About me
I never quite know where to start here so we'll keep it short. I grew up in rural Iowa on the farm which is a nice way of saying I grew knowing how to get dirty. I helped make hay throughout the summer, fed bottle calves in the spring, showed heifers at the fair every summer and I learned to always watch where I walk. Oddly enough as I ventured away to college in the far off land of Virginia, I realized that as much as I loved a pristine, sterile lab environment with perfectly organized and alphabetized containers, I was missing something. I started doing more hiking, camping and trekking with my little hound dog to get my fill of dirt and beauty of nature that accompanies it.
It was a presentation in college that started me on this herbal path. A young lady came in with all these randomly sized containers with hand written labels along with bags of ground plant materials and a tea kettle. By the end of the presentation as she discussed these little bottles filled with 'weeds' and all their qualities, constituents, and 'magic', I was hooked. I remember studying alkaloids and glycosides in chemistry but that fact that these little weeds contained such components that can interact with our cellular structures and alter their function was mind altering for me.
After college in 2008, I decided grad school was in order so I traveled up to Maryland where I received my Masters and then continued my studies down in North Carolina. I started doing clinical work there in the free clinic while continuing my education both in and outside the classroom. I'm currently taking distance clients via phone and Skype and am also available for in person consultations in Seattle and the surrounding area..
It was a presentation in college that started me on this herbal path. A young lady came in with all these randomly sized containers with hand written labels along with bags of ground plant materials and a tea kettle. By the end of the presentation as she discussed these little bottles filled with 'weeds' and all their qualities, constituents, and 'magic', I was hooked. I remember studying alkaloids and glycosides in chemistry but that fact that these little weeds contained such components that can interact with our cellular structures and alter their function was mind altering for me.
After college in 2008, I decided grad school was in order so I traveled up to Maryland where I received my Masters and then continued my studies down in North Carolina. I started doing clinical work there in the free clinic while continuing my education both in and outside the classroom. I'm currently taking distance clients via phone and Skype and am also available for in person consultations in Seattle and the surrounding area..
Gone to the dogs
When I say my life went to the dogs I mean that quite literally. I started volunteering at the local shelter when I was in high school. When I went away to college I volunteered at the local shelter there as well as the local wildlife sanctuary. I have worked for many years at doggie day cares, grooming facilities and specialty veterinary hospitals. I have been a foster mom to many dogs in search of forever homes with a particular affinity for senior and special needs dogs.
My obsession with senior dogs in particular started with an old Bluetick Coonhound named Scarlett. Thanks to her I spent many years as a manager and educator for a local, independent natural pet food retailer. I became immersed in the world of pet nutrition and helped customer after customer find the optimal diet for their four-legged companion. I've decided this still wasn't enough. I have more recently taken courses in supporting canine nutrition, making complete and balanced diets for a variety of dogs and using herbs to support healthy systems in our canine companions. This path is truly my passion. We have more control over our own health and that of our four-legged companions than we realize. I'm here to help individuals support the best possible nutrition and supplements for their canine companions.
My obsession with senior dogs in particular started with an old Bluetick Coonhound named Scarlett. Thanks to her I spent many years as a manager and educator for a local, independent natural pet food retailer. I became immersed in the world of pet nutrition and helped customer after customer find the optimal diet for their four-legged companion. I've decided this still wasn't enough. I have more recently taken courses in supporting canine nutrition, making complete and balanced diets for a variety of dogs and using herbs to support healthy systems in our canine companions. This path is truly my passion. We have more control over our own health and that of our four-legged companions than we realize. I'm here to help individuals support the best possible nutrition and supplements for their canine companions.
