Herbal Explorers

Do you see the friendly dude? Not the obvious one, the flying one......on the candle to the right of the happy fellow.... Anyways I was setting aside some bundles to dry that contain plants that may help keep bugs away,🤔 always fun to combine plants and smells and consider smolderability.... let me know if you want to join me in testing these out at one of the Rib Lake, WI retreats this fall, sign up is open on the website, we can make more of our favorites together!! Looking forward to it! -Melissa.
P.S. if anyone knows anything about the statue I'd love to know more, I couldn't resist him when I spotted him at a resale shop and now he hangs out and holds dried herbs, he does a good job of making me smile🥰

Ready to talk about herbal support for fur babies 🐾🌱

I have been enjoying a traditional June family vacation/fishing trip for years- dragging along my prized box of books, it's with so much joy that I can leisurely go over upcoming lecture notes in a rainstorm 'up north' Thinking of you all my friends at the Growing Collective and Kronenwetter Veterinary Care. - Melissa

Had such an amazing time presenting at the Midwest women's herbal conference!! Next, on to preparing for retreats this fall....check out the website for dates, looking forward to more amazing things, meeting new people, sharing plant knowledge and connections!!-Melissa

Add Rib Lake to your camping list this year. ⛺️
Weekend Retreats - registration is ✨open! ✨
https://www.herbalexplore.org/lead-collection
Friday evening through noon Sunday, August - October 2026
There are beneficial plants everywhere! Do you know them?
Melissa would be happy to introduce you! 🌱
Unplug and reconnect with nature. Come camp with your new plant-nerd friends!
Learn about, harvest, and prepare beneficial plants for various uses.
Good people, good food, time well spent outdoors - let's go see what's growing outside! 🧚‍♀️

👀 Melissa!! ✨ Who’s coming to the Midwest Women's Herbal ??✨

💫 We are excited to welcome herbalist Melissa Tokarski to the 15th Annual Midwest Women’s Herbal Conference! 💫

🌿🌺 Rooted in childhood wanderings along the Wisconsin River, Melissa’s love of plants deepened after a surprising discovery- nettles were more than just “itch weed.” That spark led to a lifelong journey of learning the many energies and gifts of plants, which she’s excited to share with you. 🌺🌿

✨ Workshops with Melissa:
✽ Cramp Bark (Viburnum opulus): Explore this powerful ally for muscle tension and cramps, along with its energetics, indications, and how to prepare it as tincture, liniment, oil, or tea.
✽ Motherwort (Leonurus cardiaca): A heartfelt herbal hug 💚 Learn to identify, harvest, and work with this beloved plant from the mint family, known for supporting women’s health and emotional well-being.

🌱: Come connect, learn and deepen your relationship with these plant allies 🌱

📅: May 22-24, 2026
📍: Camp Helen Brachman | Almond, WI
🔗: To learn more and register, follow the link! https://www.midwestwomensherbal.com/mwhc

Resilience personified! This tree, despite its worn appearance, is thriving by nurturing a single robust branch that's yielding an abundance of sap, which can be transformed into a healing salve. By harvesting a modest amount, I'm hopeful it will continue to survive. It's a poignant reminder that even in adversity, nature can surprise us with its capacity for renewal. The more I work with pines, the deeper my appreciation grows for their strength and generosity. - Melissa

Likely the LAST Herbal Introductions class of 2025 is happening this Saturday (Oct 25) in Mosinee! Are you coming?! 🍂

Reigister by this Friday - Message us here or email [email protected]

PS - We’re told that there’s a pumpkin patch nearby! 🎃 Herbs AND pumpkins?! Fall vibes 🧡

This is an image of pine resin in tea bags, being melted into coconut oil. This will be used to make a salve, I am going to let this slowly simmer off and on all weekend to let the pine resin melt as much as possible. I feel like the smell and feel of slow simmering makes a home feel cozy, but in the case of pine it seems to have such a soothing effect.
Paul Red Elk taught that pine was the tree of forgiveness, which makes perfect sense when you think about how to use pine, it penetrates deeply, it can cover and heal a wound. Whether being used as a salve on the body or turned into a cleaner for your floors it can pull out the stuff you don't want stuck and help mend at the same time, what an amazing lesson pine has to teach.
Thank you Pine. And Thank you, Paul and so many of my teachers for showing me how to look for and begin to understand what nature is telling us.
-Melissa