Have you stopped into the Sweet Willow cafe for a bite lately? If not, come on down because you will absolutely love our quiche offerings! Our chef, Ray Quintas, has whipped up several flavors of quiche - mushroom, asparagus, leek, swiss chard, butternut squash hash, cheese, and broccoli. They have been a big hit so far! These are paired with either a side salad with fresh, organic greens and whatever other veggies we have from our local vendors - or our fresh fruit of the day.
We offer different varieties of protein bowls that are just chock full of organic veggies, with your choice of our own marinated tofu, tempeh or black beans for protein, and two homemade sauces (our Citrus Sauce and our Peanut Sauce). The number one sandwich has always been our TTLA (Tempeh, tomato, lettuces, avocado) - but Rayâs Black Bean Burger has been making a definite run for second place! Also, Ray has developed quite a talent for creating her own soups from our wonderful selection of veggies we obtain from Seasonal Harvest Coop - our source for local, organically grown vegetables. Ask her what she has available when you pop in.
As always, we have soups and some ready to go meals in the freezer for you to take home for dinner, and we try to keep on hand some grab and go bowls in the refrigerator case (but these fly out pretty quickly), along with some delicious - and fairly health conscious! - desserts from our Baking Fairy, Amanda. Stop in today and taste what fresh, organic foods can offer - and, if you are in a hurry, you can always call the shop to put in an order for pickup.
Some Thoughts About Apprenticeships
Heather has had several requests to offer âapprenticeshipsâ for those interested in taking their herbal knowledge a bit deeper. She has consistently refused to offer these, and so after a bit of encouragement, sheâs decided to explain her rationale.
First, I am not a fan of that particular word, and the way it is often used these days smacks of arrogance to me. I feel it should only be used by those who know far more and have been working with herbs for far longer than I have! Donât get me wrong, I know a fair amount - Iâve been studying since the late 1980s, on and off, and in a more dedicated manner for the past 15 or so years. So, Iâm not being modest, Iâm simply very comfortable acknowledging what I do not know. I am also really blessed to know some fantastic herbalists who have forgotten more about herbs than I will ever know, and they are a source of constant enrichment for me.
If we go back to medieval times, an apprentice worked full time with an individual considered to be an expert in a particular field for 2-7 years, often living with the individual to whom they were apprenticed. After that period of time, they were able to work in that field - but werenât considered an expert by any stretch of the imagination! To become known as an expert could take decades of training, work/experience, and ongoing communication with others who held more knowledge.
Today it seems fairly commonplace to just decide to call oneself something, such as an herbalist, without having much - if any - training (formal or informal), knowledge or experience. Youâll commonly see people claiming titles that others spend years at a university attaining, without any such background. With the explosion of social media, and self-publishing, almost anyone can author a book, start a blog, create a website and/or a personna suggesting far more than what is real. Unfortunately, I have attended many conferences and classes with individuals who use the title, âherbalistâ, but who cannot answer questions beyond very basic ones, and who do not seem to understand the way that herbs function in human beings, or how they may interact with one another, with medications, or even with foods. They subscribe to a âuse this herb for that symptom/disease/conditionâ approach, rather than really understanding the plant or how it works.
In the USA, we donât require any specific understanding of plant medicine to call oneself an herbalist. And while I always encourage and love to see people using or experimenting with herbs for themselves, it does bother me that people can just start offering courses, âcertifyingâ others in herbalism when they do not have enough knowledge to do so safely. [Note: there is no regulatory requirement outlining knowledge or skill required to call oneself a certified herbalist, master herbalist or any other such title in the USA]. It was nearly two decades into my studies before I felt comfortable teaching others on a formal basis - and I was already a university professor teaching nursing at that time.
When I think of my herbal background, I consider myself in that space of having done a lot of learning and I feel that Iâm safely in the place to be working on my own. How did I get there? I came to herbalism when I had already completed a masterâs degree in perinatal nursing, and was in the first year of my PhD studies. Although herbalism and nursing are two very distinct paths, having pathophysiological knowledge is a clear advantage to me, as is a solid knowledge of pharmaceuticals. However, more important is the skill of assessment that I have honed over the years - asking questions to get to the root of an issue rather than just grabbing something off of a shelf that is designed for the âaverage migraineâ or âaverage menstrual painâ.
I have worked with and learned from many other herbalists, taken multiple classes, read a ton of books, and I participate in consistent ongoing education with herbalists who I feel know a lot more than I know. Because of this, I feel very comfortable with what I do know - and very aware of all that I do not. Herbalism is so complex, and there is so much to learn about each individual herb, that I simply do not believe that I am in a place to be âapprenticingâ others - words are important, and to apprentice another suggests a depth of not just knowledge - but experience in working with clients.
I have been doing herbal consults now for only about five years, and I have been very blessed to have the majority of my clients tell me that my recommendations have been helpful. However, there are also clients whom I have refunded and referred to more experienced herbalists and/or integrative physicians because I felt their needs were beyond what I was able to provide. This is where I am today, and because of this, apprenticeships are not in my future.
For those seeking such an experience, a word of caution. Do your research - how long has this individual been studying, practicing, and how much actual experience does she/he have with clients? If your interest is in growing herbs - how much hands-on time does this individual spend with the plants? Has she studied the best times of day and period of the year to harvest? Does she know when each plant she grows has its strongest medicinal load? Can she explain the right soil conditions, locations, and needs for each plant she grows? If you want to be a product maker, does the person follow FDA regulations? Like it or not, there are regulations that govern production and labeling of herbal medicines - does the person you are considering know and use these regulations correctly? Are their products third-party tested and do they meet good manufacturing processes (cGMPs)? Donât simply assume that because a person is offering an apprenticeship she/he is really ready to do so.
A good source of expertise is the American Herbalists Guild - look for an individual who is a Registered Herbalist (RH) for possible apprenticeship opportunities. Although this label is not recognized by state or federal government regulations, it is the best place to find herbalists who are acknowledged as experts by their peers, and who must be able to at least demonstrate a level of herbal knowledge, safety, and how to work with clients. It is where I went to find my mentors, and I havenât been disappointed!
This month we are highlighting our very own Rae Korntved Lock! Rae has been our store manager at Sweet Willow for the past year and half. We are so lucky to have Rae with us because she is truly a Jane-of-all-trades; between managing our inventory, meeting with vendors, coordinating employee schedules, checking customers out at the register, and deepening her knowledge of our ever-expanding product base, Rae also shines as the first point of contact for customers who come to Sweet Willow.
Did you know Rae is also a professional guitar player? In her previous life, she ran a guitar store in Colorado. She likens that experience with the joy of working at Sweet Willow. âAt the guitar store, I helped people find the right guitar for them, and to encourage their love of music. At Sweet Willow, I get to help people who want to lead better, healthier lives in ways that are specific to their bodies and their needs.â Rae recalls an elderly gentleman who regularly brings in plants he finds, asking for help identifying them. âI love learning new things every day in my work!â
Coming to medicinal plant knowledge later in life, Rae continues her passion for lifelong learning. Incredibly dedicated and conscientious, Rae ensures that each customer gets the correct information they need. âIf I donât have an answer for someone, I take their information and get back to them.â At the front entrance to the store is a wall featuring sample sizes of the 52 signature blends of herbal tea created by owner and clinical herbalist, Heather Herdman. Rae refers to the wall as her âdictionary.â When a customer comes into the store looking for herbs to help support and nourish, Rae refers to the herbs used in the blends to help guide people to find a tea, tincture or body care product that works for them.
We are so thankful to have Rae with us, keeping things running smoothly as Sweet Willow continues to grow. Stop in and say hello! (Just donât get her started on our new computer inventory system! To say we have had a few bumps in the road would beâŚwellâŚkind! She yearns for the days when you did things without computers.)
Upcoming Classes and Events
Kathleen Ratteree - Boosting Your Immune System at Valentine Gardens
Sept 26, 5:00-8:00pm
Learn about popular as well as less well-known herbs to support your immune system. Also learn how to make Sweet Willowâs ever popular master tonic that will keep your immune system strong like Popeye for the winter months!
Did you know that there is more to your cycle than your period? Did you know there are a variety of different ways to support these cycle phases? Join registered nurse and herbalist, Celia Osorno from MyCeliated Wellness, to learn about all phases of your cycle, what they have in common with the moon's cycles, how to best support yourself through this flow, make a cycle self-care plan, connect with herbal allies, as well as learn what some of your âperiod problemsâ may be telling you & how to deal with them!
$35/person includes an herbal creation made in class to enhance your self-care plan. Register here.
Learn about herbs that can keep your immune system robust as we move into the cold, dark months ahead. Kathleen will discuss several powerful herbs like elderberry, ginger, horseradish, and others! She will lead the class in making Sweet Willowâs ever popular master tonic.
$35/person includes an herbal creation made in class to enhance your self-care plan. Register here.
A spoonful of sugar helps the medicine go down! Natural sugar, of course. Honey has many health benefits. It also provides the perfect matrix to deliver the âless tastyâ herbs that kids donât want to eat. Learn how to make herbal honey infusions that kids (and adults) will love!
$35/person includes an herbal creation made in class to enhance your self-care plan. Register here.
Heather has a pretty full schedule the next few months, so sheâs taking a break from classes until later in the Spring, so be sure to check back for our Spring offerings after the first of the year.
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Every second Friday of each month is Art Nite in downtown De Pere. Itâs where âart lives all year âround.â Hosted by NewARTSpace. Sweet Willow is pleased to collaborate with this project, and to note that we will be featuring an Indigenous artist each month. Begins September 8, 5:00-8:00pm.
Elderberry Granola Bars
We talked about elderberries in our last newsletter, so we wanted to provide one more recipe for those who like to incorporate herbs into their food choices. These are great for kidsâ lunchboxes, but we wonât tell if the adults eat them all themselves (shhhhh!)
RECIPE
4 cups soaked organic rolled oats
1/4 cup Honey
1/2 cup Coconut sugar
1/2 cup Coconut oil
1/2 cup Coconut butter
2 tsp. Vanilla
1 tsp. Sea salt
1 cup Elderberries, dried
1 cup Dark chocolate chips, optional (can use vegan chocolate chips)
Place the oats in a bowl and cover them with water. Add a tablespoon of apple cider vinegar with âthe Motherâ, or whey if you have it available. Cover with a clean towel and allow to soak overnight on the counter.
In the morning, preheat oven to 250 degrees F. Rinse elderberries thoroughly and strain well.
Dry the soaked oats in the preheated oven, toasting the oats for about 8 minutes.
Line a 9 x 11 glass dish with parchment paper.
Mix oats, salt, elder berries and chocolate chips in one bowl.
Melt the honey, coconut sugar, coconut oil, coconut butter in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Stir to prevent scorching. When melted, remove from heat and cool a few minutes. Stir in vanilla.
Add melted mixture to oat mixture and mix very well.
Turn the oat mixture into the dish and press down firmly until the mixture is even. Use a piece of parchment paper on top of the mixture to press evenly and prevent your hands from getting sticky. Continue to press until you're sure the mixture is very firmly in place. If it is loose, the bars will not hold together. *NOTE: If your bars aren't holding together, return the oat mixture to the bowl and add another 1/4 cup of melted coconut butter. Mix thoroughly and re-press into the dish.
Cover and place in the refrigerator for at least 4 hours. When done, remove parchment paper and cut granola bars with a pizza cutter. Individually wrap in parchment paper or beeswax wraps to keep from sticking.
Store at room temperature for 3-5 days, or longer in the refrigerator.
Disclaimer: All information provided in this newsletter is educational in nature, and is not intended to replace the advice of your health care provider. I am not a medical doctor; I strongly encourage you to discuss with your healthcare provider(s) any herbs that you incorporate into your daily life, and your reason for doing so. These statements have not been evaluated by the US Food & Drug Administration (US FDA). None of our products are intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. I encourage you to only use herbal products that are third-party tested, are produced using Good Manufacturing Processes (GMPs), and which follow the specific requirements for labeling as outlined by the US FDA. This requires processing facilities that have laboratory capability to test each product to know exactly what is included in each bottle - and at what dosing amounts.
