The Elder Tree Podcast – Details, episodes & analysis

Melinda Norris, born and raised in the 70's in Melbourne (Narrn) suburbia, had a far from a typical suburban upbringing.

Both her parents, who were immigrants to Australia, kept their family traditions, such as homesteading and growing their food;  we now know these practices as permaculture.

One very important tradition that held strong to in the family was caring at home for the young, and the old, and the dying.  

Having lived with the dying and attended as many funerals as christenings and weddings, Melinda has been attuned to this part of life for as long as she can remember.  

And having had a number of near death experiences herself, Melinda has a familiarity and reverence for the terrain and the journey that we all must take someday.

With a curious nature, she was destined for adventure and has lived a full life, exploring, creating, and travelling.

Professionally, Melinda is best known as a Festival and Event Producer, Arts Worker, and, more recently, a Tiny House Builder.

Today, she’s here to discuss a deeply personal topic that resonates with many—our relationship with death and dying.

She is a death Doula, a term that means helper, who facilitates, guides, and emotionally supports families. Melinda is a bridge to allay fears, communicate expectations, and gently guide individuals towards grace and peace during the dying journey.

Through stories and wisdom from her ongoing reverence for this profound subject, Melinda offers a unique perspective on a conversation increasingly present in the global collective.

SHOW NOTES:

For care and support regarding end of (this) life care, feel free to call Melinda Norris 0400 798 425

Resources / practical - GOVERNMENT

• QLD Public trustee: https://www.pt.qld.gov.au/ 

• The office Public Advocacy:  https://www.justice.qld.gov.au/public-advocate

• Government Age Care Commission:  https://www.agedcarequality.gov.au/ 

• Aged Care Guides: https://www.agedcareguide.com.au/information/what-about-complaints 

Resources / practical  - NON GOVERNMENT

• https://www.gentle-conversations.com/
• https://www.gatheredhere.com.au/
• https://tenderfunerals.com.au/ 
• https://held.org.au/ 
• https://www.willed.com.au/guides/living-wills-what-are-they-and-why-are-they-important/ 

Local meet up: Gentle ConversationsCommunity Conversations  about living and dying at Limberlost Nursery Stratford 1.30 pm on the 3rd Thursday of every month Leanne B: 0428 160 863  Leanne: 0407 277 385

Books & Films:

• Die Wise, Stephen Jenkinson https://orphanwisdom.com/

• Sacred Death Care, Dr Sarah Kerr  https://sacreddeathcare.com/ 

• On ScreenSBS:  The Last Goodbye - 3-part series with Ray Martin https://iview.abc.net.au/show/australian-story/series/2022/video/NC2202Q016S00 

• ABC Australian Story: A Community Undertaking: https://iview.abc.net.au/show/australian-story/series/2022/video/NC2202Q016S00 

**THE ELDER TREE TROVE PATREON COMMUNITY**

You can join our Patreon ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and gain a deeper connection to our podcast. Pay only $2 per week to have access to bonus and often exclusive resources and opportunities- plus support the Elder tree at the same time! 

To find out more about The Elder Tree visit the website at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.theeldertree.org⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and donate to the crowdfunding campaign ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

You can also follow The Elder Tree on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠sign up to the newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Find out more about this podcast and the presenters ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Get in touch with The Elder Tree at:  ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

The intro and outro song is "⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Sing for the Earth⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠" and was kindly donated by Chad Wilkins.  You can find Chad's music ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

In today's episode, I interview Dr. Jason Hawrelak who is a naturopath, herbalist, and nutritionist on Bundjalung country, and is one of the leading experts in the treatment of gastrointestinal conditions with natural medicines. He has nearly 20 years of clinical experience and a deep passion for gastrointestinal health and the gastrointestinal microbiota.

I met Jason at the beginning of this year at Marleen Herbs in Tasmania, with some other incredible inspirational herb folk who have been interviewed on this podcast like Greg Whitten, Sue Evans, and Nena Alaschewski, as well as Jason's partner Dawn Whitten, who I will be interviewing soon. Marleen herbs is run by Ronald, Marleen and Emma van de Winckel, who welcomed us all into their home and showed us their amazing farm which grows and makes all of the fresh plant tinctures for PPC herbs which are the only commercial suppliers of fresh plant tinctures in Australia.

It really was a great way to start off 2024, and I felt humbled and honoured to have the opportunity to spend time with these incredible people who have all had a big influence and impact on the Australian herbal medicine community and natural health industry. Jason purchased Goulds in Tasmania 17 years ago with Dawn, Greg, and their friends Belinda and Daniel Robson. Jason shares how he was inspired by his time working at Mullum herbals, to create a clinic in Hobart which offered over the counter consultations for low income earners. In this interview Jason also shares his journey of becoming a practitioner and specializing in gastrointestinal health and the human microbiota, and how healing his own chronic health conditions with natural medicine spurred him to want to help others.

Jason shares some of his preferred herbs that he uses in his practice, particularly for gut health and microbiome issues. He highlights the selectivity of certain herbs, such as pomegranate, garlic, Nigella sativa, and Bical skullcap, in targeting pathogenic bacteria while leaving beneficial ones intact.

In this episode Jason shares some great practical advise on how our listeners can take better care of our microbiome and finishes with some great wisdom about custodianship of our bodies.

Shownotes:

Probiotic Advisor:

https://www.facebook.com/probioticadvisor/

The Hawrelak Gut and Microbiome Clinic:

https://www.gouldsnaturalmedicine.com.au/dr-jason-hawrelak-gut-and-bicrobiome-team

Morre about Jason here:

https://www.gouldsnaturalmedicine.com.au/dr-jason-hawrelak

**THE ELDER TREE TROVE PATREON COMMUNITY**

You can join our Patreon ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and gain a deeper connection to our podcast. Pay only $2 per week to have access to bonus and often exclusive resources and opportunities- plus support the Elder tree at the same time! 

To find out more about The Elder Tree visit the website at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.theeldertree.org⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and donate to the crowdfunding campaign ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

You can also follow The Elder Tree on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠sign up to the newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Find out more about this podcast and the presenters ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Get in touch with The Elder Tree at:  ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

The intro and outro song is "⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Sing for the Earth⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠" and was kindly donated by Chad Wilkins.  You can find Chad's music ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

During this episode I chat and laugh with Cheryl Smith, a medicinal herb farmer and artisan distiller who balances a busy corporate role with a passion for regenerative agriculture and soil health. With a dedication to leaning into nature and country, Cheryl brings a unique perspective to the intersection of business and environmental holding.

Growing up in the city, Cheryl always noticed the Dandelions popping up in the cracks of the pavement, but it wasn’t until she moved onto the land and started observing herbs through the seasons that a deeper connection was formed. A spark was lit and Cheryl’s thirst for knowledge inspired her to begin studying herbal medicine, learning how to grow, harvest and make medicines. 

Cheryl and her husband Mike, an agronomist, are passionate about soil health and from very early on, Cheryl has been fascinated by the way the constituents of the herbs reflect the health of the soil. Cheryl and Mike hold the country at Solum on stunning Yaegl land, which provides ample opportunities for the profound lessons that Cheryl has discovered can be learnt through observation- watching, listening and absorbing is the medicine…an invitation to pause and reflect.

Like many of us, Cheryl has always prioritised others first, and it wasn’t until she experienced the illness that followed a tick bite that she was forced to slow down and listen to her body. It was at this time that herbs became hugely supportive and that self care became non negotiable. 

Our discussion of self care dives into the dynamics of how we’re raised and the patterns that form as a result of witnessing the way others look after themselves when we’re young- deep impressions that can be difficult to shift. 

Cheryl tells a beautiful story of Passionflower and her tendrils that reach out and envelop us during times of trauma and burn out.

Going deep with a single herb, forming strong relationships and a knowing and understanding of a herb on many levels is a great joy of Cheryl’s. She credits the work of Heidi Wedd for inspiring this way of working and interacting with plants. 

Towards the end of our chat, we hear Cheryl share her deep connection with Withania- a root medicine that is currently offering her an invitation to observe and a doorway to re-connecting with a lifelong passion for plant medicine. 

**CONNECT WITH CHERYL**

https://www.instagram.com/solumfarm/?hl=en

https://www.facebook.com/SolumFarm/

**CONNECT WITH JESS**

Book an appointment: https://app.acuityscheduling.com/schedule.php?owner=17239954

Buy handmade herbal products: https://jessbosscha-naturopath.square.site/

Join the waitlist for upcoming workshops and courses: https://linktr.ee/jessbosscha_naturopath

**THE ELDER TREE TROVE PATREON COMMUNITY**

You can join our Patreon ⁠⁠here⁠⁠ and gain a deeper connection to our podcast. Pay only $2 per week to have access to bonus and often exclusive resources and opportunities- plus support the Elder tree at the same time! 

To find out more about The Elder Tree visit the website at ⁠www.theeldertree.org⁠ and donate to the crowdfunding campaign ⁠here⁠.

You can also follow The Elder Tree on ⁠Facebook⁠ and ⁠Instagram⁠ and ⁠sign up to the newsletter⁠.

Find out more about this podcast and the presenters ⁠here⁠. Get in touch with The Elder Tree at:  ⁠[email protected]⁠

The intro and outro song is "⁠Sing for the Earth⁠" and was kindly donated by Chad Wilkins.  You can find Chad's music ⁠here⁠ and ⁠here⁠.

Join Taj Scicluna (Botanical Education) and Stephanie Hazel as they discuss bioregional herbalism and the way that working with plants through attention, ritual and gardening support us to belong ourselves back to the earth.

Taj shares touching personal stories of plant connection, family, life and death and you can find out all about her recent creative project: Ritual Herbalism.

For our Patreon members (and soon-to-be members), you are in for a special treat! Taj is gifting our members a free online workshop "Herbalism for the Darker Months.

Follow Taj on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/botanical_education/

Join Ritual Herbalism: https://botanicaleducation.thrivecart.com/ritual-herbalism/

Steve Cran is a Permaculture Aid veteran, teacher, social activist, climate change resilience specialist and a very handy guy to have around after a natural disaster. With a 30-year career in Permaculture, Steve has developed effective, sustainable, recovery solutions for communities affected by natural disasters, war, or long-term poverty.

Steve takes on the challenge of assisting people living on the edge of survival, to rebuild their communities. He has developed projects in war zones, post-disaster zones, poverty zones and many difficult where most people would not dare go.

Steve says “There is a lot written about so-called community development but in the field, most of it doesn’t work or it doesn’t last. Permaculture Aid gets real results by helping people restore their own community using local resources. They grow their way out of poverty. Conventional aid creates aid dependency. Permaculture Aid creates self-sufficiency and earth-repair simultaneously”.

This is a discussion of the people, places and projects Steve has supported throughout his career, and what is coming.

SHOW NOTES:

• Green Warriors Website
• Permaculture Design Course Poster Info
• Healing Guava Medicine and Using Guava Daily

To find out more about The Elder Tree visit the website at ⁠www.theeldertree.org⁠ and donate to the crowdfunding campaign ⁠here⁠. You can also follow The Elder Tree on ⁠Facebook⁠ and ⁠Instagram⁠ and ⁠sign up to the newsletter⁠. Find out more about this podcast and the presenters ⁠here⁠. Get in touch with The Elder Tree at:  ⁠[email protected]. ⁠

The intro and outro song is "⁠Sing for the Earth⁠" and was kindly donated by Chad Wilkins.  You can find Chad's music ⁠here⁠ and ⁠here⁠.

What if reconnecting with traditional knowledge could revolutionize prenatal, birth and postpartum care? Join us as we sit down with Sarah from Bridging Worlds Midwifery, a dedicated holistic home birth midwife from Far North Queensland, Australia, who has built a career around blending traditional midwifery practices with modern healthcare.

From supporting home births to teaching traditional methods globally, Sarah shares her unique insights into the importance of preventative measures for ensuring a smooth birth and postpartum period. Together, we explore the intricate balance between the old and the new, stressing the significance of historical wisdom in today's medicalized world. We discuss the challenges and benefits of practicing alternative methods within the conventional hospital system and the profound impact of stepping outside it to offer personalized, relationship-based care. Our conversation underscores the indispensable role of nutrition and herbal practices in preventing pregnancy-related complications and supporting both mothers and birth workers. In our deep dive into postpartum healing, Sarah opens up about traditional practices from Mexico and Guatemala, that aid in recovery from birth. We talk about the power of intentional nutrition, herbal plant baths, yoni steaming, and bodywork techniques such as the temezcal steam bath and "closing the bone" ceremonies.

This episode provides a holistic perspective on pregnancy and postpartum care, blending emotional, physical, and spiritual aspects to ensure long-term health and well-being for mothers. Join us for an enlightening discussion that is sure to offer valuable insights and practical advice for anyone passionate about traditional midwifery, herbal medicine, and holistic support during pregnancy and postpartum.

Sarah's links:
https://bwmidwife.com/
https://www.instagram.com/bridging_worlds_midwifery/
Upcoming Events:
https://bwmidwife.com/mentoring-for-birth-workers/
https://events.humanitix.com/host/bridging-worlds-midwifery

**THE ELDER TREE TROVE PATREON COMMUNITY**

You can join our Patreon ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and gain a deeper connection to our podcast. Pay only $2 per week to have access to bonus and often exclusive resources and opportunities- plus support the Elder tree at the same time! 

To find out more about The Elder Tree visit the website at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.theeldertree.org⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and donate to the crowdfunding campaign ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

You can also follow The Elder Tree on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠sign up to the newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Find out more about this podcast and the presenters ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Get in touch with The Elder Tree at:  ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

The intro and outro song is "⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Sing for the Earth⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠" and was kindly donated by Chad Wilkins.  You can find Chad's music ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Deanne Apostolou is a Medical Herbalist, Iridologist, educator and speaker, with over 28 years clinical experience.

She’s a founding member of Estuary Learning, a collaboration of practitioners and mentors dedicated to enriching and supporting the art of natural earth medicine.

Dee's also a mum of 3 adult children who have grown up with herbs and good nutrition. She  loves it when she  hears them spruiking the benefits of good food and a healthy lifestyle to their friends. Dee’s very passionate about her profession. It’s a lifestyle, not just a job, but that doesn’t mean she doesn't drink wine and eat chocolate. She loves helping people on their health journey and teaching students so they can spread the word even further. 

During our chat, we explore the idea that the concept of self care has become more ‘acceptable’ and we agree that there are many more conversations being had in this space now as compared to say 20 years ago. Dee and I look back at how the barriers to self care have shifted in this time and how our idea of self care and it’s necessity is a reflection of the society in which we find ourselves inhabiting. 

Dee is all about helping her clients to make small, manageable change to help support their health and we dive into the psychology around the motivation that accompanies the wins from these small changes and how this can be applied to our own consistency with self care. Dee shares a great tip that she uses for checking in with both her clients and herself to monitor progress and celebrate the small wins of being consist over an extended period.

Dee is an eloquent story teller and one of my favourite parts of this chat is her beautiful story of her morning walk through bushland with her pup, the kookaburras and rosella’s and the very special plant friends she greets along the way. 

We chat about the value of surrender and a good ol cry- Dee shares the science about why we feel so good after we fall in a heap.

One of Dee’s favourite allies in a crisis is the Bach Flower formula, Rescue Remedy- she shares the very special joy of her children reaching for this remedy of their own accord after years of having mumma help support them this way. And, she also shares a unique way that she incorporates Rescue Remedy with other allies…

Like most Herbalists, Dee found it impossible to share just one favourite herb, so we are lucky enough to have her share her wisdom on 3 of her favourites, including a lesser know ally- Rosehips.

**CONNECT WITH DEANNE**

The Nature of Health www.natureofhealth.com.au

Estuary Learning: https://www.estuarylearning.org.au/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thenatureofhealth/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/the_nature_of_health/

Email: [email protected]

**CONNECT WITH JESS**

Book an appointment: https://app.acuityscheduling.com/schedule.php?owner=17239954

Buy handmade herbal products: https://jessbosscha-naturopath.square.site/

Join the waitlist for upcoming workshops and courses: https://linktr.ee/jessbosscha_naturopath

**THE ELDER TREE TROVE PATREON COMMUNITY**

You can join our Patreon ⁠⁠here⁠⁠ and gain a deeper connection to our podcast. Pay only $2 per week to have access to bonus and often exclusive resources and opportunities- plus support the Elder tree at the same time! 

To find out more about The Elder Tree visit the website at ⁠www.theeldertree.org⁠ and donate to the crowdfunding campaign ⁠here⁠.

You can also follow The Elder Tree on ⁠Facebook⁠ and ⁠Instagram⁠ and ⁠sign up to the newsletter⁠.

Find out more about this podcast and the presenters ⁠here⁠. Get in touch with The Elder Tree at:  ⁠[email protected]⁠

The intro and outro song is "⁠Sing for the Earth⁠" and was kindly donated by Chad Wilkins.  You can find Chad's music ⁠here⁠ and ⁠here⁠.

This month, we do a special double episode with Nila Chandra, getting in to the specifics of how Nila uses herbs in ritual, magic and spell craft. She shares with Stephanie Hazel how to think of a spell as a sentence, using each herb you include in a ritual incense, tea, or potion as a different word of the sentence you are calling into being. They talk about magical properties of Blue Lily, Cacao, Chaparral, and even the humble pumpkin vine.

Follow Nila on https://www.instagram.com/wolfboneemporium/

Here you can buy her soon-to-be-released Witch-Fires and magical incenses. She is also available for consultation to help you create potent rituals and spells for particular purposes in your life, calling in change in the outer and inner worlds.

Annaliese is here to be part of the Regeneration - People and Planet and is the creative director of the Change Makers Permaculture Design Course (an empowering two-week immersion connecting people back into the living systems of life). She draws upon two decades of local-to-global exploration of our world, learning from plant people, eco-communities, and Permaculture pioneers about regenerative practices for land and people.

Annaliese calls people to be in greater service to Mumma Earth, supporting and refining their life purpose, hosting women’s circles, and DJ’s Ecstatic Dance sets; in so many ways, she shares her heartbeat amongst the community. 

In this conversation, Annaliese shares her experiences using plants in ceremonial spaces and the importance of reconnecting with nature and offering gratitude and prayer to the living systems around us - to learn and thrive.

She discusses in detail the many uses and benefits of comfrey, a versatile plant that can be used as a barrier function, bee fodder, and healing plant.

Some of her collaborations Include : 

• The Happy Herb Company, in community herbal education for 15 years
• Green Harvest Organic Gardening (Sunshine Coast) for 4 years, in horticulture, ethnobotany & propagation 
• Symbiosis Symposium with Dennis Mckenna, presenting and curating the event program. 
• Joining the editorial team for the Permaculture Design Notes book

CONNECT & SHOW NOTES:

• Website: https://www.changemakerspermaculture.com

• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/annaliese.hordern.7/

• Using Medicinal Herbs Workshop https://www.facebook.com/events/976581280648359/?ref=newsfeed

• Lush Women’s Regenerative Retreats https://www.lushregenerativeretreats.com

• Free Resource - “The Permaculture Design Notes” https://www.permaculturedesign.earth/permaculturedesignnotes

• Agua De Jamaica (Iced Hibiscus Tea) https://www.allrecipes.com/recipe/214366/agua-de-jamaica-hibiscus-water/

Today's interview is a great discussion with Cat Green from Everyday Empowered. Cat is a home herbalist and grassroots community herbal organiser and educator. She's passionate about making it easy -and normal - for people to make simple, effective herbal remedies at home.

She believes home herbalism is all about reclaiming our capacity to care for ourselves and our families, as well as reconnecting more deeply with the earth. Through Everyday Empowered, she offers a wide range of practical ways for people to learn about herbs - HerbFest, monthly workshops through the Herb Folk group, DIY Herbal Remedy Kits and online courses in collaboration with Heidi Merika (for more about Heidi Merika check out interview #9).

In this episode, Cat Green and Tatiana Dawn discuss subtropical herbalism. They explore the challenges and considerations of growing and harvesting plants in subtropical climates, as well as the importance of sourcing medicine locally. They also touch on the topics of ancestral connections to plants, the impact of colonization on herbal medicine, and the need for responsible and ethical practices in working with native plants.

The conversation emphasizes the importance of building relationships with plants and working with what grows abundantly in each specific region. The conversation explores the challenges and strategies of growing herbs in subtropical climates. The speakers discuss the need for trial and error to determine which plants grow best in different seasons and microclimates. They also touch on the importance of understanding tropical conditions and the specific issues that arise in these climates. The conversation highlights the need for a deeper connection with plants and the land, as well as the importance of community and knowledge sharing in herbal medicine.

Cat and Tatiana also discuss the upcoming Herb Fest, a community gathering focused on herbs and herbal medicine.

*SHOW NOTES*

Herbfest 18th June 2023:

https://everydayempowered.com.au/herbfest/

You can learn more about Cat, her upcoming offerings, HERBFEST, check out her blog posts and buy her herbal starter kits ⁠here⁠.

Or follow Cat on ⁠Instagram⁠ and ⁠Facebook⁠ to keep up to date with all of her offerings.

Check out a previous episode of the Elder Tree, where Cat was interviewed by Tatiana Dawn, founder of the Elder Tree:

⁠Episode 33: Building a Culture of Collaboration in the Herbal Community

She was also more recently interviewed by Jessyca Bosscha on the self-care with herbs segment:

Episode 48: Self care as a dynamic, seasonal, everyday practice

**THE ELDER TREE TROVE PATREON COMMUNITY**

You can join our Patreon ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and gain a deeper connection to our podcast. Pay only $2 per week to have access to bonus and often exclusive resources and opportunities- plus support the Elder tree at the same time! 

To find out more about The Elder Tree visit the website at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.theeldertree.org⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and donate to the crowdfunding campaign ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

You can also follow The Elder Tree on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠sign up to the newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Find out more about this podcast and the presenters ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Get in touch with The Elder Tree at:  ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

The intro and outro song is "⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Sing for the Earth⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠" and was kindly donated by Chad Wilkins.  You can find Chad's music ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.