Folk Methodology

In this episode of Herbalists After Hours, we sit down with KP Khalsa, a teacher who shaped both of us as herbalists, for a conversation that spans more than five decades of practice, teaching, and watching herbalism change. KP's perspectives are often refreshingly different from what you hear in the greater herbal world, and a lot of that comes down to how he was trained.  At 17, he was learning from naturopathic physicians in their 80s, some of the last to graduate from formal training back in the 1930s. They told him the way to learn was to practice, so he did, right away, out of the back room of a health food store near the University of Oregon. *We talk about:* Riding the neighbor's cows home from the Willamette River as a kid Why studying linguistics made him a better herbal teacher More than 50 years of daily meditation, and why a chattering monkey mind is no reason to give up What makes a good herbal student, and why being a great technician is only about 10% of clinical success The herb myths that seem to have been invented right here in the US His honest concerns about where professional herbalism is headed And then there's guduchi, the Ayurvedic herb KP is most in love with after all these years, and the surprising kitchen staple that shares its "cosmic nectar" status. There's also a guest question from Rich Mandelbaum, a Lightning Bug Round full of surprises, and a heartfelt remembrance of our friend John Gallagher, who helped KP create his very first long-form online course. It's warm, funny, and full of the kind of hard-earned wisdom you only get from someone who has been doing this work for a very long time. Karta Purkh Singh Khalsa, Yogaraj (Ayurveda), AD, DN-C, RH, has over 50 years of experience in holistic medicine. He is President Emeritus and Global Ambassador of the American Herbalists Guild, director emeritus of the National Ayurvedic Medicine Association, and has authored or edited over 30 books.  He is the founder of the International Integrative Educational Institute (soon to be the Global Herbalism Academy), and the curriculum creator and principal instructor of the Professional Herbalism program at Portland Community College. WATCH THIS INTERVIEW ON YOUTUBE LINKS & RESOURCES International Integrative Educational Institute | InternationalIntegrative.com Richard Mandelbaum | RichardMandelbaum.com Don't miss a thing! Join our herbal community newsletter at FolkMethodology.com Folk Methodology is a creative herbal studio exploring the wisdom, culture, and lived experience of herbalists. Through conversations, classes, and media, Mason and Rosalee are here to share and uplift the grassroots herbal community. The small print This content is for educational and entertainment purposes only. It is not intended to diagnose, treat, or cure any disease. Always consult with a qualified healthcare provider before making changes to your health regimen.

Torin Frost and Lauren Santi have a pretty incredible story to tell, and we're so glad we got to sit down with them for this one. In this episode of Herbalists After Hours, we hang out with the musicians and partners for a conversation about falling in love, finding purpose through creativity, and how getting to know plants can change the way you see the world. Lauren shares how a cancer diagnosis at 29 brought her into a deeper relationship with herbalism, and how Torin showed up for her as their friendship grew into something more. We hear about the meals, mushroom brews, and daily care that accompanied her treatment, along with the joy of revisiting familiar trails and finally recognizing the plants growing all around her. We also dive into their Imaginal Disc music and film projects, inspired by monarch butterflies and their travels through Mexico.  Torin and Lauren take us behind the scenes of turning their own experiences with illness, love, and transformation into something they could share through music. Along the way, we talk about protecting old-growth forests, uplifting Indigenous voices, their budding apothecary, and helping the next generation build a relationship with the land.  Torin also tells the story of his appearance in Kai Cenat's rap battle, and we put his freestyle skills to the test with a few herbal prompts of our own. There's plenty of laughter, some tender moments, and a whole lot of love for the plants and people who have shaped their lives. Come hang out with us. A heartfelt thank-you to Torin and Lauren for sharing their stories, their music, and so much of themselves with us! WATCH THIS INTERVIEW ON YOUTUBE LINKS & RESOURCES Torin Frost | TorinFrost.com Imaginal Disc Pt. I: Metamorphosis of the Caterpillar | WATCH ON YOUTUBE Imaginal Disc Pt. II: Cracking the Chrysalis | WATCH ON YOUTUBE Torin Frost Instagram | @torinfrost Lauren Santi Instagram | @thelaurensanti Medicine Song Apothecary | LEARN MORE Torin on Patreon | SUPPORT HIS WORK Don't miss a thing! Join our herbal community newsletter at FolkMethodology.com Folk Methodology is a creative herbal studio exploring the wisdom, culture, and lived experience of herbalists. Through conversations, classes, and media, Mason and Rosalee are here to share and uplift the grassroots herbal community. The small print This content is for educational and entertainment purposes only. It is not intended to diagnose, treat, or cure any disease. Always consult with a qualified healthcare provider before making changes to your health regimen.

What do punk rock, radical environmentalism, vintage baseball cards, and one of the herbal world's most influential companies have in common? Shawn Donnille. In this episode of Herbalists After Hours, we sit down with the owner of Mountain Rose Herbs for a wide-ranging conversation about activism, entrepreneurship, childhood joy, and the sometimes unexpected path to building a business that can genuinely change the world. Shawn shares how his early years as an activist shaped the person and business owner he would become, how a box of old baseball cards helped him buy his stake in Mountain Rose Herbs, and why reconnecting with the things he loved as a kid has become increasingly important to him. We also explore what it really means to build an ethical, values-driven company, including the difficult decisions, the responsibility that comes with influence, and Shawn's belief that herbalism can help inspire much broader cultural and environmental change. Along the way, we get into punk rock, the evolution of Mountain Rose Herbs, radical environmental action, the legendary RootsTalk conference, and what keeps Shawn hopeful after decades of pushing against the status quo. This is an honest, funny, and deeply personal conversation with one of the herbal industry's most outspoken and fascinating leaders. Come hang out with us. A heartfelt thank-you to Shawn for welcoming us into his home and sharing so openly with us! WATCH THIS INTERVIEW ON YOUTUBE LINKS & RESOURCES Mountain Rose Herbs | MountainRoseHerbs.com Oregon Wild | OregonWild.org Cascadia Wildlands | CascWild.org Ecotopia by Ernest Callenbach | BUY THE BOOK Follow Along with Folk Methodology Website | FolkMethodology.com Instagram | @folkmethodology TikTok | @folkmethodology Don't miss a thing! Join our herbal community newsletter at FolkMethodology.com Folk Methodology is a creative herbal studio exploring the wisdom, culture, and lived experience of herbalists. Through conversations, classes, and media, Mason and Rosalee are here to share and uplift the grassroots herbal community. *The small print* This content is for educational and entertainment purposes only. It is not intended to diagnose, treat, or cure any disease. Always consult with a qualified healthcare provider before making changes to your health regimen.

We traveled to Palm Springs, California, for the Grand Opening of the new Mountain Rose Herbs Mercantile, where we had the opportunity to chat with owner Shawn Donnille, Vice President Steven Yeager, and Special Projects Coordinator D'Ann Hawkes. While we were there, our conversation expanded far beyond the Palm Springs location.  We explored the history of Mountain Rose Herbs' mercantiles, why the company continues to invest in brick-and-mortar stores, and the vision for future locations. Along the way, we discuss designing immersive retail experiences, introducing new people to herbalism, building lasting relationships with growers and suppliers, fostering community, and creating spaces where people can connect with plants in a hands-on way. We were thrilled to be there for the Grand Opening and grateful to help document this exciting milestone for Mountain Rose Herbs. We hope you enjoy the conversation! If you're visiting Palm Springs, be sure to stop by! Mountain Rose Herbs Palm Springs Mercantile 115 S Palm Canyon Drive Palm Springs, CA 92262 Learn more about the Palm Springs Mercantile Shop Mountain Rose Herbs Thanks for listening, and don't forget to subscribe for more herbal conversations, interviews, and behind-the-scenes adventures from the herbal community. Follow Along with Folk Methodology Website | FolkMethodology.com  Instagram | @folkmethodology TikTok | @folkmethodology Folk Methodology is a creative herbal studio exploring the wisdom, culture, and lived experience of herbalists. Through conversations, classes, and media, Mason and Rosalee are here to share and uplift the grassroots herbal community. The small print This content is for educational and entertainment purposes only. It is not intended to diagnose, treat, or cure any disease. Always consult with a qualified healthcare provider before making changes to your health regimen.

In this episode of Herbalists After Hours, we spend time with Michael "Skeeter" Pilarski on his two-acre medicinal agroforestry property in the Methow valley (north-central Washington) — a place that started as a bare field and is now a thriving, self-mulching, multi-story forest of over 10,000 trees and shrubs.  The conversation moves from plant walks and wildcrafting to community building, ceremony, music, and the long arc of a life lived in radical service to the earth and the people on it. We talk about what it means to start things — gatherings, organizations, movements — and keep starting them for over five decades. We hear about the Okanagan Barter Fair, now in its 52nd year, and how barter economies and gift economies point toward something the modern world has largely forgotten. We explore how community gatherings serve not just joy and connection, but the exchange of practical knowledge that keeps movements alive. And Skeeter shares his vision for medicinal forestry as one of the most important climate solutions available to us right now. There's also a tour of the land itself, where you get to see Skeeter in his true element. Michael "Skeeter" Pilarski is an herbalist, wildcrafter, seed grower, agroforestry practitioner, and one of the most prolific community organizers in the history of the American herbal and permaculture movements. He is the founder of Friends of the Trees Society (1978), the Global Earth Repair Foundation, the Okanagan Barter Fair (1974), the Northwest Herbal Fair (1996), and dozens of other gatherings and organizations spanning herbalism, permaculture, ecological restoration, and earth repair. He has been planting, teaching, and organizing for over fifty years. Thank you to Xavier de la Forêt for filming!  WATCH THIS EPISODE ON YOUTUBE Don't miss a thing! Join our herbal community newsletter at FolkMethodology.com LINKS & RESOURCES Connect with Skeeter Friends of the Trees Society | https://friendsofthetrees.net/ Global Earth Repair Foundation | https://globalearthrepairfoundation.org/ Skeeter's YouTube channel | https://www.youtube.com/@friendsofthetreessociety8540  EPISODE MENTIONS Okanagan Barter Fair (Tonasket, WA) | https://okanoganfamilyfaire.net/ Northwest Herbal Fair | https://www.nwherbalfair.com/ Fairy and Human Relations Congress | https://fairycongress.com/ Tilth | https://tilthalliance.org/ Singing Alive | https://singingalive.org/ Great Lakes Herb Faire | https://www.greatlakesherbfaire.org/ Torin Frost and Lauren Santi | https://www.youtube.com/@torinfrostofficial Dope ah meaN (hip hop group, Twisp, WA) | https://methowvalleynews.com/2024/07/25/rap-duo-dope-ah-mean-builds-momentum/ The Man of the Trees by Richard St. Barb Baker Back to Eden by Jethro Kloss Permaculture: A Designers' Manual by Bill Mollison Folk Methodology is a creative herbal studio exploring the wisdom, culture, and lived experience of herbalists. Through conversations, classes, and media, Mason and Rosalee are here to share and uplift the grassroots herbal community.   The small print This content is for educational and entertainment purposes only. It is not intended to diagnose, treat, or cure any disease. Always consult with a qualified healthcare provider before making changes to your health regimen.