From Garden to Apothecary: The Ultimate Guide to Building a Self-Sufficient Herbal Homestead (And Why It Matters More Than Ever)

From seed to shelf, From Garden to Apothecary: The Ultimate Guide to Building a Self-Sufficient Herbal Homestead (And Why It Matters More Than Ever) walks you through the real-life steps of growing, harvesting, preserving, and preparing herbs so your family has dependable, homegrown support year-round. We’ll talk practical garden planning, the “must-have” homestead herbs, when and how to harvest for potency, and simple apothecary staples—teas, tinctures, infused oils, salves, syrups, and more—so you can build a home system that’s affordable, resilient, and rooted in skills you can pass down.

www.heartofherbs.com

In a world where access and costs can shift quickly, knowing how to care for your household with traditional plant remedies is more than a hobby—it’s preparedness with purpose.

Health Disclaimer: This podcast is for educational purposes only and is not medical advice. Herbal information shared here is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional regarding medical conditions, pregnancy/nursing, medications, or before starting any new supplement or herbal regimen, and seek urgent care for severe or worsening symptoms.

Hey friends—welcome to the Heart of Herbs Herbal School Podcast. I’m Demetria Clark, and today we’re opening one of my favorite doors in herbal study: the Materia Medica.

If you’ve ever wondered, “What exactly belongs in a great plant profile?”—this episode is your roadmap. we’ll talk about what a materia medica is (and isn’t), the clean, repeatable outline i teach our students, and how to write entries you’ll actually use in real life—whether you’re blending a tea tonight or presenting a case next week. We’ll dig into naming and identification (Latin saves lives!), taste and energetics, key actions and indications, preparations and dosing (within an education-only scope), safety and contraindications, plus the big one—citations—because giving credit and showing your sources keeps our work ethical, traceable, and safer.

Quick reminder: everything here is education-based, not medical advice. always consider medications, pregnancy/lactation, and red-flag symptoms, and partner with licensed healthcare providers when needed.

Alright—grab your notebook, pour a cup of something lovely, and let’s build a materia medica you’ll be proud to use and share. 💚

In this conversation, Demetria Clark welcomes Naomi Kilbreth, RH (clinical herbalist) of Laurel Tree Wellness. Naomi traces her path from teenage assistant to home-birth midwife, to homeschooling mom, and full-time clinician. We dive deep into long-COVID—why symptoms vary so widely, the role of prior viral exposures (think EBV/shingles), and why nervous-system signs matter. Naomi shares practical ways to vet an herbalist, the lifestyle foundations she checks first (sleep, stress, and lymph), and introduces The Herbal Collective, an online library and community that organizes her classes, downloads, and weekly live sessions.

Connect with Naomi• Website: LaurelTreeWellnessLLC.com• Instagram: @LaurelTreeWellness

Connect with Demetria / Heart of Herbs• Programs & resources: www.heartofherbs.com

Topics• Herbal origin stories & birthwork roots• Individualized care for long-COVID (no one-size-fits-all)• Dormant virus reactivation, athletes, and “healthy before COVID” cases• Nervous-system clues (tongue/uvula) & why they matter• How to find a qualified herbalist• The Herbal Collective: free “Lite” tier, memberships, weekly gatherings

Disclaimer: Educational content only; not medical advice. Please work with your healthcare providers.