Heart of Herbs Herbal School Podcast
Welcome to the Heart of Herbs Herbal School Podcast, with Demetria Clark.
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Heart of Herbs Herbal School Podcast
Cultivating Wisdom: Personal Journeys in the Herbalist's Garden
Striking the right chord between giving and earning in the world of herbalism can be as intricate as the network of roots beneath the earth's surface. This episode navigates the delicate balance of honoring the worth of one's expertise, while still nourishing the roots of community support. Christy and I tackle the emotional odyssey from recognizing our inherent value to firmly planting it in our professional ethos. We lay bare the challenges of charging for one's craft, the strength required to assert our worth and the role of our partners in reminding us that our dedication also sustains our families.
Picture a world where the essence of each individual is distilled into a unique herbal concoction, where the art of personalized healing is not lost in the digital age. Christy's venture, Fire Botanicals, stands at the confluence of tradition and innovation, crafting custom formulas that resonate with the personal health narratives of each client. Our exchange celebrates the enduring human connection at the heart of the herbalist's path, despite the impersonal tide of online interaction. It's a story of growth, resilience, and the age-old wisdom of plants, shared with a modern twist. Join us for this heartfelt exploration of the green tapestry that connects us all.
Heart of Herbs Herbal School
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Welcome to the Heart of Herbs Herbal School Podcast, www.heartofherbs.com where we explore the world of herbal remedies and natural health solutions. Before we dive into today's episode, If you want to enroll, use code PODCAST to save 20%.
The content provided in this podcast is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease or medical condition. It is always recommended to consult with a qualified healthcare professional
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Hi, this is Demetria Clark, the director of Heart of Herbs Herbal School, and today we're talking to Christy Fisher on our Heart of Herbs Herbal School podcast and Heart of Herbs Herbal School podcast. I don't even know my own name here, people, but the reality is is we're just here to have a good time? We're here to meet an herbalist. I want to really dive deep and learn all about what this fabulous herbalist is doing in their community and online. So, Christy, I would love to just invite you to you know, share whatever you feel comfortable sharing about yourself.
Speaker 2:To share whatever you feel comfortable sharing about yourself, your work and your mission as an herbalist. Hi, well, I really got into herbs as a very small child on my grandparents' farm. Believe it or not, I believe it. I love that. I was like.
Speaker 2:I have memories of being three or four in the my grandpa did. He raised cattle and in those pastures there was just tons of like these beautiful little plants. And I remember just being a little kid when my dad and him were, you know, tending to the cattle and things and just kind of sitting out there, because I'd go with them and I would eat the weeds just sitting out there, you know, eat the weeds just sitting out there, you know. And um, so I kinda, at a very small age, you know, um, my mom was always saying don't let her eat those, don't let her eat those. And my grandpa was she's fine, she knows what she's doing.
Speaker 2:And I did, and as I got older, I I realized what I was eating were actually medicinal plants. And you know, my grandma used to take me on walks and we would pick blackberries and I remember her picking the leaves and asking why are you picking the leaves? What are you going to do with those? I'm going to make some tea for myself. You don't worry about me, you just pick those berries. But it stuck with me and you know, as I grew I really found a lot of really neat people that came into my life that, you know, showed me things or kind of like mentors with, and I didn't even know that they were. They just kind of came in and out of my life for a season. Excuse me, I'm clearing my throat because I've I'm drowning on mucus here, hey what are we going?
Speaker 1:to do right. It's that time of year I love that Like. I feel like for myself and you may feel this way too that sometimes the path of an herbalist is chosen by the world around us, like the people that come into our life. It's almost like one of those preordained professions where people are going to either share with you the knowledge they have about plants or not, and if you're lucky, they share with you. And I mean I lived all over the United States and people were always sharing stuff with me, even as like a little kid, and it sounds to me like you had family who just really believed in you and really felt the need to allow you to explore and create, and you know. And then you had these people in your life that were doing that too. Am I reading it right? I mean, is that?
Speaker 2:your experience experience.
Speaker 2:It's like your path was kind of like here yeah, I mean, I mean, really it was, it was a blessing. I mean I really feel, you know, like I think God gives us all gifts and I think that one of the gifts he gave me was just the kind of just the innate knowing of the plants. You, you know, I've always had a green thumb, always, you know, just made things, even as a teenager. You know, my sister and I made rose water, you know, and was always just doing little things like that salves and growing herbs and doing things with them.
Speaker 2:But, you know, I didn't ever really think to do it as a profession until, you know, people were asking me hey, I need your help, hey, this, what can I do here? Oh, okay, and I mean I've always wanted to help people, I've always been very empathetic and if somebody was, you know, suffering somehow, okay, here, let me help you with this. Or, oh, you got a cold, let me make some of this ginger root and lemon and honey and let's put some cayenne pepper in there for an expectorant. Come on, here you go, you'll feel better. You know I like taking care of people and so your community also was part of this pass.
Speaker 1:obviously, Absolutely. Because, they're asking you for help. Before maybe, at least, I felt like I'm not ready for this yet and people were like yeah, well, too bad, I need your help. You're like shoot, Like okay, you know, I'm like I'm only a kid here, I'm very young. Like what's going on and so it sounds like you had a similar experience. Like people, people wanted you before. Maybe because I don't think anybody's ever ready, you have to just jump in.
Speaker 2:No, and you know it even started speaking of being a kid like what you're saying. You know people would come to me too and kind of pull me aside and tell me the skeletons in their closet.
Speaker 1:Did you grow up feeling like you were the only adult in the room a lot of the time?
Speaker 2:Yes, I did, and I felt like I was an alien, like I'm like you're on another planet and I don't. You know, I just felt like okay, I'm different. You know, I never felt quite like I fit in, if that makes any sense.
Speaker 1:Yeah, I never felt like I was. You know, the fourth grader in fourth grade. You know I was always like, I always had the you know, the very practical rational mind. So I think, like, I think, I think I understand what you're saying, like you know, I always, I always joke. I was the only adult in the room Like even with my own mom.
Speaker 2:I'm like I was the only adult in the room she's like yeah, kind of yeah, very much so.
Speaker 1:Yeah, and I think healers find that they're kind of like that. You know what I mean. They look at things differently.
Speaker 2:I fit more in with the adults. When I was 15, my best friend, was 33 years old.
Speaker 1:I was like that too, you know, or giving like we had a very large family. So someone would be like, oh, I'm going through a breakup and I'm like I'm in fourth grade. Why are you telling me this? Right but this is what I think you should do anyway. Exactly, I'm like now as an adult. I mean, I'm almost 15. I and I'm like now as an adult.
Speaker 2:I mean I'm almost 15. I'm like why aren't people listening to me? But you probably gave sound advice. I mean, you know, you probably did. You probably gave them really good sound advice and probably helped them out.
Speaker 1:Well, who knows, it gives me something to chuckle about now.
Speaker 2:Yeah, I feel like you kind of had those similar experiences, just the way that you were saying it. I was like I think I know who this me some very heavy stuff and I didn't quite know what to do with it. But I knew I had to sit there and listen and be present and I knew I had to offer comfort. And you know, it was a very strange feeling that came over me. Even though I was uncomfortable, I did kind of stand there. You know what I mean. That was like the first time that it was.
Speaker 2:It got really somebody very deeply sharing some of their hurts and their wounds that you know that they had to deal with through life.
Speaker 2:But I saw what this kid's face after he told me and I didn't run, I didn't, you know, do anything, I just gave him a hug, I told him that he was okay and that did not affect who he was as a person and the relief that he got from that was so healing, you know. So I think that even being present with people through, you know, emotional stuff is all a part of it, not just the herbs. You know there's more to it. You know emotional stuff is all a part of it, not just the herbs. You know there's more to it. You know, things that can kind of keep your body sick and unwell are these deep things that we just kind of bury and we just kind of, you know, soldier on. But when we can give someone a safe space to be able to talk about those things and face them and kind of hold their hand and walk through it with them and just kind of say like, hey, you're okay, you know um.
Speaker 1:I think that was the power of love, right.
Speaker 2:Absolutely Love.
Speaker 1:So my mother had this aunt and she showed up one day and she said I'm moving up here from Georgia. She drove up, didn't tell anyone. She moved in with my mom, then moved into her own apartment and then at some point she had a serious health episode and they said she's going to die in two weeks. So my mom's like let's bring her home. Seven years later my mom moved her into an assisted living facility. Seven years later my mom moved her into an assisted living facility and the doctor's like we don't know why she got better, but we do know that love had a lot to do with it. You literally love this woman back into being. So I have a real respect for people who can just offer and give that love in that moment. And it sounds like that love was probably something people could feel from just being in your presence and that's really powerful.
Speaker 2:I mean, I think, really, I mean that that love is really, I'd say, probably 95% of the healing. Love is really, I'd say, probably 95% of the healing. You know, yeah, right, like when I make stuff for people, when I make a salve or a tea blend, I am putting so much love and thought into it. When I do those things for people at Tincture, you know it's. I think that's part of that vibration, that healing, if that makes any sense.
Speaker 1:No, I actually love that. I think that often people will be like, well, why would I go get something from an herbalist? I can just get it off of Amazon or I can just buy it from this place. And yeah, there's truth in that, right, there's definitely truth in that you can definitely go and do that that. But I think that value for like effect and money and like all this kind of stuff with a more customized product, because they often don't cost anything more it really makes a massive difference in the overall healing effect just by being able to tweak one thing for one person. And I think that people don't realize that because we've just gotten to such this consumer one size fits all. Everything must be the same for everyone and I think that you, you know, just sharing with us that you are pouring love and intention and you know you get in the backing of the universe, right Like that's really, really powerful in a medicine.
Speaker 1:I mean, there's so many studies that talk about love and energy and healing and all of this, but then we just forget about that and we just go buy the thing right off the shelf without the intention that's made. You know, basically a lot of our drugs and stuff are made in sweatshops, right Like what is the intention and the healing and the feeling behind that, and so I love that you shared, that you put that love out there, because I think that's, you know I agree, it's one of the most important parts of medicine. I didn't mean to interrupt you so much.
Speaker 2:No, I'm glad you did, I really am. Yeah, I agree with you, I think that's it is it's very important.
Speaker 1:Yeah, I agree with you. I think that's it is. It's very important. Like, what are you bringing into the world now as, as I am, I am an herbalist like I'm no longer. I am no longer what people call me, I am now, you know, now I am claiming the mantle for myself you know what there is so much power in that.
Speaker 2:It's like victory. You know, it's like climbing the mountain. I don't know how to explain it, but, but um, it really coming into my own, if that makes any sense.
Speaker 1:Yeah, that has happened after.
Speaker 2:I mean, being in your school was amazing. Um, I researched a lot of schools and I was like I need a challenge, I need something that's going to challenge me, I need something that's really going to make me dive deep, and your school did. It was amazing. I never understood why we needed the Latin names, and people would always my sister would always tell me Christy, you need those Latin names? No, I don't. I know what lavender is, I know what calendula is. I don't need those names.
Speaker 1:They speak to me. Okay, we're good.
Speaker 2:That's why I always tell people I speak plant and anyway, my sister kept saying that and I was just like I don't understand. Well, going into your school it gave me a whole new understanding of why it's important. Well, because there's like 21 different varieties of lavender and 50 of mint and you know so on and so forth, and they all do have, you know, scientific, different kinds of chemical makeups, you know, and for using for different applications, like some are used for essential oils more than just medicinal. You know some have higher medicinal properties than others. So that was really cool learning that in your school and it gave me, it empowered me and what I do. So I am eternally grateful.
Speaker 1:Oh, that's really sweet, but you did all the work Well. So you made the commitment to do the work and to finish like, so I, I love that. You love the program.
Speaker 1:That's awesome, but I mean like you've got to give yourself credit here because it's a big program it is. You finished it, you killed it. So I mean, like you know you need to be hugging yourself and drinking champagne or whatever you're, whatever you need to do, you know, sit out under the stars with a beer or whatever. But you know you definitely have earned the praise. You know, and I hope that you, you really have a lot of like respect for yourself for, like you know, I mean like respect for yourself, for, like you know, I mean follow through is really rare Lots of people. I mean like I think 70% of college freshmen don't finish their freshman year or some like outrageous number like that.
Speaker 1:Right. So the fact that you like went and you finished, I think you should really give yourself a huge pat on the back that you like went and you finished.
Speaker 2:I think you should really give yourself a huge pat on the back.
Speaker 1:You know I did and my family did too.
Speaker 2:It was an accomplishment, it really was. I'm. You know, they were all very, very proud of me, you know, and one of the things before my dad died, he, he died of cancer four years ago I'm sorry, in september. Well, I'll tell you, there's a really cool story with that. But, um, he, he actually lived 18 years. Um, when the doctor said he would be gone within a month, you know, he lived 18 years whoa?
Speaker 1:was he made out of kryptonite or not? Or whatever superman's made out of kryptonite or whatever Superman's made out of Kryptonites I think they get.
Speaker 2:Superman, I don't know he wanted to be here. He had that drive, I mean. And so I kind of think like, if you want it, if you want something bad enough, you're going to make it happen. And I wanted to finish the school I wanted to have that certified clinical master herbalist. You know, I I wanted that. I had that fire in my soul to just get that done. You know I wanted it. That's awesome. Kind of like my dad, he just he wanted to be here.
Speaker 1:So you come from a long line of go-getters, oh yeah, both sides, that's awesome.
Speaker 1:Well, well, and it sounds like your grandma had a whole like the one that you would go blackberry picking with. She had her whole agenda down too. So you come from a long line of of herbal go-getters and you know people who get the job done. I love that. I mean, farmers are like the hardest working people in the world. Um, I, I mean, I just want to, you know, literally start crying when I think about all that farmers do for you know our country and for you know humankind, and then you know the support that they get. So I love farmers. I'm a huge farmer fan.
Speaker 2:I do too. I shop at farmer's markets, and anytime I can buy from a farmer, I'm going to buy from a farmer.
Speaker 1:Yeah, I'm a, I'm a little like I'm a little I'm horrible. So I mean, I'm so neurotic about like, where my stuff comes from and and I probably drive the people around me crazy, but I'm just like I want to know my pots and pans were made by someone in Ohio. Yep, like I want to know. I like. To me, that's like if my husband, like walked in the door and he was like, hey, baby, I got you these flowers and these daffodils are from down the road and these are from here, and the man could ask me for anything. I just love that kind of stuff. And then I thought, well, maybe I'm just crazy. But then my oldest son's like, yeah, check out these blue jeans, they're made in North Carolina and they're from cotton, made in wherever. And I'm like, so maybe I, maybe I passed my crazy on a little bit, but I just, you know, these are the people that build our nation, and you know. So, yeah, I get you, I'm a little goofy in my language.
Speaker 1:Oh, good, good, Because I do get goofy about it, like really goofy.
Speaker 2:I've driven people crazy around me for years.
Speaker 1:Oh, we need to hang out and drive each other crazy, I get it. Oh, that's hysterical. It's so funny though. Crazy, I get it, oh, that's hysterical. It's so funny, though, like we forget. Like you know, people will be like well, I'll just get my herbal whatever off Amazon and I'm like do you know where it comes from? And they're like why does that matter?
Speaker 2:Yeah, I tell people that all the time. I'm like, okay, but it's not the same. And they're like, okay, christy, tell me why it's not the same? I love my girlfriend. I mean best friend, you know, I love her dearly. But she's like, no, I'm just going to get it off of Amazon. I'm like, okay, but hang on a second. What company is this? I'm like do you know where it's manufactured? Do you know where it's made? It's all the same, christy. I just I just need some cinnamon pills. Okay, but where's the cinnamon? Do you not know what my job is? I will send you some. Yeah, I'm like I'll just give you some. No, no, you got to quit giving people stuff, because a lot of the stuff I do I I mean, I'm telling you my husband has. That's one of the things from your school. Another thing I learned is that my time is worth something. I can't just give it away for free all the time. Now I do do a lot. I consider it tithing giving back.
Speaker 1:Okay, fair enough, fair enough, I do that too, but here's how I do it. I'm like the more money I make, the more I can give. So, like this year, we want to make like a thousand dollar contribution to our volunteer fire department, like we, you know. And so I'm like, okay, that's one of the ways that we can give back, like, so I always look at it that way, like the more you make, the more you can give.
Speaker 1:And time is important. But remember, even if you're, if you're giving five hours a week to something, give yourself an hourly wage and say this is also like, this is how much I'm donating by giving my time. And then you'll start to say, okay, I can do this, this and this and make my, instead of time, that financial contribution which can go further. Or I really love giving of my time, but in acknowledging to yourself yeah, you know, I normally make $30 an hour, so I'm giving them something of value of $90. And like it really helps transform your whole like relationship with charging for your services and stuff, because you'll respect yourself more. I think like that's, like, it's not like I don't respect myself based on how much money I make.
Speaker 2:Right.
Speaker 1:But what I do do is I say this has value and I and you know, so I can say, ok, is this worth 10 hours of my time, or is it easier for me to pay someone else to do it, or whatever Right, and I just think it's cool, but I do like, like I always say, it's like tithing to the community.
Speaker 1:Mm, hmm like tithing to the community. You know like I'm not necessarily going to tithe to one institution or another, but I am definitely going to give money to food pantry things that I really believe in and I love that. And I love that your herbal work allows you to do that.
Speaker 2:Yeah, I, I do, like I do charge for my, my services and for the things that I make, and even if it is somebody that is like low income, I'll say listen, I will see you for this. Normally I would charge you know, $160 for, like you know, the first initial visit and then like to follow up 15 minute consultations after that just to see how you're doing but I'm going to give you that and then.
Speaker 2:But if I make something where it costs me money you know like my beeswax and you know what I'm saying to give you that and then. But if I make something where it costs me money you know like my beeswax and you know what I'm saying the herbs and things. I will have them pay for, like the formulation. I feel like that's fair, you know, but that was another thing I really learned in your program is that I do have more to give back when I take care of myself.
Speaker 2:Yeah, and my husband was always telling me he was like you're taking, he goes. I want you to look at it like this. All this stuff. I know you have a big heart and I know you want to help everyone, but the trials of of people married to big hearters right. Yes, and I know it's a struggle for him. I know it is, you know, but we kind of help balance each other out. Yeah, you know, which is good, cause I kind of need somebody to kind of bring me down sometimes.
Speaker 1:Well, you, just, you just sometimes are like wanting to save the world. You know, I remember when, at one point, I was reading about this lady who was protecting elephants and she was basically like a poacher, poacher, and I was like that's what I want to be when I grow up. And I'm like 40 years old, I'm like, okay, slow your roll, girl. You don't even know how to use a gun, but you're ready to rumble, you know. So sometimes you need the world to be like slow down, you know, or a partner, but it's, you know, it's the the. I decided early on that, um, I was at some herbal stuff and you you may have heard me mention this before and I was like, look, we need sustainable wages, like all this stuff.
Speaker 1:I was so young and naive and stupid and I just figured everybody felt the same way about herbalism, like it should be, you know, we should pay ourselves well and all this stuff. And I just remembered, basically, like the people after you're disgusting, healing should be free, everybody should work for free. And I was just like freedom doesn't feed my kids, like you know, and I'd never been called like a disgusting human being before. It was really traumatic for me and I kind of pulled away from some of those those circles very early on because I did always feel like I'm putting so much into this, this is my job, so why does everyone else deserve to get paid for their work, but not me? You know, I was like I couldn't understand it because I was so naive, I was so young, I was so naive. I was just like I don't care about herbal politics, I don't care about all this other stuff. My kids are not going to be hungry on my watch.
Speaker 2:Exactly that's what my husband did. He sat the kids down at the table and he grabbed me and he goes. I want you to look at their faces, Look at our table right now. He goes. When you give all this away, you're taking food out of their mouths, and when he did that, I was like oh my goodness, that's someone who really, really loves you, Cause that's a hard conversation to have.
Speaker 1:So for him to be like, yeah, that's pretty awesome. Like yeah, he definitely knew how to speak your language, right, yeah these are your babies.
Speaker 2:You know the ones that you'd flip a bus over and rip apart steel doors to get to right they need a peanut butter and jelly every now and then too, right that was kind of like the turning point, and then because I remembered the lessons in class you know I remembered those and then I was just like, okay, this is real, it's like intellectually, I got it from your school. But then he connected the emotion.
Speaker 1:Yeah, that's the hardest part, Like whenever I'm mentoring students, like we have a mentorship program and I'm mentoring them with business. It's really interesting because that is really the hardest part of it for people is to make that their value is the same as the other people around them who work. And I'm like, no, this has nothing to do with whatever. This is you saying I don't feel this way, I don't have value or whatever. You're putting your own stuff on it. The other people aren't even putting on you, right? And then you and then they're like, oh, okay, and then they'll call me and be like I just had my first $25,000 a month selling products and I'm like I told you they're like yeah, I just thought you were crazy or whatever.
Speaker 1:I'm like thanks, you know, man, people still talking to me like I'm nuts, but you know, and then the you know cause it's it is. Um, just because you help people, you know, doesn't mean you have to not be able to feed your own kids, you know, and I think I'm glad that your husband was so smart. You can tell him he was super smart your husband was so smart.
Speaker 2:You can tell him he was super smart. I will, I will. He's going to love that I'm going to. He will love that you're saying this about him, because we definitely challenge each other and I think a challenge is good. You know, growth is not always easy.
Speaker 1:You know, if it was, then we wouldn't be, wouldn't be so messed up. Right, that's right. But you know it was, then we wouldn't be, wouldn't be so messed up right, that's right, but you know what?
Speaker 2:it's beautiful, though.
Speaker 1:It is beautiful too because, like, when you come out the other side it's I don't know, I don't know how to explain it just real rewarding yeah well, even in the, in the ugly and in the chaos and in the pain and in the destruction Sometimes that has to occur for you to build your, whatever your palace is, or whatever your sweet spot is, or wherever you feel like you know everything that you need is there for you, and and that's hard, epically hard work you know, you know I've gone to like and done some talking at like business seminars for women and stuff and they're like well, I'm just going to visualize things into being and I'm like, sure, go for it, but you're going to have to work harder.
Speaker 1:You know this whole like. You know, I visualize all the time I got my dream board. I mean, I'm always talking to the universe or whatever, and being like this is what I'm trying to do and driving people around me crazy with my dreams and my goals. But I think the thing is is that you speak things into being but you also have to work your ass off.
Speaker 1:It's just got to be a marriage, you know like you just got to be like oh you know, and sometimes that means missing out on, you know, some of the stuff you're trying to build so you can build it to enjoy it one day. You know like sometimes you don't get to go out and sit out on every sunny day. You're working and you're doing your stuff. So I think it sounds like you've got a nice balance getting ready to, you know, work to your advantage.
Speaker 2:Well, I have worked very hard to prepare all this and, um, my husband's been very supporting and I'm just now at the place like I've been working in the garden and I'm trying to be completely 100%. Um, my, I'm working towards that. Um, my own herbs, oh wow. You know doing all that, so I don't have to buy them from a supplier, which I have been, and you know like I love Mountain Rose herbs, I do buy you know things that I can't get here locally growing in my area and I will continue to do that for special things, you know.
Speaker 2:And we've got a cool herb shop in Kansas City where you know I can run in if I need something. You know I needed cat's claw for arthritis tea and, you know, picked up some cat's claw and organ grape and because I didn't have that, yeah, yeah.
Speaker 2:So but I'm growing a lot here and trying to be sustainable and I plan on hitting farmer's markets next year. You know, doing that this winter is going to be a very busy winter. But I've got a room downstairs that my husband helped me construct. I've had this little herb closet that I've had and it's went with me through the years, but I've really outgrown it, the relationships we keep right.
Speaker 1:My herb closet comes with me.
Speaker 2:Baba, let's just get this straight and it has it's been to I can't tell you how many homes and you know sits right in the kitchen so that I have access to it. But my husband's like we're going to clear this space out. This is yours, so we put shelves down there and I got all these big Amber bottles. So I've got it's all getting set up and it's just all coming together and it's really beautiful. You know, I remember 10 years ago. Right now, this is where I wanted to be. This is the vision that I had, but, like you said, it was hard work. Yeah, writing papers, maybe even five years total Cause before I went to your school, I also went to ITN. I did online ITN in California for nutrition.
Speaker 1:Wow, so you're just a powerhouse.
Speaker 2:And then I was like, oh, I'm going to take a break. Well, no, I didn't. Two weeks later I enrolled in your school, you know.
Speaker 1:I hear you I'm always taking. I mean, I'm taking my. One of my kids is talking about maybe getting goats. So I was like, well, maybe I'll take a goat class I can learn how to help my kid out. And yeah, I'm always taking classes for all these, every, everything. I'm just like I'll take a class to help me figure that out. Yeah, I just that's how I learn. Well, so I I totally get it. Um, well, tell, can you tell us about your business, cause I've been wanting to ask you about that. You kind of said you know you're trying to grow stuff and I was just looking over your website, so tell everyone how to find you in the name of your company.
Speaker 2:Okay, well, my company's name is fire Botanicals. I love that You're going to burn it down. Well, you know, fire is so healing and warming, and you know, and botanicals, because not everything I use is I mean, it's just, you know, all over the board. Yeah, yeah, it's wwwfirebotanicalscom.
Speaker 1:Oh awesome, that's really easy to remember people, firebotanicalscom. But I mean, like this isn't, this isn't hard, everyone can figure it, you know.
Speaker 2:So, yeah, that's awesome, and you can message me, you can call me.
Speaker 1:Can people find you on Facebook or any other like social media?
Speaker 2:I do have Instagram and Facebook. I will tell you, I am so old school I was the last person I know to get a smartphone but I do check that email daily. You know, if you email me with questions, or if you want to set up like a 15 minute, um free consultation, um, if I think I can help you, um, I can set up a plan. You know, whatever we need to do, or if I think maybe you'd be better suited with someone else, I can direct you and guide you to someone else. You know.
Speaker 1:Okay, can I interrupt you real quick? Yeah, I love that and I talk about it in the program, but I also talk about it all the time. If you are not the right person for someone, it doesn't mean you're a failure. It means that you're helping them find the right person, and so I always talk to people to have like a good referral list, because you're not going to be able to help everyone, and I love that. You said that, that you were like, and if I'm not if we're not the right thing.
Speaker 1:I'm going to help you find the right thing.
Speaker 2:Absolutely and.
Speaker 1:I think that's like sometimes the biggest part of our job is being a resource, and so I love that you said that. I really appreciate that. I didn't mean to interrupt you, I just wanted to get that out there, like I just think that's amazing.
Speaker 2:I think what we do is a huge responsibility, you know, and part of that responsibility is knowing. You know you can't be everything or do everything, and that's why I don't want to either.
Speaker 2:Right, right, you know, I, I um had a meeting at a um, it's a holistic dentist office and the nurses and staff and the doctors were asking me we have a lot of kids that have heart conditions and would you be willing to treat them? You know, and, and I sat there and I was like it would have to be on case by case basis. You know, yeah, and if I didn't feel comfortable then I would not take them on as a client, I would refer them to somebody.
Speaker 1:Yeah.
Speaker 2:Yeah, well, I don't think that they liked that.
Speaker 1:Um was kind of my feeling that they didn't like that answer, but it was like it was the most responsible answer you could give, I mean, even a doctor, right Would be like well, I, I don't know anything about this. I'm going to refer you to the person that does right or the dentist would be like well, I'm not an orthodontist, Let me send you to an orthodontist, right? That's too bad, because they're missing out on something there.
Speaker 2:And you know it was just kind of my feeling, based upon the reaction from that, that it was not. But I'm not comfortable, you know, just taking anybody on. I want to make sure that it's within my scope and it is a big responsibility. I mean, if something goes wrong, that's you know.
Speaker 1:Well, do no harm right, we don't want to we don't want to let our egos, you know, dictate how we work with clients. We should be able to work with clients that we can actually really truly help.
Speaker 2:Right.
Speaker 1:And so I just have so much appreciation for you sharing that with us and, and just you know, sharing your lived experience. Because I think sometimes, when we we want to work, you know we want to help people and sometimes saying no is a, you know I. I always say, like learning to hear no and learning to say no are the things that are going to get you through business. If you can't say no and you can't hear no, you're going to fail, you know. So I love that you. You know you, you said your truth and, whether or not they liked it, that's a them problem, not a you problem right a them problem, not a you problem, right?
Speaker 2:Mm-hmm, I love that and they were all so kind and I mean it would have been like the place, like I would want to work, like I would feel good being in that environment, because they're very much like-minded and everything Mm-hmm. But I just realized too, from talking to them and it was such a gift what they gave me, you know, giving me their time. Yeah, it was such a gift that they gave me because I realized, you know, I think I'm going to do better and be able to serve and reach more people by just doing this on my own instead of being in an office, if that makes sense. Yeah, and I just I realized, okay, that's my path, thank you.
Speaker 1:Yeah, well, I think sometimes you know we gotta be smacked in the face with something right.
Speaker 2:I did, I did, I am totally that person. It's like hey, I'm, I'm, I'm knocking on the door, christy, yeah, hey, yeah, okay, I'm going to start throwing lightning bolts and I'm knocking on the door, christy, yeah, hey, yeah, okay, I'm going to start throwing lightning bolts and I'm going to club you over the head.
Speaker 1:Yeah, yeah, I think sometimes I'm like I'm like, hey, universe, it's okay to like really hit me hard, because sometimes I'm dumb, you just need it. I'm just like I'm just tooling along, doing my thing, not always looking up to see that you know the signs the world are showing me. You know like, you know, um, we joke that my husband lives in this world, but it's not of this world, because he just gets in his own little universe with stuff he's doing and I sometimes I'm worried I'm going that way too, like. But so tell us about your products, cause I'm actually I love your logo, I think it's great, I love the name, so tell us about you know it looks like you do a lot of custom formulations.
Speaker 2:I do, I think that's incredible. I like to do custom formulations Cause you know everybody like my son and I joke I love ginger root. Right, ginger root is is my jam, but my son it's like kryptonite to him. He is like I can't take it, mom, it makes me sick.
Speaker 2:And I'm like, well, you really need it right now, let me muscle test you. And then I'm like, wow, ok, you don't need this. Mom, I'm telling you it's kryptonite to me, it makes me sick. And I'm like, okay, well, let's do something else to work on this. Okay, let's do a little turmeric, let's try this. And so everybody's kind of like, well, we're all the same, we are different, and so I think that, like doing those custom formulations for people is really important just to make sure what kind of resonates with them and what's going to really help them with their healing, versus a one size fits all kind of package.
Speaker 1:Yeah, no, I think that's. I think that's really important that you are able to, you know, give that kind of one-on-one connection with people who are even buying products. And it looks like from the website they shoot you some information, you shoot them some information and then you know you can really work together in a more collaborative way. That I think is missing in a lot of herbal product purchasing. You know, we're like oh, I'm going to buy this for A, b or C. But A, b or C isn't just A, b or C.
Speaker 1:It's like A with 55 branches coming off and B has you know this coming off of it, or also associated with this and like you can really, I feel, get a more custom product and approach from working with people this way. So I really think it's just great, I'm just really excited for you and I can't wait to like like see everything that you're doing. So can I, can I loosely put out there that I'd love to talk to you in like a year or six months and check in and like tell us where you're at with everything, cause I think that's, I just think it's cool. I love the. Your salve in the picture looks so pretty.
Speaker 1:So just I'm on your website right now looking.
Speaker 1:I'm looking right now I'm not lying, and I looked before too. I was like that's awesome and everyone should go like fire underscore, botanical underscore, herbs on Instagram. Go and follow, because I think that Instagram is a great way for people to just really kind of keep an eye on things that they like and admire. And you don't have to, they don't have to interact with us, you know, they could just kind of be there, and so I definitely, I definitely think people should check you out and see everything that you're, that you're offering, because it's beautiful.
Speaker 2:And this year is the year where I am going to be putting more into the oh technical side of things the Instagram, the social media. You know I have been I cannot even tell you for 10 years. Best friend, christy, you gotta do some reels, you gotta get on TikTok, christy, you gotta do this. Christy, come on. You know, and my kids even. They're like mom, um, I'll post stuff. My daughter actually started.
Speaker 1:Oh good, yeah, I'll, I'll source it if at all possible, right? No, I don't. I'm not a huge. I know I'm all over social media, but you know I batch and plan things because I don't do a lot of stuff where you know. People are like we want to see the inside of your life. And I'm like no, you actually really don't. Like I'm so boring, like I'm so boring Well, it's not even that, I'm just so boring Like what do you want to see me do? Write an article? Or people are like yeah.
Speaker 1:I'm like no, I'm not comfortable with that. So and I know that affects me, because I'm not willing to go out there like that, I'm not willing to, you know, I. But I feel like we have a responsibility to ourselves to keep our our, our hearts protected and and find our own way to be on social media in a way that's comfortable. Because, honestly, you know, I always joke like the second that I retire, like I'm disconnecting from everything and getting a flip phone or a landline because I've been working online since I was 22 years old, because I've been working online since I was 22 years old, so in the 90s. So I, you know it's a. I can understand that hesitation. I think it's a. It can be a really beautiful space, but I think there's more space out there than just, you know. That was that Reba McEntire sign. Is there life out there? You know, besides the internet, there's life, you know.
Speaker 2:I wonder, everybody's on it. And you know, and I'm like, I really like to connect with people, I like to talk with you, I like to, you know, see your face. I mean anybody can say anything behind a computer, you know. So I mean anybody can say anything behind a computer, you know.
Speaker 1:Yeah, and I think that's getting to be like an old form of communication where people are getting tired of it. They're like that's old. I don't want to deal with that anymore. Like I want some real connection and I think that-.
Speaker 2:Bring it on.
Speaker 1:You offer that with your business, they can truly connect with you. You know it's still in an online space because it's with email and phone calls and it's still not always going to be face to face.
Speaker 1:Right but there is that human element and you know, sometimes we just have students who will just be like I just I just need to call, I'll be like, yeah, you know how much time you need 10 minutes or 15 minutes, or oh, this is going to be a big one. And sometimes it's just about making connection because we live in a very disconnected world. So I get it. That's all I'm trying to say here in my long roundabout verbal diarrhea way. I get it, I get the hesitation and I I understand.
Speaker 2:But this year I'm pushing through it You're going to do it.
Speaker 1:I'm going to do some videos. Oh, that's awesome, you know, definitely. I mean, I think it's going to be. I think it's going to be great. I think people are going to love more and more people are going to love what you do and reach out to you. Because More and more people are going to love what you do and reach out to you because I just I'm not seeing a lot of places where people can get that personal touch with their business and you're giving it. So check it out, people. If you're listening my scores of my eight listeners just teasing, but you know it's cool for people to have that kind of connection. So is there anything you want to share with us before we let you get back to your life about anything you're doing, or give us a beautiful sales pitch, tell people how to find you again, anything?
Speaker 2:you want, you can dance on a table if you want. Find me on the website wwwfirebotanicalscom. I am always here to answer any questions. You know, 15 minute free consultation to see if you know you and I are going to work together. You know if it will work and I can help you out, I'll do whatever I can. I think we've already covered. I do a lot of custom formula formulas and teas, tinctures.
Speaker 1:Savs. Yeah, your savs look really pretty.
Speaker 2:They're, they're, they're good. I would say that they're good. It's funny. I always have people come back like they'll try it and they're like I don't know about this, and then they'll try it. One of the farmers. I gave one to her one day. I said it's like neosporin, but better. If you're bleeding it'll stop the bleeding. If you got a bruise, it'll heal it in two to three days. It'll heal it in two to three days. And her son got a rusted nail in his foot and she came back and she goes. Oh, my goodness, I just wanted to tell you your salve did exactly what you said it was going to do. I thought I was going to have to take him to get stitches, but it stopped bleeding, it healed, it didn't get infected. I said, well, yeah. And I'm kind of looking at her like, okay, yeah, I told you. And she goes. Well, I didn't believe you.
Speaker 1:Oh, I know, Isn't that how it's funny? Like, but she, now she will be your biggest advocate, probably to everyone she speaks to. I had a mechanic once that I was like I don't know how he ended up with some of my lavender salve. And he calls me and he's like I need some more of this blah, blah, blah, I'm going to put it in the shop. And we all decided that it's okay for us to smell like lavender. Old ladies, this stuff's great for our hands.
Speaker 1:And this was like yeah yeah, it was like 20 years ago and and and so he would always like whenever I'd see him anywhere, as he joke, would be like this is why we smell good in the shop and it's just funny. But he I mean like I'm not kidding you, he probably sent me 50 customers just being like and he put some on the shop counter. I mean he, because his hands would always crack and were sore and there's probably other things going on, but that salve gave him what he needed.
Speaker 1:And it was just always so funny to me because he wanted nothing to do with herbalism. He didn't want any of the other stuff. Just give me the salve and move on, lady. But he told everyone. It was just. I was like I could have put them in a t-shirt and put them on a billboard. I mean, you just brought and so it was. You know, you never know where your people are.
Speaker 2:Right, right. Well, you know, you, you really don't. I've, you know, I've met a lot of people in just different ways that I just never would have. I mean, we probably never would have come, you know, gotten connected had I not been doing this.
Speaker 1:Yeah. Doesn't this work great, Mm-hmm, it really is. I love, I love all the I love. I love how it's opened the world to me. I can be anywhere in the world and go to an herb market and because I know the Latin names, we can communicate.
Speaker 2:That is cool, that is one thing names we can communicate.
Speaker 1:That is, you know, that is one thing in egypt and turkey and switzerland and you know germany, like just all these different places we've been. But we can connect on that and then, even if we don't speak the same language, we can start to figure out what each other's saying, because we speak the language of plants and I think that's you know the language of plants and I think that's you know the language of plants is is much bigger, I think, than than we are, you know than our limitations Right so yeah.
Speaker 1:Well, thank you so much for hanging out with us today and I definitely want to, definitely am planning on checking back in with you and seeing how everything's doing, if you're still interested when I reach out later. But I'm just really excited. I really love, I love the way your business looks and I wish you all the luck in the world and I really appreciate your time today.
Speaker 2:Well, thanks for having me. I've enjoyed being on here with you, so I've enjoyed it.
Speaker 1:Oh well, thank you so much. You have a wonderful day. Everyone thanks for listening. This is the Heart of Herbs Herbal School Podcast. I do know her name. I hope that you have a wonderful day, thank you.
