Healthy living and nature have always been a significant part of my life. During the summers in high school, I went on extended backpacking trips to Alaska, Wyoming, and Idaho through a program with the YMCA. In 2002, my love of the outdoors prompted me to attend college in Bozeman, Montana, where I enrolled in the health and nutrition program. While in Bozeman, I took classes on natural healing at local food co-ops and continued to go on backpacking trips and outdoor adventures. I also attended my first lotion and lip balm-making class (I still have the original recipe!) at the cutest herb shop. I was hooked right away! I fell in love with the ingredients, aromas, process, and endless formulation possibilities.
Eventually, I realized that the college setting and learning style wasn't for me. I am more of a creative and hands-on learner, and I crave adventure. I found a summer program that allowed me to receive college credits for studying botany and ecology while backpacking in Utah. I was introduced to the medicinal world of herbs on this trip when I discovered that the root of the yucca plant (I call yucca my gateway herb!) contains saponins and can be rubbed with water and used as soap. That was intriguing to me, and my love of herbs was born. Unfortunately, opportunities like the one in Utah are minimal and costly, so I decided to take a break from college and focus on my training as a CNA.
In 2004 I moved back to Mankato and worked as a CNA while spending my free time studying and foraging local plants with my fiancé. Our first joint purchase was a book called "Edible and medicinal plants of Minnesota and Wisconsin." We ate and harvested Stinging nettle, Solomon's Seal, Burdock, Virginia Waterleaf, Indian Potato, Cattail, Violet, and much more. Nature continues to be the primary point of connection for us as a couple.
We got married in 2005, and in 2006 our first daughter was born. After she was born, I started making cold-process soap as a hobby. I would sneak downstairs during nap time and make 1-pound batches of soap using essential oils and local plants. We gave it out as gifts and set up a small table at the Mankato Farmers' Market. Today, our soap batch size is 22 pounds (about 100 bars), and we have developed an entire skincare line using our accumulated knowledge of medicinal plants. We still sell at the Mankato Farmers' Market along with many other local shops.
I continue to learn and expand my knowledge of herbal healing and skincare. I participate in many online herbal courses, attend herbal workshops, and love to forage local plants with my husband and four kids. I use my knowledge and experience while creating formulas for Herbal Beauty. I feel fortunate that I get to share my creativity and passion through my products.
John is the artist behind our handcrafted soap and is terrific at blending the colors to create swirls, layers, and contrast. Each bar is a unique work of art. He also creates our soap molds and cutters, displays, labels, and more. John is passionate about connecting people with their local ecosystem. We do this through our products by growing and becoming familiar with all of the herbs we use in our product line. In 2014 we purchased a 10-acre Farmstead, and we are managing it like a nature preserve. Our goal is to build an ecosystem around edible and medicinal plants that also maximizes biodiversity. We keep a species list of plants, animals, and insects. Our current bird list is at 150.
Together, we have learned to accept our weaknesses and focus on our strengths within the business. One example of this is when I develop a new product idea; John makes the tools to produce them more efficiently and on a larger scale.
John and I have always wanted to be self-employed, so we'd have the freedom to be creative and to have our kids familiar with our work. In 2010, we quit our part-time jobs and committed to Herbal Beauty full time. We love what we do and continue to expand our product line and offerings. We take pride in creating fresh, natural, and effective soaps and skincare for our customers.
Eventually, I realized that the college setting and learning style wasn't for me. I am more of a creative and hands-on learner, and I crave adventure. I found a summer program that allowed me to receive college credits for studying botany and ecology while backpacking in Utah. I was introduced to the medicinal world of herbs on this trip when I discovered that the root of the yucca plant (I call yucca my gateway herb!) contains saponins and can be rubbed with water and used as soap. That was intriguing to me, and my love of herbs was born. Unfortunately, opportunities like the one in Utah are minimal and costly, so I decided to take a break from college and focus on my training as a CNA.
In 2004 I moved back to Mankato and worked as a CNA while spending my free time studying and foraging local plants with my fiancé. Our first joint purchase was a book called "Edible and medicinal plants of Minnesota and Wisconsin." We ate and harvested Stinging nettle, Solomon's Seal, Burdock, Virginia Waterleaf, Indian Potato, Cattail, Violet, and much more. Nature continues to be the primary point of connection for us as a couple.
We got married in 2005, and in 2006 our first daughter was born. After she was born, I started making cold-process soap as a hobby. I would sneak downstairs during nap time and make 1-pound batches of soap using essential oils and local plants. We gave it out as gifts and set up a small table at the Mankato Farmers' Market. Today, our soap batch size is 22 pounds (about 100 bars), and we have developed an entire skincare line using our accumulated knowledge of medicinal plants. We still sell at the Mankato Farmers' Market along with many other local shops.
I continue to learn and expand my knowledge of herbal healing and skincare. I participate in many online herbal courses, attend herbal workshops, and love to forage local plants with my husband and four kids. I use my knowledge and experience while creating formulas for Herbal Beauty. I feel fortunate that I get to share my creativity and passion through my products.
John is the artist behind our handcrafted soap and is terrific at blending the colors to create swirls, layers, and contrast. Each bar is a unique work of art. He also creates our soap molds and cutters, displays, labels, and more. John is passionate about connecting people with their local ecosystem. We do this through our products by growing and becoming familiar with all of the herbs we use in our product line. In 2014 we purchased a 10-acre Farmstead, and we are managing it like a nature preserve. Our goal is to build an ecosystem around edible and medicinal plants that also maximizes biodiversity. We keep a species list of plants, animals, and insects. Our current bird list is at 150.
Together, we have learned to accept our weaknesses and focus on our strengths within the business. One example of this is when I develop a new product idea; John makes the tools to produce them more efficiently and on a larger scale.
John and I have always wanted to be self-employed, so we'd have the freedom to be creative and to have our kids familiar with our work. In 2010, we quit our part-time jobs and committed to Herbal Beauty full time. We love what we do and continue to expand our product line and offerings. We take pride in creating fresh, natural, and effective soaps and skincare for our customers.