If you want to learn how to use herbs medicinally and not only medicinally but also grow them,

I can think of little else that gets me excited as knowing I can literally grow our medicine right outside our back door, then you, my friend, are going to want to make

sure that you are registered and signed up for our herbal summer series. This is completely free, though you definitely could charge for it because it is

packed with information. Once you sign up starting in August, every week you are going to get an email from me going over my top 10 favorite herbs.

Each week we are going to pick one of those herbs and do a deep dive on how to grow that herb,

but more importantly, how to use it, including safety, and if you should use it or not if you are pregnant or breastfeeding.

We go through all of the cautions, the medicinal properties, and its uses.

So when you get done done you will have in your pocket and hopefully by

that point in your medicine cabinet my favorite top 10 herbs to always have at the ready. Go to Melissa K Norris.com forward slash

summer herb and make sure that you get registered. Summer school is in session and it has never been better. Hey pioneers. Welcome to episode number 436. Today today's episode is a fun one.

We are talking about herbal drinks, elixirs, cocktails, and mocktails. But what's really fun is we are looking at them for flavor profiles, medicinal purposes, as well as some ways to preserve

for also to make these based upon what you have available to you

in your garden and foraging in your area. So it kind of brings together a lot of my favorite topics into one episode. I think you're really going to enjoy this one.

So our guest for today is Laura Gilmore and Laura is a forager,

herbalist and business owner living near Dwight Ontario. Her rural upbringing allowed her to develop a natural curiosity and passion for nature from a young age.

Laura formally studied ecology and later went on to pursue sustainable living by apprenticing on several permaculture farms and studying with a number of herbalists.

Laura has a passion for naturalist studies, homesteading, and traditional living skills that connect us to our food and the land in the most human of ways.

Laura runs Wild Mascoka Botanicals, which produces artisan wild foods and cocktail products.

You also might recall that name because her husband Chris has been on here a couple of times

and we have been sharing about mushrooms and we will make sure in the blog post that accompanies this

episode which you can find at williska Norris.com forward slash 436 because this is

episode number 436 we will link to those if you want to check out those episodes as well.

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