In this special keynote episode, we're sharing The Life-Saving Magic of Herbing It Up with herbalist, educator, and community leader Lottie Spady, recorded live at the 2025 Great Lakes Herb Faire.

In this powerful and heartfelt talk, Lottie shares how her journey into herbalism transformed not only her physical health, but also her sense of purpose, community, and connection to the natural world. Through her story, we're reminded of the deep, life-changing potential of building relationships with plants as true allies.

Huge thanks to Lottie for granting permission to share this keynote, and to Anna and the entire Great Lakes Herb Faire team for so generously providing the recording.

If this talk resonates with you, be sure to check out everything the Great Lakes Herb Faire has to offer…

Learn more about the Faire | GreatLakesHerbFaire.com

The Faire offers recordings from past events (including this keynote), with dozens of classes available from over the years. Most are available individually, or as part of larger bundles.

You can BROWSE THE RECORDINGS HERE.

And be sure to check out Lottie's work with Earthseed Detroit, where she focuses on community herbalism, education, and accessible wellness:

Earthseed Detroit | EarthseedDetroit.com

Thanks for listening, and we hope you enjoy this inspiring keynote from Lottie Spady.

⚠️ DISCLAIMER This content is for educational and entertainment purposes only. It is not intended to diagnose, treat, or cure any disease. Always consult with a qualified healthcare provider before making changes to your health regimen.

In this special episode of The Herbalist Hour, Rosalee de la Forêt turns the tables on HerbRally founder and longtime host Mason Hutchison for a wide-ranging, heartfelt conversation about rebuilding, community, and the person behind the podcast.

WATCH THIS EPISODE ON YOUTUBE

What starts as a "comeback episode" becomes something deeper: a reflection on major life transitions, self-care, friendship, fatherhood, herbal practice, and the many passions that make Mason who he is.

Along the way, Rosalee guides the conversation while surprise video questions and messages from fellow herbalists appear throughout the episode.

Mason shares stories about nourishing herbal infusions, movement, movies, basketball, ping pong, and meaningful plant relationships — along with reflections on the herbal community that has shaped his life and work.

This episode is funny, vulnerable, and full of heart — a reminder that herbalism is not just about plants, but about people, connection, and the communities that carry us through.

A big thank you to the many herbalists and friends who took the time to record surprise video questions and messages for this episode. Your kind words and support truly meant a lot. I didn't cry at all.

HerbRally has always been about connecting plant people, and this moment was a beautiful reminder of just how generous and supportive this community can be.

And of course, a heartfelt thank you to Rosalee de la Forêt for hosting this special episode and guiding the conversation with such care and thoughtfulness.

TOPICS COVERED

• The story behind HerbRally and Mason's role as a community connector • Life transitions, rebuilding after divorce, and moving back to Oregon • Cultivating relationships during times of change (Asia Dorsey's question) • Strength training and "movement snacks" with Samantha Butts • Avoiding overwhelm and building habits one small step at a time • Nourishing herbal infusions and two decades of infusion practice • Plant relationships, including Pedicularis groenlandica (elephant's head) • Finding joy through basketball, movies, and ping pong • "Compliments as medicine" and learning to receive praise • Surprise video tributes from herbalists and friends • What's next for HerbRally, Folk Methodology, and upcoming projects

LINKS & RESOURCES

HerbRally | https://herbrally.com

Rosalee de la Forêt | http://www.herbswithrosalee.com

Folk Methodology | https://folkmethodology.com

Herb Mentor Radio (LearningHerbs) | https://learningherbs.com

Columbines School of Botanical Studies | https://botanicalstudies.net

Asia Dorsey | http://www.bonesbugsandbotany.com/

Petty Herbalist Podcast | https://www.pettyherbalist.com

Jess Starwood | https://jstarwood.com/

BOOK: I Am The Land, These Are My People | https://amzn.to/4lI1M7y

Samantha Butts | https://www.instagram.com/samanthabutts_/

Torin Frost | https://www.youtube.com/@torinfrostofficial

HerbRally Schoolhouse | https://herbrally.com/schoolhouse

⚠️ DISCLAIMER This content is for educational and entertainment purposes only. It is not intended to diagnose, treat, or cure any disease. Always consult with a qualified healthcare provider before making changes to your health regimen.

In this episode of The Herbalist Hour, I sit down with herbalist, teacher, and long-time community mentor Betzy Bancroft to explore the heart, craft, and deep science behind her new book Herbal Pharmacy: The Science and Magic of Preparing and Administering Plant Medicine.

Betzy has been teaching herbal medicine making for more than three decades. She co-founded the Vermont Center for Integrative Herbalism, mentors clinical interns, presents at the Vermont NOFA Winter Conference, and serves on the advisory board of United Plant Savers. She also teaches and leads plant walks at the legendary Sage Mountain Botanical Sanctuary, where she lives just down the road.

This conversation dives into the practical, the philosophical, and the magical sides of making plant medicine — from water and oils, to home apothecaries, to the evolving spiral of students becoming teachers.

What We Talk About 🌿 Tips for leading an inspiring, grounded plant walk 🌿 Advice for herbalists writing their own informational books 🌿 A rich discussion of the water chapter and her reverence for water 🌿 Why oils and fats are both essential and misunderstood in herbalism 🌿 How she chooses fresh vs. dried plant material for tinctures 🌿 How to make homemade vinegar 🌿 Practical tips for building or expanding your home apothecary 🌿 And whole lot more!

WATCH THIS EPISODE ON YOUTUBE

LINKS & RESOURCES

BOOK: Herbal Pharmacy | BUY THE BOOK

Vermont Center for Integrative Herbalism | VTHerbCenter.org

Sage Mountain | SageMountain.com

United Plant Savers | UnitedPlantSavers.org

If you enjoyed this episode, please like, subscribe, and share it with a fellow plant person.

🌿Grab FREE Herbal Resources Sign up for the HerbRally newsletter and get instant access to a 91-page Botanical Anthology sampler—plus a bundle of herbal freebies.

👉 Get the freebies | HerbalFreebies.com

Want to join us live for future interviews?

Become a HerbRally Schoolhouse member:

HerbRally Schoolhouse | HerbRally.com/Schoolhouse

Use coupon code SCHOOLHOUSE30 for your first 30 days free!

⚠️ DISCLAIMER This content is for educational and entertainment purposes only. It is not intended to diagnose, treat, or cure any disease. Always consult with a qualified healthcare provider before making changes to your health regimen.

This episode is brought to you by FOOD GENIUS

A year-long mentorship from Asia Dorsey + Justin Robinson for folks craving a deeper relationship with food, ancestry, and embodied wellbeing.

LEARN MORE & REGISTER

In this clip from The Herbalist Hour episode 59, Asia Dorsey shares the story behind the West African dish Red Red — a vibrant meal made with red palm oil, black-eyed peas, peppers, and plantains.

Asia reflects on her time living in Ghana, learning directly from local food traditions, and how that experience reshaped her relationship with ancestral foods. She also speaks about the deep nutritional and cultural importance of red palm oil and why preserving traditional foodways matters.

The conversation touches on diaspora cooking, sourcing ingredients with integrity, and reconnecting with the culinary wisdom of our ancestors.

Watch the full episode of The Herbalist Hour to hear more of this conversation with Asia Dorsey and Karina DesRoses.

If you'd like to learn more from Asia, be sure to check out her Food Genius mentorship program.

Enrolling now!

LEARN MORE & REGISTER

DISCLAIMER The information in this episode is for educational and entertainment purposes only. It is not intended as a substitute for advice provided by your physician or other medical professionals. Always consult a health care practitioner before using any herbal remedy or food, especially if you are nursing, pregnant, or have any medical condition.

This episode is brought to you by FOOD GENIUS

A year-long mentorship from Asia Dorsey + Justin Robinson for folks craving a deeper relationship with food, ancestry, and embodied wellbeing.

LEARN MORE & REGISTER

In this episode of the HerbRally Podcast we're joined by herbalist Asia Dorsey.

She answers 10 questions, as the title suggests.

You'll learn:

• How she balances traditional herbal knowledge with modern science
• Her thoughts on the regulation of herbalists
• When she felt qualified to call herself an herbalist
• How to know how potent your herbal concoctions are
• How to keep joints healthy as we age
• And a whole lot more!

There are so many takeaways in this one.

Big thanks to Asia for taking the time to answer all of these questions!

If you'd like to learn more from Asia, be sure to check out her Food Genius mentorship program.

Enrolling now!

LEARN MORE & REGISTER

DISCLAIMER The information in this episode is for educational and entertainment purposes only. It is not intended as a substitute for advice provided by your physician or other medical professionals. Always consult a health care practitioner before using any herbal remedy or food, especially if you are nursing, pregnant, or have any medical condition.

This episode is brought to you by FOOD GENIUS

A year-long mentorship from Asia Dorsey + Justin Robinson for folks craving a deeper relationship with food, ancestry, and embodied wellbeing.

LEARN MORE & REGISTER

Herbalist and author Patricia Kyritsi Howell joins Mason and co-host Rosalee de la Forêt to talk about the brand-new second edition of Medicinal Plants of the Southern Appalachians.

Patricia shares how decades of walking the mountains have deepened her relationships with plants like bloodroot, sarsaparilla, and sassafras, weaving folk history with practical clinical insight.

We also touch on her decision to self-publish, the creative freedom it allowed, and why preserving authentic herbal voices matters now more than ever.

If you love Appalachian plants, plant stories, and thoughtful herbal conversations, this episode is for you.

RESOURCES & LINKS

Website | PatriciaKyritsiHowell.com

BOOK | Medicinal Plants of the Southern Appalachians

Wild Crete Trip | LEARN MORE & REGISTER

Rosalee's Website | HerbsWithRosalee.com

WATCH THIS EPISODE ON YOUTUBE

If you enjoyed this episode, please like, subscribe, and share it with a fellow plant person.

🌿Grab FREE Herbal Resources Sign up for the HerbRally newsletter and get instant access to a 91-page Botanical Anthology sampler—plus a bundle of herbal freebies.

👉 Get the freebies | HerbalFreebies.com

Want to join us live for future interviews?

Become a HerbRally Schoolhouse member:

HerbRally Schoolhouse | HerbRally.com/Schoolhouse

Use coupon code SCHOOLHOUSE30 for your first 30 days free!

⚠️ DISCLAIMER This content is for educational and entertainment purposes only. It is not intended to diagnose, treat, or cure any disease. Always consult with a qualified healthcare provider before making changes to your health regimen.

If you love hot sauce as much as I do, and you love learning about herbalism through food... this class is a good'n 🔥 HOT SAUCE | Ancestral Communication Through Food as Medicine Food geniuses Asia Dorsey and Justin Robinson break down the ethnobotany of hot sauce, why so many cultures use heat as medicine, how fermentation boosts flavor, and the many health benefits woven into this fiery tradition. It's fun, practical, and super informative — all about one of my most beloved condiments. This 90-minute pre-recorded class also includes:

• a "Living Habanero Hot Sauce" fermented recipe card
• a lengthy Q&A where Asia and Justin answer some of your burning questions (pun intended)

And here's the best part… HerbRally folks get it FREE (normally $25) Use coupon code HERBRALLY at checkout Valid through February 28, 2026

LEARN MORE & REGISTER You're gonna love it — enjoy! ~Mason

Today on the Herbalist Hour I'm joined by author, illustrator, and Appalachian folk magic practitioner Rebecca Beyer, along with my special co-host Rosalee de la Forêt. We dive deep into Rebecca's newest book, The Complete Folk Herbal, exploring everything from ethical wildcrafting to plant history, folk medicine-making, and the lived stories that shape her work.

Rebecca shares her thoughts on learning from many teachers, cultivating authentic plant relationships, avoiding "guru-ism," and keeping humility at the center of herbal practice. We talk about sustainable foraging, the realities of plant lust, and how she hand-illustrated every page of this beautiful book.

This episode is full of history, heart, humor, and grounded wisdom — a rich conversation for anyone who loves herbalism.

RESOURCES & LINKS

BOOK: The Complete Folk Herbal | BUY THE BOOK

Rebecca's Website | BloodAndSpicebush.com

Rebecca's Substack | BloodAndSpicebush.Substack.com

Rebecca on Instagram | @bloodandspicebush

Rosalee's Website | HerbsWithRosalee.com

WATCH THIS EPISODE ON YOUTUBE

If you enjoyed this episode, please like, subscribe, and share it with a fellow plant person.

🌿Grab FREE Herbal Resources Sign up for the HerbRally newsletter and get instant access to a 91-page Botanical Anthology sampler—plus a bundle of herbal freebies.

👉 Get the freebies | HerbalFreebies.com

Want to join us live for future interviews?

Become a HerbRally Schoolhouse member:

HerbRally Schoolhouse | HerbRally.com/Schoolhouse

Use coupon code SCHOOLHOUSE30 for your first 30 days free!

⚠️ DISCLAIMER This content is for educational and entertainment purposes only. It is not intended to diagnose, treat, or cure any disease. Always consult with a qualified healthcare provider before making changes to your health regimen.

In this clip from Herbalists After Hours, jim mcdonald shares one virtue he believes is essential for herbalists: kindness.

Drawing on Octavia Butler's line, "Kindness eases change," jim reflects on how change — whether personal, cultural, or relational — is rarely easy. But kindness can soften the process.

We talk about kindness toward others, kindness toward ourselves, and the deeper roots of the word "kind" — connected to kin and nature — reminding us that we are not separate from each other or the living world.

In a culture where unkindness is often normalized, this is a gentle but powerful reminder: kindness matters.

Rosalee and I are sharing clips from this conversation across our channels — but the full, in-person interview is where the whole story unfolds.

FULL INTERVIEW | Watch on YouTube

Folk Methodology is a collaboration between Mason Hutchison and Rosalee de la Forêt, dedicated to celebrating the living culture of herbalism.

Get full episodes, behind-the-scenes updates, and future projects delivered straight to your inbox | FolkMethodology.com

🌿 Enroll in Medical Botany: Foundations in Ancient Plant Medicine

Enrollment is now open for April Punsalan's 13-week apprenticeship focused on wild plant medicine, plant evolution, botany, Ayurveda, and the 6 tastes.

Enroll by Monday night and receive the Wild Apothecary medicine-making course FREE (tinctures, oils, salves, extractions with primarily wild plants).

👉 ENROLL HERE

🌲 Episode Description

In this episode of the Wild Herbs Podcast, April dives deeply into the medicine, botany, and spirit of Pine — an ancient evergreen ally that shows up when we need resilience the most.

Pine has survived ice ages, climate shifts, and mass extinctions, and in the heart of winter it continues to offer powerful medicine for the lungs, immune system, and spirit.

In this episode, April weaves together botany, herbal medicine, Ayurveda, and intuitive plant wisdom to explore why Pine is such a profound teacher for 2026.

In this episode, you'll learn:

Why Pine is one of the most ancient and resilient trees on Earth

How Pine's xylem and spiral water movement reflect rhythmic growth

How to identify pines using needles, fascicles, sheaths, and cones

Why Pine is especially important medicine in winter

Pine's medicinal actions (expectorant, antimicrobial, antiviral, anti-inflammatory)

How Pine supports colds, mucus, immunity, and inflammation

Why fresh Pine is preferred over dried

The spiritual symbolism of Pine, spirals, and Fibonacci patterns

What Pine teaches about receiving, presence, and sustainable growth

Why building a relationship with plants comes before turning to books

⚠️ DISCLAIMER This content is for educational and entertainment purposes only. It is not intended to diagnose, treat, or cure any disease. Always consult with a qualified healthcare provider before making changes to your health regimen.