| The wisdom of the earth has provided us with all of the healing herbs we need for nourishment and nurturing. Here in the temperate region of southwest Michigan we are especially blessed to live among such a vast array of healing plants. Like a Grandmother's soothing touch herbs are friends that help to calm and restore the body's inner wisdom to heal itself. Throughout time people have looked to herbs for support for healing. The herbs used at Granny Janny Herbs have stood the test of time and the knowledge of their use has been passed down through the generations. Most of the herbs we use are gathered from the organic gardens and surrounding meadows or woods at the home business of our parent company, Creative Health & Birthing Arts, near Kalamazoo, Michigan. We also plant and harvest herbs on our friend's certified organic farm. Any herbs that we purchase are certified organic. To capture the living essence of the plants we strive to create products from fresh, locally grown herbs. Our products include the famous Green Goop ( a healing salve), medicinal oils, tinctures, teas, and supplies for creating your own herbal remedies. |
| Locally Grown, Lovingly Prepared Herbal Remedies Herbal Education |
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| Granny Janny Herbs |
| Granny Janny Herbs 12901 Fort Custer Drive Galesburg, Michigan 49053 269.665.7797 email: grannyjanny@aim.com |
| The Story of Granny Janny Herbs by Janice Marsh-Prelesnik, Herbalist, midwife, and all around earth mother. When I was a little girl I gathered herbs with my Grandma Lila Sayer, whom I called Granny. I loved the days when Granny would bring out the gathering baskets and we would go out and pick dandelion greens, nettles, and sassafras leaves. I learned a lot from Granny about the nourishing plants that grew literally at our back door. As a young mother I shared herb gathering with my own children. I used herbs to support their body's innate healing abilities. I began to focus deeply on herbs and how they interact in the human body. Spending time with the plants, one on one for a growing season, helped me to develop a relationship with each one. People began to ask if they could buy some of the remedies that I made for my own family. I was happy to share the preparations. From there the business began to grow into the blossoming business of Granny Janny Herbs! |
| Sustainable Herbalism~Janice Marsh-Prelesnik Here in the temperate region of southwest Michigan we are especially blessed to live among such a vast array of healing plants. We can virtually walk out the door and be among a plethora of healing herbs both wild and cultivated. With that in mind, did you realize that a majority of the herbs sold in the United States are imported from Eastern Europe, India, China, Mexico, and many third-world countries? Many of these imported herbs are grown using pesticides and are fumigated as they enter this country. Why use the resources to transport herbs from around the world when we can grow what we need right here? As the momentum grows for purchasing local foods I would ask that we consider choosing sustainable herbal remedies as well. As with foods it is critical to ask questions about where our remedies come from and whether or not our choices are sustainable. When purchasing herbal remedies ask yourself the following questions: 1. Where does the herb come from and what other resources are utilized to transport and manufacture the herb? What is the impact on the earth? For example, a popular herb used is Tea Tree Oil. Tea Tree does not grow in our temperate bioregion. If you wanted to treat a fungal infection with Tea Tree you could instead save resources by using Black Walnut hulls for the same purpose. Now anyone who lives near a Black Walnut tree knows that those nuts grow in abundance in this area! You could also use Red Cedar, another common tree in our area, for fungal problems. 2.How are the herbs grown, harvested, and prepared? We all know how much better fresh foods are. You can feel the vibrancy and the life force of fresh foods enter your body—fresh, ripe vegetables taste best. So do fresh herbs. Remedies prepared from fresh herbs, harvested at the peak of their vibrancy, retain their richness and are nourishing as well as healing. Using herbs grown right here in our area not only nourish and nurture our bodies; they also nourish our souls and bring us closer to nature. Local herbalism connects, or reconnects us, with biological order. In solidarity with the sustainable farming movement, it is important that we begin to make local choices regarding herbs. When we choose to obtain a locally grown and/or wild crafted herb we can ask about growing standards and wild crafting practices. Wild crafted or organically grown local herbs may cost more than the imported material. However, the peace of mind felt by knowing the local grower and their practices is worth every penny. The commitment to grow or purchase locally and organically grown herbs is an investment in the health of the planet. We can know that the herbal teas we drink, and the remedies we use to support our bodies in times of stress, are friends that live right here with us in our community. |
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