Hi! I'm Kristen, a cookbook author, photographer, and the gluten-free vegetarian food blogger behind our sister site, MOON and spoon and yum.
I'm a lifelong nature lover and a self-taught herbalist with a functional nutrition certification from mindbodygreen. I started Schisandra and Bergamot as a place to share herbal and edible flower recipes, along with DIY skincare, soap, candles, and other handmade projects.
How I Got Here
My interest in plants started as a kid, paging through my mom's alternative medicine books. Later, as a young adult working through years of health issues, plants became a big part of how I took care of myself.
In my early 20s, I moved to Arizona and spent a lot of solo time in the wilderness getting to know the local flora and learning to identify and forage plants. In my late 20s, I traveled through Central and South America, studying plants along the way, learning from locals, and writing many of my first plant profiles in my travel journals.
Now, as a mom, I bring what I've learned into everyday life with my family. This site started intuitively and a little spontaneously, and I hope it inspires you to follow your own plant path.
How I Make and Test My Recipes
Whether it's an herbal recipe or a DIY project, I test everything at least three times before it goes live on the site. Many are things I've been making for years, and most have been tried by my family too.
I source ingredients from my own garden and from the places I hike, and when I'm buying dried herbs, I like Mountain Rose Herbs. I've been studying herbs since I was a kid and still do, so every recipe here comes from that ongoing hands-on learning, not just research.
What You'll Find Here
These days, my focus is on herbal and edible flower recipes and DIY projects like skincare, soap, candles, and incense. You'll also find some plant profiles, foraging guides, gardening articles, and nature crafts for kids in the archives.
A Quick Note on Safety
Everything here is for educational and creative purposes and isn't medical advice. Talk with your doctor before using herbs, especially if you're pregnant, nursing, or taking medication. When foraging, never eat or use a plant unless you're certain of its identification. Read the full disclaimer for more.
Features and Work With Me
I'm also a freelance journalist whose articles are syndicated to The Associated Press Wire. My work has been featured in print and online publications including NBC, MSN, Odessa American, Boston Herald, Willow and Sage Magazine (that's me on the cover!), CBS, Forbes, Chicago Sun-Times, Martha Stewart, Elle, Morning AgClips, San Francisco Weekly, Healthline, and Seattle Times. You can see more of my work on my Muck Rack profile.
I've worked with brands such as Mountain Rose Herbs, Pacific Resources International, Naturacentric, and North Spore.
If you'd like to work together, please reach out!
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