Leslie is a fitness instructor, artist and holistic lifestyle advocate that resides in Brooklyn. Earlier this fall she packed up her bags and headed to Oregon for a two and a half month intensive herbaculture internship at an organic farm in the Siskiyou Mountains.
I’ve been following her along on her journey via instagram, where she shares really inspiring stories and information learned from her time there (that’s also really giving me the urge to get my hands outside in the dirt).
Here we chatted a bit about her passion for plants, her favourite herb allies, and what life on the farm has taught her.
How did you first discover your passion for plants?
As long as I can remember I have held our green friends in high regard, my first plant memory was at age 4 when I grew a marigold from a seed in my sandbox pail, watering it and relishing in the responsibility of nurture and growth. Though I definitely was not born with a green thumb, (I have been a questionable plant mom, though getting much better) I tried my hand with a collaborative garden this past summer. Funny enough, what really drew me to the plant world was my move to New York City. Originally from Colorado, I had always taken the grassy, green meadows and tall mountains for granted—stripped of the natural world in the big city I felt a deep calling within me to really get back to nature at every opportunity. Through this desire, I eventually forged a relationship with herbs and plant medicine.
Can you tell us about your Herbaculture internship?
I am currently participating in the Herbaculture Internship at Herb Pharm, a program I cannot speak more highly of. We live, work and have classes on the farm. Not only am I learning an incredible amount about herbalism/holistic health practices and medicine making, we are also working on the farm cultivating, seeding, and processing the herbs. Meeting many of these herbs face to face for the first time, this experience has served as an opportunity to completely integrate in this world of plant healing. Weeding rows of skullcap or mullein and watching the early Oregon sun burn bright orange over the Siskiyou Mountains, my hands in the sweet earth, geese flying south above my head, has been one of the most wholly satisfying and grounding experiences I have ever had.
Was this something you wanted to do for a while? Did you have to take any leaps of faith to make it happen?
I desired to work on a farm of some kind for a few years now, more of an idealized day dream and means of escape from frenetic city life I never really had a clear picture of how that might manifest. I often thought of WWOOFing or WorkAway, but for some reason the time never felt right and I never applied. I truly feel that the plants called out to me as I stumbled onto the Herbaculture Internship application via some very random google searches fueled mostly by a desire to find an integrative herb school. I think the biggest leap of faith was trusting that the universe would provide me with enough money to support myself while being here (which it did) and also trusting that this program would be a stepping stone towards clarity to my next steps in life (which is has).
What’s a typical day like for you?
I wake up a 5:30am, write in my journal/stretch or just eat breakfast. The work day begins at 7am, the activities of the day unknown until the staff/intern circle up each morning. From there our day can consist of weeding, planting, harvesting roots, flowers or leaves, washing and chopping roots or helping out on the landscape team. Work ends at 2:30pm, at that point I’ll either harvest herbs for medicine making or go collapse in the grass and soak up some sun. We sit down to family dinner usually followed by class 3-4 evenings a night. The nights I do not have class I hang out with my friends in the house or process the herbs I’ve collected to make a tincture, oil or salve with.
What has been your biggest life lesson there so far?
Deeply establishing my connection to the earth— spending time communing with the plants, asking permission to harvest and truly waiting for an answer, even if it’s no. I’ve realized the most fundamental truth is having a reciprocity with the natural world. The plants take care of us and therefore it is our responsibility to take care of them. There is nothing of greater importance than my relationship with nature.
Your favourite herb(s) and why?
Nettles have been a long standing plant ally, I have really been able to spend time watching her grow and getting to know her as she pops up all over the farm. She was the first herb I incorporated into my daily life. Nettles are nutritive-dense with the minerals we’re often lacking. Nettles encourage the growth of healthy hair, skin and nails and support healthy circulation. Nettles detoxify the body and help alleviate pain from arthritis. I drink nettles during season change or when I’m feeling energetically and emotionally frayed and I really feel her build me back up. After one too many alcoholic beverages I have called on nettles the morning after to combat a headache. She has prickly leaves full of formic acid, making her the healer that demands respect. I think she’s the best life coach you could ask for.
Got any tips or tricks for us?
Nettle tea forever. Write 3 pages in your journal everyday—even if you have nothing to say, it’s a powerful way to access your intuition and inner voice. Plantain makes a wonderful addition to homemade toothpaste. Add a little salt and lemon juice to your water for added electrolytes and absorption!
Are you mostly plastic free? What inspired you to do this?
I am mindful of every piece of plastic I consume, but I am not plastic free. Often avoiding plastic is about planning ahead—carrying a reusable vessel (glass jars are great for all kinds of beverages), a spoon and/or fork and a tote bag are fantastic accessories to carry on a daily basis that can make a huge impact on plastic consumption. I do my very best to opt out of one-time-use items such as grocery bags, plastic cutlery, cups, straws, etc. Buying whole foods and cooking for myself has also been a great mechanism for plastic reduction. My best friend went completely trash free a few years ago and her actions have played a huge part in my journey to living more environmentally conscious. Nurturing my connection with nature has organically fostered a sense of duty towards maintaining its health. I’m not perfect at reducing my plastic consumption but I try my best!
Who inspires you and why?
I am inspired by those who hear their calling and follow it, even if that calling comes from a place of ambiguity and the path is unclear. I’ve been very into Frida Kahlo since visiting Casa Azul in Mexico City this past July. I am captivated by the embodiment of her incredible physical and mental struggles through her art and her desire to continue making work through it all. As a fellow self-taught female artist, I feel deeply inspired to continue making work that I am called to regardless of formal training or a clear direction.
What is your best advice for loving yourself?
Be your own mother. Loving yourself unconditionally means combating disappointment with self-grace. When I catch myself in a bout of negative self talk I think, would my mother/best friend/lover/sister ever say these things to me? Rather than kick myself when I’m down, I try to channel that motherly love; close my eyes and say aloud, “you did the best you could kid”. Give yourself recognition, validate your efforts. Be patient, be kind and be your own advocate.
Has learning to accept yourself been a journey for you or has it come naturally?
Accepting myself is a constant battle I resume every single day; self acceptance takes on a different form at any given moment. It may look like acknowledging a lingering anxiety without judgement, or forgoing a project on behalf of self care. It may be admitting a weakness or apologizing to myself for setting unfair expectations. It may be sending the reflection of my naked body in the mirror appreciation for its strength and vitality rather than criticism.
What would you tell your younger self?
Seeking for the answers outwardly is only going to make everything more confusing and murky. Trust your gut, you know more than you think you do.
What’s next for you?
Oh gosh, I wish I knew! I feel a wind of change coming in 2019, though I have no idea which direction that wind blows. I’m doing my best to trust right now and see where I’m called!
