Episode 73 - Herbal First Aid and Everyday Herbalism with Herbalist Marissa Baumeister
I’ve been fascinated with herbs ever since a high school project on calendula. Though truthfully, my love for them probably started even earlier when I would mix herbs and spices in the kitchen at every opportunity and imagine what magical and medicinal powers they had. Today, that passion continues as I make my own medicinal teas, grow several, and explore the endless ways herbs can enhance our lives.
So, I was thrilled to connect with community herbalist Marissa Baumeister, whose herbal products are beautiful and workshops are inspiring. In this episode Marissa shares her expertise on using herbs in first aid, daily wellness routines, kitchen creations, and even skincare.
Marissa and I chat about:
- How Marissa got started as a community herbalist and her journey into herbalism
- Common misconceptions about herbal remedies and how to use them safely
- Simple first aid solutions using herbs
- Skincare tips using herbal oils, salves, and hydrosols
- Kitchen herbalism: incorporating herbs into everyday meals with infused vinegars, honeys, and salt
- Fire cider and its role in supporting the immune system during cold and flu season
- How we can all start incorporating more herbs into our daily lives
Marissa is a community herbalist and herb farmer in Cobourg, Ontario, in the beautiful Northumberland hills. She has a passion for working with the plants and creates products with the rhythm of the seasons using bioregional herbs and flowers grown in her garden. The plants are lovingly tended throughout the growing season, then harvested and dried to make vibrant skin care products, artisanal hydrosols, delicious tea blends, magical elixirs, infused vinegars, and elderberry syrup. This process is a tender labour of love and makes her products truly unique.
As a community herbalist, Marissa teaches a range of workshops on various topics related to herbalism, ranging from how to start an herb garden, to herbal syrups and honeys, fire cider, herbal tinctures, and more. Her most popular workshop to date is on the topic of herbal oils and balms, teaching members in her community how to create their own natural skin care by harnessing the beneficial virtues of herbs such as calendula, chamomile, lavender, rose, and others. Her aim is to make herbalism accessible by blurring the line between food and medicine and teaching simple ways of making herbal preparations at home to support one's health and the health of loved ones naturally.
Episode Links:
- Connect with Marissa on Instagram
- Check out Marissa’s herbal products and workshops
- Learn more about natural health product protection in Canada at NHPPA
- Come say hello to me over on Instagram
- Read my books The Motherhood Reset, Nourished Mama and Mama Let It Go
- Read my Picky Eating Guide
