We were lucky to catch up with Rachel Nelson recently and have shared our conversation below.

Rachel, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Are you happier as a business owner? Do you sometimes think about what it would be like to just have a regular job?

I came to be a business owner a little later in life. During my teens and twenties I always worked a regular job. I dreamed of having my own business and being my own boss. I wanted to lice life on my own clock. I started my business in November of 2011 but still at that time was working a regular job as well. It took me some time before I took the ‘leap’ to doing my own work completely. Now I am my own boss and I wouldn’t change it for the world.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

As a young human I was always immersed in nature. Growing up in rural Ohio I experienced the earth’s changing seasons, the birds migrating, Wild Carrot by the way side and the dandelions in our yard.

I didn’t know all those years ago that these plants I loved to be around could be used for medicine and wellness.

Like most folks I grew up and pondered what I wanted to do as an adult. It wasn’t until, in my early twenties, I got pregnant with my one and only son that something inside me shifted and I realized I wanted to study plants and their medicinal properties.

I started attending school in Oregon at the American College of Healthcare Sciences. After that I relocated to Northern California and apprenticed with Kathi Keville in Grass Valley. I have furthered my studies in various ways over the years because in the field of herbal medicine and plants there is always more to learn! I self study Ayurveda, the ancient health system of India as it is apart of my cultural heritage. This adds so much richness to all I do with plants and has taught me so much about the human body.

With all that learning under my belt I started Moon Wise Herbals, a natural herbal products company. I focus on my bioregion for the plants I use and I wild harvest many plants for my products. Product batches are kept small and are hand made to keep them potent and magickal. Our medicines are slow medicines and have been made with much love and intention. Our food and medicine literally is growing at our feet! I find great joy in curating these plants into fresh products for beauty, medicine and magick.

Apart from making products I also work one on one with people to help them with and through their health concerns. I truly believe that plants have the abilities to heal and deeply nourish us without all the side affects of most allopathic medicines. Plants create lasting health while most allopathic medicines are just masking symptoms and creating new ones.

Deep healing and true nourishment are much needed today and I love to teach that the botanicals growing around us have just what we need.

Can you talk to us about how your funded your business?

From the beginning I knew I didn’t want to go into debt to start my business. I know that there are small business loans for people like me but I really set my intention to grow a business starting small and using funds that I had.

Being a single mother from the age my son was 5 I decided to use a portion of my tax returns from my regular job to fund my business.

Every year I invested a little from my tax returns and slowly built up my business.

I loved doing it this way. It worked well for me. I know others may want more robust growth but I was ok with doing it slow as I raised my son.

Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?

In November of 2018 the small quiet Northern California town I lived in was swept up by wild fire. It was truly a devastating experience and I lost 99% of my belongings and since at that time I was curating my small home baes business, I lost all of that as well.

This was such a pivotal moment in my life. I decided after this that since fire changed so much in my life I’d change the rest. I quit my job and decided to go all in on a business that just burned down.

I took some time to really sit with the feelings of having almost no possessions, of losing almost all of my childhood trinkets, all of my son’s baby clothes and blankets. All of it was gone and as I grieved I was surprised to also find a quiet peace and a great lightness at not having much responsibility at that time.

But I had new convictions as well. I whole heartedly wanted to pursue being a business owner and no longer wished to work for others. I wanted to make the things I’d been working towards and dreaming about a reality.

So slowly again, I built my business back up to what it is today. I am fully in business for myself and even scaling up my batches a bit!

I spend my time in Nature, wild harvesting plants. I am continually studying botany, Ayurveda and medical astrology. I love the markets and community pop-ups I get to participate in. I also offer all of my wares online for those who wish to shop in that way.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.moonwiseherbals.com
• Instagram: @moonwiseherbals
• Facebook: @moonwiseherbals

Image Credits
Rachel Nelson