Rosemary Gladstar: making a difference

One of my favourite herbalists and teachers is Rosemary Gladstar. Taught by her Armenian grandmother, who used herbs daily, Rosemary's love of plants comes naturally. A gypsy by heritage and by nature, Rosemary has traveled the world, learning from herbal elders, getting to know hundreds of species of plants.

As well as founding the Sage Mountain Institute in Vermont, she has founded United Plant Savers, whose mission it is to save endangered plant species. Of her nine books, Family Herbal is nearly always open on my desk. It is full of intelligent, accessible information, with a wonderful warmth and a philosophy of using the best of what's around us to help and heal us.

Herbs are not meant to be part of our medicine, to be used only in crisis, but part of our lifestyle. Use of herbs on a daily basis, in our diet, teas and topical applications can keep us in optimal health, forestalling many a medical problem.

Here's a link to a lovely interview with Rosemary.

shareguide.com/Gladstar.html

• "One of the things that is important is to create work for yourself that is meaningful, that involves you in the positive. That makes all the difference in the world. You know, you see all these children around feeling hopeless. It's a problem in our society in general. Whether you work for yourself or someone else doesn't matter. Making a difference does."...Rosemary Gladstar

By making the use of herbs safe, easy and natural, Rosemary most certainly is making a difference. Thanks a bunch. Here's hoping we can find ways to do something good.