Reply To: Introduce Yourself!
Hi Everyone,
My name is Kelsey, it was great to see a few of you at the last student zoom meetup. I am looking forward to having more connection with others interested in herbalism. I live in Cumberland on Vancouver Island with my partner and our fur babies.
I have been exploring the world of holistic health for quite some time. My interest in a professional sense started when I was in the nursing program and realizing the structure of the system wasn’t the right fit for me. Around the same time allopathic modalities were starting to show their limitations for me and my health concerns. This lead to a both a personal and professional journey in learning about a wide range of alternative modalities and the importance of supporting not only the body but the mind and spirit as well. This was also fueled by travels to East Africa, especially in Kenya where I support a learning center in the slum of Kawangware. It became incredibly obvious that because so many couldn’t afford health care from the traditional system they would seek it through other modalities, in some cases this was herbs and physical manipulation but it always included mental and emotional support.
Over the past few years I have spent most of my summers in my garden and hiking through the woods. I then started wild harvesting for my own use, which lead to sharing with friends and family, and slowly my interests have grown deeper. After exploring local herbalists that may be able to help me supply plants for my gardens I met Amanda Howe and learnt about PRC. The more I explored herbalism the more I fell in love with it. The integration of all aspects of wellness along with the deep connection to earth and nature made me realize that this would be a perfect career choice for me. I am currently in the Home Herbalist course and look to start a small company herbal products while I transition out of my current job. Eventually, I plan to do the full phytotherapy diploma.