We were lucky to catch up with Jessica Gibson recently and have shared our conversation below.

Jessica, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. How did you come up with the idea for your business?

It’s slightly complicated. I have had “Handmade Herbology” for over 5 years now. It was always on the back burner and I worked full time in the restaurant and then farming industries. Growing herbs and foraging on the side and turning botanicals into skincare and other folk herbal remedies.

I left the city in 2021, and found odd jobs in the valley (Ottawa valley) and last year I gave up working for others and gave Handmade Herbology my all. I did a full season of farmers markets and other market type events.

Last fall I was enrolled in a program. Called Renfrew County Starter Company Plus, which helps businesses get off the ground, and offers coaching with different specialists, for different needs, such as business lawyers, accountants, insurance people, etc. We had 8 weeks to cover a lot of material and come up with a business plan, and at the end of it, if we chose we could pitch for a grant.

I had my business plan handed in, and my goal was to renovate a 1969 airstream on my property, and turn it into a workshop space and commercial kitchen. I wanted to host people on the land and teach them about folk herbalism and remedies, foraging, and plant medicine in general. I live off grid and have no amenities, so I was always outsourcing a place to create. I used to rent the community kitchen in Killaloe to make my culinary and skincare products.

I was en route to a market in Maynooth for Samhain, and drove past a friend’s vacant commercial building. I sent her a message to find out how much they were charging rent. It was reasonable. I figured I could use the space as my workshop and inspected kitchen and worst case scenario just go to markets from there. I contacted my business coach from the program, and she gave me a weekend extension to incorporate the commercial space into my business plan. I was awarded one of the top amounts of grants totaling $5000, to help me with my start up fees.

The building was a 2 story log cabin built in the 1800s. With a few small renovations, the kitchen would be ready to use. The two floors of retail space would have been impossible to fill with just Handmade Herbology products, and that’s how Golden Gatherings was born.

Named for the town in which the shop is located, Golden Lake, and a place to gather, in community, and to support individuals and small businesses in the vicinity. It became a local “farmers” market store and green grocer. We have over 100 local vendors under our roof, and have become a one stop shop of local farmers, food producers, artisans and makers.

It has become a space to showcase the people/businesses that in my humble opinion are doing things right, who practice regenerative agriculture, grow organically, and who create in an eco-conscious way with sustainability in mind.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

Handmade Herbology was created by Jessica Gibson out of passion for natural products and her drive towards a sustainable future. With over two decades of experience working as a professional in the casual fine dining service industry, she was longing for change. Jessica embarked upon her journey into Herbalism almost a decade ago. She began her studies under the late Judy Henry of Judy’s Organic Herbs. Judy’s insights about the plants and their lessons opened up a whole new world of plant medicine and spirituality. Jessica has since added to her repertoire of this realm by studying with local healers such as Pete Bernard of Pikwakanagan to learn about Algonquin Shamanism and Steven Martyn of Sacred Gardener School, in Golden Lake, who teaches a back to the land model and a way of life. Her travels abroad have also been centered around plant medicine and shamanism. Many of the ingredients she uses in her creations come from these travels, supporting the local healers and communities from which they come. Jessica does her absolute best to source, grow and wildcraft her ingredients with the highest reverence for nature, which she believes is an integral part of being interconnected with all things. Her experience managing restaurants has given her a solid foundation and work ethic that drives her levels of productivity and high levels of customer service expertise. Her background in herbalism, combined with her passion and drive, ensures that Handmade Herbology maintains a deep connection to traditional plant wisdom while growing into a successful, scalable business.

Golden Gatherings was born mostly from a need to fill a retail space. To gather like minded individuals and businesses under the same roof and offer an outlet of sales for them. A market store open 6 days a week. Being in the restaurant industry and then farming industry, and farmers market circuit and such has created the foundation necessary for Jessica to connect and source some incredible products. Logistics are probably the greatest challenge when dealing with the local economy, and her networking skills have proven quite useful. It has become a hub for those who want to support the local community and make a difference in our world designed for convenience and consumption.

How about pivoting – can you share the story of a time you’ve had to pivot?

I love the term pivot. I think it’s such an important trait, to be able to pivot.
I am very solution oriented, and when something comes up that is out of your control, you simply need to pivot. Change your perspective slightly, focus on the end goal and the solution often presents itself.

I remember when I was first trying to build on the land I steward, I had hired a local contractor to excavate and clear some land. I needed an area to drop a shed that I was going to convert into a space to stay in. He was great, and did good work, when he showed up, which ended up being not very often. I was dealing with deadlines, and coordinating multiple contractors and jobs. The shed was set to arrive in less than 2 weeks, I gave him a 9 day extension for his original deadline and he showed up for none of them. I had to pivot, and fast.

I drove down the road and introduced myself to my neighbour, who runs a mechanic shop and has all sorts of machinery. Turns out my contractor used to work for him and had a hard time showing up there as well.

My neighbour completed all the work in 3 days, ended up costing me less, and was so incredibly efficient. He’s now my regular mechanic, and has hooked me up with many other people who have come in handy over the years. He even came and fixed a friend’s flat tire right on my property.

I think pivoting is one of my greatest strengths in business as well. We all know that “shit happens” and there is no sense getting mad about it, or taking things personally. I am of the belief that everything happens for a reason. When you are dealing with such a small supply chain via the local economy, you have to expect that things won’t go as expected 100% of the time. Being able to pivot is a game changer. Highly recommend. :)

Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?

This ties into the logistics of a business such as Golden Gatherings. Being host to over 100 local vendors. And many that are outside of the Ottawa Valley, and don’t deliver.

I drive to Ottawa weekly to collect orders for fresh organic produce, grass fed meat and organic dairy to name a few. These are things that have expiry dates and must be sold fresh. (Aside from the meat for the freezer.)

I have utilized my connections in the farming industry to streamline the logistics.

I have a dear friend, Kalen, who operates Field Trip Farm, and is my fridge delivery hub in the city. Milk, eggs, flour, and a few other suppliers deliver to the farm and they store my orders in their fridge until I come in and scoop them up. I also have suppliers that bring orders to Kalen at the Ottawa farmers market, and then she gets them back to the farm for me to pick up.

Amber of Arc Acres farm is my freezer version of the above. I get dog bones, and other game meat delivered to her freezer, and she is my source for organic pork and grass fed beef.

I also have friends Chantel and David who own a store called Around the Block Butcher and Market who are my delivery location for flatbread pizzas that I can barely keep stocked, as well as I stock their own sausage rolls in one of the freezers.

While I make the trip to Field Trip Farm weekly, I go to the others as needed.

I also pick up fresh organic veggies from Terramor farm in Burnstown on my way back from Ottawa.

This on top of being open 6 days a week and often the only employee in the shop. The store closes at 4 on Sundays and I drive to Ottawa then to collect all the things.

Although this is a lot to take on, I find it worth it to have the quality of product that these businesses offer, and to be able to offer to my customers. I think one has to be resilient to take on the logistics of this endeavour. :)

Contact Info:

• Website: www.handmadeherbology.love and www.goldengatherings.ca
• Instagram: Goldengatherings_goldenlake & handmadeherbology
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/1bBBaSFh9B/?mibextid=wwXIfr

Image Credits

Hoping to find some better pics for you.