We were lucky to catch up with Amber Wheeler-elis recently and have shared our conversation below.
Amber, appreciate you joining us today. We’d love to have you retell us the story behind how you came up with the idea for your business, I think our audience would really enjoy hearing the backstory.
The idea for Nekkid Essentials was born from a deeply personal journey—one of healing, reconnection, and a desire to give back in a way that felt truly meaningful.
It all started during a season of personal transformation during Covid,when life felt overwhelming and chaotic. As a mom of 3 children life was rapidly changing and the scarcity of grocery store shelves became an immediate reality check when it came to food supply.I found myself craving simplicity—stripping back the noise, the toxins, and the stress, and returning to the basics. That’s where the name Nekkid Essentials comes from. Going back to the purest, rawest, most essential forms of wellness, straight from the earth.
As I leaned into herbalism and natural healing in my early 20’s, I began to understand that wellness wasn’t just personal—it was deeply intertwined with the health of the earth and the strength of the community around us. The more I learned about sustainability, permaculture, and the wisdom our ancestors held, the more I felt a calling to share. Not just remedies, but *resources*. Not just products, but *principles*.
That’s when the Abundance Basket was born. It was my first step outside of personal healing and into community care. I wanted to share the excess harvest from my garden—nourishing foods, healing herbs, and handmade essentials with anyone and everyone I cloud in my community REGARDLESS of financial status. I always felt like you dont have to be on hards times to receive quality foods & products and in the same token, people experiencing hards times shouldn’t have to feel subjected to accepting just anything for food and health options. Healthy foods should not be seen as a luxury but instead as a human right. This mission wasn’t just about giving; it was about teaching. Each basket became a tool for empowerment, holding a reflection of sustainability principles: growing in harmony with the land, sharing surplus, and giving back to the earth that sustains us.
The Abundance Basket was inspired by the core values of permaculture:
🌿 Earth Care: Growing food organically, regeneratively, and with respect for nature’s cycles.
🌱 People Care: Sharing wellness resources with those in need while empowering others to grow their own.
🍂 Fair Share: Distributing surplus from the garden, ensuring that no abundance goes to waste.
What started as a small, heartfelt project—offering baskets of fresh herbs, garden produce, and body care items, quickly grew into something more powerful. People weren’t just receiving baskets; they were learning how to grow, heal, and reconnect with the land themselves. Seeing families light up when they received herbs they could use for wellness or food grown with love fueled my belief that this was more than just a business…it was a movement!
I knew this was a worthwhile path because it felt “needed”. Too many people are disconnected from the land, relying on chemical-laden products and processed foods while the knowledge of how to grow and heal naturally fades. But Nekkid Essentials became my way of bringing that knowledge back through holistic products, garden consultations, and sharing wisdom on how to live in balance with nature.
What excites me most is the vision of impact: families growing their own food, children learning to identify herbs, and communities coming together through shared abundance. This is more than a business—it’s a commitment to healing, teaching, and regenerating both people and the earth.
That’s why I created Nekkid Essentials—to inspire, to educate, and to remind people that everything we need to thrive already exists in nature. 🌿
Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.
At the core of my business is the belief that true wellness begins with nature and community. My work bridges holistic health and sustainability by offering organic herbs, handmade body products, and herbal guides designed to empower people with the tools they need to care for themselves naturally. I also offer garden consultations where I help clients learn how to grow their own food and herbs while embracing permaculture principles. This approach supports not just personal health but environmental regeneration, as I teach the importance of working with the land, rather than against it.
One of the most impactful ways I’ve connected with my community is through the Abundance Basket Initiative. This project started as a way to share surplus harvests from my homestead with families nearby while providing access to organic, nourishing foods and herbal remedies. It embodies the principles of sustainability—giving back, reducing waste, and ensuring that the earth’s gifts are shared equitably.
I’m most passionate about education and empowerment. My children’s book, “My First Plant Medicine”, was created to help young minds develop an early relationship with nature, learning to identify, grow, and use healing herbs. I believe when we teach the next generation these skills, we create a ripple effect of wellness, sustainability, and deeper respect for the earth.
What makes Nekkid Essentials unique is its holistic approach. By blending natural products, regenerative gardening practices, and hands-on education into a business model that prioritizes healing, both for individuals and the environment. My goal is not just to provide products but to inspire self-reliance, community, and a return to nature’s way. I’m committed to showing people that they can grow their own food, make their own remedies, and build healthier, more connected lives—one small step at a time.
What’s a lesson you had to unlearn and what’s the backstory?
A powerful lesson I had to unlearn was the belief that productivity equals worth. For a long time, I measured my value by how much I could do, how many tasks I could check off, how hard I was working, and how much I was accomplishing every day. Slowing down felt like failure, and resting made me feel guilty, as if I was wasting valuable time.
The turning point came when I fully embraced homesteading and herbalism. Nature has a way of teaching patience..plants don’t rush their growth, the seasons don’t hurry to change, and healing, both physically and emotionally, takes time. Working with the land made me realize that constant output isn’t healthy or sustainable.. Just like the earth rests in winter to prepare for spring’s abundance, I needed to honor my own cycles of rest and renewal.
I had to unlearn the idea that my worth was tied to how busy I appeared. Instead, I learned that true value comes from intention—from showing up with presence, creating with care, and making space for both growth and stillness. Now, I let the rhythm of nature guide my work, understanding that rest is not a pause from productivity but a necessary part of the cycle.
Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?
One of the most defining moments in my journey that taught me resilience was during the early days of establishing my homestead and herb farm. I had this beautiful vision like the ones you see all over social media of lush gardens, thriving herbs, and a space where I could create healing products while giving back to my community. But the reality was far from picture perfect in the beginning.
The first season was filled with challenges. Unpredictable weather, crops failing, pests overwhelming the garden, and the constant battle of learning how to work with the land instead of trying to control it. On top of that, balancing my personal life, business goals, and financial strain felt overwhelming at times. I remember standing in the middle of my garden one evening after losing several plants I had nurtured for weeks, questioning if I was cut out for this.
But resilience isn’t just about pushing through, it’s about adapting and learning. Instead of giving up, I stepped back and reflected on what the land was teaching me. I immersed myself deeper into permaculture practices, adjusted my planting methods, and learned how to build healthier soil. I realized that setbacks weren’t failures but opportunities to grow in knowledge and strength.
That season taught me that resilience is born from commitment—the ability to keep showing up, even when the results aren’t immediate. Now, when I see my thriving herb garden and the Abundance Baskets reaching families in my community, I’m reminded that trusting the process is essential! Staying rooted in your purpose, and having faith in the harvest, even when it feels far away will make it all worth it in the end.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.nekkidessentials.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nekkidessentials
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/nekkidessentials
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@nekkidessentials
