For over 55 years, I have been a child of the wild. I feel sad when I think of how many kids don't have a "woods" to explore. Even in the city, kids had wild spaces, since kids naturally seek them out. Now, parents have their children scheduled from the time they get up until Bed. Dancing lessons, sports, music lessons, sports, play dates- nothing that is without adults and without rules. We worry about "strangers" stealing our kids if they are out of our sight, the woods is now a place off limits because you might get Lymes. Gardner. the famous psychologist who had previously labeled seven learning style- added an 8th- the naturalist. That is me, only Nuns didn't know anything about any of the "intelligences" much less this one, since I have long been out of school when Gardner added this very important part to his work.
I was born in the city, but even there were "fields" at the end of the street ( an area between the houses and railroad tracks). Moms put us out after breakfast, we came home for lunch and went back out till dinner. If it was Summer, we were out till dark. The school year was different, Homework, then out till dark.
I was just under 6 when we moved to NJ. At the bottom of my street was heaven in my eyes, acres and acres of woods, fields AND water. I don't think we lived there for two weeks before I disappeared with my young Uncle for hours to play there. By the time we got back, our family was frantic, they were ready to call the police. We were soaked because we played in the "stream" we found, which was the outflow water from the sewer plant! Did not go very well,
My parents eventually got used to the fact I would spend hours in the woods and fields, but happy I had my dog with me. Of course, she was too busy chasing rabbits to protect me, but who was the wiser?
The other great thing about NJ was gardens. Not just a 10 square foot plot called the front lawn, but lots and lots of yard and gardens. The next thing I got in trouble for was picking my neighbor's eggplant blossoms because I had never seen a flower like that before. I had my own garden by the spring of the following year. I had strawberries, I dug from the fields, and a willow tree. My parents gave me some seeds for marigolds and zinnias. But in my Mother's garden was the plant that sealed my relationship plants forever. Mint. Wonderful mint. I was thrilled that a plant whose leaves tasted so good grew here. I ate other plants too. Not with anyone telling me ( do not recommend, I was a wild child and have a very busy guardian Angel still!). Sour grass ( woods sorrel), and Johnny Jump-ups- wild pansies. Never lost my interest in plants, although High school turned me away a little while- after all it WAS the 60's. We had other plant interests. But by college, I had a garden again. And discovered that MOST herbs ( although not spices, by definition a tropical plant usually a root, bark, or seed), could be grown here. The obsession had begun. I still can't resist buying a plant that I have never raised. But it got worse. The research into herbs started me in many other directions besides cooking, I started doing crafts and making simple medicines, but basically buying herbs capsuled from a health food store. Got enough knowledge and confidence going and started teaching a Community Ed class in Herbs and herbal crafts. It was very popular and never had problems filling the class, but it was not the direction I wanted to go.I kept getting called more and more into healing. Healing with nutrition and natural medicines, especially herbs. What finally got me from gardener and chef to healer and medicine maker? I found Susun Weed. Her approach and books gave me the courage to continue in this work. After the first visit for a three day intensive, I have never looked at plants and healing the same way.
I have studied with many people since then as well as going back to Susun's. I taught culinary arts in vocational school for 14 years, most schools with a garden as part of the curriculum . I took 18 months of hard studying and hands on training and proudly got my certification as a Nutritional Therapy Practitioner. There is much, much more to this journey and the learning will always continue. However, I never think of herbs without remembering that first taste of mint! Green Blessings, Susan.
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