Return To Our Roots
Welcome to the outdoor Apothecary
The Outdoor Apothecary inspires naturally minded people to live with the seasons, become self-reliant, connect with nature, and protect their health through herbal living. We love celebrating “the old ways” of living to bring blessings to ourselves, our families, communities and to Mother Earth. We offer articles, tips, recipes and ideas on practical self-reliance, simple herbal remedies, foraging, gardening and reconnecting ourselves to our natural world and sacred ancestral traditions.
About Me: Barbi
I’m a bookish “earth mother” who loves to read and walk in the woods. I’m a wildcrafter & herbalist, avid gardener, collector of nature specimens, and field guide enthusiast.
I spent most of my childhood exploring our natural world and I’m now devoted to reviving the ancestral wisdom of plants as medicine and healers. I love spending hours outside tending to my gardens, gathering plants and herbs, being in nature,and learning skills of self-reliance like homemade soapmaking.
I give deep thanks and gratitude to my Chaubunagungamaug Nipmuck family for inspiring me to honor our Mother Earth by dedicating myself to studying and sharing ancient lifeways and reviving the wonderous arts of plant medicine and nature connectedness. I sincerely hope you’ll join me on this journey.
Rewild Your Life
Connecting with nature is more than a walk through the woods. It’s about being conscious of seasonal changes, becoming attuned with the plants around us, and relearning the nature-language we’ve forgotten through our modern lives. We believe that incorporating the “old ways” of doing things, growing and harvesting our own food, and having a do-it-yourself spirit, promotes self-sufficiency and is an important part of leading a healthier lifestyle, closer to nature.
We hope to provide you with a foundation to rewild yourself through aligning with the cycles of the seasons and to help you in discovering the energies of the seasonal cycles.
Nourish Yourself with Nature
Free 29-page Guidebook to Celebrating the Seasons
A Guided Workbook to help you celebrate nature’s seasonal cycles with mindfulness and meaningful intentions – our gift to you! Learn how to live a mindful nature-connected life.
Recent Posts
5 Benefits of Ginger for a Cold Plus an Easy Recipe for Ginger Tea
Try ginger for a cold when you feel like you might be getting sick. It has many medicinal properties, which help the body fight off those viruses that can cause upper respiratory infections.
Winter Sowing in Milk Jugs: The Easy Way To Start Seeds
Have you ever wanted to start your garden early? Well now you can, with the practice of winter sowing in milk jugs. You’ll be able to stay productive through the winter months and then hit the ground running as spring arrives.
Wild Foraged Pine Resin Salve: A Healing Earth Medicine
Made with sacred medicine and infused with the scent of pine, this salve is a healer. It can be used for everything from soothing insect bites to healing wounds. Learn how to make a healing Earth medicine salve by blending pine resin with other healing ingredients.
All About The Full Wolf Moon: The First of the Year’s 13 Moons
In January, the first full Moon of the year is known as the Full Wolf Moon. We hope you will observe it with reverence and wonder. Learn more about this amazing celestial body!
Homemade Bird Food: 3 Fun Recipes to Keep Backyard Birds Happy
3 Homemade Bird Food recipes to keep your feathered friends happy, healthy, and active during the coldest time of year.
Bee Gardening: 4 Essential Elements for Happy, Healthy Bees
In order to support bee populations, you need to ensure their habitat. Bees need water, shelter, pollen, and pesticide control if they are going to thrive. Follow these four easy steps for bee gardening in your own backyard!
11 Powerful Ways to Connect With Your Ancestral Lineage
By going within to discover your own ancestral lineage, you may surprise yourself with what you find out. By connecting to your ancestors in this way, you may find that incredible source of belonging that has been missing your whole life. It is an essential practice for us today, a way to heal our lost connection to the earth and each other. It can help us realize a love for where we are on this planet that we may have never thought possible before.
Easy Pine Needle Cough Syrup: Only 3 Ingredients
Make this truly amazing and simple pine needle cough syrup, in just a matter of minutes! This natural remedy is made by mixing a super concentrated pine tea with raw, local honey. The result is a thick, soothing and delicious syrup that can be used for both adults and children.
Bee Gardens: 12 Essential Native Plants Bees Love
You can make a huge difference in the lives of bees by planting bee gardens. Here are some tips for good bee-friendly gardening.
8 Easy Ways For Celebrating Twelfth Night: The End of the Solstice Season
Celebrating Twelfth Night is all about the end of the Solstice Season and welcoming back the light. Here are 8 easy ways for celebrating Twelfth Night.
An Easy Wassail Recipe For Yuletide
Try this easy traditional recipe for wassail and share it with friends while celebrating Twelfth Night or all 12 Day of Yule.
How To Wrap Gifts 6 Ways With Sustainable, Handmade, and Natural Elements
I’ll teach you how to wrap gifts in an eco-friendly and creative way this holiday season using handmade and wild, foraged adornments. This is a fun and sustainable way to create beautifully wrapped gifts. Replace the traditional red and green with a bit of handmade charm.
Honoring the 4 Sacred Evergreens of the Winter Solstice
The plants of the winter solstice play an integral role in this seasonal celebration that marks the turning of the Wheel of the Year. Evergreens such as conifers, holly and ivy, and mistletoe have their own folklore associated with them. These plants can be used to honor the season, celebrate its wisdom, and return home.
How to Make a Wreath in 6 Easy Steps: A Wild, Winter Solstice Symbol
If you’ve been wondering how to make a wreath step by step, look no further. A wild, foraged, evergreen wreath is far simpler than you can imagine—and it only takes a little creativity to stretch a basic wreath into a masterpiece.
Sit Spot: A Sacred Place To Observe the Rhythms of Nature
Learn how a Sit Spot can help you deepen your connection with the natural world. By making a commitment to visit your sit spot regularly, you can begin to feel at home in the universe and strengthen your bond with the earth and all life.
Recipe for Cinnamon Ornaments: The Perfect Addition to an Old-Fashioned Holiday
Creating an old-fashioned Christmas has never been easier, especially with this recipe for cinnamon ornaments! These cinnamon ornaments are so simple to make and are the perfect item to add to your holiday decor collection.
Dried Orange Slices for Natural Homemade Ornaments
This easy, step-by-step tutorial on how to make dried orange slices for ornaments will help you create beautiful homemade Christmas decorations that are sure to bring charm and beauty to your Christmas decor.
Celebrate the Shortest Day of the Year with 7 Rituals to Welcome the Light
The winter solstice is a time to tap into your ancestral memory, connect with the earth, and celebrate the light that is returning to our world. Here are seven illuminating rituals to help you celebrate the shortest day of the year.
Best Holiday Gifts for Herbalists, Nature Lovers, and Wildcrafters
There’s still time to pick up the perfect holiday gifts for herbalists, nature lovers, and wildcrafters in your life! This list is packed with goodies that will appeal to anyone who enjoys spending time outdoors. From books on herbalism and foraging to herb grinders and binoculars, there’s something for everyone on your list.
Root Cellar: Preserving a Bountiful Harvest
Using a root cellar is a great way to preserve your garden’s bounties. A root cellar makes it easy to keep your food on hand for as long as possible, making it possible to preserve home-grown goodness long term, even through the winter.
Brew this Amazing Immune Boosting Tea for Winter Wellness
Don’t wait until you’re sick to try to build up your immunity! This immune boosting tea is made with homegrown and foraged herbs, which are known to aid in the body’s natural defenses. It’s perfect for cold and flu season, but can also be enjoyed year-round.
Shop Seasonal Guides & Workbooks
Digital DownloadsSamhain Celebration Guide
$8.99 Add to cartThis lovely and functional Samhain Celebration Guide bundle is perfect for planning your days throughout the Harvest season. Includes 49 pages to connect you with the energy of the season of Samhain. Reflections. Rituals. Magical Correspondences.
Digital DownloadsMabon Celebration Guide
$8.99 Add to cartThis lovely and functional Mabon Celebration Guide bundle is perfect for planning your days throughout the Harvest season. Includes 49 pages to connect you with the energy of the season of Mabon. Reflections. Rituals. Magical Correspondences.
Digital DownloadsLughnasadh Celebration Guide
$8.99 Add to cartThis lovely and functional Lughnasadh Celebration Guide bundle is perfect for planning your days throughout the Harvest season. Includes 49 pages to connect you with the energy of the season of Lughnasadh. Reflections. Rituals. Magical Correspondences.
Digital DownloadsLitha Celebration Guide
$8.99 Add to cartThis lovely and functional Litha Celebration Guide bundle is perfect for planning your days throughout the Summer Solstice season. Includes 50 pages to connect you with the energy of the season of Litha. Reflections. Rituals. Magical Correspondences.
BeltaneBeltane Celebration Guide
$8.99 Add to cartThis lovely and functional Beltane Celebration Guide bundle is perfect for planning your days throughout the Beltane season. Includes 50 pages to connect you with the energy of the season of Beltane. Reflections. Rituals. Magical Correspondences.
Digital DownloadsOstara Celebration Guide
$8.99 Add to cartThis lovely and functional Ostara celebration guide bundle is perfect for planning your days throughout the Ostara season. Includes 49 pages to connect you with the energy of the season of Ostara. Reflections. Rituals. Magical Correspondences.
Digital DownloadsImbolc Celebration Guide
$8.99 Add to cartThis lovely and functional Imbolc celebration guide bundle is perfect for planning your days throughout the Imbolc season. Includes 47 pages to connect you with the energy of the season of Imbolc. Reflections. Rituals. Magical Correspondences.
Digital DownloadsYule Celebration Guide
$6.99 Add to cartThe Yule Celebration Guide is the perfect companion for celebrating the winter solstice, the dark half of the year. In it, you will find history, rituals, recipes, and journaling pages all related to this holiday. In this guide you’ll find herb and crystal correspondences, planner pages and lots more.
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