Hey, I’m Leilani
I study nature, and then I hand harvest and wildcraft whole plant material and utilize it to create and share whole plant extracts, seasonal self-care products, oral health, skin care, herbal tea blends, and more. My offerings are fresh, small batch, contain no preservatives or bottled essential oils, and are as close to nature as possible. I opened my first online shop in 2015, and have been creating herbals for over 10 years!
I grew up in rural Illinois— about 30 minutes from the Northwest Wisconsin border and about an hour and a half from the city of Chicago. I grew up with three brothers, close cousins, and a neighborhood full of kids to play with. Our parents insisted on nightly meals together, and we had a fun childhood. My parents are still together and actually met in high school!
I have a B.A. in Fine Art from Columbia College Chicago. I’ve always been super creative. I love singing, performing, painting, drawing, making things, cooking— creating in general. I’ve worked since the age of 15, and worked in many restaurants, as a framing designer, and as an in-home childcare provider for children aged newborn-6. I’ve cared for over 16 children during my twenties and early thirties! I care a great deal about children, mothers, parents, and families.
I moved to Tennessee from Illinois and it was there that I cultivated my botanical & herbal knowledge. I spent as much time as possible on trails and in nature, and focused my time on learning about the ecology, plants, and fungi of Appalachia.
I met my husband Taj in 2020, and I relocated to our isolated off-grid Northern California mountain spot where we currently reside. A whole new world of flora including the coastal range and Mediterranean chaparral of Northern California was introduced to me. I spent the first few years settling in and really getting to know the new plants that I was surrounded by. I now create herbals utilizing mostly native Northern California trees, shrubs, wildflowers, berries, and the herbs of our local/ native ecology.
I have family in Illinois, Tennessee, and Florida, and I visit them as often as I can. My folks help me craft extracts that are native to Tennessee that I still love to work with, such as Passionflower, Ground Ivy, and Violet. They have a cozy home and a small homestead complete with chickens, herbs, an epic vegetable garden, and loads of elderberry shrubs snd comfrey. It’s been so amazing watching them transition from Illinois to Tennessee— city life to the country life. I am regularly impressed by their many new endeavors. My mom’s canning larder is increasingly impressive.
Taj on a moss-covered oak slope of oaks, on one of our favorite trails along Sanhedrin Mountain.
Our beloved pup Roland— a fully grown male German Shepherd who is my loyal companion. He helps keep us safe in the wildest of places.
I spend much of my time working on and at our adorable home on a meadow. We truly have the most gorgeous natural views that I have ever seen. We have a huge back deck, and my latest obsession is sleeping outside under the stars as much as possible. For as isolated and lonely as it can get being so far away from everyone, this much nature is a dream come true— especially this day in age. We are truly sinking into enjoying our lives right now. The black starlit nights free of other light pollution, the croaks of frogs, daily animal observation, togetherness, the calls of the coyotes, and the peaceful quiet of nature.
Our area is known as the “empty west” as the terrain is too rugged for infrastructure. I spend a lot of time wandering the wilderness, studying plants and the relationships that exist throughout this natural place. Taj was a fishing guide in Maine once upon a time, and he loves to fish, hunt, and explore nature as much as I do. God certainly knew what He was doing when he brought us together.
A handful of fresh homegrown Calendula blossoms.
I enjoy the quiet, and LOVE being surrounded by a vast range of wildlife (including black bear, mule deer, quail, bald eagle, wild hare, fox, raven, rattlesnake, and tule elk). Human sightings are much more of a rarity, although we have a small community here and still manage to have a little fun now and then. I’ve been acquainting myself with the area more and we have been taking small trips to see the local sights and enjoy some short camping trips. Most recently we went kayaking along the Eel River. That was incredible.
I tend a few wild spaces, am revamping my garden, cook daily, forage often, ferment, and roam the wild land gathering food medicines. I love the changing seasons and how different it is from Illinois and Tennessee. I’m always learning about new plants and looking for ways to incorporate more into my craft. I’m passionate about protecting and advocating for natural and free living. My work is an extension of my life and my art. I aim to infuse my integrity and unique approach to life into all that I create. I am very grateful to have the support of people who find value in our natural creations, lifestyle, and herbalism craft. THANK YOU!
Where we live now; off-grid in the Sanhedrin Wilderness of Northern California. This image was taken after a 2 minute walk from our front door. Gorgeous, I know.
Throwback to 2015 when I first went all-in on my own small business adventure!
Freshly harvested flowering Chickweed for salad, infusions, and tincture.
Everything that arrives to your door from my shop begins with the land, passes through my hands, and finds a home with you and your family.
Albeit an ambitious endeavor, I grow and sustainably wildcraft the herbs and plant materials that go into each of my offerings (outsourcing only a small fraction of certain roots and berries while maintaining our focus on organic wildcrafting, gardening, ethics, and sustainability).
Putting my art background to work, I design and cut out each and every label by hand, do all of the website work, and process shipping and handling myself. Our dear local mail ladies brave our mountain weekly to deliver our packages to the world. Bless them. I’ve always bottled in glass as much as possible, and I create with integrity. That is why I believe that I am still here after all these years— successfully sharing with you today. I am so endlessly grateful.
Ekko (left—Roland’s local partner in crime), and our dog, Roland (right)
Wildcrafting Fresh Hypericum perforatum near the Summer Solstice.
I am truly happy doing this work and walking this path which I find to be incredibly rewarding and unique (although it is my belief that it shouldn’t be niche at all). My goal is to help others weave the beautiful threads of nature through their daily lives. I hope to help others regain a sense of purpose, confidence, and solace through nature connection.
Thank you for your visit, your support of what I share in my shop, and for all that you share with us in return. We do truly appreciate each and every single soul that crosses our path along this beautiful experience of life.
In my shop you will find potent herbal extracts oils, thoughtfully devised wellness blends, traditional and effective salves & balms, natural skin care for face and body, herbal oral care, wild mushroom extracts, intentionally blended teas and infusions, and an ever growing array of carefully and lovingly-crafted herbal goods.