Hi there HerbMama friends. Today’s spotlight features my favorite place to buy handmade herbcraft and support independent herbalists online: PoppySwap. If you haven’t heard of them already, I know you’re going to love the folks behind the curtain just as much as the genius of the Swap itself.
Poppy Swap is an online market place of all natural herb and herb inspired products. We host independent herbalists, wildcrafters, gardeners, farmers and sustainable wholesalers who make their own products or grow medicinal plants.
My interview is with Kiki the founder of Poppy Swap, who is a full time acupuncturist and herbal practitioner. She is also the founder Moxa NW a producer of fine grade, organic moxa and The Medicinal Herb Network of Washington which unites herb growers and practitioners and aims to develop local sources of medicinal quality herbs.
Poppy Swap introduces people, plants, and products. We on a mission to ignite these relationships, foster herbal enthusiasm and to “bring people herbs.”
What inspired you to go in the direction of the work you do/start your business?
I have been a full-time practitioner of herbal medicine for over ten years. To be honest, working with just one client at a time, I began to feel like my contribution to our culture was not being fully served. There are so many amazing herbalists and so many people and patients in need of our information right now. I felt inspired to try to create something that could have a broader reach.
How do you balance work/life/family/play?
Let’s just say its a good thing that work is fun! Poppy Swap is incredible because I get to travel a bit and that has always been my favorite way to both relax and recharge. Going to herbal conferences is great because it feels like play but really I am also invigorating my passion for herbs and our herbal community. Sometimes I think being on the road full time would be a perfect lifestyle for me but I know that living in the forest really serves my peace. I am lucky to live in a great community of supportive friends. We make sure to exercise, meditate and feed each other lots of love.
What words of encouragement would you offer someone walking on the path toward their dreamwork?
Spend time developing your ideas and getting clear with yourself about what is in your heart. For me, meditation and writing helps with that clarity. Once you are clear about your direction, pursue it fearlessly. The world is outrageous! It is full of creativity and people who will be excited to support you and engage with you. Connect, connect, connect! There are no limits to what’s possible in your life and if what you are pursuing is coming from your heart, you can be confident it will benefit others.
What is your favorite part of what you do?
Traveling, speaking, teaching and writing are by far my favorite parts of this project. I like igniting inspiration in people and sharing the beauty of what I have learned and experienced. I love watching people become happy through the nourishment of what is here for them on the planet.
What is your favorite herbalicous treat?
Our kitchen never stops cranking!! We are mixing herbs and sharing tastes and smells all day and all night. I just had some friends who are farming on Maui send me (literally) a crate of their gorgeous organic turmeric. My morning juice is full of local bitter greens, a little apple and a kick of turmeric and I absolutely love it (except that it is staining my juicer!) I also shred it onto salads or mix it with raisins for a snack. I even put some on some homemade chocolate the other day!! Probably not what you had in mind but it is certainly herbalicious!
Thank you so much Kiki for stopping by HerbMother. Be sure to check out PoppySwap to meet loads of amazing herbalists and find wonderful handcrafted herbals.
