Plants have always grounded me, ever since I was a child. Either playing in the forest or the prairie grasses, where I grew up, always nourished me and gave me a deep connection, a sense of purpose and place.

I learnt about plant medicine in the old school way via apprenticeship from a fellow accomplished herbalist, who now is serving the Newfoundland area. She had shown me how to implement herbs into my daily life in ways I hadn't thought of by teaching me how to make creams, cosmetics, perfumes, herbal candies - it was inspiring and life changing to see how plant magic can exist in all that you do. In true urban homesteading fashion, we strived to make everything ourselves that we could, recreating ancient recipes and adapting them to suit more modern sensibilities.

My love of plants grew when I arrived east and started working in a bird sanctuary and minding the grounds. This work deepened my connection to nature by showing me where it all starts and ends. Putting my hands in the soil to either control invasive species or plant indigenous trees/bushes/perennials took me out of my body and into the earth. Over the years working here I gained the skills for basic yard maintenance, proper pruning techniques, planting and I've gotten to know the indigenous plants to the st. lawerence lowlands region and the boreal region. My passions lay now in conservation work by controlling invasive species and working to maintain a healthy biodiversity, which is what feeds and heals us all.

Leaning onto knowledge and methods of traditional herbalism/planting practices while learning and unlearning techniques is how I create for Thistle & Shoe. I recognize that I am a guest here and our collective responsibility is to care for the natural world in which we are a part of. This translates into the work here by including local, responsibly harvested ingredients and eco-conscious supplies. But more than that, its about sharing knowledge, skills and putting my hands in the soil where ever I am.

Thistle and Shoe operates out of Tiohtià:ke/Montréal