We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Jeannette Mueller. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Jeannette below.

Alright, Jeannette thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. How’s you first get into your field – what was your first job in this field?

Almost everything I’ve done in my professional life has come about from bumping or stumbling into and saying yes to the intuitive curiosity. After struggling with mental and physical health I pursued my studies in nutrition, herbalism and regenerative food systems- while working with clients as a coach I stumbled into edible landscape design while in conversation with someone at the farmers market.
After installing and growing vegetables for clients for two years I was once again invited to cook for a client who had some health concerns. After realizing I had a gift for understanding flavors and cooking- I put a ad out on Craigslist and forgot about it.
A month later my clients assistant reached out and I’ve been cooking for them during the summer for the last 7 years.
In the “off months” I traveled, cheffed, hosted retreats and worked consulting clients. My biggest lesson has been to trust my intuition, and be open to invitations- strangely the more I push the more resistance there seems to be in my work.
Follow your bliss and the doors will open in the strangest ways.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

I am a multi passionate creator combining my love of local food, soil health, mental/physical wellness, herbalism, astrology, psychology, and cultivating a relationship to nature. In my teens and early 20s I struggled with depression, disordered eating, and digestive issues.
After a years of treatment in western medical model without improvement in my wellbeing – I decided I’d find a way to heal on my own.
I went to school for nutrition and psychology, but the most healing revelation I had was growing my first food garden and coming back into a deep intimacy with nature.
Over the years my practice has shifted and changed along with me. What I teach and who I guide has been shaped by my challenges and the perseverance I’ve had to develop to heal and integrate into more and more wholeness.
Developing a keen sense of curiosity, play and discovery into my work has been the greatest shift.
Turning challenge into opportunity for inner adventure and outer exploration.
Self-realization through nurturing our greatest potential for wellness.

Are there any books, videos, essays or other resources that have significantly impacted your management and entrepreneurial thinking and philosophy?

Sooo many! Gaias Garden was the first permaculture book I read and although it is a book meant for landscape stewardship- it shifted my perspective on everything in life. All things are interconnected, and interdependent for life. Diversity is what creates both vitality and resilience in an ecosystem whether that be your garden, your own body, a business, school or city. I could go on… But also anything by Seth Godin- The Practice being one of my favorites. Seth talks and teaches about finding your passion, understanding your uniqueness and mastering your genius. Like permaculture he teaches to dehomogenize yourself, find meaning in what you do and do the work that is needed by the world.

What’s a lesson you had to unlearn and what’s the backstory?

Religious trauma that humans are inherently evil haha. Just kidding, but kind of… I think one of the greatest lessons I’m still unlearning is that I have to have a 5 year plan, or know what I’m “going to be when I grow up”. I could have never envisioned what I’m doing now 10 or even 3 years ago. I had to learn adaptability, surrendering to the process and a lot of experimenting. Failure is your friend. Mistakes are information for mastery, perfectionism only creates procrastination.

Contact Info:

• Website: Www.nourishingroots.com, www.nettlesamdrose.com
• Instagram: @nourishing.roots

Image Credits
Richard Evans