Welcome to By Earth, Root and Flower. I am Lisa and was born and raised in the Mohawk Valley in central New York State among the Adirondack foothills. The immigrants who first arrived in this region came from many different parts of Europe. My paternal grandparents were from Italy and immigrated to the small village of Dolgeville in the 1920’s to work in the industrial mills that were built along the West Canada Creek. My maternal grandparents were Irish and settled the high hills and meadows becoming mostly subsistence farmers grateful to be able to own their own land. Living in this area now and in the time before the first colonial settlements, were the Mohawk and Oneida tribes of the Iroquois Indians. I hold in my heart the deepest respect for these First Peoples whose teachings have impacted my life deeply. I have a deep love for the land and people of this small part of the great Earth, and have grown up among the Maples, White Pines, a multitude of flowers and grasses, white tailed-deer and the strong North Wind. As time has marched on, the industries have also, leaving much of this part of the country in a state of terminal economic depression. Small family farms continue to struggle everyday to survive in a market-driven economy that has made their once profitable livelihoods barely enough to get by on. Because of the poor economy, this area does not, thankfully, attract many developers, leaving lots and lots of wide open space. Land is still relatively cheap and extremely rich and fertile. This has led to a small but growing migration of families and individuals who are giving up their busy city lives to live inexpensively and peacefully, where they can grow their own food and inhale fresh air. This is the place where I have chosen to raise my 4 children and I am grateful to be able to offer them a life close to the rhythms of nature and the seasons, amongst the spirits of their ancestors, within a community of down-to-earth and honest folks.
I was first exposed to herbal medicine 18 years ago when I was extremely frustrated with the continual respiratory infections of my step-daughter who was 2 years old at the time. Her mother, father and I had no health insurance and were spending way over our budgets on doctor visits and antibiotics. I was fortunately introduced to a local, self-taught herbalist who offered classes and consults to the community. She taught mostly local herbs, and simple preparations. The teachings we received from her permanently changed our lives for the much, much better. From that point forward, I began a love affair with the healing plants and herbs. Soon after, another herbalist moved to our community with whom I began a 10 year study with. Her name is Kate Gilday of Woodland Essence and I owe much of what I know to her as I learned and worked alongside her. I have engaged in several apprenticeships with Kate and worked for her company for many years always feeling blessed to know her and continually inspired by how she walks her beauty way. I must also mention that I have been fortunate to have spent time studying with many other herbalists having apprenticed with Matthew Wood of Minnesota and Pam Montgomery of Vermont. I am eternally grateful to all that I have learned and continue to learn from my teachers of the past, present and future. But, there has been no greater teacher than the plants themselves, and to them, I owe my life, and for them, I do this work.
Lisa
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Love your blog!
HI Lisa,
I am so geeked to see your post! Its exciting to see what all the years of your hard work and deep love for plants and healing others has amounted to! I am grateful to have you as a herbal teacher and a great friend! Lots of love, lovely lady, Tavia
Herbal studies are wonderful,
Herbal studies are wonderful, and really show the sacred green-ness around us, plus help you get attuned to the shifting seasons as different things come to harvest at different times.
Myelf, I've studied under Susun Weed for quite a few years, random internet sources, and the AODA druidic folks, along with some excellent friends in Pennsylvania where I grew up. Great to find another Upstate NewYorker. :)
Green Blessings!
I took at class with Susun a
I took at class with Susun a while back and it was great! I didn't realize you were an herbalist too. We should get together and talk plants sometime. Spending time with plants in any capacity is definitely a great way to connect with natural rythms, healing, and our own creative "wildness". I actually think it helps to connect us to other human beings also, as the joy, knowledge and understanding that occurs as a result seems to spill over into every aspect of life.
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