“It’s not very complicated, and you don’t need to be a doctor,” says Carol Wade, who runs the Ojai School of Herbal Studies at Earth Island Herbs, describing her practice of growing herbs to address common ailments. “But when you’re using herbs, you want some level of education.”
Her mission is to empower people with practical knowledge of the many native and locally adapted garden plants available to support balanced health. Wade draws upon her lifelong study of international and regional herbal traditions to lead tours and teach classes in progressive nutrition.
“One of the major issues of our culture is the level of constant stress,” said Wade, fussing over a clump of lemon balm. “This is a plant to go to at the end of a stressful day.”