Introduction (a peek inside)

 I grew up in a community steeped in Southern American influence. While we were officially in the midwest (the gateway to the midwest to be exact), the senses of the American South and Appalachia swirled around me and took root. 

 In the kitchens where I learned to cook - mostly those of older church ladies who didn’t mind a curious, chatty and question asking child hanging around - I learned that flavor and time can make anything delicious. These wise women, with their perms pinned back and gingham aprons protecting their Sunday best, taught me transformational magic of dried herbs, the alchemy of steeping and slow cooking, and the power of preserving.

 These ladies were my first encounter with a coven and I was a glad little apprentice in their lacey curtained magical kitchens. 

 Every Wild Folke Method recipe is infused with the wisdom of these Appalachian witches - those who wore their Sunday best, and those like me, who converse with the moon. Our deities may differ but our bare feet are anointed by the same soil, our herbs grow in the same rhythms and the same moonlight shines through my kitchen window as it did theirs.  

 I am so grateful to have you on this journey as I tell the stories, rooted in flavor and tradition, of my teas, concoctions, and new traditions. I hope you enjoy every sip. 

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The Wild Folke Method

Folk Method: The folk method of herbal medicine refers to traditional healing practices passed down through generations within a specific culture or community. These methods are often characterized by their simplicity, reliance on readily available natural resources, and a holistic approach to health that considers the physical, emotional, and spiritual aspects of well-being.

I remember when I first read about the Folk Method. I was at my kitchen table, surrounded by herbalism course books, stacks of notebooks and a scattering of pencils of varying sharpness. At this stage in my studies I was overwhelmed and losing a bit of faith in myself. My thoughts were as disorganized as my study area as I tried to memorize the properties and dosages of each herb. I already had a deep kinship with the jars of herbs in my pantry and their seemingly magical powers. I loved the dried rosemary sprigs that I would add to hot water with fresh lemon juice to relieve my child’s stress headaches. The elderflowers that steeped in apple cider vinegar felt like little flowery friends that would accompany me and the ones I love through winter sniffles. And the butterfly pea flowers that I bought at a tea house in Vermont would infuse our summer lemonade with extra antioxidants - and make it a vibrant violet adding bits of whimsy to every sip. 

However, during this period in my studies, I couldn’t find the place where the medicinal practice of herbalism could meet up with my magic potion style of concocting household cures. But then, I turned to the next chapter and read about a practice led by intuition and based on knowledge. Born from that place inside of us that goes to reach for one spice in the cabinet, but instead, led as if by a planchette on a ouija board, we grab another and the dish turns out perfectly. Or the part of you that feels the pull to go for a walk only to run into an old friend you’ve been thinking about. Or the part of me that could never follow a recipe with great success but could recreate dishes if left to my own devices. These are the parts of us or our lives we call “weird” or “crazy”. The things we beat ourselves up for, “Ugh, I’m so bad at following recipes!”, vs celebrating the inner divining rod that takes us where we’re meant to go. All we have to do is feel the pull and follow. 

In short, the Folk Method is the practice of understanding the needs of the individual you are caring for, having the knowledge of the purpose and properties of the herbs in your inventory, and using your intuition to measure and mix. The added piece that is important to me, especially since I mostly work with tea remedies, is that it tastes delicious. That bitter is mixed with bright, floral is mixed with earthiness, and that every sip brings a bit of joy and sparkle as the herbs do their work to calm, energize, or soothe - whatever you need to feel cared for in the moment. 

It became clear to me that I’ve been practicing the Folk Method long before I knew its name. And if I had to guess I would say it has long steeped in my DNA.