We recently connected with Joanette Gude and have shared our conversation below.
Alright, Joanette thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. If you had a defining moment that you feel really changed the trajectory of your career, we’d love to hear the story and details.
COVID!
The year 2020 was extremely trying as I did not feel comfortable for my daughter and I to take in any new vaccines. I was becoming more knowledgable of herbal medicine and decided to take our health into my own hands. I created a tea called the c*vid tea that combines 9 herbs together designed to boost your immune system. My daughter and I began drinking the tea daily in addition to other herbal remedies. Fast forward one year later, we were still drinking that tea and neither of us ever contracted covid. I decided to begin sharing the tea with family and friends and many of them used it to prevent the illness or to help treat it after contracted. Once I felt confident, I began creating other herbal remedies based off of this same concept. Now, in 2023 I have 10 herbal teas and 42 other remedies which include steams, soaks, dried herbs, prerolls and more! I have two gardens in my backyard that supply the large amount of herbs used in my remedies. I also participate in popup markets multiple times a month to meet new customers and supply the needs of returning ones. I absolutely appreciate being able to turn my fears into an herbal pharmacy that can help people feel better. Oh and we are still covid free!
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 certified herbalist through Cornell University’s Medicinal Plants Certificate program in addition to many other titles. however, this one has been in me for a long time. when i was 10 i dreamed of becoming a pharmacist because the one we had consulted with customers every visit and made you feel part of a community. my life ended up taking many different turns throughout the years but the calling never left.
i began growing herbs in 2009 in the backyard of my townhouse. i had a small 4’x4′ bricked garden where i ended up growing 10 different herbs! i began to take note of their smells and textures and became curious about them in regards to teas. that is where my journey along this path began. any time i had a cough or sniffle i would pick an herb, make a tea, and feel better. i realized i was healing myself! i began sharing teas and other herbal creations with close family and friends and they started feeling better too!
so now, here i am, spreading my love of herbs and knowledge as an herbal pharmacist. many of the herbs come from my private garden, JAH.K.C, which holds 30 herbs and vegetables during the summer growing season. i focus on a specific set of herbs based on my community’s needs. JAH.K.C is chemical and pesticide free. i use natural, edible methods to fertilize and protect my garden. otherwise, the rest of my products are sourced from local farms and businesses and are 100% organic. all teas, steams, and soaks are handmade with love and in good spirit upon order.
Other than training/knowledge, what do you think is most helpful for succeeding in your field?
It is most helpful for success in my field to ensure I take care of my health first! I have regular annual doctor’s visits so I can know my health numbers and how my body is responding to the environment. I also ensure my spiritual wellbeing is a priority. This is important because traditionally herbal medicine practices have always included a spiritual component be that prayer or clearing negative energies. So I ensure my physical, emotional and spiritual are in shape. I recently included personal training in my routine and have been able to create new remedies based on that tract of health care. Staying healthy and using my own remedies to me are most helpful!
Can you tell us about what’s worked well for you in terms of growing your clientele?
It has been most effective for me to be out in the community! This allows for me to know what others health issues are, how they deal with them, and what type of remedies they need. Many are interested in how they can heal and improve their health naturally so this allows for conversations where we share herbal knowledge and remedies. Pretty much every time I attend a local or out-of-town popup a new remedy is created based on that communities needs.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://baldflowerapothecaryllc.com/
- Instagram: @baldflowerapothecary
- Facebook: @baldflowerapothecary