The Elder Tree Podcast

What does it mean to be witch? Why is this word so terrifying? And does being a herbalist automatically make you a witch? Join Stephanie Hazel and Nila Chandra as they discuss all things witchy. If witchcraft calls you, you should definitely work 1:1 with Nila, who can provide private teaching, tarot readings and also consult with you to co-create a powerfully effective ritual for a specific purpose, from rites of passage, clearing curses and other magical strains, to entering into relationship with land. Contact her on readingsritesremedies@gmail.com  You can follow Nila on instagram here. We mentioned a BBC miniseries 'Witch'. Listen here. **THE ELDER TREE TROVE PATREON COMMUNITY** Do you want to support us as a valued Patreon ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠to help our podcast and healing sanctuary grow? For only $2 per week, you'll have access to bonus and often exclusive resources and opportunities ⁠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.

Sally Fields is a fifth-generation farmer from a long line of farmers, gardeners, and animal keepers. She cut her teeth in the Brigalow Belah scrub of Southwest Queensland on the family property “Mirri Mirri” in Barunggam country. On her pony Dolly and a big red quad, Sally learnt to hunt, muster sheep and cattle, and roam the land. It was here, in her parents' footsteps, that she cultivated a deep love of the country and its critters. Studying a Rural Science degree, Sally tracked into a career in agronomy. Consulting and farming in many countries and enterprises.  The past five years have seen her project managing Healthy Farming Futures, where she empowered farmers through workshops, conferences, field days and mentoring for improved land outcomes.  Sally now heads up the Atherton Tablelands Integrated Collaboration (ATIC)  as project director for Sustainable Table and the Office of the Great Barrier Reef (OGBR).  We discuss soil health and cover cropping, the Mulungu herb for better sleep and how she is bridging permaculture and traditional land-based enterprises towards regenerative farming by showcasing farmers on their journey with peer-to-peer knowledge transfer. Connect and Show note links below! **THE ELDER TREE TROVE PATREON COMMUNITY** Do you want to support us as a valued Patreon ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠to help our podcast and healing sanctuary grow? For only $2 per week, you'll have access to bonus and often exclusive resources and opportunities 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. CONNECT: www.naturalfieldssolutions.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sally-fields/ SHOW NOTES: ATIC Sustainable Table Project and newsletter for event invites: https://www.sustainabletable.org.au/projects/cairns-atherton-tablelands Land To Market Regenerative Agriculture Certification: https://www.landtomarket.com/ Mulungu Erythrina mulungu: https://www.happyherbshop.com.au/collections/herb-mulungu

In today's episode I interview Hollie Wildethorn, a Psychotherapist, Clinical Counsellor, Coach and womens mysteries facilitator, who resides on Walbunja Yuin land in Braidwood, NSW. Hollie provides many inspirational offerings through her business, the Institute for Self Crafting, and her mission is to support people who know life can be so much more; to craft the best self-version so far. Hollie is the first person that I have interviewed that isnt a herbal educator, but she hold a special space for herbal education. She runs the incredible Wise Womens Gathering near Wise Mans Ferry, which is being held in just over 5 weeks, on the 16th-19th May. The Wise Women's Gathering is an educational conference that focuses on herbalism, holistic living, women's mysteries, and cultivating community. It provides a space for practitioners and non-practitioners alike to deepen their knowledge and connection with the earth. The gathering emphasizes inclusivity and creating a safe and welcoming environment for all attendees. The presence of herbs is a central theme, as it is a space for traditional wisdom to be shared and passed down. Mentorship and collaboration are also important aspects, with experienced practitioners partnering with younger or less experienced practitioners to co-create workshops. The gathering fosters a sense of community through shared meals, check-ins, and an open mic night where attendees can showcase their talents and be witnessed by their community. For anyone that hasn't heard of this unique gathering, I highly recommend jumping online and checking it out- there are links in the shownotes. Stephanie Hazel and I are both going down to Sydney for the gathering this year and we are running a 3 hour preconference presentation together. I am also running a 90 minute presentation about Motherwort and I also have the honour of being on a discussion panel at the gathering. I have attended this gathering once before, about 6 years ago and I highly reccomend it. In this interview, Hollie discusses her role in the Wise Women's Gathering and the various offerings she presents at the event. She emphasizes the importance of inclusivity and creating a sense of belonging for all attendees. Holly also shares her work as a therapist, counselor, and coach, specializing in trauma and anxiety. She offers retreats, circles, and online courses focused on women's empowerment and connection to the land. Additionally, Holly provides professional supervision for health practitioners and women's mysteries facilitators, promoting trauma-informed care and collaboration. She encourages practitioners to share their knowledge and wisdom beyond their individual practices. Hollie's website: https://www.instituteforselfcrafting.com/hollie Find Hollie on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hollie.wildethorn/ **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.

Today I chat with Emma Caller, a naturopath and nutritionist who can thank her Italian heritage for teaching her how food can nourish us. She loves treating itchy babies and nervous kids as well as any skin condition. Emma has a clinic near Coffs Harbour NSW, where she is never not accompanied by her black and white cat Cookie Custard Some of Emma’s earliest memories as a child are steeped in plant medicine- instinctively reaching for plants to heal during games of ‘Doctors and Nurses’. She knew she wanted to be a Naturopath from when she was 5 years old, after having a flower essence prescribed for nightmares and witnessing their magic. For Emma, plant medicine is also really based on food. Her Sicilian heritage is steeped in food- culinary herbs like oregano, parsley, thyme and garlic regularly making their way into meals. In her naturopathic practice today where she loves working with families of young children, Emma helps her clients to make nourishing food choices by providing delicious and healthy tips and recipes. Flower essences also form a big part of Emma’s practice and she talks about how sItting down and having good conversations to help connect people with the right flower essence helps to effect deep change.  We talk about the relationship that we encourage clients to develop with the plants to help encourage lasting change when working with plant medicines. During our chat, Emma talks about the importance of knowing our own self worth, when it’s often instinctual to prioritise everyone else's well being first. We chat about the difference between intrinsic and extrinsic self care and the benefits of investing in a balance of the two. Emma shares a special weekly ritual she enjoys with her family-  shopping at her local farmers market, connecting with the food and the growers and using the produce she gathers to create nourishing meals for the week ahead. Her green frittata recipe sounds divine, be sure to listen in so you don’t miss it! **CONNECT** You can connect with Emma here: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/emmacallernaturopathy (scroll down her page to find her Green Frittata recipe) **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.

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!

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: ⁠Stinging Nettle (Urtica dioica L.)  Motherwort (Leonurus sibiricus) Plantain Species Cultivating Inner Freedom- Nonviolent Communication (NVC) 2-day training **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.

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.

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: https://www.gouldsnaturalmedicine.com.au/nena-aleschewski Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/naturopath_nena/ Facebook: https://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.

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.

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.auFacebook: Body Relate Instagram: @bodyrelateWork with me: https://brelate.simplybook.me/v2/Radio show FB page: https://www.facebook.com/CairnsFM891?mibextid=kFxxJD SHOW NOTES: Sweet Leaf (Sauropus androgynus) Zenthai Shiatsu Ayurvedic Detox, Panchakarma Five Elements Theory **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.

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. Pat's website:https://patcollins.com.au/ Correspondence Course:https://patcollins.com.au/Shop/Pat-Collins-Correspondence-Course/ Some of Pat's upcoming workshops:https://barenatureskin.com.au/collections/pat-collins-workshops Indigenous Plants for Health (IPHA) indigenous plant knowledge cards:https://indigenousplantsforhealth.com/knowledge-cards-for-australian-medicinal-edible-plants/ Join IPHA (only $20 per year!)https://indigenousplantsforhealth.com/join-2/#:~:text=To%20join%20now%20click%20online,to%20one%20of%20our%20meetings Wise Women Gathering 17-19th May 2024:https://www.wisewomengathering.com/ 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.

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.

"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.

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: The Sociocracy Consulting Group Online Trainings Free resources & guides from Sociocracy 3.0 History of Sociocracy Visit www.earthmumma.co with Tonielle for future sociocracy events in FNQ. We the People: Consenting to a Deeper Democracy, by John Buck (Author), Sharon Villines Many Voices One Song: Shared Power with Sociocracy, by Sociocracy For All. People and Permaculture: Designing personal, collective and Planetary Well-being, ny Looby MacNamara Cultural Emergence: A Toolkit for Transforming Ourselves and the World, by Looby MacNamara. The Empowerment Manual: A Guide for Collaborative Groups by Starhawk. Creating a Life Together: Practical Tools to Grow Ecovillage and Intentional Communities, by Diana Leafe Christian. The Findorn Foundation Ecovillage Training Grounding Vision - Empowering Culture; How to Build and Sustain Community Together. A manual for Participatory tools for social change facilitators, by Robina McCurdy, Earthcare 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.

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.

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.

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.auInstagramFacebookYoutube 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.

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.Chapters00:00Introduction and Background02:01Journey in Thailand04:12Working with Fresh Herbal Medicine06:29Connection with Plants in Traditional Cultures07:44Relaxed Attitude towards Healing08:30Journey of Learning Herbal Medicine11:10Learning through Volunteering and Skill Sharing14:00Becoming an Educator19:11The Way of the Herbalist Course24:00The Need for Nuanced Terminology in Herbalism29:51The Changing Landscape of Herbalism in Australia38:00The Future of Herbalism Education43:27Making Herbs More Accessible44:07Inspiration and Manifestation45:05Land Accessibility and Community Living46:03Daily Integrated Practice and Health Sovereignty47:12Empowerment and Sovereignty47:48Creating Connections and Planting Seeds of Inspiration48:06Herbs in Supermarkets and Unexpected Discoveries49:15Current Herbal Allies53:14Upcoming Offerings and Trainings55:37Closing 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.

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.