We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Nicole Castagneto. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Nicole below.
Nicole, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Looking back, do you think you started your business at the right time? Do you wish you had started sooner or later
I don’t believe in questions if I should have waited or if I should have started sooner. This belief can be limiting and allow doubt. I believe in the now I will show up with all the vigor and fire I have. I will always wish I could know more, have more resources and wish be in the right location, but with that belief I won’t think outside the box. I want to see the environment and honor the place I’m at that developed and created what it is I’m offering.
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.
Plant Forward Chef/ Herbalist
Hosts Life Style Cleanses @ https://www.findfoodandflow.com
Current Chef at Authentic Living Heartland center for Spiritual Activator & Manifest With Mandy
Co-Owner of “Herb It Up’ a lifestyle herbal broth & tea line. Helping to nourish the mind & body with the power of plants.
www.herbitup.com
Every artist has a unique story
Dream it.
My journey really began as a highly stressed and overworked New Yorker originally pursuing a career in fashion. After years of overworking my body and mind, I decided to ‘feed’ my soul with the world of food.
I grew up in an Italian family that believes that dinner is not just a time to nourish one’s body but a time to reconnect with family and friends. To this day we still all gather in the kitchen creating and inspiring each other collaborating communally and sharing what we have united to create. And despite our differences, we all seem at peace when eating and celebrating a meal together.
Moving from NYC to Austin for a restaurant consulting position, I soon meet my soulmate (aka husband) whom I believe shed some light on the choices I make with my fork and the responsibility I have to be an influencer in the kitchen. I have always been a believer in quality while understanding the story behind the ingredients and the faraway lands they came from before the grocery store & chopping board created a bigger mission on my cooking career.
Attending the Matthew Kenney Culinary School in Los Angeles opened my eyes to the versatility of plants and the potential that plant-based living offers. I started focusing on being a solid plant-based cook simply because I wanted people to experience the incredible versatility and explosive flavors one can taste from this earth’s flora.
Furthering my understanding of the plant world, I wanted not only to feed but nourish more profoundly. I attended the Wildflower Herb School by Nicole Telk with a desire to create approachable food with restorative and or adaptogenic properties. I have learned and continue to learn how I can rewild recipes.
We’d love to hear the story of how you turned a side-hustle into a something much bigger.
The journey of ‘Herb It Up’ felt so natural, evolving from a small side hustle driven by demand rather than by predicting people’s needs. As an herbalist/chef running the culinary operations at a retreat center for those learning to heal themselves and others, I found that amidst the shifting energy, I was able to utilize my skills. Our heart connecting herbal brew is grounding, calming & deepened ones practice, while our herbal broths incorporated into soups, stews, dressings, and more nourish their adrenals, nervous system & replenished depleted energy. Guests were drawn to the benefits and consistently expressed how supported and nourished they felt upon leaving.
With the desire to further nourish the center, where I was serving, I was encouraged to offer a product for our participants to take home. This was the beginning of Herb It Up, as I began selling old-school brown bags filled with medicinal-grade herbs sourced within the USA. As we received requests from clients’ friends and heard about the positive results, along with repeat orders, I knew it was the green light to expand.
I would say that this brand is now in its second chapter! We are focused on personal engagement, customer results, and smaller, more boutique stores and shops. Managing our growth is important to us, as it ensures that our product remains true to its values and maintains its quality. A key milestone for us was feeling confident in our supply chain, allowing us to grow to a certain capacity.
I believe that the majority of our exciting milestones are just around the corner!
What’s been the best source of new clients for you?
Client Aquasistians has multiple approaches, and my personal favorite is grassroots. Our product has a moderate learning curve, and requires a certain level of trust. In a market with so much information and so many health and wellness promises, it has become overwhelming for consumers. I make an effort to conduct pop-up tastings and to offer our products at smaller, more intimate events that are relevant to our target market. For example, we have offered our herbal brew as a welcome beverage at small women’s pre- and postpartum meet-ups, or our ‘Hug in a Cup’ as a beverage offering before a Yoga Nidra class. We believe there is a beautiful opportunity to connect in a more intimate and specific manner. It certainly requires more effort and time, but connecting with a client in a space of personal growth, where they are seeking information, is incredibly valuable. You become part of their journey, and no amount of money can replace that.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.herbitup.com
- Instagram: @herbitupnow
Image Credits
Aurelie Slegers Photography & Films 970.708.2484 www.aurelieslegers.com