The Elder Tree Podcast

This special feature episode is about The Elder Tree plant, so tune in to explore this revered ally's medicinal, ecological and cultural wisdom with Tonielle Christensen, aka Earth Mumma. Discover its role in permaculture, the differences between Sambucus nigra and Sambucus canadensis, and practical applications in herbalism. From growing elder trees to crafting immune-boosting elderberry syrup, soothing elderflower teas, and nutrient-packed jams, this episode shares recipes and tips for harnessing the full potential of this extraordinary plant. We also delve into the cultural significance of the Elder Tree, sharing the timeless story of the Elder Mother—a spirit who reminds us of patience, reciprocity, and respect for nature. Chapters:00:00 | The Wisdom of the Elder Tree08:24 | Exploring Elder Tree Varieties16:33 | Growing Elder Trees in Permaculture27:07 | Herbal Wisdom and Uses of Elder29:57 | Harvesting and Freezing Elderberries31:23 | Making Elderberry Syrup for Immunity33:38 | Elderflower Tea and Its Benefits35:25 | Refreshing Elderflower & Kaffir Lime Iced Tea38:13 | Creating Elderflower Tincture39:38 | Delicious Elderberry Jam Recipe42:27 | Nutritional Benefits of Elderberries46:00 | Cultural Significance of the Elder Tree50:10 | The Story of the Elder Mother SHOW NOTES: Incredible Edible Tropical Superfood Guide Elderberry, The Medicine Plant Blog *BUY ME A CUPPA* If you liked the episode and want more, a cuppa fuels my work and time, which is given for free. Leave a comment and a few bucks here: ⁠⁠buymeacoffee.com/theeldertree⁠⁠ **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:  ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ 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.

What happens when we nurture a connection with our inner child? When we treat the imagination as a source of inspiration and keep our eyes, ears and hearts open?  Alyson Maier has had a deep connection with the plant world since early childhood when she would wait expectantly for the May bush in her garden to flower each year and then gather blooms to create a circle for her daily meditation. Like many of us, through childhood, Alyson was told “it’s just your imagination”- as if it was false or unimportant- but like she says- what if the Wright brothers never imagined flying a plane? Luckily, Alyson continued to treasure her imagination and today has a deep connection with the spirit world.  Alyson’s a Naturopathic Herbalist, children's author, Andean Medicine Carrier (Nusta Pampomasayoq Paqo), and award-winning herbal tea curator based on the Sunshine Coast of Australia. She’s passionate about helping people reconnect with their traditional origins to rediscover the medicine within. During our chat, Aly shares her passion for the role of storytelling in preserving herbal knowledge and the transformative power of nature in our lives. **CONNECT** Connect with ALYSON and buy her beautiful books here: https://www.greenheartherbals.com/about https://www.instagram.com/alysonmaiernaturopath/ You can connect with JESS via instagram and facebook here and here, join her newsletter community here (where you’ll be the first to hear of our upcoming Christmas gift themed workshop with Jess’s 11 year old apprentice) and buy her handcrafted herbal products here. **BUY ME A CUPPA** If you liked the episode and want more, a cuppa fuels my work and time, which is given for free. Leave a comment and a few bucks here: https://buymeacoffee.com/theeldertree **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:  ⁠[email protected]⁠ 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.

What are the biggest challenges you face as a herbalist? What are your favourite herbs for perimenopause? Birth? Depression? Is it important to specialise in clinic? What herb should everyone in the world take for 3 months for collective healing? These are some of the questions that I answer from YOU - podcast listeners, students and social media followers. @nourishingtides @fitzoii @janjapeschel @galinalugonja @meg.burry @el.freewoman @marjannehuising Our trial episode of Ask Me Anything has been fun, so it will probably happen again. Feel free to message or email any of our 4 presenters with specific questions and when we get enough questions we can do another episode just like this one. If you want more of these PLEASE let us know! *BUY ME A CUPPA* If you liked the episode and want more, a cuppa fuels my work and time, which is given for free. Leave a comment and a few bucks here: ⁠buymeacoffee.com/theeldertree⁠ To find out more about The Elder Tree visit the website at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.theeldertree.org⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or follow is on socials here: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ / ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠  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 Cerise Acacia as she delves into the transformative power of permaculture, sharing her journey from feeling adrift and having health issues to finding purpose in growing her subtropical food forest. In this conversation, she highlights permaculture's role in addressing global challenges and stresses the importance of community, long-term stewardship, and the "seven generations" philosophy. Cerise and her guest discuss the energetics of food, resilience in the face of natural disasters, and practical tips for growing perennial foods to boost food security and sustainability in a food forest, utilising some syntropic gardening principles. Discover insights on building healthy soil, the healing potential of diet, and the joy of connecting with the land - no matter the size of your garden. Her favourite plant is Aibika, and she shares its medicinal values and how to grow and prepare it! Chapters: 00:00 The Importance of Permaculture 02:51 Personal Journey and Transformation through Permaculture 06:10Community and Land Stewardship 09:02 The Seven Generations Philosophy 11:55 Integrating Herbalism and Food Production 14:47 The Energetics of Food and Agriculture 18:09 Food Security and Community Resilience 21:03 Challenges in the Food System 23:48 Growing Perennial Foods for Sustainability 26:58 Practical Gardening Tips and Favorite Plants 36:49 The Value of Mucilaginous Foods 39:36 Preparing for Cyclones: Food Resilience 43:54 Perennial Foods: A Sustainable Approach 49:44 Building Healthy Soil Naturally 53:07 Healing Through Diet: A Personal Journey 01:00:38 The Importance of Starting Your Garden Journey 01:03:56 Sharing Knowledge and Community in Gardening SHOW NOTES: Aibika -  Abelmoschus manihot, blog here The Solar Farm Instagram FREE Food Forest Fundamentals Course: https://thesolarfarm.podia.com/ *BUY ME A CUPPA* If you liked the episode and want more, a cuppa fuels my work and time, which is given for free. Leave a comment and a few bucks here: ⁠buymeacoffee.com/theeldertree⁠ **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:  ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ 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, Tatiana interviews Dominique LivKamal from Medicine Room on Gubbi Gubbi country in Malaney on the Sunshine Coast, which is a space dedicated to herbal medicine making, free herbal treatment, education and community health for the past 25 years.  Medicine Room dispenses 86 organic herbal preparations which are all made onsite and dispensesd in a free clinic instore and at Eumundi markets.  From this space Dominique runs a regular myriad of diverse herbal medicine workshops, courses, and events, plus runs a podcast and sells the 3 books that she has written. In this interview they discuss stealth pathogens and and the need for effective parasite elimination protocols. Dominique shares the journey of Medicine Room and her experience of running free clinics for 20 years.  They talk about the importance of practitioners making their own medicine and knowing where their medicine comes from, and so much more!  We hope you enjoy this chat with this well respected herbal teacher, clinician and mentor. *BUY ME A CUPPA* If you liked the episode and want more, a cuppa fuels our work and time, which is given for free. Leave a comment and a few bucks here: ⁠buymeacoffee.com/theeldertree⁠ ** SHOWNOTES **Medicine Room Website:⁠www.medicineroom.com.au⁠Medicine Room on Facebook:⁠https://www.facebook.com/medicineroomofficial/⁠Medicine Room on Instagram:⁠https://www.instagram.com/medicine_room⁠ **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:  ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ 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. ** TATIANA's PERSONAL OFFERINGS ** Aside from founding and managing The Elder Tree, Tatiana runs Alchemilla Herbals, and is a herbal educator and medicine maker.Find her here:⁠ www.alchemillaherbals.com.au⁠⁠ www.facebook.com/alchemillaherbals ⁠⁠www.instagram.com/alchemillaherbals⁠

During this episode, I chat with Shenel Engel,  a dedicated homoeopathic practitioner specialising in women's health, with a profound personal journey through Poly Cystic Ovarian Syndrome and Endometriosis. Diagnosed at 21 with these conditions and told she might never conceive, Shenel embarked on a transformative journey of healing through diet, lifestyle changes, and homoeopathy. Her personal success story includes the joy of raising two children, inspiring her to help others facing similar challenges.  Through her practice, ‘Your Homeopath’,  Shenel offers invaluable insights and practical solutions to manage and overcome these conditions, while also offering homeopathic kits to support common first aid situations as well as child birth and the postpartum. During our chat, Shenel shares her emotional journey- from being told her reproductive conditions would likely prevent her from having children through to her introduction to homeopathy and the happy conception of two beautiful children (and a third on the way) and being inspired to study homeopathy formally.  We hear of the in depth consultation process that precedes the selection of a homeopathic remedy and some of the common homeopathics that Shenel leans on both in clinic and to support her own health and that of her young family. It’s interesting to hear of the parallels between one of my favourite herbs- Chamomile- the humble hero of gut and emotional health- and the corresponding homeopathic Chamomilla.  Shenel has so much wisdom and lots of interesting insights to share from a homeopathic perspective and that of a pregnant mumma of a young family! **CONNECT** Connect with Shenel here: https://yourhomeopath.com.au/ https://www.instagram.com/yourhomeopath/ You can connect with Jess via instagram and facebook here and here,  and join her newsletter community 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:  [email protected] 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.

Could Calendula really help us heal the inner wounded masculine? What does that even mean? What if the medicine of the plants was slowly evolving and changing alongside us? Perhaps not only with human needs, but also with the changes in the ecosystems plants live in. How could they not? Plants are so chemically responsive, they change their makeup depending on the situation they find themselves growing in, and since we are part of the ecosystem to, it is no wonder that plants are offering stronger medicine for healing the inner wounds of broken mental & spiritual worlds. Heidi Wedd and Stephanie Hazel wade in very similar pools in their own work as herbalists and teachers - learning how to listen to the earth and the plants directly, and how to work with the soul properties or spirit teachings of plants for deeper personal and collective healing. Here they discuss their different theories on why this matters, the lessons Heidi has learnt from Calendula and what 'Shamanic Herbalism' really is. Heidi is a herbalist, homeopath, midwife and plant spirit communicator with 20 years experience, based in Main Arm, NSW. She has studied in Scotland, Siberia and Australia and offers a quiet wisdom to her students that is priceless. Follow her on instagram. *BUY ME A CUPPA* If you liked the episode and want more, a cuppa fuels my work and time, which is given for free. Leave a comment and a few bucks here: ⁠buymeacoffee.com/theeldertree⁠ To find out more about The Elder Tree visit the website at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.theeldertree.org⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or follow is on socials here: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ / ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠  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, host Tonielle Christensen, aka Earth Mumma, dives into the rich world of tropical superfoods. She highlights the crucial role that perennial plants play in sustainable gardening and food production. The discussion zeroes in on three nutrient-packed plants—Ceylon Spinach (Basella Alba/Rubra), Leaf Ginseng (Talinum Triangular), and Moringa Oliefera—unpacking their nutritional benefits and their place in food forest systems. Gain practical knowledge about the importance of biodiversity in gardens and diets, and how sustainable eating can be initiated with locally grown, resilient crops. Chapters:00:00 - Introduction to Permaculture Herbalism01:48 - Tropical Superfoods Overview06:07 - The Importance of Perennial Plants15:00 - Ceylon Spinach: A Versatile Green24:53 - Leaf Ginseng: The Tropical Salad Green30:51 - Moringa: The Miracle Tree39:12 - Understanding Food Forest Layers43:56 - Sustainable Eating and Local Food Systems *BUY ME A CUPPA* If you liked the episode and want more, a cuppa fuels my work and time, which is given for free. Leave a comment and a few bucks here: buymeacoffee.com/theeldertree SHOW NOTES: Grab my Book: https://www.earthmumma.co/incredible-edibles-superfood-guide-ebook Do my course: Up-coming Intro to Permaculture: https://www.earthmumma.co/Intro-to-Permaculture-Workshop Plant Blog: https://www.earthmumma.co/blog/ceylon-spinach-basella-alba-rubra **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:  ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ 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 todays episode, Tatiana interiews Dawn Whitten who is a naturopath, herbalist, researcher, teacher and mentor on Bundjalung country in Northern NSW. She is one of the co-owners of Gould's pharmacy for the past 18 years and has a well grounded approach to blending the academic realms with the traditional practices. In this episode, Dawn shares some of her journey with Goulds, and what led her to want to become a lactation expert and assist families in pregnancy and postpartum. She shares her journey of writing her thesis on herb-drug interactions and also shares her perspective about science and tradition not being so different from one another. We discuss hopes and dreams for the future of herbal education in Australia and also discuss the important of herbalists knowing where their medicine comes from. There is also a strong emphasis on using fresh vital herb material in herbal preparations and some of the potential pitfalls of commercially manufactured tablets and capsules. Dawn really blends together the academic realms of herbal medicine with a down to Earth approach and a deep knowing of the plants. It is wonderful to have people on the show with such a balanced perspective and wisdom to offer. Find out more about Dawn here: https://www.gouldsnaturalmedicine.com.au/dawn-whitten **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:  ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ 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 I’m lucky enough to chat again with the ever enthusiastic and entertaining Cat Green. We have lots of laughs as always! 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. During this wide reaching conversation, we explore how we can deepen our understanding of self care to encompass both community care and earth care.  Because we know that health doesn’t happen in a vacuum, it’s a product of our interactions and interconnections with the world around us. But, when we’re already overloaded and busy and distracted, it can quickly feel overwhelming to think about becoming activists to change the bigger structures around workplaces and the environment.  Conceptually we might understand what’s required, but on a practical level, what do we do about that? Cat and I agree, the first step is having conversations like these- in our community’s our families and our workplaces. Without these conversations as a starting point, it’s impossible to change the cultural expectations in our workplaces to begin creating new social norms. Moving away from the idea of self worth being tied to productivity which can be a fast track to burn out. We agree that feeling a part of and connected to the natural world encourages a sense of awe and a desire to protect and conserve and helps us understand how taking action can be a form self care. Cat makes a really lovely point that we’re so quick to believe that the smallest thing can hurt us, one drink or one cigarette, but we're so quick to dismiss that small positive, consistent positive actions will have a cumulative benefit.  We definitely don’t have all the answers, but together, we offer some gentle, practical suggestions for building community connection and to care for and build connection with the earth to begin to deepen our practice of self care. So grab a cup of your favourite herbal cuppa, find a comfy nook in the sun and settle in to this inspiring episode… *SHOW NOTES* You can learn more about Cat, her upcoming offerings, check out her blog posts and blearn more about her upcoming Herbal Tea course here. Or follow Cat on Instagram and Facebook to keep up to date with all of her offerings. Cat refers to Slow Productivity by Cal Newport which you can access here. If you’d like to hear more from Cat on the Elder Tree Podcast, you can listen in here: Episode 81: Subtropical Herbalism and Herb Fest: Cat Green on Herbal Education Episode 48: Self Care as a Dynamic, Seasonal, Everyday Practice: Cat Green on Self Care with Herbs You can connect with Jess via instagram and facebook here and here,  and join her newsletter community 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:  [email protected] 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.