Today we’d like to introduce you to Michelle Jones.
Hi Michelle, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I have always enjoyed being involved with nature and have had a strong desire to help people but had never figured out a way to do both. While enrolled in a Cornell Small Farms Program, the class zoomed in with a variety of farmers to hear their stories. At one class, the farmer was an herbalist who grew her herbs and I knew immediately that is what I wanted to do.
Within six weeks, I was enrolled in the Family Herbalist Program under Phyllis Light at the Appalachian Center for Natural Health. During my second year of herbalist training, there is a focus on helping your community. My community, like everywhere, was dealing with the Covid epidemic. I decided I would focus on the stress that Covid was creating. So, I started making tinctures and herbal teas that would help alleviate some of the symptoms stress causes such as not sleeping, inflammation, not enough energy, and boosting the immune system.
Friends and family became my guinea pigs and once I had products that tasted good and worked, I decided to start a small business online and at the Hernando Famers Market. Over the next three years, I completed three herbalist certificates and I am now working on earning the necessary hours to become a registered herbalist with the American Herbalist Guild.
We all face challenges, but looking back, would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Time struggles–not enough hours in the day. To be allowed to sell at the Hernando Farmer’s Market, I had to increase my mushroom production from hobby to retail.
The red tape and paperwork of starting a business.
We’ve been impressed with Root for You!, but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
Root for You! specializes in creating small batches of hand-crafted herbal teas. Each herb in a tea blend is selected for a certain purpose. I try to use only organic herbs in our blends and tinctures.
Additionally, I grow a few of the herbs in my backyard and I have converted my grown children’s bathroom into a mushroom farm. I am extremely proud of my Jointease tea blend because of the help it has provided for so many of my customers.
Maybe what sets me apart, is my first concern is for the person and my willingness to share information because I want that person to have control of his/her wellness.
What’s next?
Yes, big changes are coming–I hope to own more acreage in the upcoming year and have more products available online.
Contact Info:
- Website: root4uteas.com
- Instagram: @root4uteas
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/root4uteas/
