Much of my herbal medicine journey is connected to learning about plants that were either cultivated or wild crafted and sold to me by other companies. I want to take you into a different direction with my today’s guest, John Slattery.
John is a practicing bioregional herbalist, educator, author and forager helping people develop deep and meaningful relationship with wild plants. His work has been widely influenced by indigenous plant healers from throughout the Americas, herbalist Michael Moore, and most importantly, the plants and wild places of the Sonoran desert.
John founded Desert Tortoise Botanicals, a bioregional herbal products company, in Tucson, AZ in 2005 in order to bring his wild harvested plant medicines to the people of the Southwest, and Desert Forager, a foraged foods company, in 2014. He founded the Sonoran Herbalist Apprenticeship Program in 2010. John’s first book, Southwest Foraging, was released in 2016 on Timber Press, and the new book, Southwest Medicinal Plants, was published just a few days ago.
TAKEAWAYS
- Why Sonoran desert in Arizona is one of the most botanically diverse places in North America and what does it mean for a bioregional herbalists like John
- What are some examples of desert plants John employs sustainably in his formulas
- Why tapping into the heart is one of the most useful guides John recommends for anyone thinking about foraging
WEB RESOURCES
John’s website, Desert Forager, John on Instagram
BOOKS
Southwest Foraging: 117 Wild and Flavorful Edibles From Barrel Cactus to Wild Oregano
Southwest Medicinal Plants: Identify, Harvest and Use 112 Wild Herbs for Health and Wellness
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BROUGHT TO YOU BY
The episode is proudly brought to you by Timber Press
TRANSCRIPT
I’m experimenting with a new transcription software. Human transcribing is time and resource intensive creating a perfect transcript unlike this AI-made transcription. If some words don’t make sense, please click on them and press play button to understand what was mentioned in the recording.
Image courtesy of John Slattery
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Great program! I needed to hear this for inspiration and encouragement. Thank you!
I thank you both kindly for this podcast. Lana I’m new to your site & look forward to watching past & future shows. John I’ve been extra thankful of all of your knowledge, helpful & kind way of sharing your connection & integration of plants & of earth in general. It’s a bit hard to decide what i like most in this show but i guess i would say it was about not being police about choices or frames of mind around teaching or receiving in this field. The other part was about really listening to the plants in realizing that when you are forging to be in tune with the Earth and plants and not just stuck on a production or Commerce style foraging method. I know that was not word for word but my interpretation. Again thank you both and I am greatly appreciative of the integration and continual learning of Mother Nature and all the creatures that she provides for.