Our Story - Preserving the Legacy of the Wild Way

We are a husband and wife team with a passion for gardening, making things by hand and crafting new herbal concoctions in the kitchen. Wild Wood & Herbs was born out of a desire to share our creations and make a living at it too! We believe that preserving the natural state of a thing (be it fresh herbs or a chunk of tree) while carefully coaxing out its unique character brings forth products with living energy. We believe marketing should be transparent and truthful and that sustainability should be practiced in all areas of business. We make our products on our homestead using locally salvaged wood and organic herbs that we have grown ourselves or purchased from conscientious herb distributors. We upcycle packaging whenever possible by making our own boxes from recycled cardboard. When you purchase from us you are helping to support a family devoted to the preservation and sustainable use of the wild land and all its bounty.

Sean has had a passion for woodworking for over 20 years. In the early years he started hand carving wooden spoons in the basement of our apartment and giving them away. Before long the basement was full of reclaimed wood he collected for furniture making. When he got his hands on a lathe and began turning bowls, a fire was lit, he had found the thing he really loves doing! Wild Wood bowls are the result of an artist letting go of perceived "security" and pouring his energy into the creative process within him. Sean uses locally sourced logs salvaged from logging operations, tree removal companies and individuals who have taken down or lost a tree in a storm. He mills his own blanks and loves discovering the hidden treasures beneath the bark. He turns "green" meaning the wood is still wet when he creates his pieces. This process results in a truly organic look that cannot be exactly replicated! The bowls will not be perfectly round, and the edges will not be perfectly straight, the wood shifts during the drying process resulting in uniquely natural works of art. Sometimes hairline cracks form during the drying process, these will be stabilized and clearly depicted in the item's photographs and description. No two pieces are the same and we like it that way! 

I (Rachel) have been an herb grower and gardener for over 15 years but the acquisition of enough land to expand our gardens into the permaculture paradise of my dreams has been an incredible blessing! It is the nature of herbs to multiply and the nature of the gardener to let them. After more than 8 years of multiplication and pouring over herb books, recipes and formularies I have crafted a collection of salves, perfume oils, soaps and herbal tea blends that I feel confident offering up for sale. Herbs that I am not growing myself I purchase from Mountain Rose Herbs, an organic supplier out of Oregon. I make all of the herbal oils for my products myself in small batches from freshly dried herbs for maximum potency. All of my perfume blends are crafted with pure essential oils, no synthetic fragrances ever!

Our kids take part in this family operation as students, collectors, taste testers and makers. We believe it is important to impart to them an appreciation for the Wild Way. Numerous friends, mentors, teachers and family members have helped and encouraged us along the trail and their knowledge and support continues to grow and make us who we are. We are thankful! We look forward to the journey ahead...