday: Brenda Rogers on Self Care with Herbs

During this episode, I chat with Brenda Rogers a clinical naturopath and life coach specialising in hormonal transitions, particularly menopause. She’s passionate about working with a new generation of strong and empowered women who have something wonderful to offer the world and who know that age does not matter.

Brenda gently guides women to reclaim their health and vitality, eliminating discomfort and finding self-worth so they can take care of others without compromising on their own dreams and ambitions. 

During our chat, Brenda candidly shares her experience with diet culture during her teens and the unhappy, self critical spiral this triggered. 

We chat about how studying naturopathy in her early 20’s took her down a different path and opened up a deep and continuing connection to nature, providing a source of healing and allowing her to recognise that witnessing and noticing the cycles of the natural world is a form of medicine. 

Brenda is currently studying End of Life Coaching, and explains how becoming comfortable with death and the process of dying has emphasised to her, the importance of finding a way to be more present and developing an appreciation of the sacred in the everyday. 

Don’t ask her to slow down- we agree this can be condescending- but finding a way to engage the senses and be present while enjoying everyday moments is essential.

Brenda has a lovely way of describing how she tunes into the whispers that sometimes beset us when self care hasn’t been a priority…she talks of a process of ‘sifting’ and honest reflection- and how it’s the witnessing of the whispers and what they might be telling her that can be most valuable. 

I love the wisdom of perspective that Brenda shares when speaking about the barriers to self care, how youth and ignorance can sometimes be real impediments to investing in ourselves. When we treat symptoms like fatigue, period pain or skin conditions as mere inconveniences, it’s often because we don’t have the understanding of these symptoms as signs of a deeper wrong.

Brenda’s passion for nourishing food shines through during our chat, her connection with the folks who grow her food and her joy at creating wholesome basics like beautiful gelatinous broths. This is food as medicine at it’s best and we’re lucky to have Brenda share a very special recipe which showcases and preserves what’s in season in your garden! 


**SPECIAL OFFERS**

Brenda is offering the Elder Tree Podcast listeners a special complimentary 30 day trial of her popular Well- Nourished Woman program. This program provides a monthly membership to nourish and heal your amazing body, based on the Wise Traditions Diet and other proven methods. Access more information on the program here:

https://qwomen.com.au/well_nourished/.


Brenda has also shared a beautifully nourishing Skin Beauty Serum recipe, which will be available to The Elder Tree Trove Patreon Community.

You can join our Patreon ⁠⁠here⁠⁠ and gain a deeper connection to our podcast. Pay only $2 per week to have access to bonus and often exclusive resources and opportunities- plus support the Elder tree at the same time! 


**CONNECT**

You can connect with Brenda here:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/qwomenshealth/ 

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brenda-rogers-quintessence/ 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/qwomenshealth/

Website: www.qwomen.com.au

Email: brenda@qwomen.com.au 



To find out more about The Elder Tree visit the website at www.theeldertree.org and donate to the crowdfunding campaign here.

You can also follow The Elder Tree on Facebook and Instagram and sign up to the newsletter.

Find out more about this podcast and the presenters here. Get in touch with The Elder Tree at:  asktheeldertree@gmail.com

The intro and outro song is "Sing for the Earth" and was kindly donated by Chad Wilkins.  You can find Chad's music here and here.

Dec 04, 202359:27
55. Indigenous Plant Wisdom of Time and Place: Tyson Yunkaporta on Sacred Herbalism

55. Indigenous Plant Wisdom of Time and Place: Tyson Yunkaporta on Sacred Herbalism

Tyson Yungaporta is a professor of Indigenous Wisdom at Deakin University and in my opinion one of the most exciting minds in Australia today. He blends ecological systems thinking, global indigenous mythological framing and Indigenous Australian wisdom into a compelling and rich reframe for human consciousness. In this interview, Stephanie and Tyson yarn about plants, how to pay attention to what plants tell us about the time, place and season of country, how plants change in response to humans and how to avoid the trap of flights of fantasy in plant communication.


SHOWNOTES:

Read Tyson's book 'Sand Talk: How Indigenous Wisdom can Save the World' here.

Check out his interview on the Emerald here (great content about conspiracy theories that really helped me make sense of this thorny issue).

Join Stephanie's next Plant Listening short courses here.

To find out more about The Elder Tree visit the website at ⁠www.theeldertree.org⁠ and donate to the crowdfunding campaign ⁠here⁠.


You can join our Patreon ⁠⁠here⁠ ⁠and gain a deeper connection to our podcast. Pay only $2 per week to have access to bonus and often exclusive resources and opportunities- plus support The Elder Tree at the same time!⁠ www.patreon.com/theeldertree⁠


The intro and outro song is "⁠Sing for the Earth⁠" and was kindly donated by Chad Wilkins.  You can find Chad's music ⁠here⁠ and ⁠here

Nov 28, 202301:20:52
59. The Stories Underneath our Systems: Miriam Latif on Sacred Herbalism

59. The Stories Underneath our Systems: Miriam Latif on Sacred Herbalism

Miriam Latif - a curious and cunning herbalist from a medical family - is also a storyteller, cultural explorer and systems thinker. She is interviewed here by Stephanie Hazel, and together they chart the important but often-ignored terrain of invisible narratives that shape the way we think about health and healing. How often do you think about the stories you tell yourself unconsciously? Do these stories actually support an experience of life that is connected, interrelated and inclusive, or do these stories support an obsession with individuality and productivity? What about the stories you tell your clients or your friends and family about health and herbal medicine? These are powerful parts of the healing that can happen with plants, but something we often do entirely unconsciously.


You can find Miriam via instagram https://www.instagram.com/___understory/


You can also delve into mythopoetic relationships to plants through Stephanie's 6-week Plant Allies course, coming up in March.

https://www.stephaniehazel.com.au/courses/find-your-plant-allies/


To find out more about The Elder Tree visit the website at ⁠www.theeldertree.org⁠ and donate to the crowdfunding campaign ⁠here⁠.

You can join our Patreon ⁠⁠here⁠ ⁠and gain a deeper connection to our podcast. Pay only $2 per week to have access to bonus and often exclusive resources and opportunities- plus support The Elder Tree at the same time!⁠www.patreon.com/theeldertree⁠


You can also follow The Elder Tree on ⁠Facebook⁠ and ⁠Instagram⁠ and ⁠sign up to the newsletter⁠.


Find out more about this podcast and the presenters ⁠here⁠. Get in touch with The Elder Tree at:  ⁠asktheeldertree@gmail.com⁠


The intro and outro song is "⁠Sing for the Earth⁠" and was kindly donated by Chad Wilkins.  You can find Chad's music ⁠here⁠ and ⁠here


Nov 28, 202356:37
58. Seed Saving, Food as Medicine & Nature Healing with Maria Gilles on Permaculture Herbalism

58. Seed Saving, Food as Medicine & Nature Healing with Maria Gilles on Permaculture Herbalism

Embark on a journey into the verdant world of Seed Saving with Maria Gillies. Living a simple yet profoundly enriching life, she is a devoted member of the Mareeba Seed Savers coordinator's team in Far North Queensland and volunteers with the National Seed Savers Organisation to connect all Australian groups and provide seed-saving knowledge and skills.

Maria left her life in the laboratory to take off her shoes and follow her curiosity for "food as medicine" and the insightful world of seeds after experiencing a deep connection with Papaya and the lessons learnt from being present with seeds and healing with nature.

It wasn't until Maria visited France during a two-year sojourn that she had her hands in the soil, discovering the abundant joys of cultivating fruits and vegetables.

The turning point in her journey came when she engaged in a transformative woofing experience with Isabel Shipard, a renowned herbalist and author on the Sunshine Coast. Under Isabel's expert guidance, Maria realised the significance of preserving seeds from one's garden.

Join Maria as she shares her insights, experiences, and the rich tapestry of lessons learned in the world of nurturing and preserving life through seeds.

SHOW NOTES:

CONNECT:

**THE ELDER TREE TROVE PATREON COMMUNITY**

You can join our Patreon here and gain a deeper connection to our podcast. Pay only $2 per week to have access to bonus and often exclusive resources and opportunities- plus support the Elder tree at the same time!

To learn more about The Elder Tree, visit the website at www.theeldertree.org and donate to the crowdfunding campaign here.

You can also follow The Elder Tree on Facebook and Instagram and sign up for the newsletter.

Find out more about this podcast and the presenters here. Get in touch with The Elder Tree at:  asktheeldertree@gmail.com

The intro and outro song is "Sing for the Earth" and was kindly donated by Chad Wilkins.  You can find Chad's music here and here.

Nov 20, 202359:47
57. Herbal Shamanism and Kisses from Mel Gibson: Linda Bates on Herbal Education

57. Herbal Shamanism and Kisses from Mel Gibson: Linda Bates on Herbal Education


Linda Bates is a fourth generation herbalist who trained in 19 schools around England and the Mediterranean. She has been in clinical practice for 4 decades and is a truly inspirational herbal elder in Australia. I met Linda about a decade ago, at Pindari farm in Tasmania at a week-long medicine making intensive which was taught by her and Sandra Parker (who I interviewed in episode 17).


In this episode we discuss the importance of herbalists doing the ongoing self work- the spiritual work is important to be able to hold space as a practitioner to create a space of love and compassion for the patient.
Linda shares about how the word herbalist back in ancient Greece meant doctor, and the role of the doctor was teacher. We discuss the importance of clinic being educational. The teacher should be opening minds and expanding hearts.We share the importance of attuning with and talking to the plants and listening to what they have to say.

Linda shares her passion and belief that herbalists should have 10 years of clinical practice before being able to give clinical training to herbal students. She shares her dissapointment at the lack of experience many lecturers at university have these days and the necessity of being truly ready before entering into clinical practice. She offers wonderful mentorship for university graduates to assist them in coming into their own clinics- this is a wonderful bridge!


Linda shares wisdom around Angelica, Lavender and Basil. She shares her way of integrating herbs into a hospital setting and also addresses the issue of mass produced heavily processed medicines on the market lacking the fresh vitality and wholeness.Linda shares some wonderful stories fro her time in the London theatre working for Lindsay Kemp. It was here that she assisted famous opera singers with her herbs. She dispensed herbs to David Bowie and was even kissed by Mel Gibson!!!


It was such an honour to interview Linda, she is a herbal elder who I respect immensely and am grateful that I had the opportunity learn from her face-to-face. I am sure you will all enjoy this episode!


Learn more about Linda here:
https://www.lindabatesherbalmedicine.com/about
Follow Linda Bates Herbal Medicine on FB.


To find out more about The Elder Tree visit the website at ⁠www.theeldertree.org⁠ and donate to the crowdfunding campaign ⁠here⁠.


You can join our Patreon ⁠⁠here⁠ ⁠and gain a deeper connection to our podcast. Pay only $2 per week to have access to bonus and often exclusive resources and opportunities- plus support The Elder Tree at the same time!⁠www.patreon.com/theeldertree


You can also follow The Elder Tree on ⁠Facebook⁠ and ⁠Instagram⁠ and ⁠sign up to the newsletter⁠.


Find out more about this podcast and the presenters ⁠here⁠. Get in touch with The Elder Tree at:  ⁠asktheeldertree@gmail.com


The intro and outro song is "⁠Sing for the Earth⁠" and was kindly donated by Chad Wilkins.  You can find Chad's music ⁠here⁠ and ⁠here

Nov 17, 202301:43:27
56. The Alchemy of People and Plants: Jess Allan on Self Care with Herbs

56. The Alchemy of People and Plants: Jess Allan on Self Care with Herbs

During this episode I have a deeply nourishing chat with Jess Allan- a conversation filled with imagery and story telling.

Jess is a herbalist, Bowen therapist and the owner of Skindoona Apothecary in Newcastle NSW, where she manufactures a range of herbal and vibrational skin care.

Having a deep love and connection to the natural world and an affinity for sensing and communicating emotional profiles, Jess followed her path into herbs and healing and has enjoyed experiencing the alchemy of people and plants for almost 20 years. 

During this episode, Jess shares how after feeling quite disconnected from the natural world during her early childhood, it was the school camps she experienced later in her youth, where she spent time in the bush, hands in the earth and felt her eyes open and her soul start to connect with the plants. 

Jess is a beautiful story teller and during our chat takes us on a special journey, sharing how she connects with individual plants on a deep level to create potent flower essences. 

She describes feeling disconnected and even skeptical after completing some introductory courses on Bush Flower essences…but being immersed in a Nature Philosophy course and meditating in the bush amongst the wildflowers helped facilitate a profound connection and a deeper knowing of flowers and plants.  

Jess’s connection with herbs was deepened even further, during a transformative experience on a medicinal herb farm in Tasmania. It was here that she really started to connect strongly with the herbs, understanding their vibrations, and feeling a whole new world opening up, a sense of safety and belonging. 

Jess has been deep in motherhood over the past ten years and shares how it’s really easy to lose sight of self care and that daily investment in ourselves. She describes the feeling many of us experience- that there is a bigger dream than just surviving each day.


**CONNECT**

Skin Doona Apothecary

https://skindoona.com.au/

https://www.instagram.com/skindoona/

https://m.facebook.com/p/SkinDoona-100063083926324/


**SHOW NOTES**

Find out more about the Nature Philosphy Course Jess references here

Learn more about Australian Bush Flower essences here

Connect with the Lighthouse Health Hub where Jess manufactures her beautiful skin care range here


**THE ELDER TREE TROVE PATREON COMMUNITY**

You can join our Patreon here and gain a deeper connection to our podcast. Pay only $2 per week to have access to bonus and often exclusive resources and opportunities- plus support the Elder tree at the same time!


To find out more about The Elder Tree visit the website at www.theeldertree.org and donate to the crowdfunding campaign here.

You can also follow The Elder Tree on Facebook and Instagram and sign up to the newsletter.

Find out more about this podcast and the presenters here. Get in touch with The Elder Tree at:  asktheeldertree@gmail.com

The intro and outro song is "Sing for the Earth" and was kindly donated by Chad Wilkins.  You can find Chad's music here and here.

Nov 04, 202301:05:53
54. Backdoor Medicines, Being Gardened and Education with Hope: Morag Gamble: Permaculture Herbalism

54. Backdoor Medicines, Being Gardened and Education with Hope: Morag Gamble: Permaculture Herbalism

Morag Gamble is a global award-winning permaculture educator, speaker,  gardener,  ⁠podcaster⁠⁠humanitarian⁠, the founder of the ⁠Permaculture Education Institute⁠ and the creator of ⁠Our Permaculture Life blog⁠ and ⁠Youtube Channel⁠ (viewed over 6 million times). She teaches permaculture teachers on six continents through her in-depth online course, the ⁠Permaculture Educators Program⁠, and permaculture gardeners in another course, The Incredible Edible Garden.

You can join her monthly for free Permaculture Film screenings and permaculture masterclasses. Join her ⁠newsletter⁠ to get updates of all her latest events, films, podcasts and offerings. 

Morag lives with her family amidst her permaculture garden in Gubbi Gubbi country near Maleny, where she homeschools her two boys. In this conversation, she talks us through the medicines growing at her back door and her role as a teacher of teachers, where she supports a worldwide network of educators and explains it in terms of mycelium. With her podcast "Sense-making in a Changing World", she shines the light on people, solutions and the thinking we need to navigate a positive and regenerative way forward for a thriving one-planet way of life.


CONNECT:


SHOW NOTES:


THE ELDERTREE TROVE PATREON COMMUNITY: Join here!

You can join our Patreon ⁠⁠⁠here⁠ ⁠⁠and gain a deeper connection to our podcast. Pay only $2 per week to have access to bonus and often exclusive resources and opportunities - plus support The Elder Tree at the same time! ⁠⁠⁠www.patreon.com/theeldertree⁠⁠


To learn more about The Elder Tree, visit the website at ⁠⁠www.theeldertree.org⁠⁠ and donate to the crowdfunding campaign ⁠⁠here⁠⁠. You can also follow The Elder Tree on ⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠sign up to the newsletter⁠⁠. Find out more about this podcast and the presenters ⁠⁠here⁠⁠. Get in touch with The Elder Tree at: ⁠⁠asktheeldertree@gmail.com⁠ ⁠The intro and outro song is "⁠⁠Sing for the Earth⁠⁠" and was kindly donated by Chad Wilkins.  You can find Chad's music ⁠⁠here⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠here⁠⁠.

Oct 25, 202301:18:01
53. A Whole Sun Cycle of Wisdom and Collaboration: Tatiana Dawn on Herbal Education

53. A Whole Sun Cycle of Wisdom and Collaboration: Tatiana Dawn on Herbal Education

Springtime blessings to all of you tuning in to this episode. We recently celebrated the podcast's first birthday on the Spring Equinox, and I want to extend a heartfelt thanks to all of you for your support on this journey so far.

If you have been tuning in recently, you would have noticed that over this past moon cycle, we have each been giving a deeper insight into our individual segment's journeys over the past year.  Here in this episode, I am going to share with you the past year’s deeply explorative journey in the Herbal Education segment. 

After that, I will share with you all a bit about where we are at with The Elder Tree project and where this podcast fits in with the vision of The Elder Tree

Thank you for your support, encouragement and assistance during this time. The future ancestors also thank you.

5. Reciprocity with Herbs: Alyson Maier on Herbal Education

https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/5-reciprocity-with-herbs-alyson-maier-on-herbal-education/id1646328719?i=1000583733494

9. Paradigm Shifts in Herbal Education: Heidi Merika on Herbal Education

https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/9-paradigm-shifts-in-herbal-education-heidi-merika/id1646328719?i=1000587310877

 

13. Informal Education and the Dream for Inherited Learning: Sam Marsh on Herbal Education

https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/13-informal-education-and-the-dream-for/id1646328719?i=1000591026765

 

17. Creating Your Own Homegrown Dispensary: Sandra Parker https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/17-creating-your-own-homegrown-dispensary-sandra-parker/id1646328719?i=1000594854900

21. An Elder's Perspective on Being a Student and Teacher: Dipaunka Macrides https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/21-an-elders-perspective-on-being-a-student/id1646328719?i=1000600433187

25. Preserving Endangered Herbs- Christopher Smith https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/25-preserving-endangered-herbs-christopher-smith-on/id1646328719?i=1000605227690

29. From Farm to Apothecary & Community Herbalism: Monica Francia https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/29-from-farm-to-apothecary-community-herbalism-monica/id1646328719?i=1000609700198

33. Building a Culture of Collaboration in the Herbal Community: Cat Green https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/33-building-a-culture-of-collaboration-in/id1646328719?i=1000613917180

37. Nature as a Co-facilitator and the Need for Deep Listening: Jacqui Bushell https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/37-nature-as-a-co-facilitator-and-the-need/id1646328719?i=1000617390233

41. Attuning Ourselves to Herbs: Stephanie Hazel https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/41-attuning-ourselves-to-herbs-stephanie-hazel-on-herbal/id1646328719?i=1000621435020

45. Grassroots Herbal Educators Sprouting up from the Ground: Rosie Cooper https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/45-grassroots-herbal-educators-sprouting-up-from-the/id1646328719?i=1000624580880

49. Herbal Medicine is the People's Medicine: Sharn Harper https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/49-herbal-medicine-is-the-peoples-medicine-sharn/id1646328719?i=1000627935033


To find out more about The Elder Tree visit the website at www.theeldertree.org and donate to the crowdfunding campaign here.

You can join our Patreon ⁠here⁠ and gain a deeper connection to our podcast. Pay only $2 per week to have access to bonus and often exclusive resources and opportunities- plus support The Elder Tree at the same time!
www.patreon.com/theeldertree


You can also follow The Elder Tree on Facebook and Instagram and sign up to the newsletter.


Find out more about this podcast and the presenters here. Get in touch with The Elder Tree at:  asktheeldertree@gmail.com


The intro and outro song is "Sing for the Earth" and was kindly donated by Chad Wilkins.  You can find Chad's music here and here

Oct 20, 202327:52
42. Songs, Microbiome and Music as a Tool for Education: Charlie Mgee on Permaculture Herbalism

42. Songs, Microbiome and Music as a Tool for Education: Charlie Mgee on Permaculture Herbalism

Charlie Mgee is a songwriter, ukulele player, permaculturist and founder of the world-renowned ecological funk/swing band, Formidable Vegetable. Growing up in a tin shed with a veggie garden, rainwater tank and one 100W solar panel for power in the south-west of Western Australia, Charlie lived the low-impact lifestyle from a young age, using a 'Dunny' that didn't flush and hanging out with his chickens for entertainment, which made him realise early on that you don’t need a lot in life to be happy.
Later on, Charlie went off to study permaculture and, soon after, formed Formidable Vegetable – a band based entirely around principles of sustainable living and being good to the planet, with the hope of inspiring people everywhere to grow regenerative gardens/lives/communities and generally make the world a better place.

In this episode, Charlie shares his earlier childhood years living in Arnhem land and how this time influenced his perspective of music as a pattern language, and the powerful experiences he had listening to the traditional songs as a way of knowing and remembering, to propagate culture.

Our conversation explores his career as a musician, how he came to use it as a tool for education and why he believes that real change is going to happen at a community level with local and bioregional scale solutions. We touch on topics such as; diversity in our landscapes and gut microbiome, the soil food web, and staying healthy on tour with some special medicinal plants.
Charlie's music has since made it into the United Nations (who praised Formidable Vegetable for writing about the 'important issues of our time'), onto the stages at Glastonbury Festival alongside such acts as Ed Sheeran, Katy Perry and The Rolling Stones and has inspired the creation of many a backyard and community garden.
Fresh from a sold-out national tour, Formidable Vegetable is back with some all-new Spoonbill-boosted electro-funk and positive climate action that the whole neighbourhood can get down to as they launch their brand new album 'Micro Biome' - an organic harvest of family-flavoured beets to inspire young and old to connect to the beyond-human World.

SHOW NOTES:

  • Dr Christine Jones, The Soil Food Web
  • Weed Forager's Handbook: A Guide to Edible and Medicinal Weeds in Australia, and Let's Eat Weeds!: A Kids' Guide to Foraging by Annie Raser-Rowland and Adam Grubb 
  • Book: Songlines: The Power and Promise, by Margo Neale and Lynne Kelly
  • Book: The Memory Code, by Lynne Kelly
  • Book: Finding The Heart Of The Nation, by Thomas Mayor
  • Sociocracy - Community Governance and Decision Making
  • Nature Kids Permaculture Program For Families

CONTACT:

Website: ⁠www.formidablevegetable.com.au⁠ and ⁠http://growdoit.com.au⁠

Facebook: ⁠http://facebook.com/formidablevegetable⁠ (and Grow Do It Permaculture Education group on FB)

Instagram: ⁠http://instagram.com/formidableveg⁠

Other/s: ⁠www.patreon.com/growdoit⁠

To find out more about The Elder Tree visit the website at www.theeldertree.org and donate to the crowdfunding campaign here.

You can also follow The Elder Tree on Facebook and Instagram and sign up to the newsletter.

Find out more about this podcast and the presenters here. Get in touch with The Elder Tree at:  asktheeldertree@gmail.com

The intro and outro song is "Sing for the Earth" and was kindly donated by Chad Wilkins.  You can find Chad's music here and here.

Oct 17, 202358:30
52. Do We Need to Reframe Self Care?: Reflecting on a year of nourishing conversations with Jess Bosscha

52. Do We Need to Reframe Self Care?: Reflecting on a year of nourishing conversations with Jess Bosscha

During this first birthday edition of the Self Care with Herbs segment, I reflect on the many and varied nourishing conversations I’ve had with guests over the past 12 months. 

I pull out common themes, from the benefits of weaving our self care around the cycles and rhythms within ourselves and the world around us to the way our self care may change depending on the stage of life we find ourselves in. 

I reflect on the value of nature connection, and the way that growing herbs can deepen our relationship with the plants.

I share how my little herb patch has grown as a direct result of the conversations had during the podcast.

I examine the way that existing in our world and the pressures placed on us by our society can be a huge barrier to prioritising ourselves and how even the common definition of self care (as spa treatment or expensive getaway) can make it difficult for many of us.

I rejoice in reviewing the many deliciously nourishing self care recipes and rituals shared by guests and share stories of the connections that have been made as a result of the podcast.

I hope you enjoy reflecting on the past 12 months of conversations as much as I have. My heartfelt thanks to all of my beautiful guests who have shared this journey with me. 

You can revisit any of the episodes from the Self Care with Herbs segment by visiting the links below…

8. Connection to our Cycles and the Natural World: Artist Dalee Ella 

12. A life changing accident inspires a passion for herbal medicine: Jen Campbell 

16. Foraging, kitchen medicine and herbal tea- bringing the herbs into our everyday: Caroline Parker

20. Continuing the legacy of Dorothy Hall- Bringing the plants and the people together: Sally Kingsford Smith

24. Motherhood meets small business- the importance of getting back to basics: Norfolk Naturopath Zoe King

28. Mothercare, prioritising the basics and avoiding overwhelm: Emma Jacques

32. Nourishing skin care rituals, finding balance and forming a deeper relationship with herbs: Sue Daly

36. Listening to the whispers of our heart and being held by the herbs during times of transformation: Kristin Zanotti

40. Flowers, essential oils and knowing ourselves constitutionally: Tara Luca

44. Applying permaculture principles to Self Care: Hanna Navara

48. Self care as a dynamic, seasonal, everyday practice: Cat Green

During this episode, I refer to Dalee Ella’s stunning new ‘Art to Wear’ collection which you can access here.

I also refer to Caroline Parker’s new book baby ‘The Medicinal Garden: An Intro to Medicinal Herbs and How to Grow them and Use them in the Kitchen’ which will be out in Winter 2024. Stay tuned here.

You can connect with me, Jess Bosscha, host of the Self Care with Herbs segment of the Elder Tree podcast by following along on Instagram and Facebook, by signing up to my newsletter here , visiting my online store here or making an appointment for a consultation here.

To find out more about The Elder Tree visit the website at www.theeldertree.org and donate to the crowdfunding campaign here.

You can also follow The Elder Tree on Facebook and Instagram and sign up to the newsletter.

Find out more about this podcast and the presenters here. Get in touch with The Elder Tree at:  asktheeldertree@gmail.com

The intro and outro song is "Sing for the Earth" and was kindly donated by Chad Wilkins.  You can find Chad's music here and here.

Oct 06, 202326:26
51. What is Sacred Herbalism Anyway? A year of conversations with Stephanie Hazel.

51. What is Sacred Herbalism Anyway? A year of conversations with Stephanie Hazel.

It's been a year of amazing conversations with insightful humans, meandering through the forest of plant relationships and numinous experiences. In this episode I explore: Why does 'sacred' matter to us as herbalists anyway? What is sacred herbalism? And how can we begin to cultivate this in our own lives?

I highlight some snippets of conversations with Jacqui Bushell (episode 11), Jimi Wollumbin (episode 15), John Seed (episode 27), and Skye Cielita Flor (episode 41). A big shout out to all my other fabulous podcast guests: Tatiana Dawn, Lis Conlon, Katelyn Jones, Benjamin Haynes, Lily of the Herbs, Jessyca Bosscha and the anonymous therapist. You were all incredible - weaving each of these conversations into one was quite simply beyond me.


To find out more about The Elder Tree, head to TheElderTree.org
You can also follow The Elder Tree on Facebook and Instagram.
The intro and outro song is "Sing for the Earth" and was kindly donated by Chad Wilkins.

Sep 28, 202340:42
50. Spring Equinox, Launching the Trove and Celebrating Ostara with Earth Mumma on Permaculture Herbalism

50. Spring Equinox, Launching the Trove and Celebrating Ostara with Earth Mumma on Permaculture Herbalism

Happy 1st bEarthday to The Elder Tree Podcast with an entire sun cycle into Spring Equinox! We have successfully published an episode every moon phase, which has been forty-eight inspiring interviews covering our favourite topics of herbal educators, permaculture herbalism, sacred herbalism and self-care with herbs!

In this celebratory episode, I start with an Ostara blessing and delve deeper into the two worlds of permaculture and herbalism and how they merge to support human and earth healing. I speak to what is happening in my tropical garden and offer ways to celebrate this season within the wheel of the year and honour this equinox and all that it means in our external and internal landscapes.

With the energy of spring and fertility, we, too, are growing with fresh sound in our 'intro and outro' and the exciting launch of The Elder Tree Trove ~ Patreon Community! Yes, we now have more ways to engage with Herbalists, Healers and Permaculturalists to access their exclusive content, special offers, ongoing wisdom, and conversations to harvest ~ all from our Trove.

This was also a wonderful opportunity to reflect upon my segment and all of the insightful people I interviewed, acknowledging the magic of diverse topics that emerged in these conversations with some updates and generous gifts for our Patreon community. As promised, see the show notes below for direct links to each of this season's permaculture herbalism segments!

SHOW NOTES:

TROVE ~ PATREON COMMUNITY GIFTS: Join here! https://www.patreon.com/TheElderTree


To learn more about The Elder Tree, visit the website at ⁠www.theeldertree.org⁠ and donate to the crowdfunding campaign ⁠here⁠. You can also follow The Elder Tree on ⁠Facebook⁠ and ⁠Instagram⁠ and ⁠sign up to the newsletter⁠. Find out more about this podcast and the presenters ⁠here⁠. Get in touch with The Elder Tree at: ⁠asktheeldertree@gmail.com⁠ The intro and outro song is "⁠Sing for the Earth⁠" and was kindly donated by Chad Wilkins.  You can find Chad's music ⁠here⁠ and ⁠here⁠.

Sep 22, 202301:11:02
49. Herbal Medicine is the People's Medicine: Sharn Harper on Herbal Education

49. Herbal Medicine is the People's Medicine: Sharn Harper on Herbal Education

Sharn Harper is a traditional herbalist with over two decades in the field of natural health and herbal medicine. Armed with a Bachelor of Health Science, and Diploma of Herbal Medicine, Sharn's journey as a herbalist has taken her through various roles and experiences.


She worked for over 8 years at Mullumbimby Herbals, and over 8 years and Koda Phytorium as a practitioner and herbal manufacturing educator and managed Koda Phytorium for 5 years.


Sharn's commitment to education has played an important role in nurturing some of the next generation of herbalists and naturopaths.Over the past two decades, she has actively produced herbal medicines and mastered the art of herbal percolation, contributing significantly to the field's practical knowledge.


Sharn founded Byron Botanicals 20 years ago and less than 2 months ago sold this beautiful business. She has now established The Urban Apothecary in Port Noarlunga South, South Australia, where she continues to provide the community with natural remedies and herbal solutions and invites students of herbal medicine to learn from her. She also currently works for Switched on Health, marking students assignments.


In Sharn's current herbal dispensary, she makes around 99% of her own tinctures and other medicines that she dispenses, and this is one of the stand out things in what she offers.


In this interview Sharn shares her journey from romance starting at a compost heap to meeting Paul Stamets.  We talk about the importance of staying away from competitive mindset and industry mindset, instead fostering an inter-connected community of mutually supportive herbalists.We talk about ways that herbal medicine can be re-integrated back into the hospitals and doctors clinics.


Sharn shares her dreams for more affordable and hands on education opportunities in Australia. Her dreams for herbal education being less corporate and and more heart-based. I love her unending passion, dedication, humility and inclusive nature. I hope that you all enjoy this chat as much as I did.


Shownotes:

The Urban Apothecary FB:https://www.facebook.com/Sharnsherbaldispensary


Sharn's new book "Preparing Herbal Extracts using Cold Percolation":https://byronbotanicals.com.au/product/preparing-herbal-extracts-using-cold-percolation-by-sharn-harper


Byron Botanicals:https://byronbotanicals.com.au/


Koda Phytorium:https://www.webstore.kodaphytorium.com.au/


Mullum Herbals:https://mullumherbals.com.au/



To find out more about The Elder Tree visit the website at www.theeldertree.org and donate to the crowdfunding campaign here.

You can join our Patreon ⁠here⁠ and gain a deeper connection to our podcast. Pay$2 per week to have access to bonus and often exclusive resources and opportunities- plus support The Elder Tree at the same time!
www.patreon.com/theeldertree


You can also follow The Elder Tree on Facebook and Instagram and sign up to the newsletter.


Find out more about this podcast and the presenters here. Get in touch with The Elder Tree at:  asktheeldertree@gmail.com


The intro and outro song is "Sing for the Earth" and was kindly donated by Chad Wilkins.  You can find Chad's music here and here.


Sep 15, 202301:05:55
48. Self care as a dynamic, seasonal, everyday practice: Cat Green on Self Care with Herbs

48. Self care as a dynamic, seasonal, everyday practice: Cat Green on Self Care with Herbs

During this episode, I chat with Cat Green from Everyday Empowered. Cat’s a folk herbalist and grassroots community herbal organiser and educator. She's passionate about making it easy -and normal - for people to make simple, effective herbal remedies at home. Through Everyday Empowered, she offers a wide range of practical ways for people to learn about herbs.

Cat’s journey down the plant path began during recovery from an extended illness. After seeking the guidance of a naturopath, she began to delve deeper, reading all the books and going down rabbit holes. Which left her wondering…why are there 20 herbs recommended for this one condition, how do I know which one to choose? 

These questions continue to inform her relationship with herbs today…during her recovery, Cat came to realise that she was responsible for her own health and the only one living in her own body every day. That having a toolkit of herbs and other supportive practices is wonderful, but it’s tuning in to what our body’s need every day that helps shape how we care for ourselves.

I love Cat’s seasonal approach and how her herbal practice, shifts and changes as she listens in to what her body needs as the world around her changes. We chat about moving from immune supportive herbs like Astralgalus through winter, to more nutritive and liver supportive herbs like Nettle, Red Clover and bitter salad greens as we move into Spring…

During our chat, we talk about building habits (even boring ones like flossing our teeth) and how starting small and celebrating the tiniest wins can be really helpful at strengthening our neural pathways.

One of Cat’s passion is home herbalism and we chat a lot about how getting to know ourselves and our own health issues and becoming familiar with the herbs is a way of reclaiming some of the power that has been lost. By relearning some of these lost skills we can regain confidence in home healthcare traditions.

Cat shares how in her early days of delving into herbalism, she often found the sheer volume of information available overwhelming, when all she really wanted was the best remedy for nappy rash! This experience underlies her passion of making home herbalism as accessible as possible for everybody.

So grab a cup of your favourite herbal cuppa, find a comfy nook in the sun and settle in to this inspiring and nourishing episode…

*SHOW NOTES*

You can learn more about Cat, her upcoming offerings, check out her blog posts and buy her herbal starter kits here.

Or follow Cat on Instagram and Facebook to keep up to date with all of her offerings.

Cat refers to her training with Non Violent Communication Certified Trainer Kate Raffin, you can connect with Kate and learn more about Non Violent Communication here.

I mention Sally Kingsford Smith’s beautiful course The Art and Heart of Herbal Medicine which you can learn more about here

During our chat we refer to a previous episode of the Elder Tree, where Cat was interviewed by Twiggy Dawn, founder of the Elder Tree. You can listen in to that episode here: 

Episode 33: Building a Culture of Collaboration in the Herbal Community- Cat Green on Herbal Education

To find out more about The Elder Tree visit the website at www.theeldertree.org and donate to the crowdfunding campaign here.

You can also follow The Elder Tree on Facebook and Instagram and sign up to the newsletter.

Find out more about this podcast and the presenters here. Get in touch with The Elder Tree at:  asktheeldertree@gmail.com

The intro and outro song is "Sing for the Earth" and was kindly donated by Chad Wilkins.  You can find Chad's music here and here.

Sep 06, 202301:13:29
47. Wildflowers Weave Us Home: Katelyn Jones on Sacred Herbalism
Aug 30, 202346:22
46. Eight Forms of Capital, Economic & Social Regeneration in Eco-village Design with Andrew McLean: Permaculture Herbalism

46. Eight Forms of Capital, Economic & Social Regeneration in Eco-village Design with Andrew McLean: Permaculture Herbalism

Andrew has been a community development worker, mechanic, small business owner, and now co-founder of Eco Villages Australia - an organisation that helps people live collaboratively. Co-founder and resident of the Maleny Eco Village, he strives to live a life of economic, cultural, social and ecological regeneration. 

"Social disconnection has hit epidemic proportions. Now is the time to find a way to connect with self, each other and the earth."

In this episode, Andrew speaks to the importance of valuing native plants and medicines and the wisdom of first nations people to learn about relationships and reciprocal living. From sacred economics to his perspective of the eight forms of capital/wealth, Andrew shares how he financially co-seeded an eco-village with 0% interest to remodel housing loans and trust. He gives some insight into life in the village and how they consider individual capacity, the gift economy and how 'working together' is their superpower.

Andrew now travels to offer free forums to anyone interested in learning how to start or be part of a small-scale village that cares for the earth, people and economic equality in the face of the current housing crisis. He calls himself 'a busker of ideas' and discusses his unique perspective of 'social healing' as a form of medicine and advocates for confronting trauma collectively within the support of a village, rather than in isolation."

Claire (also co-founder) from Maleny Eco-village offers free Intentional Healing Therapy and invites bookings via text to 0439 532 299.


CONNECT:

Website: https://www.ecovillages.au/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ecovillagesaustralia

Youtube: @ecovillagesaustralia8549


SHOW NOTES:


To learn more about The Elder Tree, visit the website at ⁠www.theeldertree.org⁠ and donate to the crowdfunding campaign ⁠here⁠.

You can also follow The Elder Tree on ⁠Facebook⁠ and ⁠Instagram⁠ and ⁠sign up to the newsletter⁠.

Find out more about this podcast and the presenters ⁠here⁠. Get in touch with The Elder Tree at:  ⁠asktheeldertree@gmail.com⁠

The intro and outro song is "⁠Sing for the Earth⁠" and was kindly donated by Chad Wilkins.  You can find Chad's music ⁠here⁠ and ⁠here⁠.

Aug 23, 202301:16:09
45. Grassroots Herbal Educators Sprouting up from the Ground: Rosie Cooper on Herbal Education

45. Grassroots Herbal Educators Sprouting up from the Ground: Rosie Cooper on Herbal Education

Join us on this deep journey with Rosie Cooper, a grassroots herbalist, herbal facilitator and teacher from Dja Dja Warrung country in Victoria. Rosie is passionate about assisting people to foster deeper relationships with plants, letting the plants themselves guide the process. Rosie runs wilderness rites of passage, nature quests, plant connection courses, herbal first aid workshops and medicine making workshops. She makes and sells her beautiful seasonal medicines and works a lot with wild medicines in her bio region.


Hear about Rosie's meandering experience into herbal medicine, beginning with being in USA and being inspired by their grassroots herbal medicine movement, then returning home to Australia and feeling isolated and lonely without having any accessible face to face herbal medicine teachers. Often these experiences can drive people to action, as has been the case with Rosie. She loves to move with the plants in a slow way, facilitating embodies spaces which invoke deeper listening in a non academic way.


In this episode we explore the importance of rites of passage for our youth coming into adulthood. About discovering what memory remains in our bones from our ancestors, combined with what is emerging in the here and now. Rosie shares her dreams for the future about herbalism coming back into common sense and seeing more people growing herbs, celebrating diversity and creating more accessibility for herbal medicine. She shares her dreams as an "introduced" person to this land, finding a deep relationship with the "introduced" plants in this land- the plants of her ancestry.


Sit back with a nice cup of herbal tea and enjoy this beautiful conversation.


Rosie's website:kinbotanica.com.au

Instagramwww.instagram.com/kin.botanica/

Join Rosie's mailing list : https://tinyletter.com/kin_botanica


Shownotes:

Jim McDonald:https://www.herbcraft.org/index.htm

John Gallagher/Herb Mentorhttps://learningherbs.com/herbmentor/

Kiva Rose:https://enchantersgreen.com/

Kiva Rose's online magazine 'Plant Healer'https://planthealer.org/

Join us on this :https://planthealer.org/

Rebecca Altman:https://wonderbotanica.com/

Claire Dunn:https://www.naturesapprentice.com.au/

Tyson Yunkaporta's book 'Sand Talk':https://www.textpublishing.com.au/books/sand-talk

Listen as an audiobook (recommended as Tyson is the narrator):https://www.audible.com.au/pd/Sand-Talk-Audiobook/B09DQ4F7PW

Donna Raymond's book 'Maiden':https://www.booktopia.com.au/maiden--donna-raymond/book/9780645096811.html



To find out more about The Elder Tree visit the website at www.theeldertree.org and donate to the crowdfunding campaign here.


You can join our Patreon here and gain a deeper connection to our podcast. Pay a small amount per month to have access to these resources- thanks so much for your support!


You can also follow The Elder Tree on Facebook and Instagram and sign up to the newsletter.


Find out more about this podcast and the presenters here. Get in touch with The Elder Tree at:  asktheeldertree@gmail.com


The intro and outro song is "Sing for the Earth" and was kindly donated by Chad Wilkins.  You can find Chad's music here and here.

Aug 15, 202301:12:51
44. Applying Permaculture principles to Self Care: Hanna Navara on Self Care with Herbs

44. Applying Permaculture principles to Self Care: Hanna Navara on Self Care with Herbs

In this episode, I chat with Hanna Navara, regenerative Hemp farmer, activist and permaculture enthusiast.

Hanna, with her partner Leon, runs Hemp Threads, a licensed industrial hemp company offering natural hemp based food products regeneratively farmed using sustainable principals in Kyogle, NSW.

It was a Permaculture course held at Mullumbimby community gardens alongside a Diploma in Organic Farming that really sparked Hanna’s interest in the plant world in a deeper way. 

Hanna had been heavily involved in environmental activism and had a passion for growing food and plants and found she really wanted to positively contribute to the solution of a healthy future for the people and our planet.

This passion to contribute, led her and her partner Leon towards an interest in growing hemp, which was inspired by the MardiGrass Festival in Nimbin, NSW. It was here,that she first got her hands on a jar of hemp seeds…

In 2018, Hanna and her partner Leon, with their jar of hemp seeds, engaged in a share farming journey in Broadwater on the Richmond river. The land was sandy flat swampland- and with neither her or partner hailing from a farming background, there were lots of lessons learnt.

Solum farm in the Clarence valley, a working Organic medicinal herb farm run by Cheryl and Mike Smith provided the next opportunity for Hanna and Leon. 

Here they spent, nearly 3 years, learning alongside Cheryl and Mike and planting out 3 hemp crops on about an acre of land. Hanna speaks of the many lessons learnt during this time, from inviting herbal allies like Calendula, Tulsi and Mugwort into her days, to the importance of having robust systems in place for harvesting, drying and packaging plant material.

Hanna and Leon now share farm in Kyogle, near the Border ranges where they have a little more space for their hemp and have this year planted out a 5 acre hemp crop. 

During our chat, Hanna brings an interesting perspective to the concept of self care. Rather than focussing on the individual practices that nourish her, Hanna zooms out and looks at self care from a very broad level. She talks about bringing in the systems thinking from her permaculture training to help her mind map out all the areas of her life and the balance she’d like to achieve- a mix of practical, spiritual and body care. 

Hanna was in the late stages of pregnancy when we chatted and was really enjoying leaning into herbal allies to support her- she speaks of her connection with blood building and nutritive Nettle, creating herbal elixirs and nourishing molasses based herbal syrups.  

We also explore all of the wonderful ways Hemp can be used for self care, both nutritionally and topically- from delicious salad dressings to bliss balls and nourishing herbal balms and oils.

 I think you’ll really enjoy hearing Hanna’s unique approach to self care, I certainly learnt a lot!


You can connect with Hanna via her website Hemp Threads, or on Instagram.


To find out more about The Elder Tree visit the website at www.theeldertree.org and donate to the crowdfunding campaign here.

You can also follow The Elder Tree on Facebook and Instagram and sign up to the newsletter.

Find out more about this podcast and the presenters here. Get in touch with The Elder Tree at:  asktheeldertree@gmail.com

The intro and outro song is "Sing for the Earth" and was kindly donated by Chad Wilkins.  You can find Chad's music here and here.

Aug 07, 202359:06
43. Animism, Ayahuasca and Healthy Context: Skye Cielita Flor on Sacred Herbalism

43. Animism, Ayahuasca and Healthy Context: Skye Cielita Flor on Sacred Herbalism

Stephanie Hazel interviews Folk Herbalist, Deep Ecologist and traditionally trained Shipibo Curandera Skye Cielita Flor. In this episode, we explore questions such as: What does it mean to take a plant out of context? What do we leave behind when we extract a single active chemical from a medicinal plant? What do we lose when we take a single aspect of Shipibo culture, like ayahuasca ceremonies, but leave all of the cultural nest of animistic relationships with plants and land behind? Skye is a South African woman currently living in Warrandyte in Melbourne, and is one of the few people I know who has completed a 4 year immersive apprenticeship in the Peruvian Amazon, where she studied with Shipibo curanderos to become a healer, an apprenticeship that involved extensive training in ritual and healing use of ayahuasca, and deep dietas with other powerful medicinal plants. Four years of full time training in the amazon! This actually makes her the most qualified person I know to comment on the rising wave of ayahuasca use in the west. She also completed 3 years of full time Chinese Medicine apprenticeship, and worked as a wilderness guide in South Africa. When she came to Australia, she was confronted with the deep grief of having lost the beautiful animism of Shipibo culture and of finding herself bereft of the plants who had become her friends. Beyond this, she felt afresh the aching wounds of Western disconnection from the living world around us. She had found herself entirely out of context! Her pathway to grounding into the place she is now was deep ecology., which she believes is the missing framework that any animistic or psychedelic experience needs to be nestled into for any western person to actually receive the healing they need. Her work now primarily consists of facilitating experiential deep ecology workshops and retreats, under the guidance of John Seed, who was previously interviewed on this podcast. You can check out an upcoming webinar with Skye and John in September if you are inspired to learn from this heart-felt, intellectually sophisticated and wildly experienced woman and plant collaborator.


Show Notes:

Skye's upcoming webinar with John Seed - Honouring Our Pain For The World

https://workthatreconnects.org/event/honoring-our-pain-for-the-world-a-webinar-with-john-seed-and-skye-mandozay/?fbclid=IwAR1otXUV2Wp6y55eks-GjXODBDrIQ-8FYS4S9Vw-3yK5uXotcN5DAVjZdrw


Follow Skye on Social Media:

https://www.facebook.com/Cicadia.DepthPerception

https://www.instagram.com/deep.earth.dreaming/


Get your own taste of relationships with plants in my upcoming 6-week course: Finding Your Plant Allies. Use the code ElderTreeListens for 10% off :-)

www.stephaniehazel.com.au/courses/find-your-plant-allies/



To find out more about The Elder Tree visit the website at www.theeldertree.org and donate to the crowdfunding campaign here.

You can also follow The Elder Tree on Facebook and Instagram and sign up to the newsletter.

Find out more about this podcast and the presenters here. Get in touch with The Elder Tree at:  asktheeldertree@gmail.com

The intro and outro song is "Sing for the Earth" and was kindly donated by Chad Wilkins.  You can find Chad's music here and here.


Jul 31, 202301:18:37
41. Attuning Ourselves to Herbs: Stephanie Hazel on Herbal Education

41. Attuning Ourselves to Herbs: Stephanie Hazel on Herbal Education


Stephanie Hazel is a herbalist, anthropologist, teacher and also runs the Sacred Herbalism segment of this podcast!


She has had a broad scope of experience which has lead her to share her embodied teachings about sacred plant medicine both online and in person.  Stephanie is dedicated to reawakening in others a sacred relationship with plants, their own bodies and the living world.


In this episode, Stephanie shares her journey of learning with a Peruvian curandera about how to relate to plants in a sacred way and to listen to their wisdom, through learning in an embodied way and doing the hard work of harvesting and preparing the medicine.  She shares insight into her influences derived from a long standing personal and professional relationship with Jimi Wollumbin and also with the Happy Herb Company. We discuss embodied learning environments rather than rote learning environments.


She shares her wisdom about always coming back to listening to the plants and attuning to their message, prioritising them as living beings rather than as a commodity. She compares this to the scientific perspective of plants, which percieves plants as inert and just a thing to be dissected.


We discuss the importance of bioregional medicine and paying attention to how plants interact in their environment and learning what that can show about the plant's medicinal benefit. This and so much more is uncovered in this wonderful episode. Listen on to find out more!


You can find Stephanie on facebook here and on Instagram here

You can also visit her website:

https://www.instagram.com/stephaniehazelherbs/



Podcast listeners get 10% off Stephanie's wonderful upcoming Plant Allies course:

https://www.stephaniehazel.com.au/courses/find-your-plant-allies/

10% off code: ElderTreeListens


Book mentioned by Stephanie:

The Energetics of Western Herbs- Peter Holmes


To find out more about The Elder Tree visit the website at www.theeldertree.org and donate to the crowdfunding campaign here.


You can also follow The Elder Tree on Facebook and Instagram and sign up to the newsletter.


Find out more about this podcast and the presenters here. Get in touch with The Elder Tree at:  asktheeldertree@gmail.com


The intro and outro song is "Sing for the Earth" and was kindly donated by Chad Wilkins.  You can find Chad's music here and here.

Jul 17, 202358:39
40. Flowers, essential oils and knowing ourselves constitutionally: Tara Luca on Self Care with Herbs

40. Flowers, essential oils and knowing ourselves constitutionally: Tara Luca on Self Care with Herbs

Tara Luca is an Organic flower farmer and florist, and with her family, has spent time caretaking an Organic Tea tree farm in the beautiful Northern Rivers on Bandjalang country. She lives with her husband Alex, a farmer and teacher, and their 3 beautiful daughters, on an intentional community surrounded by forest. 

Tara grew up as part of a big Italian family, on a street with multiple generations of the same family who all had amazing gardens, with lots of herbs, veggies and flowers. 

She has a very early poignant memory of burying her nose in fragrant roses and gardenias and letting the aroma carry her away…

Tara’s love of flowers was deeply embedded from an early age…

Growing up, Tara’s Mum always had a deep connection with Australian bush flower essences, using this beautiful medicine to support her family in times of need…

This connection has continued in her own family and Tara speaks of the way essences support her and her daughters during times of emotional turmoil. 

Tara’s passion for flowers and the slow distilled tea tree oil created by her family, shines through during our conversation….

We chat about the endemic nature of tea tree to this small pocket of the Northern Rivers and what they may have meant to the traditional custodians of this land…

We touch on the precious and potent nature of essential oils and how a return to the old ways of using plants as medicine is a way to honour this.

Tara admits to sometimes getting lost in a swirl of busyness in the day to day of balancing motherhood, life and small business ownership…

She shares the importance of tuning in to herself and listening and how routine and ritual play such a big part in her self care.

She speaks about reframing anxiety as a means of communication with her body, rather than allowing herself to be consumed or dragged into a whirlpool of worry and stress…

We chat about how knowing ourselves and our own individual constitutions can help us to recognise what our body’s need to thrive (and what’s best avoided, we’re looking at you coffee!)

Tara generously shares her wisdom around the many and varied uses for Tea tree oil, including a beautifully nourishing inhalation that can be just what’s needed during times of respiratory illness and congestion…

Tune in for a beautifully nourishing and soul warming conversation!


You can find out more about Tara, her beautiful Organic flowers and her family’s Organic Tea tree oil here 


You can also connect with Tara on Instagram and Facebook


To find out more about The Elder Tree visit the website at www.theeldertree.org and donate to the crowdfunding campaign here.


You can also follow The Elder Tree on Facebook and Instagram and sign up to the newsletter.


Find out more about this podcast and the presenters here. Get in touch with The Elder Tree at:  asktheeldertree@gmail.com


The intro and outro song is "Sing for the Earth" and was kindly donated by Chad Wilkins.  You can find Chad's music here and here.

Jul 09, 202301:01:11
39. MDMA & Psilocybin Therapy: an interview with an anonymous facilitator on Sacred Herbalism

39. MDMA & Psilocybin Therapy: an interview with an anonymous facilitator on Sacred Herbalism

Stephanie Hazel interviews an anonymous facilitator of MDMA and Psilocybin-assisted psychotherapy. With a background in Drug & Alcohol counselling and transpersonal psychotherapy, this courageous woman tells us what a session looks like, what the importance of integration is, and how these experiences can restore our relationships with the living world. She shares her cutting-edge theory that we can form healthy attachments with plant spirits that can compensate for unhealthy attachments with primary caregivers and support us to transform our anxious/avoidant attachment styles. Stephanie and the therapist discuss the utility of relating to plant medicine and chemical medicine as living beings who are capable of relationship.


SHOW NOTES:

Joshua Schrei's podcast The Emerald, Mapping The Mystic:

https://open.spotify.com/episode/4YpNzk04vcMYhA604YRTGv?si=58bf573dc7b5427a

Rachel Harris' book, Listening to Ayahuasca: https://books.google.com.au/books?hl=en&lr=&id=tNQbDgAAQBAJ&oi=fnd&pg=PT8&dq=relationship+to+ayahuasca+phd+rachel&ots=K4UmGDi6-z&sig=dxutCVS14Sx41Nzq-XxtCKwTxRw#v=onepage&q=relationship%20to%20ayahuasca%20phd%20rachel&f=false

Doctor Rosalind Watts is the British professor who works with trees as a form of integration: https://www.drrosalindwatts.com/

Psychedelictherapyaustralia.com.au.For psychedelic integration support.


To find out more about The Elder Tree visit the website at www.theeldertree.org and donate to the crowdfunding campaign here. You can also follow The Elder Tree on Facebook and Instagram and sign up to the newsletter. Find out more about this podcast and the presenters here. Get in touch with The Elder Tree at:  asktheeldertree@gmail.com. 

The intro and outro song is "Sing for the Earth" and was kindly donated by Chad Wilkins.  You can find Chad's music here and here.

Jul 02, 202301:06:30
38. Drawing A Better World Into Being, Creative Living and Permaculture Travel: Brenna Quinlan on Permaculture Herbalism

38. Drawing A Better World Into Being, Creative Living and Permaculture Travel: Brenna Quinlan on Permaculture Herbalism

Brenna Quinlan is an illustrator and educator who draws a better world into being. She has ridden a second-hand bicycle from Canada to Panama, taught permaculture across South America and Australia, and hasn't bought a new item of clothing in over ten years. Her creative advocacy has earned her international acclaim; she was the winner of the prestigious Circle Awards in 2022 and has been profiled by the most celebrated in sustainability media.

As an illustrator, Brenna has worked with the Australian Red Cross, the Stephanie Alexander Kitchen Garden Program, Plan International, Milkwood, the Bob Brown Foundation, CSIRO and Gardening Australia's Costa Georgiadis.

As an educator, Brenna has taught alongside the biggest names in permaculture, including Rosemary MorrowDavid HolmgrenHannah Moloney, and the late Dan Palmer. 

She co-runs Grow Do It Permaculture Education, a project focused on bringing climate solutions to kids (and their grown-ups) through art, music and creativity.

Brenna is currently building her own strawbale house out of reclaimed materials on Bibbulmin Menang Boodja, in an intentional community in South-West Western Australia.


Connect:

Website: ⁠www.brennaquinlan.com⁠

Facebook: ⁠https://www.facebook.com/permacultureillustrator⁠

Instagram: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/brenna_quinlan/⁠

Be part of her Patreon Community: ⁠https://www.patreon.com/brennaquinlan⁠

Show Notes:


To find out more about The Elder Tree visit the website at www.theeldertree.org and donate to the crowdfunding campaign here. You can also follow The Elder Tree on Facebook and Instagram and sign up to the newsletter. Find out more about this podcast and the presenters here. Get in touch with The Elder Tree at:  asktheeldertree@gmail.com.

The intro and outro song is "Sing for the Earth" and was kindly donated by Chad Wilkins.  You can find Chad's music here and here.

Jun 25, 202345:08
37. Nature as a Co-facilitator and the Need for Deep Listening: Jacqui Bushell on Herbal Education

37. Nature as a Co-facilitator and the Need for Deep Listening: Jacqui Bushell on Herbal Education

Today I interview the potent and prolific Jacqui Bushell. We travel together down a winding colourful road of Jacqui's experiences and gain a beautiful insight into her wisdom which is based on over 40 years of being a practitioner and herbal educator, in which she has blended the modalities of nature-based therapy, essences, herbal medicine, Reiki, meditation and energy healing.


Jacqui is is also an author and runs incredible range of desert retreats and online workshops as well as face to face workshops. She has been a teacher at Endeavour College, Nature Care College, the Awareness Institute and within many other spaces.She has been dancing with the mythic imagination for much of her life, through her love of the wisdom held in fairy tales and her work as a spiritual herbalist listening for the voices and stories in the land.


In this interview we speak about reciprocity and accountability in our relationship with the plants and honouring them as teachers, with a strong commitment and also about being responsible in the way that we work with these plants. We talk about the importance of storytelling, the importance of having Deep level of listening with our heart and with our bodies and with the land. We discuss the widespread current lack of custodian mindset in wildharvesting indigenous medicines. and the need for sustainable and appropriate dosages of herbs, particularly because of the rampant consumerism of herbal medicine that is currently globally taking place.


Jacqui shares her potent vision for the future of herbal education in Australia, her passion is contagious and she is a strong bright spark in the realm of herbal medicine in Australia. It was an absolute honour to interview her and deepen our connection and I invite you to make a pot of herbal tea, sit down and listen to this beautiful interview.



You can find Jacqui here on Facebook:

https://www.facebook.com/jacqui.bushell.52/


And on Instagram here:

https://www.instagram.com/jacqui_bushell_sacredpresence/



Here are some of her upcoming plant medicine offerings:


ROSE IMMERSION CEREMONY ONLINE

Saturday July 22, 3.00-5.30pm

https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/rose-immersion-ceremony-online-tickets-654723243847

 

WILD PRESENCE DESERT RETREAT

‘She Carries the Sky Within Her’
7 nights, Oct 31- Nov 7
Broken Hill and Mutawintji NSW

More information:

https://mailchi.mp/wildearthwisdom/ijrui2n91e

 

ALCHEMY IN THE DESERT RETREAT

Making transformational flower essences as a spiritual practice

Sept 20-25, Broken Hill and Mutawintji

More information:

https://mailchi.mp/wildearthwisdom/alchemy-in-the-desert-retreat

 

 

THE SCHOOL OF SACRED STORYTELLING (USA)

WILD PRESENCE SACRED NATURE  - A WILDER KINSHIP: EARTH AND PLANT WISDOM

A 4 week online program starting July 24

Awaken your visionary dreaming, hidden soul gifts and live in greater communion with the wisdom of the earth

It’s not listed on their website yet, but will be very soon!

https://leahlamb.com/upcoming-classes/




To find out more about The Elder Tree visit the website at www.theeldertree.org and donate to the crowdfunding campaign here.


You can also follow The Elder Tree on Facebook and Instagram and sign up to the newsletter.


Find out more about this podcast and the presenters here. Get in touch with The Elder Tree at:  asktheeldertree@gmail.com


The intro and outro song is "Sing for the Earth" and was kindly donated by Chad Wilkins.  You can find Chad's music here and here.


Jun 17, 202301:08:51
36. Listening to the whispers of our heart and being held by the herbs during times of transformation: Kristin Zanotti on Self Care with Herbs

36. Listening to the whispers of our heart and being held by the herbs during times of transformation: Kristin Zanotti on Self Care with Herbs

During this episode, I chat with Kristin Zanotti, an integrative Naturopath with over 10 years experience working alongside some of Australia’s best integrative practitioners, including Dr Oscar Serrallach, whose book ‘The Postnatal Depletion Cure’ she was honoured to contribute to.


Her roots are in South Western WA, in beautiful Cape Naturalist amongst the old growth forests and close to the ocean. She makes her home now on Bandjalang country in Byron Bay. Her clinic in Byron, Cape Naturopathics, is a nod to both her roots and the current branch of her life.


This chat with Kristin was a real joy- she’s open, honest and very generous in her sharing of both her story and her wisdom. 


We begin with a beautiful childhood memory that sparked her earliest interest in plant medicine…sitting in the lounge room with her mum, sharing a magazine that provided a packet of seeds for both mum and daughter and inspired Kristin to get her own little herb garden going. She speaks of the power of putting a seed in the ground and watching it come up…


Kristin’s childhood was steeped in natural medicine and home remedies, from witnessing the power of homeopathics during the pregnancy and birth of her younger siblings, to the onion thrown in the fire wrapped in foil to warm for an onion poultice for an earache…and it’s clear this profoundly impacted her journey down the plant path…


Kristin shares many moments of transformation and growth, taking us from WA to India and finally to her home in the Northern Rivers and touching on the way that the plants have helped her when at times she’s felt like her world has been crumbling down. 


She shares how an experience with a beautifully nourishing nervous system tincture helped cement her decision to become a Naturopath. What followed was a journey of study from traditional herbal wisdom, through to clinical Naturopathy, all while growing and nurturing a beautiful daughter. 


Kristin shares her thoughts on self care at it’s essence being all about listening and paying attention…getting right back to basics like good food, hydration, warmth.


She talks about the barriers to self care, perhaps being an invitation to listen…when nervous system overload has us feeling numb, let’s tune in rather than zoning out.


We chat about incorporating herbs into our daily routines in a food as medicine kind of way…think delicious medicinal hot choccies or spiced dandelion, yum!


Kristin’s description of soothing the nervous system with delicious herbal oils woven into her days is so beautiful- she speaks of how wearing the oils feels like you have the herbs with you all day. And she shares a beautiful recipe for a delicious Rose body oil….


You can learn more about Kristin’s clinic and dispensary, Cape Naturopathics in Byron Bay, where she treats a wide range of conditions
here. She also has a wonderful new offering of a package of holistic treatment for ADHD which you can read more about here. You can also stay in touch via her Instagram and Facebook pages.


To find out more about The Elder Tree visit the website at www.theeldertree.org and donate to the crowdfunding campaign here.


You can also follow The Elder Tree on Facebook and Instagram and sign up to the newsletter.


Find out more about this podcast and the presenters here. Get in touch with The Elder Tree at:  asktheeldertree@gmail.com


The intro and outro song is "Sing for the Earth" and was kindly donated by Chad Wilkins.  You can find Chad's music here and here.

Jun 10, 202301:08:03
35. Astrology as a Map of Changes and Plant Energetics: Benjamin Haynes on Sacred Herbalism
Jun 03, 202350:55
34. Dynamic Groups, Eco-village Living & Elemental Prayer: Robin Clayfield on Permaculture Herbalism

34. Dynamic Groups, Eco-village Living & Elemental Prayer: Robin Clayfield on Permaculture Herbalism

Robin Clayfield is a Permaculture pioneer, educator, facilitator and best-selling author who is passionate about healthy groups, organisations and communities, their structures and governance and most importantly, their facilitation and group dynamics. She presents and consults around the world to support global health, group and personal well-being, and whole systems change through using Permaculture, Social Permaculture, Deep Ecology and her 'Dynamic Groups, Dynamic Learning' methodology. Robin loves Ritual and Ceremony, supporting people to have their own deep experience of nature, cycles and patterns, rites of passage, transformation and celebration. She also loves and nurtures a Permaculture garden and a 1-acre lot at Crystal Waters Ecovillage, where she's lived happily for 35 years.

In this conversation, Robin speaks openly about her pioneering days as an activist, her role in social permaculture, and what that looks like in her work and offerings, including a five-part series of books soon to launch. I have personally attended her courses and utilised her practical resources as helpful tools when providing group facilitation and dynamic decision-making services, aswell as at any time I am teaching permaculture. We can thank her for bringing the Spirit Care ethic into join the Earth Care, People Care and Fair Share ethics embodied in the framework of permaculture design.

She speaks of Turmeric as her must-have herbal plant. She shares her golden milk recipe and other kitchen witching ways that she regularly utilises plants from her garden, including Moringa, Gotu Kola and Brahmi, Lesser Galangal and her go-to first aid herbs. Plus, a reminder to 'eat your greens' wisely and flavour salads with seasonal herbs for taste and health benefits.

We also discuss how rituals and ceremonies play an important part in her life, her annual labyrinth-making installation and how Deep Ecology continues to be a source of inspiration and inclusion in her many course offerings. She reminds us to be grateful for the gifts of nature and kindly permitted me to share her elemental prayer aptly called 'Thank You For The Five Sacred Things'. I hope you enjoy listening to this wise woman as much as I did!

Show Notes:

Upcoming 'Dynamic Groups, Dynamic Learning' workshop 23rd to 28th July. https://www.facebook.com/events/2609079422566907⁠

Robin's Permaculture Design Course at Crystal Waters in August from 13th to 27th - https://crystalwaters.org.au/permaculture-design-course/

Connect:

Website: Earthcare Education + Dynamic Groups: http://www.dynamicgroups.com.au/

Courses & Workshops: https://dynamicgroups.com.au/courses-and-workshops/


To learn more about The Elder Tree, visit the website here and donate to the crowdfunding campaign here.

You can also follow The Elder Tree on Facebook and Instagram and sign up to the newsletter. Find out more about this podcast and the presenters here.

Get in touch with The Elder Tree at:  asktheeldertree@gmail.comThe intro and outro song is "Sing for the Earth" and was kindly donated by Chad Wilkins.  You can find Chad's music here and here.

May 27, 202301:09:40
33. Building a Culture of Collaboration in the Herbal Community: Cat Green on Herbal Education

33. Building a Culture of Collaboration in the Herbal Community: Cat Green on Herbal Education

Today's interview is a great discussion with Cat Green from Everyday Empowered. Cat is a home herbalist and grassroots community herbal organiser and educator. She's passionate about making it easy -and normal - for people to make simple, effective herbal remedies at home.

She believes home herbalism is all about reclaiming our capacity to care for ourselves and our families, as well as reconnecting more deeply with the earth. Through Everyday Empowered, she offers a wide range of practical ways for people to learn about herbs - HerbFest, monthly workshops through the Herb Folk group, DIY Herbal Remedy Kits and online courses in collaboration with Heidi Merika (for more about Heidi Merika check out interview #9).


In this interview we learn about Cat's journey into natural medicine starting with spending 3 months with typhoid and dysentry in Indonesia. With a background communication for social change, Cat sees herself as a herbal community builder and she loves bringing people together and collaborating with other talented herb lovers. We talk about the deep importance of collaborating and creating mutual supportive relationships with others on the plant path- busting through the ultra-independent mindset of a dog-eat-dog world, building a "culture of collaboration" and having a community mindset rather than an industry mindset. She talks about the importance of "making us visible to each other" via herbal gatherings and online spaces like The Elder Tree podcast.We discuss the importance of embodied learning with the plants and the importance of creating simple and slow learning spaces to assist students to retain the information. We dream up a future of people living a better life more aligned with nature, with more connection to wild spaces. We envision the world full of home herbalists, taking the pressure off hospitals, and holistic practitioners working more closely alongside the modern allopathic medicine world. Thank you Cat for all of the potent work you are doing in the Australian herbal community. Thank you for sharing your vision for the future and having the strength and courage to work with others to create that future! We are dreaming this into being together.


Herbfest 18th June 2023:

https://everydayempowered.com.au/herbfest/


To find out more about Everyday Empowered:https://everydayempowered.com.au/

IG: @everyday.empoweredHerbal Starter Kits:To purchase a Herbal Starter kit use this affiliate link and 15% of the sale will go to The Elder Tree!:https://www.everydayempowered.com.au/?ref=xe741xvr


To find out more about The Elder Tree visit the website here and donate to the crowdfunding campaign here.You can also follow The Elder Tree on Facebook and Instagram and sign up to the newsletter.Find out more about this podcast and the presenters here. Get in touch with The Elder Tree at:  asktheeldertree@gmail.comThe intro and outro song is "Sing for the Earth" and was kindly donated by Chad Wilkins.  You can find Chad's music here and here.

May 22, 202301:01:34
32. Nourishing skin care rituals, finding balance and forming a deeper relationship with herbs: Sue Daly on Self Care with Herbs

32. Nourishing skin care rituals, finding balance and forming a deeper relationship with herbs: Sue Daly on Self Care with Herbs

Sue Daly is a Naturopath of 25 years, with a wealth of experience and a background in education. Her passion is herbal medicine and she’s recently released Sappho, a divine skincare range featuring healing botanicals. 

During our chat, Sue shares how a love of spending time in nature as a young child, led to a calling to complete a home remedy herbal medicine course when her children were young. Through this course, she felt empowered to care for her young family, which sparked a passion and led to further study. Sue experienced her first introduction to root cause medicine when her daughter was being supported by a local herbalist- this was a light bulb moment!

Sue spent her formative years as a Naturopath in the iconic Traditional Medicinals in the Northern Rivers of NSW, before opening her own practice The Bangalow Naturopath and finally settling in Illuka as The Herb Woman, where she practices and creates her beautiful skin care range.

Sue believes that ‘Self care is keeping yourself well enough to be able to do all things you need to do…’

She believes it’s about setting healthy boundaries and finding balance, both of which we discuss in depth.

Sue’s a bit of a doer and confesses to often being drawn to staying up late researching or creating her art…she’s known for burning the candle at both ends..

We chat about how it took a loud message from the universe and her body for Sue to ask...Why have I landed here again? Sometimes it’s from these moments that the most growth occurs..

Sue’s most recent passion is using herbs topically for self care. We delve into the birth of her gorgeous Sappho skincare range as well as the beautiful simplicity of herbal infused oils- Sue describes the most nourishing morning ritual, which allows her to enter an almost meditative state. 

We chat about how the benefits of self care really start to flow as soon as we make the decision to honour ourselves, before we even start to make any changes…allowing ourselves to flow into a state of receiving…

Our conversation weaves and flows into many places, we touch on how we support our clients, the beauty of drop dosing, the benefits of getting to know a couple of herbs really well and the one herb we reach for to support women in all phases of life… 

Sue is such a wise woman, and she generously shares so much during this interview, I promise you’re going to love it!


You can learn more about Sue and find her glorious Sappho skin care range (I can't live without her beautiful bio regenerative face cream!) via her website https://www.theherbwoman.com.au and also keep in the loop via her Instagram https://www.instagram.com/theherbwoman/ and Facebook https://www.facebook.com/theherbwoman.


To find out more about The Elder Tree visit the website at www.theeldertree.org and donate to the crowdfunding campaign here.

You can also follow The Elder Tree on Facebook and Instagram and sign up to the newsletter.

Find out more about this podcast and the presenters here. Get in touch with The Elder Tree at:  asktheeldertree@gmail.com

May 12, 202351:34
31: The Unknowable Mystery of Dreams and Plants: Lily of the Herbs on Sacred Herbalism

31: The Unknowable Mystery of Dreams and Plants: Lily of the Herbs on Sacred Herbalism

Lily of The Herbs and Stephanie Hazel go deeply and humbly into the mystery of herbalism: how little we actually know about plants, how true herbal mastery means being able to hold what you do know and the endless mystery of what you can't know, how finding yourself walking the plant path can be a mystery of its own.

They share powerful personal stories of Mugwort that span expelling enormous worms and appearing as a spirit with the power to heal sexual trauma.

Lily of the Herbs is a wild herbalist based in Warrandyte on the bushy outskirts of Melbourne. She has been working with plants since she was young and has a background in propagation and permaculture. Currently working as a Zenthai Shiatsu practitioner and herbalist, Lily is passionate about connecting people to plants and their bodies. She has been running workshops on herbalism and embodiment for the last five years and makes and sells a range of elixirs.

Lily is offering a special $5 off her upcoming 'Introduction to Herbalism' workshop on the 4th June for The Elder Tree listeners. Just mention this podcast when you sign up.

Follow her on Instagram: lilyoftheherbs or check out her website: www.LilyOfTheHerbs.com

Her two upcoming trainings are a full day Medicine Making Immersion in her home clinic in Warrandyte on the 3rd June, and an afternoon workshop 'Introduction to Herbalism' online on the 4th June.

May 05, 202350:09
30. Edible Garden Plans, Appropriate Tech & Tropical Plants Guide: Blake Hudson on Permaculture Herbalism

30. Edible Garden Plans, Appropriate Tech & Tropical Plants Guide: Blake Hudson on Permaculture Herbalism

Blake Hudson, also known as the Eartheartisan, is a leader in the world of permaculture consulting, design, and education. With a passion for utilising cutting-edge technology to conduct site analysis and read landscapes, Blake is able to provide tailored edible garden plans or "green prints" for clients seeking to grow organic food in their home gardens. From urban blocks to hobby lifestyles or homesteading farms and eco-villages, Blake's expertise extends both locally and internationally.

In this episode, we discuss his earlier inspirations that led him on his path and the dogma of permaculture, as well as his commitment to accuracy and attention to detail with the use of drone mapping and 'Sun Surveyer' for data collection. He has spent the past decade perfecting his design process, which has resulted in mentoring his students and personalising landscape manuals with prescribed plant collections that help people put the right plant, in the right place, at the right time.

Blake is an avid plant enthusiast with a nursery, and he grows, harvests, and cooks with a diverse array of species from his very own "garden of eating." He recently published a comprehensive resource, "Tropical Food Plants - A Field Guide to Tropical Edible Plants," which explores 121 edible plant profiles suitable for tropical regions worldwide.

Beyond his fetish for making fertile soil, one of Blake's unique talents lies in his ability to retrofit ornamental gardens with food species, which is becoming a strong desire by many people who want to become more self-sufficient within the space they already have without having to move to a farm.

He is particularly drawn to perennial plants such as bananas, which offer multi-functional benefits, and comfrey, which he considers to be his super healer home-grown medicine. In addition to his expertise in permaculture, Blake has a deep understanding of various regenerative land practices, including broad-acre regenerative farming, biodynamics, syntropic and market gardening, as well as bio-intensive and nutrient-dense gardening.

His love for 'spreading the worms' is infectious, and his love of practical workshopping in hot composting, food forestry and banana circle management. Blake generously shares his knowledge through workshops and courses in collaboration with ⁠@earthmumma⁠ (me!).

Beyond his work in permaculture, Blake is also a talented visual projection artist, lighting up the festival scene with patterns from nature and inspiration from the psychedelic realm. He invites you to join him at upcoming events, such as Rootbound and the Eco-fiesta, for an opportunity to connect with like-minded individuals and experience the magic of the natural world. He is offering a $100 discount for his next workshop and a link to download a free tropical annual planting guide.

Show Notes:

Connect:

Blake Hudson, the EarthEartisan: www.ediblegardenplan.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/eartheartisan

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/eartheartisan/


To learn more about The Elder Tree, visit the website here and donate to the crowdfunding campaign here.

You can also follow The Elder Tree on Facebook and Instagram and sign up to the newsletter. Find out more about this podcast and the presenters here.

Get in touch with The Elder Tree at:  asktheeldertree@gmail.comThe intro and outro song is "Sing for the Earth" and was kindly donated by Chad Wilkins.  You can find Chad's music here and here.

Apr 27, 202347:04
29. From Farm to Apothecary & Community Herbalism: Monica Francia on Herbal Education

29. From Farm to Apothecary & Community Herbalism: Monica Francia on Herbal Education

Monica Francia is a herbalist, naturopath, nutritionist and herbal educator who is a passionate about community herbalism. Monica has a strong values-based practice with a focus on accessibility, social justice, equality, and environmental sustainability. She works in the clinic at Goulds in Hobart, Tasmania for the past 6 years. Monica works hard to co-create more community resilience via her community herbalism work and loves collaborating with other like minded folk to work toward the greater good. She founded the Hobart chapter of Herbalists Without Borders, which collaboratively runs 3 free clinics in Southern Tasmania. She coordinates the herbal growing side of the Rocky Top Collective Farm, and is involved with Radical Herbalists Australia.


In this interview we explore her journey of becoming an intern at Goulds, working in their farm, apothecary and clinic. We explore her motivations and inspirations behind the amazing work that she does. Monica shares her passion about teaching home herbalism and how she would really love to see people reclaim the word "herbalist' and the identity of being a herbalist and bring it back to it just being people working with the medicine, growing and harvesting and making their own medicine. Her message is that anyone can be a herbalist.



As a herbal practitioner, Monica is a strong advocate for folks to reconnect to their bodies and their menstrual cycles. Her main area of practice is reproductive and hormonal health, but she has other special areas of interest (listed below). With a mix of evidence-based treatments and traditional herbal knowledge, she enjoys working with folk to make sustainable change for improved wellbeing and a balanced, healthy life.


Find Monica on FB:

https://www.facebook.com/monicafrancianaturopath/


And on IG:

https://www.instagram.com/monica_francia_naturopath/?hl=en


Find out more about Goulds:

https://www.gouldsnaturalmedicine.com.au/


Hobart Herbalists Without Borders:

https://www.facebook.com/hobartherbalistswithoutborders/


To purchase "The People's Medicine Zine", email:

hobart hwb@gmail.com

Apr 19, 202359:48
28. Mothercare, prioritising the basics and avoiding overwhelm- Emma Jacques on Self Care with Herbs

28. Mothercare, prioritising the basics and avoiding overwhelm- Emma Jacques on Self Care with Herbs

In this episode, I welcome Women’s Health Naturopath, Emma Jacques to the podcast. Emma’s always had a love of eating and growing good food and spending time outside in nature and in her garden. Undertaking a 4 year Bachelor Naturopathy degree while also birthing and caring for 2 children and coming face to face with ‘mum burnout’, inspired her to focus on Women’s Health and in particular ‘Mothercare’ in her practice…

Emma’s been practicing as a Naturopath since 2015, and spent 4 years working alongside acclaimed integrative GP Dr Oscar Serrallach, helping mothers rediscover their vitality and manage their health on the other side of birth. As part of her work with Dr Serrallach, Emma contributed a section on diet to his book, ‘The Postnatal Depletion Cure’. 

During this episode, we chat about Emma’s childhood, her love of helping mum and dad in the garden, spending hours outside, collecting treasures from nature for potions.

During our chat, Emma shares how she encourages her clients to prioritise self care above eating well and exercising because when our cups are full, these things come more easily. We chat about the importance of bringing in loved ones so they see the necessity of us taking time for ourselves and can be there to help if needed. And above all, that self care isn’t a privilege, it’s an essential part of living well, that we know how to nurture and support ourselves. 

Emma makes some really good points about being realistic about forming new habits- we talk about how falling off the wagon with a new self care habit doesn’t have to be the end of the road and how being aware of this makes the habit easier to maintain.

As both a busy Mum and an experienced Women’s Health pracitioner, Emma has a lot of practical and simple wisdom to share, there’s lots of tips and tricks you’ll take away from this chat.

You can find out more about Emma, including how you can work with her, by visiting her website, Emma Jacques Women’s Health Naturopath

You can also connect with Emma on Instagram.

To find out more about The Elder Tree visit the website at www.theeldertree.org and donate to the crowdfunding campaign here.

You can also follow The Elder Tree on Facebook and Instagram and sign up to the newsletter.

Find out more about this podcast and the presenters here. Get in touch with The Elder Tree at:  asktheeldertree@gmail.com

The intro and outro song is "Sing for the Earth" and was kindly donated by Chad Wilkins.  You can find Chad's music here and here.

Apr 12, 202301:11:17
27. Being Small Enough to Hear the Plants, Wise Enough to Act our Age: John Seed on Deep Ecology and Sacred Herbalism

27. Being Small Enough to Hear the Plants, Wise Enough to Act our Age: John Seed on Deep Ecology and Sacred Herbalism

Stephanie Hazel interviews environmental activist and cofounder of the Deep Ecology movement John Seed on how Deep Ecology is a powerful philosophy for herbalists, plant folk and all humans living with grief and confusion around the devastation of the natural world. By getting humans out of the driver's seat of existence, and remembering that we are one strand in the web of life not the spider in the middle, we can restore right relationship with the Earth. John shares unique stories for the first time on this show: how powerful experiences with magic mushrooms prepared the ground for his initial groundbreaking revelations in the Australian rainforests that led to what we now know as Deep Ecology; how "Aussie-huasca" just might have saved his life recently; and how he discovered indigenous rituals performed in a group context to dissolve the hubris of human superiority that were exactly like the 'Council of All Beings' process he had created with Joanna Macy a few years prior.


Show Notes:

John Seed's book 'Thinking Like A Mountain' is available for free download here: https://rainforestinfo.org.au/deep-eco/TLAM%20text.htm

Excellent talk by John Seed at Rebel Herbal conference https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QPdxrrg_Frw

'The Spirit of Herbs', an article written by John Seed in response to Stephen Harrod Buhner's work:  http://www.rainforestinfo.org.au/deep-eco/herbs.htm

Upcoming Deep Ecology workshops with John Seed: https://events.humanitix.com/host/6020d0d134494c000a3c23bd




Apr 05, 202355:19
26. BotAnarchy, Art and Being a Botanical Revolutionary: Taj Scicluna, The Perma Pixie on Permaculture Herbalism

26. BotAnarchy, Art and Being a Botanical Revolutionary: Taj Scicluna, The Perma Pixie on Permaculture Herbalism

'The Perma Pixie' is Taj Scicluna's small business, based on her deep poetic love of the Botanical Realm. Taj is an artist who fuses together her love of Herbalism, Foraging, Writing, Cooking, Ecosystem Health, Personal Health and Education into a cohesive offering. Her business is a platform for creativity, a place to weave the romantic wonder of the botanical into something tangible to share with the world.

She is a Permaculture designer, consultant, and implementer, specialising in ornamental, edible and medicinal gardens. As a facilitator of grassroots herbal medicine and teacher of Permaculture and creative facilitation, she shares her knowledge of Herbalism, wild food, and ecological systems with the philosophy that medicine is more than a resource.

At her core, Taj aims to support people as they bridge the gap between themselves and 'nature', to support the 'remembering' that we belong to the botanical, that we are woven into the photosynthetic web, and that we are truly animal. She aims to co-collaborate in repairing the rupture we have created in our experience of being 'civilised', of using language to keep us separate, believing that healing is done in this process of 'being' in relationship with the botanical rather than treating it as a resource.

Healing is within the process, not the product. To carry out this purpose, Taj lives a lifestyle dedicated to her values and educates via workshops, courses, mentorship, Patreon and one-on-one cliental consults.

In this interview, you'll get a sneaky peak excerpt of her upcoming book and what inspired her creative expression in her music video BotAnarchy!

Show Notes:

Connect:

Taj Scicluna The Perma Pixie Reclaim Food and Medicine⁠ www.thepermapixie.com⁠

Co-founder of Alchemical Ecology Remembering our Roots through Herbal Education⁠ www.alchemicalecology.com⁠

Facebook: www.facebook.com/thepermapixie 

Instagram: www.instagram.com/thepermapixie 

Other/s: www.youtube.com/thepermapixie 

Taj resides on the land of the Wurundjeri in Naarm (Melbourne). A percentage of my Patreon and workshop profits go towards paying the rent: https://paytherent.net.au/⁠


To learn more about The Elder Tree, visit the website here and donate to the crowdfunding campaign here.

You can also follow The Elder Tree on Facebook and Instagram and sign up to the newsletter. Find out more about this podcast and the presenters here.

Get in touch with The Elder Tree at:  asktheeldertree@gmail.comThe intro and outro song is "Sing for the Earth" and was kindly donated by Chad Wilkins.  You can find Chad's music here and here.

Mar 28, 202354:13