We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Meghan Henshaw a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Meghan, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Looking back at internships and apprenticeships can be interesting, because there is so much variety in people’s experiences – and often those experiences inform our own leadership style. Do you have an interesting story from that stage of your career that you can share with us?

In my early twenties, I traveled to rural Norway to volunteer on a small organic farm. My traveling partner and I took a train to Oslo then other trains as far north as we could. At the last train stop, we hitch-hiked across the highest mountain pass in western Europe and got dropped off at this tiny subsistence farm that was right next to the aquamarine waters of the fjord. While I was there, I learned so many practical skills like how to stack and cure firewood, card and spin wool, take care of meat rabbits and chickens, and harvest hay for the horses with just a scythe. The deeper lessons that stuck with me were about resiliency, self-sufficiency, connecting with others, and how to create a nourishing home with minimal monetary resources and a plethora of outdoor space.

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 have been interested in medicinal plants since I interned with a large herbal company in Oregon in my early twenties. That interested grew and I eventually completed a degree in herbal science in Seattle, Washington and a masters degree in England. I created Ocotillo Herbals in 2013 and my business has acted as an umbrella for the many different facets of my work. While I specialize in therapeutic bodywork and custom herbal formulations that supports an individual’s optimal health and wellness, I also teach local classes and grow many of the plants I use in my herbal formulas. With my background in conservation, sustainability, and agriculture, I am very mindful of sustainable and equitable sourcing for the herbs that I use and incorporate plants that flourish in the midwest region as often as possible. I’m most proud of the integrity and curiosity that I bring to my work-it helps me to creatively address each client’s health needs and adapt my approach as needed. I am constantly learning new information through clinical studies and connecting with other health professionals so that I may pass along this information to my clients so that they have a team of quality healthcare practitioners on their side as they navigate health challenges.

Do you think you’d choose a different profession or specialty if you were starting now?

Yes, definitely. There is so much great information about the traditional use of medicinal plants that is being supported by scientific studies-it’s an exciting time to be an herbalist. There are a plethora of amazing teachers out there and many people are curious about using herbs for wellness and vitality.

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

Woke Without the Work, a webinar by Amanda David and mandana boushee https://courses.rootworkherbals.com/courses/woke-without-the-work-test

As I white herbalist, its especially important that I recognize the long history of appropriation within my industry. This course helped me to understand how I continue to benefit from systems of oppression specifically in the context of herbalism. To this day, the lessons I learned in this course informs how I speak about herbs especially with deep roots in cultures beyond my own.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.ocotilloherbals.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ocotilloherbals/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/meghan-henshaw-69107353/

Image Credits
Gary Dangel (last image)