DISCOVERING YOUR HERBAL LIFE .
by Elizabeth Hodges
freshly-made batch of arnica , comfrey , and a cayenne salve sits on the kitchen counter , an upgraded version of my original muscle and joint salve .
The additions of ground cayenne in the oil infusion and white camphor and turmeric essential oils will help to relieve pain , stimulate circulation and reduce inflammation , respectively . Salve is one of my favorite things to make . I love the process of infusing oil with medicinal herbs , and all the wonderful smells that fill my house . I feel like a witch with a bubbling cauldron — minus the eye of newt .
I few years later , I began making my own body care products , both because I didn ’ t want to use chemically-laden ones and because I couldn ’ t afford to buy the expensive natural ones all the time .
Then I rediscovered my love of plants when I started a garden during my first semester of grad school . It was so overwhelming , in fact , that I chose to drop out of grad school and study horticulture at the local community college . And this is when my connection with herbs began . Plant people will often tell you that certain plants speak to them , and for some reason herbs kept calling out to me .
While I was still in grad school I had formulated a plan around selling the natural body care products that I ’ d started making for myself and friends , teaching others how to make their own , and eventually establishing a community garden and learning center . In May of 2015 , I started phase one of the process : selling my natural skin care products .
Verdant California ’ s mission is to create products that harness the healing powers of plants as simply as possible , using the purest ingredients available . My products are made by hand at my home , using botanicals that are fair trade , cruelty free , and organic : local whenever possible . My homesteading childhood instilled in me a love of nature and a belief in the connectedness of all things . When something is good for your body , it ’ s good for the earth ( and vice-versa ). And I am an ongoing student of herbalism through The Herbal Academy and my own self-guided studies .
The Santa Cruz community has been incredibly supportive . I ’ ve found various maker ’ s markets to sell at , and local businesses such as Urban Sanctuary and Fish Princess Farm have been warm and enthusiastic about selling my products .
I have a market coming up this Sunday : the Santa Cruz Mountains Maker ’ s Market , where I ’ ll be releasing new products including face masks , deodorant sticks , and beard balm . Did I mention that I use environmentally-friendly packaging ? I also plan to teach more workshops in the area . And someday , maybe someday , I ’ ll just open that garden and learning center .
Find me online www . verdantcalifornia . com .
My path to studying herbalism has been a meandering one ... Even one that I have repeatedly avoided , to be honest . I moved to Santa Cruz 11 years ago , and have felt right at home here since I set foot on West Cliff — which is a surprise for someone who couldn ’ t seem to live anywhere for more than a year all through her early twenties . I considered myself a nomad until I found my home in Santa Cruz .
11 years ago , I would not have told you I wanted to be a herbalist . Although my roots are in a 40-acre homestead in Washington State , I would have said that herbalism was too “ hippy-dippy ” for me : something Santa Cruz has changed . I thought that kind of thing was all well and good for others who wanted to do it , but I studied photography and international relations in college and saw myself traveling the world for the rest of my life .