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Heart of Herbs Herbal School Podcast
Healing Through Heritage: Mandy Church's Journey from Lupus Diagnosis to Founding Great Faith Organics
What if a life-altering diagnosis could be the catalyst for a profound personal transformation? Our guest, Mandy Church, takes us on a heartfelt journey from her childhood in Alabama, deeply rooted in her grandparents' natural lifestyle, to the founding of Great Faith Organics. Mandy's story began with a lupus diagnosis in 2008, which pushed her to seek alternative healing methods inspired by her family's generational wisdom. She shares how embracing local resources and reconnecting with the earth led her to a path of wellness, ultimately changing her life and the lives of many others.
As we trace Mandy's entrepreneurial journey, we witness how faith and gratitude became instrumental in her success. From her modest beginnings on Etsy to opening a physical location in Pell City, Alabama, her resilience and dedication shine through. Mandy's education in herbalism, Ayurveda, and Reiki not only enriched her business offerings but also fueled her personal growth. Her story is a testament to the power of community and the importance of aligning one's work with personal values, a journey that has seen her thrive with the support of her family and friends.
The conversation also takes a thoughtful turn as we explore the significance of self-care, mindfulness, and the art of setting boundaries. Mandy opens up about her own near-burnout and the transformative power of taking an annual hibernation break to maintain a sustainable work-life balance. Together, we reflect on the therapeutic benefits of herbal teas, conscious consumerism, and the growing trend of valuing authenticity and local support. With a shared commitment to personal well-being, we eagerly anticipate future updates from Mandy and other inspiring guests, ensuring a series of conversations that continue to uplift and inspire.
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Hi, this is Demetra Clark, the director of Heart of Herbs Herbal School, and this is the Heart of Herbs Herbal School podcast. Today we are with Mandy Church, who runs Great Faith Organics, and we're so excited to be talking to her today because not only are you going to find her inspiring, but I think you're going to connect with so much that she's going to share, because she's just a really inspiring student and herbalist and a community. I really feel like someone who's bringing something into her community that is so special and so unique. I've been Googling and doing my little research this morning and I cannot even tell you like how impressed I am. So, mandy, thank you so much for being here today.
Speaker 2:Wow, thank you so much, what an introduction. It really took my breath away today. Wow, thank you so much, what an introduction it really took my breath away.
Speaker 1:Oh, that's sweet. Thank you for having me. You've been doing the work for so long I have. Yeah, you're right. So how did your herbal journey begin? What was the thing that made you say, hmm, maybe herbs and I are good friends.
Speaker 2:So my journey really started kind of at a young age. My grandparents were kind of always into this kind of life, the natural alternative, mainly just because there was a poverty. You know, we grew up kind of in a poverty issue, but so it really set the stage for where I am in my journey now. But what that looked like was, you know, if we didn't grow it or we didn't, you know they didn't raise it, we didn't have it. So it really was about necessity. But in 2008, you know, I kind of modern life gets us away from that. But in 2008, I was diagnosed with lupus and for me it was a devastating blow because it is generational in my family and that, honestly, that is the thing that really, really, really got me here.
Speaker 2:Mm hmm, in 2009. So I had a two year old at the time and I worked a really high pay for a high, high paced accounting firm. So it's very high stress and if you know anything about lupus, it is really driven by stress.
Speaker 1:It's driven by stress, right?
Speaker 2:Yes, it's an immune disorder. Yes, but stress is really the thing that kicks it off, kicks off that flare every single time. At least it did for me, and in 2009, I was on 13 prescriptions and I was had been on prednisone for 15 years and I agree that there is a time and a place for all Western medicine. It's helpful when it is helpful.
Speaker 2:But, at the point of 13 prescriptions and an injection and in the prednisone. So I really watched my grandmother's quality of life deteriorate because she was on it for such an extended period of time. So that was kind of the straw that broke the camel's back for me to where I said you know, either the lupus is going to take my quality of life or all of this medication is going to take my quality of life. So that is the moment where I just went there's got to be a better way. And that's how I got here, long story short.
Speaker 1:So for you, it was like part of your blood, part of your family heritage the connection to the earth.
Speaker 2:Where are you located? I'm in Alabama.
Speaker 1:Oh my gosh, that's right. I lived in Alabama as a child, so I didn't know that. Okay, yeah, I lived in Somerville, alabama, which is north of Hartsell and Decatur. Yeah, so I love Alabama. I'm like I keep hearing something in her voice that's telling me I need to know where she's from, and I've very much south. Yes, Alabama is wonderful and Alabama is one of those places where really people are still so connected yeah to the earth, and so we are so privileged in that way?
Speaker 2:yeah, absolutely, and so you decided.
Speaker 1:So did you decide, then, to do like a formal education and like this is I'm going to start my herbal journey, or was it like?
Speaker 2:I'm going to take a step back and buy with my notice. You know, absolutely not. A big part of my personality is really finding what works best for me and going from there. But I did. You know, it was really just all kind of trial and error to start with, and once I started my formal education with Heart of Herbs, it just reinforced kind of what my intuition had led me to. And that is, really take what's for you. You know, look in your area, look in your community, what's growing, what's, you know what's available to you. And that kind of always led back to the way that I was raised what is available, Take what's available and go from there. So, yeah, absolutely.
Speaker 1:That's awesome.
Speaker 1:That's so awesome that you could use the lessons of generational family to reinforce what you were feeling inside about how you're going to make yourself better and how you're going to work in a way that worked for you. I just think that's brilliant. I I really wish that people in our country realize that all of us have such a deep and abiding connection to the earth, no matter where we're from. There's always some connection in that, and I'm just glad that listening to you today, like I you know, sometimes like even someone who this is their job, full time, or sometimes you need to be reminded that that connection is so strong all over the place. So thank you so much for that, Just for that reminder.
Speaker 2:Yeah, I think just the hustle and bustle of everyday life just really cuts off that connection to a slower way of living. And that's one thing here in Alabama that you know we still there's still a very much strong tie to just kind of slower living. Oh well, I mean let's.
Speaker 1:I mean there's definitely that. I know for me, like whenever I think of Alabama, I think of red clay and the greenest green ever. You know, like when the grass gets green, there it puts every other state to shame. I remember telling my husband my grandfather worked at Redstone and for the nasa stuff right yeah, so we were driving down the visit and there was a bunch of us in a van and I was like long story, a bunch of us in a van, but anyways, I was like.
Speaker 1:I was like you guys will never, ever. I mean, they're like, they're from the midwest, they think everyone and there's nothing good in al. You know, they're just like, you know, they know the world right.
Speaker 2:That's the unfortunate story. Yeah, yeah right.
Speaker 1:You will never see a green like this before, You'll never see smiles as big and you will never see red clay like this anywhere else on the planet. Right, and they were laughing, but we hit that border and it was like boom. They were like whoa.
Speaker 2:Yes, it's one of those perfect Alabama days. You definitely know you're here.
Speaker 1:They're like, oh my gosh, Like you weren't kidding. I'm like, no, this is beautiful, Like it is so gorgeous here and it's just so funny that people we miss out on so much because we don't travel around. But so you run a company. So what? Okay, so like, let's backtrack. So you decide to get a formal education and start a business Am.
Speaker 2:I right? Or did you do the education and then said maybe I'll start a business Backtracking a little bit as well? So when I was diagnosed in 2008, and I was on all those prescriptions in 2009. I started, really started the journey in 2009 of not just herbal discovery but really self discovery and what healing looks like for me.
Speaker 2:I know it's different for everybody, but the herbs nature has really, really been a part, a huge part, of my healing journey. But in 2011, with all of the changes that I made, with all of the things that I did for myself and for my family, in 2011, I was diagnosed with remission. So I have been in remission since 2011. And that diagnosis, or that release of remission, really got me to thinking hey, you know this works for me, you know it could possibly work for other people too. And that is what started my business.
Speaker 1:Wow, like just I mean, I can't even imagine, imagine I mean, how many people who are dealing with lupus like spend every day hoping for those words.
Speaker 2:you're in remission, right? I really remember I've never allowed myself to get too far away from being sick that I forget what it was like to feel that sense of hopelessness, because I really felt hopeless with the diagnosis.
Speaker 1:Yeah, yeah, no, I mean, that is definitely something that you hear from individuals who are experiencing something like that. That's a long-term, potentially lifetime issue, that it's just like hitting a brick wall over and over again and just looking for the door.
Speaker 2:You know.
Speaker 1:Right and that's so cool. So what did? What were the? And then obviously that's a huge discussion like protocols and stuff like that, but what were like a few things that just helped you. Was it managing the stress? Was it taking time for yourself? Was it getting to know yourself? Was it you know what? Was it that really?
Speaker 2:really helped you. Yes, yes, yes and yes. All of the above, so it was a full circle. You know if I'm going to do it.
Speaker 2:I am really an all or nothing, girl, I'm just going to do it all. So you know, I really got away from my rheumatologist fired me because I wouldn't follow exactly what he had recommended. And I did for years and it just didn't work for me. So it started with self-healing and what that looks like for me. So I had childhood trauma and I really started sitting with that trauma and realizing, you know, to heal it you really got to feel your way through it.
Speaker 2:You can't just get busy with life because it manifests for me it manifests with disease, when I really didn't listen to my body, I really wasn't paying attention to my emotional needs. That manifested physically for me, like it does for most people. Needs that manifested physically for me, like it does for most people, yeah, yeah. But I started de-stressing, learned ways to do that, and my biggest way of doing that was I left my job at the accounting firm. It was very, you know, the pay was nice, but the stress really outweighed the benefit of the money, of the income. So I left that high stress job for a job much closer to home. I was already driving an hour there and an hour back, so I cut out the traffic. Yeah, it was big city drive for Alabama, but I cut out the traffic. So that was a de-stressor.
Speaker 2:I really again started to figure out ways that I could heal myself. Was that slowing down every day, you know, having a cup of tea, really just doing one thing that made me happy, really trying to find joy in my everyday life and it? You know, there were moments every day where you can and this is still to this day every day we can look at the journey of the day and say, you know, this really didn't work out for me it was kind of a crappy day, but what is something that really worked out and what is something that I'm really grateful for and what can maybe I do better tomorrow?
Speaker 1:Oh I love that. I love that I always talk to clients like look, I'm like it's. Or in students, like if you can just do one thing for yourself, it doesn't have to be a big thing you don't have to like run a marathon every day, but yes, yes, yes, take a shower by yourself. If you have toddlers like absolutely.
Speaker 2:I mean, I know that seems seems small, but that is where I started. This is my, so I started my business in 2015, officially launched my business, so I'm going on. 2025 is going to be a decade for me yeah, congratulations thanks, thank you.
Speaker 2:So I you know, but I got my start really slow and this is what I like you, this is what I tell my clients slow and steady still wins the race. You know one we we underestimate how one small change can have such a ripple effect and such a huge impact. So that you know, that's where I started. That's what it looks like for me. I started detox my home. I started looking at endocrine disruptors. I changed my diet because, first and foremost, food is our medicine and that is something yeah, that's something that my grandparents were really big believers of. That food was our first line of medicine. All of those small changes had an enormous impact. I mean to the point of what laundry detergent I was using. Yeah, because I was really sensitive. You know, I was also diagnosed with upper respiratory disease, so scents were something that really had a huge impact on me as well. So I mean just really small changes all culminated into one big shift for me.
Speaker 1:Oh wow, so it sounds like you were definitely like determined to find an answer for you.
Speaker 2:Yes, absolutely.
Speaker 1:It's funny because we often, I feel like, don't give ourselves permission to do that. I know so many people that I've worked with over the years. They're like I don't know if I can do that. It's like you can totally change your laundry detergent. Well, who cares? If your family don't like it, they'll get used to it. They're not going to care, they're not going to even notice. It's like we come up with all these like things like it's like they can do something different yeah.
Speaker 1:Yeah, you know, or just like, or just like. Yeah, you know, most household cleaners are just as dangerous as smoking in the house or absolutely things like that and you would absolutely wanted to light up in your living room. You would be like outside absolutely not, yeah yeah, but someone sprayed some whatever and what a difference it made. You know. Nobody thinks twice about that.
Speaker 2:Right and right and I think it's so true I. I love that you said that We've just really conditioned ourselves.
Speaker 1:Yeah, absolutely Like. So it sounds like you really said okay, I'm going to start rebuilding the blocks around me.
Speaker 2:I'm going to start with my food, my home, the things where you're supposed to feel safe. Right, You're supposed to feel safe eating a meal and you're supposed to feel safe in your home, right, and we just I think you know, with the lupus it really all of the foundation that I had built, the lupus really came all I mean it all came crashing down.
Speaker 2:Yeah, so that was you know, as you know, let's see, let me see. Give me just a second to let me see how. I want to say this as devastating as the diagnosis was, I think back on it. I look back on it with such gratitude and it really took me a long time to get to the place that I am now with feeling grateful. You know, I'm not grateful. I was sick. I'm not grateful. I spent so much time in the hospital that I was away from my husband, my daughter you know, she was two at the time of my diagnosis but I am so grateful that it led all of us not just me. You know, my family followed suit. They didn't really have a choice, but they, they happily followed suit how all of that kind of devastation led us to such a grateful place.
Speaker 1:Oh well, and is that where the name of your business came from?
Speaker 2:Your place of gratitude.
Speaker 1:So tell us a little bit about the name of your business and how long you've been in business and how you work with. You know, do you work with just clients? You just just products? Like, fill us in on everything you do, and then we also want to know how to find you. Okay, so, more than once, let us know. But, yeah, share that with us. Like, how did that come to be Okay?
Speaker 2:So in 2015, you know, from the remission up until from 2011, up until 2015,. I was doing things in my community, was doing things for my family, you know, for my extended family, and I finally just said you know what, if it's working for us, it's going to work for other people, so let's do that. So I started building a business product based business let's do that. So I started building a business product based business and in 2015, you know, I really spent a lot of time Trying to figure out a name, because, you know, our name Really just kind of sets the stage, it sets the tone for everything about our business. I feel like so great faith came from really just who I am as a person. Despite the devastation, despite all of the trauma that I've had to overcome, my faith has always been audacious and somewhat unshakable.
Speaker 2:So and anytime I mean, that doesn't mean that I don't get shaken- yeah yeah, there are plenty of times that I've been shaken and throughout this decade that I'm coming on, I've said you know, I just can't do this. It's just, it's too hard, it's too much. But there's always been the crumbling and then the rebuilding. So for me, that is where the name Great Faith came from, and the organics was just really about educating people in the ways that I had been educated.
Speaker 1:Wow.
Speaker 2:Yeah. So in 2015, I started I actually started, got my start on Etsy and as my business grew, I shifted over to my own domain and it's greatfaithorganicscom. You can find all of my products there. So I did product-based from 2015 all the way up until I opened my practice here in Pell City, alabama, in 2023. During that time, I found you and I thought you know, if I'm going to make a lifestyle out of this, I probably really need to get some formal education. So in 2018, I got my certification with the Heart of Herbs and then, when I went to open my practice in 2023, I went back and got my clinical certification with heart of herbs. I it was such a great fit for me in 2018 that I just there was no question about where I was going to go back. So, um, when I opened my practice in 2023, I also did um the Ayurvedic course and I also started Reiki, which is something that I had actually discussed with you, and you encouraged me, you know, to really look into that type of healing. That it paired.
Speaker 1:Oh, yeah, you're a natural. Yeah, you could just. I could just tell you had like the right vibe. Vibe, because when people work with energy, if their energy isn't good, you know that can affect your client and I just knew you would be like so good for people that way. Has that been successful for you?
Speaker 2:Yes, it has been.
Speaker 2:And I mean it's been good for my clients, but I think it's been equally as good for me as well. So you know, it's really an ever expanding journey for me. I started out in 2023 with my practice and it was literally the size of a closet and I was so grateful for that space. I was, and still, so grateful for that space. I was, and I'm still so grateful for that space. But by September of 2023, we were able to expand the space and make a larger space and then, in September of 2024, we took on a second space and we're doing lymphatic treatments in the second space.
Speaker 1:Yeah, so you can go.
Speaker 2:I have worked really hard and my family has rallied around me and worked equally as hard, so I have a really great support system. But starting small doesn't keep. It doesn't mean you're going to stay small forever. When the time is right and you're right energetically, you're. I was in a good place energetically and I was in a good place in my healing journey. The growth really just was exponential quickly.
Speaker 1:Well, I've never, ever thought that there was any scenario in which you would have started small and stayed small, I mean just based on the work that you did and watching the different things that you're you're doing. You know, I don't often get to see what people are up to on Facebook. So sometimes, you know, when you know I'm scrolling and I see, oh my God, look at that, you know. And then, because I've always, I'm always on working, I never get to do any of the fun stuff on Facebook. Yeah, what are people up to? But I mean, like, whenever your stuff has come up, I'm like, oh, not surprised, that's. You know, I'm never. I'm never like oh, oh wow.
Speaker 2:That was a shocker, you know, or anything like that.
Speaker 1:I'm like dang, that's right. Keep it going.
Speaker 2:But it's really honestly, it's all of the hard work that you poured into your business. You really set the model up for kind of spilling over into the community. What does that look like? Helping other people? So all of your hard work you missing out on all the fun stuff. I hope you get to enjoy it soon, but all of your hard work has really poured so much into my business and so many other businesses that I know of.
Speaker 1:Oh, that's really that's really sweet and cool to hear, but the reality is is you guys do the work we do?
Speaker 2:You know, like you guys.
Speaker 1:I make you guys do a lot of work. We do the work and you can tell sometimes, like I could tell very early on with the way that you were turning in work.
Speaker 2:I was like gotta keep an eye on this one and then I was like I saw something you posted the other day and I'm like I need her on the podcast.
Speaker 1:That's right, that's who I've been thinking of, you know. So I'm so glad that yeah, I had the really.
Speaker 2:I had the really great opportunity to be interviewed by one of our local. It was a larger city, their local paper, and it was just like a full circle moment for me, oh nice. But one of the tips, one of the things that I wanted to share in terms of inspiring other people, just a snippet of advice that I can give. All of my pictures, all of my professional photo work that you see on my greatfaithorganicscom website, on my TikTok, which is also Great Faith Organics Clinical Herbalist, my Instagram, my Facebook all of those are Great Faith Organics Clinical Herbalist. All of the photographs there were professionally done, and I managed to get that by trading services.
Speaker 2:Oh nice, with the photographer. Yes, so, and you can see she is top notch. The photography work was top notch, so good. But a lot of times, you know, we think maybe we can't do this because it's not in our budget, but the only thing you can hear is no, I can't trade services with you. The best case scenario is, yes, let's do that, because a lot of people wanting to work with an herbalist.
Speaker 1:Yeah, yeah, well, yeah, I mean it's so. It's always so surprising. You know, I sometimes feel like you have to turn people down because you don't want to tell people when you're out in the wild what you do. Because you're like oh, I'm never going to swim out of this. You, I'm like when.
Speaker 2:I'm out with you guys.
Speaker 1:I'm your mom Like you know, yes, you know, we were even in Ireland once and some guys like oh my gosh, my wife loves your book. And I was just like huh, Like it didn't even occur to me he was talking to me, I'm like wait what he's like oh, you're the same one, right?
Speaker 2:How funny. Yeah, so you really you touched on something really strong boundaries as well. You know, I didn't have those boundaries in the beginning just because I didn't have the experience and setting those boundaries and saying, okay, so this is my family time, this is my home time, this is not my work time, because with the way that social media is, it is just almost soul sucking.
Speaker 1:It's a lot of work staying on top of it and not going bananas, right.
Speaker 2:Yes, absolutely, and I haven't found that magic mojo yet, and that's okay with me, because you know, having that this is, this is work time, this is home time is is really I think it's really important to stay. I mean, you have to stay balanced.
Speaker 1:Oh yeah, definitely. Well, I think you were one of the people that that I put out a lecture a few years ago that was talking about like the only way you're going to be successful is if you can hear no and you can say no, and I think you were one of the people who were like I needed to hear that or something.
Speaker 1:And it may not have been you, but I just remember like you really have to be able to hear the word no, like someone needs to be able to say no to you and you can't throw a fit, you know, because you're in business right.
Speaker 2:And you also need to be able to be like no.
Speaker 2:Absolutely not. Yes, absolutely. And so before I started my practice in 2023, so I opened my practice in March of 2023. And just to show you, or just to kind of paint a picture for other people who might be struggling or might feel challenged in this kind of work might be struggling or might feel challenged in this kind of work In December of 2022, I was ready to close my business down altogether. Oh wow, because I had not set those strong boundaries of no, this is my time, no, this is time for me to fill my cup, fill my family's cup. Because of that, I just got. I got so overworked and it really I just kind of lost my spark. Sounds like you're ready to burn out.
Speaker 1:Yeah, I really was. I really honestly. That's exactly how I describe it. Well, I'm glad you didn't Me too, I'm glad that you said I'm going to enforce some boundaries here, people.
Speaker 2:It was actually my husband. It was my husband's encouragement, yeah.
Speaker 1:Oh good, isn't it funny Like we know inside sometimes what the answer is, but sometimes other people in our life have to be like, hey, slow down speed racer or whatever. And then we're like oh, okay, yeah, like I can actually do that. Someone else gave me advice or permission or a suggestion, whatever word you want to use, you know to to take the time to say no, this is, you know, um, I'm not answering your email at two o'clock in the morning, you know.
Speaker 2:Someone else said it was okay and you're like, even though you knew right, but yeah, I mean, I think sometimes we just need that little confirmation, that little nudge, because we are helper.
Speaker 1:But did you find that you were more sorry? I?
Speaker 2:didn't mean to feel like we're constantly you know. No, it's okay. I think we're having a little bit of a connection, yeah.
Speaker 1:Did you find that when you cause? I find when I reinforce boundaries there's always a few people that get PO'd. We won't swear too much and there. But overall most people I find are more receptive and I am able to make more money and be better off with my time. And I'm always like why didn't I do that sooner?
Speaker 2:Yes, absolutely there. You know when I first started setting those boundaries. So I closed my entire business down a couple of weeks before Christmas and then I open up the first. I open back up the first week of January, so it's three weeks, which in the big scheme of things is not that long, and I call it hibernation. But I didn't start that until about four years into my business. So you know, by year nine everybody knows I'm going into hibernation.
Speaker 1:Yeah, if you want something for Christmas, you order in October you did ahead of.
Speaker 2:Yes, let's do it ahead of time and I try to be really accommodating to people. Just, I mean, my community is so great but when I first started that, you know, there there were some people who were, like you said, po'd. They were not really happy about it. But you know, I had that just because I'm a caretaker and I also was a super people pleaser back in those days. I would, you know, kind of bend those boundaries until someone, like you said someone gave me permission to say no, you know there were, there was plenty of time. You know there was plenty of opportunity.
Speaker 1:I did not do anything to stop you from ordering early.
Speaker 2:Correct. I made myself very available and now it's really okay for me to say I am so sorry, yeah, yeah.
Speaker 1:Yeah, I'm sorry. This is something we do every year. This is how we recharge, you know, yes, and I think people are starting to respect that kind of stuff more yeah, I agree every year it gives me it gives me life every year.
Speaker 2:Yeah, right, and it's.
Speaker 1:It's just three weeks so yeah, no, but I mean, like you know, um, so a lot of my relatives were like factory workers and worked in sawmills and stuff like that and they would, they would close for a few weeks in the winter time or they would, you know, have these times where they were closed and and I always used to think when I was younger like what an antiquated model or whatever you know and now, is it now that I'm older?
Speaker 1:I'm like wow that's really kind of a cool idea, like everybody knows, that we're going to have the month of September together or whatever, or the month of December or you know like. And I do think that sometimes this, this ability to connect, especially when you're in a small business, you can connect really easily with your customers and people who are coming in and people you're in contact with. But because you can at times be working so much, you really have to work and make sure you're connected to the people that you're doing this all for right. Like you know, if I didn't have children and a husband, I don't know if I'd work so hard. I mean, I'll be honest, right, I'm doing this to create the next generation.
Speaker 1:Yeah, like I want to make sure that my kids have got something, maybe one day, right yeah, so I think it's cool that your community also gave you permission and the people who cared about you.
Speaker 2:So I really, in 2024, I can say that I've really always had a good community, but in 2024, I can say that I have the best community, that I've ever had a good community. But in 2024, I can say that I have the best community that I've ever had, like they. They pour into me as much as I pour into them and that's just because I've established a relationship of trust. That's so important.
Speaker 1:I mean, I just I love that for you and I love that you're able to. So so many businesses are separate in a community and then there's there's those that become part of the fabric of the community and it sounds like you're working on being woven into the fabric of your community.
Speaker 2:I love that and I've really tried to work with other small businesses in my area because in 2015, when I started, my husband was a small business owner. So, I kind of already had the idea of what it was like to be a small business owner. But when we started, he started his business in 2014. I started mine in 2015. He was really the inspiration and the catalyst for that for me going oh you know what, maybe I can do it too.
Speaker 1:Yeah, I can work as hard as he can. Maybe I can do that. Yeah, I have no sanity left.
Speaker 2:I'm starting a business, I mean, why not Right All or nothing?
Speaker 1:That's wonderful. So you guys were really I mean, you two had to believe in and support each other. Epic proportions epic is the word and I love that, like I love the fact that I never had to compete with my husband.
Speaker 1:I never, had to prove myself to him absolutely, you know it was like we were on our in our own journey with work and yes, and I, you know, would sometimes hear from students oh, my husband doesn't think I can do this or do that, or my partner, my children and I'm like you are the one who has to determine if this is going to work, because it takes epic determination, like it really does. You have to believe in yourself to a point of like almost insanity. Yes, you know, I can do this.
Speaker 2:But I remember what it was like, you know, being one of the few small businesses in my community in 2015 for both of us and I meant that if I ever got any platform, even if it was a small platform, that I was really going to pour into other small businesses in my community to give them a space that I didn't have. So that has really if you want to talk about weaving in the threads of the community that has really established my community in a beautiful way. Oh, I love that, no wonder they feel so connected to you.
Speaker 1:You're part of them.
Speaker 2:Absolutely Well. Yeah, I mean we just we vibe together. So it's when you stop looking at everyone else as competition and say you know, I have a gift that's very unique to me, and although someone else also has a gift, it's also very unique to them. So you learn how to make your gifts work together.
Speaker 1:Yeah, my success isn't determined on your ability. I can be successful without taking from your success. I think that's a thing that we we're just so used to, all the gobbledygook of modern society. You know, I remember talking to a student once and she said, but I think there's another herbalist in the county. And I was like uh-huh. And she's like but, but I can't have a business if there's already one who has a business. I said, well, go to a gas station, go tell that to the pizza. How many pizza places you got in your county? How many gas stations? And she's like oh yeah, it's like their success has nothing to do with you, because who goes to you is going to go to you and who finds you is going to find you. They're going to connect with you in this kind of work. I'm not the right cup of tea for everyone like some people want to be more like walking on cloud nine.
Speaker 1:And here I am, like this day, let's be practical. We got a plan, you know, and other people you know want to, like you know, float in the you know ether with their clients and and and every, every way is good and valid and lovely, but I'm not always like someone's cup of tea and that's totally cool, you know and that's totally fine. So I love that you are bringing not only your skills to your community but your passion for small business and connection and role modeling that to other business owners.
Speaker 1:That's a big deal. Hope you're patting yourself on the back.
Speaker 2:Thanks. I am now Thank you. I mean, it just seems like the thing to do.
Speaker 1:Yeah, well, we're all in this together, right?
Speaker 2:Yeah absolutely.
Speaker 1:It's like we're all in this together and no one gets out of this alive that is correct.
Speaker 2:How are you going to do this Right?
Speaker 1:So we might as well have fun while we're doing it, yes, yeah, and make some friends along the way play some good music you know, toast the moon whatever you do. Yeah, absolutely. So I have a question what are some of your favorite products to offer clients in your community? Are there things that you just feel like you do a great job with and that you want people to know about?
Speaker 2:Um, so some of my favorite products that I craft. My favorite thing is crafting tea, so I do herbal tinctures, extracts. I make elderberry syrup. I love elderberry syrup because that is really where that is the product where I really got my start. That is the one that has helped me the most, so that's always going to be one of my favorites. But my favorite thing is really putting herbal teas together, formulating herbal teas.
Speaker 2:I love that I have a blend called Rest and Digest, and it's really about taking a moment. It's not just about having a cup of tea, this is what I tell everyone. It's about taking a moment and saying, okay, I am doing something for me in this moment, and it's really about coming out of fight or flight and really shifting into the resting and the digesting system in our body. So that's probably my favorite.
Speaker 1:Who doesn't need?
Speaker 2:that. Everyone needs that.
Speaker 1:I'm like thinking about it. You know, you're like, I'm like thinking, like I'm like relaxing, like thinking about it right, Like it is coming out of flight or flight. You know it's like, oh cause we're all in that mode lately? Huh.
Speaker 2:Yeah, it's like a warm hug. That's how I describe it to people. It's like a cup of warm hug and I formulated out of in 2022, when I was in my burnout. I formulated the tea for myself, and that's where most of my products have been born. Was they came out of a need that I had or a need that my family had? And that's where all of my products really came from.
Speaker 1:I really love that because one you know that it works. It isn't just a theoretical product, but you know the, the you know what you're wanting to achieve in yourself, and that is sometimes just giving someone a. You know a place to take a deep breath is sometimes the most important, like first step. Right, okay, calm down, let's take a deep breath, let's come back into ourself. You know it was been a the world's crappiest day to day or whatever, and you give yourself that permission to really put the brakes on, and I love I mean just the rest digest.
Speaker 1:You know, you can kind of just like that you know where this is going you know like you start off and then your feet are up, then you're leaning back, you're enjoying your comfy chair or whatever. Then you're like maybe let's put on the fire, yeah.
Speaker 2:So that's exactly you. If I had to describe a cup of rest and digest, that's exactly that's the description I would give. You're really, you're having an experience and it's just. You know it's. It's five minutes, it's 10 minutes which we, we can all commit in a day to just take the time to go. Okay, this is just going to be about me from the smell, the aroma to the taste, yeah, it's wonderful.
Speaker 1:I love that and I love like. I also love reminding people when they're like well, I can't take 10 minutes. There's a lot of time I'm like. I guarantee you you spend more than 10 minutes today on Facebook or Instagram or any of those platforms.
Speaker 2:And then they'd like kind of turn red and they're like yeah, I'm like you can, you can do this.
Speaker 1:You can, you know we can. You can, you can say I'm worth this time.
Speaker 2:Yes, I love that you offer that. Can you people order that online? Or you can order all of my products, from my extracts to my herbal teas, to a couple of other supplements that I put together. You can order all of that at great faith. Organicscom.
Speaker 1:Oh nice. And do you ship internationally, or just in the continental, or just the United States?
Speaker 2:Just in the US.
Speaker 1:Yes, Okay, lovely, oh, that's so awesome. I think that I think that everyone listening is probably going to be like I can use a cup of rest. Everyone listening is probably going to be like I could use a cup of rest, induction Especially after the holidays.
Speaker 2:The holidays.
Speaker 1:The new year and all of that fun stuff. I mean, I think the reality is is that we need to start tapping into these things that make us feel better and share them with others. There's so much influencer products and this and that and stuff that's out there that we don't know where it's coming from. We don't know who the money or the voice behind it is, and I really know for myself. I've been just microing everything down Like I want to know the dude that's making my pots and pans.
Speaker 1:This is like no joke. I'm just like getting, and I really feel like a lot of other people are being like yeah, I'm not sure I want to purchase this tea where I don't know where the ingredients are coming from. I don't know the story behind the person who crafted it. Know where the ingredients are coming from. I don't know the story behind the person who crafted it. I don't know what is in it, and you know some of this stuff. It is the wild, wild west out there, you know you just, oh, I'll just order it off of whatever that large place is, and it's like you don't know who's selling it.
Speaker 2:Yes, I do know where it's from. I do try and take the time to educate people about that and it's not just so that you order from me. It is so that you order from a trusted source. So I only work with organic ingredients. Some I grow, some I get from my own trusted sources, some I wild forage for in a very safe area that's contained and well kept. But knowing the source is everything to me. I agree, and I've seen that transition in the time that I've been, the nine years that I've been doing this, I've seen the transition from. You know, nine years ago people, they really were not thinking about that kind of thing, and now you know, nine years later, it is so, it's so important to everyone. So I'm loving the kind of shift in the dynamic here.
Speaker 1:Oh, absolutely. I mean it's funny because I'm seeing it. Even like I've always kind of been like weird like this. Like you know, I didn't, I wanted my dishes made in America. You know, it's just always kind of like I don't know. It just seemed practical to me. Money goes back into my community, that kind of stuff, but I never like really made such a huge stink about it. Um, but I see it like even in my kids they're like yeah well, my socks are from Vermont, you know like they. Like you know, my blue jeans were made in North Carolina.
Speaker 1:You know like they kind of like they're starting like this thing and and I'm just like sitting back and I'm I'm looking and I'm listening and I'm like you know, but I think they've got it right, Like we just, we lost so much connection.
Speaker 1:Like you know, like even the containers that I'm sure your products are in, you are vetting that, you're making sure they're safe, and I just I love that kind of connection to quality and source so much and I love that you're able to give that to people and to offer that to people. Like, organic isn't just a word, it's about being part of the earth and the process and the creativity and the craft and we just think of organic, as they didn't use any pesticides and it's so much more than that. I think it is.
Speaker 2:It's a, it's a mindset for us as herbalists. I really feel like you know, it's authenticity, like you said, it's really just getting back to the. To me it's, it's the heart of herbalism.
Speaker 1:Yeah, I agree, I love that name too, but I mean, like you know, it's really, it's really um. I just find it inspiring and I love when businesses like yours are not only like sticking to their, their commitment for quality and excellence, but they're also sharing that with their community and helping their community look at things in a different way, because I think it just it's. That's something that lasts a lifetime. Getting some plastic gobbledygook for five cents less, yeah, doesn't make your life better Absolutely. But these kind of commitments reinforce and help uplift and structure community, and so I love that you do that for your community and for your clients. I think that's beautiful.
Speaker 2:Yeah, thank you. I was going to mention that when I opened my practice, I started doing in-person consultations, so I do offer herbal consultations and I also do bio communication feedback as part of that process.
Speaker 1:Oh, cool, and so they can. People can OK. So in reference to like hey, I live in Alabama, I want to come and see you face to face. Yes, how do they contact you through the website?
Speaker 2:Yes, so you can go to great faith organorganicscom and look at the advanced herbal consultation and all of the information. I mean it is very detailed. I've poured so much time and work into those descriptions so that people really have a full understanding of what they're going to get. I love that you can look there. All of my information is at greatfaithorganicscom. Book an appointment. Yes, I'm in Alabama and I would love to work with everyone in the community, so I have another question Will you work with people virtually?
Speaker 1:Do you do that yet, like over Zoom or things like that, or are you only doing face-to-face right now?
Speaker 2:So I have done a few virtual consultations. I haven't done many, but probably in the last, let's see. I've probably done six total. So it's a very small margin of my business, but I think that's possibly just because you know it's outside of the community.
Speaker 1:Yeah, yeah, yes, I know there may as well be someone listening like I'm not in Alabama, but this lady sounds like exactly who I need. Yeah, I just figured I would ask that because I think sometimes, like I don't know, like sometimes I've like heard you know someone someplace and I'm like that's the person. Like I, you know, I just hear a little bit of there.
Speaker 1:I'm like that's the person I need to like find like in a room, you know, or like there's like someone here like I'm like this is the person I need to connect with for whatever reason. So I know if someone's sitting there thinking that they're going to have that question, so I just figured I would ask it beforehand.
Speaker 2:Yeah, and thanks for asking. They can always reach out to me at great faithorganics at gmailcom and I would love to work, even virtually. Yes.
Speaker 1:Okay, that's so awesome, so thank you so much for like giving us that information. So I should probably let you go so you can get back to your day and and enjoy. I think you have a few more days off before you're opening back up right A few more days off of hibernation.
Speaker 1:So I would definitely, you know, suggest you, enjoy those and have fun and try not to. I think you guys have some weather coming your way, so we do, so hopefully it won't be too bad, but you can cozy up in front of the fire or whatever. Yeah, absolutely, and hunker down and enjoy your hibernation time a little bit longer. But I just wanted to say thank you so much for taking the time to be with us. I appreciate it so much. I'm so glad that I had an opportunity to get to know you professionally, as you know, seeing you as your business and more than just as having been a student. So I think that our students find students like you so inspirational. So thanks for just giving us this opportunity to connect with you.
Speaker 2:Thank you so much for having me on. I've thoroughly enjoyed it.
Speaker 1:Oh, thank you so much. You have a great day and I will, hopefully. I would like to say let's do an update and see how things are going, like you know, later on, and if you would be up for it, because it's really cool to just see how people's projects are going, and I do.
Speaker 1:Sometimes I have, even though the podcast is new I've had a few people say like, hey, that person you had on, I want to know what they're doing, like are you going to have them on again and how did it go? And so I'm like, I'm like, yeah, I can totally do that. So I've been, I've been telling people I'm going to try to get you back on and I'm doing it on air, so that way you're trapped.
Speaker 2:I will make myself available, thank you.
Speaker 1:I am so glad you joined us today. Thank you so much. Thank you, okay, bye-bye. Bye-bye.
