Rooted Remedies: Exploring the Art of Herbalism with Crystal Stevens of Flourish Farmstead

In this episode, our guest is Crystal Stevens, an herbalist, educator, author, and farmer who co-runs Flourish Farmstead with her husband, Eric. You’ll hear about Crystal's journey from Colorado to St. Louis, her transition from simple vegetable farming to a diversified operation that includes medicinal herbs, agritourism, and education. Crystal also shares the story of her father's terminal lung cancer diagnosis in the early 2000s, which led her to explore natural remedies and healing practices. Other topics include her partnerships, her apothecary offerings, her book "Your Edible Yard," and her impact on farming and healing.

Most people only see the beautifully packaged, final food products at farmer’s markets and specialty grocery stores, but the Tangled Taproot podcast will showcase unique stories from small-scale midwestern farmers, entrepreneurs, and other thought leaders in regenerative agriculture. Guests will share their successes, challenges, and future goals for their own companies and for the sustainable farming industry. The podcast is brought to you by St. Louis-based sustainable food startup Mylk and Hummus, and hosted by M & H Founder John Cowan, Kitchen Manager and Recipe Developer Christin Jameson, and Jackson.

Founded in 2020 by John Cowan, Mylk and Hummus makes on-the-go, chickpea-based snacks that focus on flavorful hummus varieties and ready-to-drink plant-based lattes. Mylk and Hummus products nourish the physical and mental endurance needs of today while considering environmental goals for the future. At Mylk and Hummus, plant-based food is made with ingredients proudly sourced through sustainable and regenerative agriculture where farming principles and practices enrich soils, restore watersheds, and lead to healthy ecosystems. The company operates on these principles to significantly reduce our carbon footprint and contribute to the reversal of global trends in climate instability, habitat loss, and the vitality of the natural world.

Discussion Points:

Crystal Stevens background - herbalist and farmer
Crystal and Eric Stevens' diverse farming operation at Flourish Farmstead
From vegetable farming to medicinal herbs, agritourism, and education
Crystal's father's end-stage lung cancer diagnosis and her quest for natural remedies
Partnerships - Old Bakery Beer Company and Herbarium tea
Apothecary offerings and book "Your Edible Yard"
Small-scale farming and herbalism
Expansion into medicinal herbs from simple vegetable farming
Father's lung cancer diagnosis propels Crystal's journey of herbalism and healing
Crystal and Eric's backgrounds in arts and collaborations on various projects
Partnership with Old Bakery Beer Company for Herbarium sparkling herbal tea
Crystal's journey of teaching the art of herbalism and foraging
Crystal's book "Your Edible Yard" and her approach to holistic living
Flourish Farmstead and their range of homegrown products
Crystal and Eric's experiences running Flourish Farmstead and their future plans
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