Today we are going to be learning more about Gateway Pine Apothecary and it’s founder Julia Stamp.
I first became aware of Julia’s interest in herbalism in a group discussion called Coop Your Idea during an event called Coop Con 2019 in Stevens Point. We met in person a few weeks later at the Farmshed Local Food Fair where we had a booth sharing our herbal products.
I am a fairly new farmer with 3 seasons growing herbs on our farm here in rural Waupaca. I am always curiously interested in learning more about growing herbs and working with herbal medicines. It’s always nice to meet a fellow herb farmer and connect with farmers in the same area to learn and share ideas. I’ve been following Julia and Gateway Pines on social media. I decided it was time to reach out to Julia and get to know more about her background and vision for Gateway Pines Apothecary.
I hope you enjoy getting to know more about a new local herb farmer here in Central Wisconsin.
Growing up what are your first memories of meaningful connections with the plant world?
My parents and grandparents always had gardens. I remember my grandmother walking through her garden with me, showing me forget-me-nots and roses. I remember eating from a small patch of chives in my parent’s backyard. I remember looking for monarch caterpillars on milkweed plants in the summer and making wishes with their seed pods in the fall.
How did you get interested in herbs and herbalism?
One afternoon during a summer home from college, I ended up at a bookstore with a gift card to spend. I happened upon a book called “Backyard Medicine” by Julie Bruton-Seal and Matthew Seal. There were dandelions on the cover, a plant I knew I could find right in my parent’s backyard. My interest grew when I made a friend named Rose. One of the first times we hung out, she harvested some mullein and nettle from the side of the trail we were hiking on, and made a pot of tea when we got home. Every time I saw her, she would teach me about the plants she was foraging. I began to see my surroundings in a different way. I had always found fields of flowers beautiful, but they had a different meaning now – they were free food and medicine.
What are your favorite herbs to work with?
This question is hard because I have so many favorites, each for a different reason. But if I had to choose a top three of the moment, it would be yarrow, holy basil, and rose. I love the scent of yarrow, and what potent, bitter medicine I can make with it. I’ve been working with yarrow since I started learning about herbalism, since it grows abundantly in my area. I also recently formed a personal relationship with holy basil. I grew about 400 plants last summer, and the sweet scent will always remind me of being out in the field with its delicate purple flowers blooming. I think holy basil is a really important herb for everyone, especially now, because of its stress relieving and immune supporting qualities. And finally, roses. They’re just beautiful, and I am calmed by their gentle and sweet energy.
Can you share a bit of your personal process around developing relationships with the plants that you choose to work with?
There is a patch of nettles I pass often on my hikes. I get excited when I first see them peek above the earth’s surface in spring, purpose when I harvest them in early summer, and gratitude when I pass the dried stalks in fall and winter. I’ve been returning to that same spot for four years now, and it always feels like reconnecting with an old friend. I feel that way about all the herbs I have foraged over the years – I learn where they grow, I check on them, I have memories with them. Every time I am in a new place outdoors, I check to see what’s growing…if any of my friends are here to hang out with me.
Can you share a favorite memory from one of your wildcrafting adventures?
I don’t have a specific memory, but I really love foraging with people who are new to it. It’s fun to see people have those same realizations I had just a few years ago – that food and medicine surround us in abundance if you know how to look for it. It’s fun to pass on that knowledge and feeling of empowerment. I imagine that’s how my friend Rose must have felt with me, and I remember being so grateful to have her as a friend. I hope I can be that for my friends.
How do you practice sustainable wildcrafting of the herbs you harvest?
Respecting the herb populations is a crucial part of foraging. I always take into account how well established the herb is when deciding how much of it to harvest. Certain plants, like dandelion or goldenrod, can take over an area quite quickly. These are the plants you see entire fields of, that are often called “weeds” or “invasive.” The majority of what I forage is this kind of plant, because there is little concern about overharvesting. Other plants, however, are less aggressive in their growth and have suffered from over harvesting. If there are only a few plants where I am harvesting, I am more sparing with my harvest. I ensure I leave enough flowers for the pollinators, and that the plant can reproduce and continue to provide medicine year after year.
In addition, I find the process of wildcrafting to be sustainable in and of itself compared to purchasing herbs from a larger supplier. In the grocery store, the herbs you find are often over a year old, and shipped from other parts of the country or even the world. Meanwhile, many of these herbs are growing right in our neighborhood. Foraging them here means less energy is used to transport them, and their medicinal components and flavors are preserved.
Nearly all of the herbs I use in my products are foraged or grown by me, other than the occasional organic rose petals or damiana I may purchase at the Stevens Point Area Cooperative – these are herbs I have not yet figured out how to grow yet in our climate. Customers of mine often remark how much of a difference in quality they notice between my herbs and what they are used to purchasing at the grocery store. For our health and for our climate, purchasing locally is the way to go.
I saw last year that you really expanded your herb garden. Can you tell us where you grow your herbs and how you expanded your gardens?
I owe a lot to my friend Taylor at Taylor Made Produce. I became friends with Taylor at Lonely Oak Farm in 2016. She was working with Joel out there, while I was coming out once a week for a work trade. She knew that for a long time it had been my dream to be an herb farmer. Last summer, she worked out a deal with our friend Josh who has some land in Amherst, and invited me to join her. She was my mentor throughout the entire process, from buying and planting seeds, to transplanting, to preparing the land.
There were about 800 plants in the ground on my ⅛ acre plot – holy basil, calendula, sage, lemon balm, feverfew, and thyme. As a first-time herb farmer, there were many moments where I felt frustrated, or like I had no idea what I was doing. I realize now that it was all a part of the process. I learned so much last summer, did a lot of reflecting, and I am already feeling much more confident about this upcoming year.
Do you grow your herbs from seed?
Yes, this year I purchased all organic seeds from Johnny’s Seeds and Strictly Medicinal Seeds. A friend and I also tried a bit of seed saving, so we will see how that goes. I have doubled the variety of herbs I will grow, and I am so excited to form some new relationships with plants like California poppy, mugwort, and three different varieties of tulsi. I also plan to grow some ornamental and pollinator-friendly plants like butterfly weed. I’m so excited to get into the greenhouse and watch everything grow!
How has the farmshed greenhouse helped you start your herb growing business?
I am so grateful for the Farmshed Greenhouse and all the lovely people who keep it running. Starting seeds indoors is incredibly important in a place like Wisconsin where we only have warm weather for a few months out of the year. My growing season will be extended and my herbs will be much farther along by the time summer hits, so I will be able to get multiple harvests out of my plants. More harvests means more medicine for my community. Farmshed has given me the opportunity to grow not only plants, but also my business.
Did you grow any herbs for fresh sales during the growing season?
I do. I tried selling at the Farmer’s Market last summer and didn’t have much luck, so I decided to do bulk sales only. I had quite a few friends purchase from me or do work trades, and then preserve the herbs themselves.
What did you make with the herbs you grew last growing season?
Primarily, I drink tea. I made a lot of tea blends for holidays and birthdays. If you’re getting a present from me, it’s probably going to be tea. I love to experiment with many different methods of preservation – I make tinctures, vinegars, wines, massage oils, salves, facial toners, face masks, candles, smoke blends, seasonings…wherever I can find a way to incorporate herbs, I will.
Where can we find more about your herbal products?
I am currently in the process of creating a website, and I have an artist working on some labels. While those things get finalized, you can stay updated on my offerings and herbal adventures on Facebook and on Instagram (@gatewaypinesapothecary). Feel free to send me an email at gatewaypinesapothecary@gmail.com.
Is there anything else you would like to share with us?
I would just like to share how grateful I am for the community we have in the Stevens Point Area. I couldn’t have done this so easily without the other farmers who continue to teach me, other business owners who source their ingredients from me, friends who purchase my products and help me plant and harvest (and weed!) There are so many resources for small businesses and farmers in this community and I feel truly blessed to be a part of it.
Thanks Julia!
Thanks for reading! If you know other people and ideas that would be a good fit for a Common Roots Rising interview please contact me.
Common Roots Rising is growing stories and we also have intentions of growing transformational movement through our communities. We are planning to help sparking round table discussions and wisdom circles in the near future to turn stories and discussions into new community actions.