Jessie Belden

I am a loving, fiery, free-thinking human. Mother of four. Loyal friend and lover. As a small child, I always felt most at home in nature - most children do when left to their own devices. My first herbal experiences that I can remember were in preschool, collecting plants, flowers, stones, and stirring up my concoctions with sticks. I still work very much in that way.

My first herbal ally was Cedar. I spent most of my formative years in the woods of my backyard alone. Imagination running wild. In high school, Environmental Science class, we did a unit on “how to use a plant key,” and I bought my first plant ID book. My herbal medicine journey then spiraled out from there, primarily in learning to identify local edible plants. In the autumn of 2009, I began my studies with Rosemary Gladstar and Sage Mountain. This completely colored my world then and now. I learned the art and science of working with clients, crafting herbal body care products, and the magic of making medicine.

I then began my own herbal product line called “LoveStrong Apothecary,” which later morphed into Herban Vagabond Apothecary. In the fall of 2012, I began apprenticing under previous Medicine Tree owner and acupuncturist, Dina Goodwill. I apprenticed with her up until buying The Medicine Tree Herbal Pharmacy from her in the summer of 2017.

In 2014, I began facilitating the Herban Roots Apprenticeship, which is a 6-month foundational herbalism intensive. I have found my calling in this branch of teaching that invites deeper connection with both plants and people. I have studied with and been wildly inspired by herbalists; Jim McDonald, Kiva Rose, Matthew Wood, Stephen Buhner, Lise Wolff, Paul Bergner, Darcy Blue, and Robin Rose Bennett to name a few. My personal brand of herbal medicine work is one part community herbalist, two parts medicine maker, a dash of herbal clinician, and a whole lot of love and magic.

If you are interested in working with a grounded and passionate herbalist, having a custom medicinal formulation or body product made, or want to learn more about Flower Folk Apothecary or my Herban Roots Apprenticeship, let’s schedule a consult and connect!