Newsletter Signup »
HERBSTALK
  • Home
  • Mission + Values
  • Apply
  • Event Info
  • About
  • Virtual Wintergreen
  • Press
    • Kind Words
  • Blog
  • Community Partners
  • Contact

Meet the Herbalist: Constanza Leal Woods of Jardín Secreto

5/5/2018

 
We are very happy to bring back our popular "Meet the Herbalist" series where we profile the teachers, vendors and participants of Herbstalk. Today we are sharing an interview with Constanza Leal Woods, herbalist, teacher, herb grower and crafter. She will be traveling to Herbstalk from her home in Colombia to offer our first class in Spanish -- La Rueda Medicinal: La Luna y Las Plantas -- which we could not be more thrilled about! We are honored to share some of her story with you.
Picture
How did you first get interested in plants or herbalism?

Cómo comenzó tu interés en las plantas o herbalismo?
​

From a very young age I have been madly in love with nature.  Growing up in South America, I was fortunate to spend my childhood summers in the countryside. I remember reveling in the quiet moments outside, staring at bugs, flowers and obsessing over moon rises, sunsets and stars. Nature always felt like home and plants have been a huge inspiration for me since I can remember.

I didn’t dive into herbal medicine until I was much older though, when I had a terrible bike accident that left me with a compound fracture. I was hesitant to take the extreme pain meds prescribed to me and I was anxious to speed up my healing so I looked into healing naturally.  Immediately after being released from the hospital I was introduced to comfrey which helped mend my bones, along with a dozen other plants, a diet high in calcium, vitamin K, and healing circles. I was told I wouldn't be able to walk for a few months and certainly not bike for at least a year so it was incredible to watch my body put itself back together so quickly!  I was back to my regular life after a month and a half, and felt that plant allies, energy, love and care from loved ones had everything to do with it. I never came back from the plant world after that.

~~~

Desde muy pequeña vivo enamorada de la naturaleza. Me crié en Sudamérica entonces tuve la fortuna de pasar los veranos de infancia en el campo. Recuerdo que me deleitaba en los momentos silenciosos a la intemperie, me perdía mirando insectos, flores, Lunas, estrellas y atardeceres.  Siempre sentí a la naturaleza como un segundo hogar, y desde que tengo memoria ella ha sido para mi una gran inspiración.

A pesar de todo eso, no me profundice en el mundo de las plantas medicinales hasta que era mucho mayor, cuando tuve un terrible accidente en bicicleta que me dejo con una fractura expuesta. Dentro del caos y trauma que fue ese accidente, no quería tomarme las pastillas fuertes que me recetaron para el dolor, y estaba ansiosa de recuperarse rápidamente entonces comencé a investigar cómo sanar de forma natural.  Apenas salí del hospital conocí a Confrey, planta que me ayudó a cicatrizar los huesos fracturados, más otra docena de plantas, Vitamina K, círculos energéticos y calorcito de seres queridos.

Los doctores me dijeron que no iba a poder caminar por algunos meses y definitivamente no andar en bici por un año, entonces fue increíble ver lo rápido que mi cuerpo se recuperó! Volví a mi vida normal después de un mes y medio del accidente y siento que las plantas, la energía, amor y cariño de mi familia tuvo todo que ver con eso. Desde ese instante nunca volvi atras, y me quede para siempre en el mundo de sanación con las Plantas.



What is the main focus of your work with Jardín Secreto?

Cual es el principal enfoque de tu trabajo con el herbalismo?


Lately my main focus has been the relationship between plant medicine, the divine feminine, archetypes and the Moon.  I am mesmerized by the overlap in this ancestral knowledge and how powerful it can be to honor these ancient ways of healing.

Regarding my products, the focus can vary because it depends on what we are currently growing in the land and what I can source locally.  Almost everything I make are things I believe to be either essential in our household or healthier versions of what we love, such as homemade artisanal chocolate sweetened with raw honey or herbal medicinal sodas.

~~~


Últimamente mi enfoque ha sido la relación que existe entre la medicina de las plantas, el sagrado femenino, los arquetipos y la Luna.  Estoy anonadada con todas las coincidencias que existen dentro de la sabiduría ancestral y lo poderoso que es honrar estas herramientas de sanación.

En cuanto a mis productos, el enfoque varía porque depende en que estoy cultivando en el momento y que materias primas locales están disponibles.  Casi todo lo que hago son cosas que considero esencial en el hogar o versiones saludables de cositas que adoramos, como por ejemplo chocolate artesanal o refrescos de plantas medicinales.
Picture
Picture
Do you have a favorite plant or two at the moment?
​

Tienes alguna planta favorita o dos en este momento?


I am lucky to live in an area where Elder is incredibly abundant and flowering almost all year long. I have been wildcrafting its medicine and coming home utterly in love, with baskets full of blossoms or berries. I have been extracting its medicine into tinctures, oxymels, infused honey, tea blends and even making wine with its wild yeast! Feeling elder-rich to have this wonderful old friend, sharing its medicine, wisdom and lore with me.

~~~


Tengo mucha suerte de vivir en una zona donde el Sauco es increíblemente abundante y en flor casi todo el año.  Lo he estado cosechando de forma silvestre y llegando a casa feliz de la vida con canastos llenos de su medicina. He estado extrayendo frutos y flores de Sauco en tinturas, miel, oxymels, infusiones y hasta haciendo vinos con su levadura silvestre!  Sintiéndome muy afortunada de tener a esta poderosa planta compartiendo su medicina y sabiduría conmigo.
Picture
Can you share some of your go-to herbal books or favorite herbalists/teachers that you look to for inspiration?

Puedes compartir algunos libros o yerbateros/maestros favoritos que te inspiran?


Attending the School of Gaia in Vermont and learning with Sage Maurer was a life changing experience for me.  Sage is a master herbalist whose wisdom I try to channel when I teach, speak, harvest and make plant medicine. Sage taught me among many things, the bonds and relationships we develop with the plant spirit world when we open our hearts and minds to receive their medicine. I cannot thank her enough for the sacred teachings and inspiring me in so many ways, always.

Susun Weed is another consistent source of inspiration for me. I absolutely adore her wild, fiery, passionate spirit and I can only hope to be half as cool and plant-nourished when I am her age! I highly recommend all of her books.

My go-to book for information and specific health problems has been The Complete Herbal Tutor by Anne McIntyre.  It is a great resource to have handy, written simply and straightforward by an amazing herbalist with 30+ years of experience. Whenever I’m in doubt this has been a great resource for me.


~~~

Una experiencia que me cambió la vida fue haber asistido a la Escuela de Gaia en Vermont y aprender con Sage Maurer.  Sage es una maestra de una sabiduría imponente, y trato de canalizar su energía cada vez que enseño, hablo, cosecho o hago medicina.  Sage me enseño, dentro de muchas cosas, la conexión y relación que creamos con el mundo espiritual de las plantas cuando abrimos nuestra mente y corazón para recibir su medicina. Estoy eternamente agradecida por las enseñanzas sagradas que me brindó y por inspirarme de tantas maneras, hoy y siempre.

Susun Weed es otro ser de constante inspiración para mi.  Adoro su espíritu salvaje y apasionado, y espero algun dia ser la mitad de lo sabia que es ella.  Recomiendo todos sus libros.

Un libro que utilizo cada vez que necesito informacion especifica es The Complete Herbal Tutor de Anne McIntyre.  Es un muy buen recurso para tener a mano, escrito de forma simple y clara por una maestra yerbatera con más de 30 años de experiencia.  Cada vez que tengo alguna duda, este libro me ayuda muchísimo.



Do you have any advice that would like to share with budding herbalists?

Qué consejo le darías a yerbateras(os) que están recién comenzando?

Go deep with one plant at a time! And don’t overwhelm yourself memorizing dozens of properties for hundreds of plants. I believe we truly get to know a plant ally when we invest time experiencing their medicine in many forms, bonding and seeking to understand the energetics.

​The best advice I ever got was that it is best to know ten plants really well, than it is to know a hundred just on the surface.

~~~

Mi consejo es, ¡profundiza con una planta a la vez! y no te compliques memorizando propiedades de cientos de plantas. En mi opinión siento que creamos una gran conexión con cada planta cuando le dedicamos tiempo a su medicina, tomándola de diferentes maneras, profundizando con su energía, familiarizándonos con ella.
​
El mejor consejo que yo alguna vez recibí fue, es mejor saber diez plantas en profundidad, en vez de saber cien plantas por encimita.


Picture
Picture
Are there any non-herbal hobbies or interests that you love doing?

Tienes algún pasatiempo o interés no relacionado con las plantas?

Growing food, Permaculture and looking at soil microbiology have become very dear to my heart.
My husband and I live in the beautiful mountains of Antioquia, Colombia, where we are very fortunate to be able to grow food all year long.  Sowing seeds, tending to and harvesting plants is such a huge source of gratitude for us!

Soil rejuvenation through microbiology goes hand in hand with our farming goals, so for
the last year and a half I have been studying with Elaine Ingham (Soil Food Web scientist), learning and swooning about soil microbiology, compost teas and extracts.

~~~


Me apasiona cultivar mi propia comida, la Permacutura y la microbiología en suelos. Mi esposo y yo vivimos en las hermosas montañas del Oriente Antioqueño, Colombia, donde tenemos la suerte de poder cultivar todo el año.  Para mi es una fuente de gratitud absoluta poder plantar semillitas, cuidar y cosechar las plantas de forma cotidiana.

La recuperación de suelos a través de la microbiología es algo que está directamente conectado con mi misión en esta Tierra, entonces hace más de un año estoy estudiando con Elaine Ingham (Científica Microbiologa experta de Soil Food Web), aprendiendo mucho y super enamorada de la microbiología, el compostaje y toda su metodología.



What would be your top five deserted island herbs? (the only herbs you could have around while stuck on a deserted island)

Cuales son tus top cinco hierbas si estuvieras atrapada en una isla?

Tough question! I would have to go with Dandelion, Yarrow, Nettle, Elder and Passionflower, as they are all essential herbs in my medicine cabinet.

~~~


​Que pregunta tan difícil! Si tuviera que escoger necesitaría tener Diente de León, Milenrama, Ortiga, Sauco y Pasiflora, ya que todas son absolutamente esenciales en mi botiquín. 


Finally, can you tell us what made you want to be a part of Herbstalk?

Por fin, que te hizo querer ser parte de Herbstalk?

A friend of mine introduced me to Herbstalk some years ago and as I entered the event I was blown away to learn that a space like that even existed! It felt as though I was in a dream, where everything I loved merged into one place.

This year I am lucky to be in the states during Herbstalk, and I wanted to push myself to be involved in a way that I haven’t been before.

I have been teaching the Women’s Medicine Wheel to my local community in Antioquia, intertwined with the wisdom of the plants and medicine making. I felt that giving this class in Spanish at Herbstalk would be a way to give back to my fellow Latino Community in the area and to root for inclusivity and diversity.
  
Our mothers and grandmothers have always worked with plants and I hope to channel their wisdom in this incredible opportunity I was given.

~~~

Una amiga me llevó a Herbstalk años atrás y cuando entre a ese espacio casi me caigo de la impresión.  Estaba asombrada al descubrir que un evento como Herbstalk existe! Sentí como si estuviera en un sueño, donde todo lo que adoro se une en un solo lugar.

Este año tengo la suerte de estar en e.e.u.u. durante Herbstalk y estoy feliz de ser parte de Herbstalk de una manera que no lo he sido antes.

En Colombia he estado enseñando la Rueda Medicinal de la Mujer, mezclado con la sabiduría de las plantas, fases de Luna, y talleres de metodología de como hacer medicina de forma consciente.
Siento que dar esta clase en Español en Herbstalk es una manera de entregar a la Comunidad Latina, de honrar la inclusividad y diversidad.
​
Nuestras Madres y Abuelas Latinas siempre han trabajado con las plantas, espero canalizar su sabiduría en esta hermosa oportunidad que se me ha dado.

Picture

Thank you so much for sharing some of your beautiful story with us, Constanza!

You can learn more about her inspired work by following her Instagram account 
@SomosJardinSecreto. Her Herbstalk class "La Rueda Medicinal: La Luna y Las Plantas"  will be offered on Sunday, June 3rd. View the complete class schedule here.

Comments are closed.

    Archives

    October 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    November 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    October 2017
    August 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    January 2013

    Categories

    All
    Angelica
    Anxiety
    Aromatherapy
    Artichoke
    Autumn
    Ayni Institute
    Ayurveda
    Bath Salts
    Becoming An Herbalist
    Beltane
    Bitters
    Black Cohosh
    Blue Vervain
    Botanical Crafts
    Botanical Dyeing
    Cacao
    Calendula
    Cancer
    Canine Nutrition
    Cannabis
    Chaga
    Chamomile
    Chickweed
    Chinese Medicine
    Cleavers
    Climate Change
    Community
    Connection
    Cultivating
    Curandismo
    Dandelion
    Deserts
    Digestion
    Doshas
    Earth Healing
    Ecological Herbalism
    Eco-printing
    Educational Gardens
    Elder
    Eleuthero
    Elixirs
    Energetics
    Essential Oils
    Ethnobotany
    Events
    Evergreens
    Fall
    Farming
    Flower Essences
    Folk Traditions
    Food Plants
    Free Clinics
    Fungi
    Gardening
    General
    Gentian
    Ghost Pipe
    Gifts
    Goldenrod
    Groundwork Somerville
    Growing Herbs
    Guide To Herbstalk
    Hawthorn
    Healer's Path
    Herbal Education
    Herbal Energetics
    Herbalism
    Herbal Marketplace
    Herbal Oils
    Herbal Salves
    Herbs For Pets
    Herbs Of The Enneagram
    Hibiscus
    History Of Herbstalk
    Holidays
    Holy Basil
    Honey
    Imbolc
    Immunity
    Interviews
    Lammas
    Liver
    Living With An Herbalist
    Local Classes
    Local Plants
    Lyme
    Marshmallow
    Meadowsweet
    Medicinal Mushrooms
    Medicinal Uses
    Meet The Herbalist
    Meet The Herb Farm
    Menstruation
    Milky Oats
    Mimosa
    Mint
    Motherwort
    Mugwort
    Mullein
    Mutual Aid
    Natural Dyeing
    Nettles
    New England
    Nourishing Herbs
    Oat
    Passionflower
    Permaculture
    Phytochemistry
    Pink Lady Slipper
    Plant ID
    Plant-of-the-year
    Plant Profile
    Podcast
    Poisonous Plants
    Psychological First Aid
    Queen Anne's Lace
    Recipes
    Reciprocity
    Reishi
    Rhodiola
    Rose
    Rosemary
    Samhain
    Schisandra
    Seasonal Cycles
    Seasons
    Seeds
    Shen Tonics
    Skullcap
    Snow
    Social Justice
    Spring
    St. John's Wort
    Summer
    Survival Herbs
    Tea Blends
    Tincturing
    Tonics
    Traditional Chinese Medicine
    Trauma
    Travel
    Tree Medicine
    Tulsi
    Urban Gardening
    Urtication
    Vata
    Vervain
    Violet
    Water Hemlock
    Wheel Of The Year
    Wildcrafting
    Wild Edibles
    Winter
    Wintergreen
    Yarrow

    RSS Feed

Copyright © Herbstalk 2020