INTERVIEW BY EMMA TEMPEST

Plant and Share Director Sharyn Ogg begins a series of blogs about Plant and Share and her garden.

Thank you for sharing today Sharyn… Can you begin by telling  us why you love Plant and Share?

It allows me to be “a maker.” I love the wide variety of activities involved in Plant & Share, such as growing and working with fresh herbs, landscape design, photography, graphic design, health and well being, researching best practice, caring and helping others.

What are the five key aspects you wish to instil in your customers?

• That simple fresh natural skincare is amazing for you body and soul.
• Sharing the tradition of foraging for our medicine and skincare.
• Don’t judge a book by its cover, sometimes the toughest “weeds” have the most powerful healing and resilience qualities for us.  For example yarrow, chickweed, plantain, St Johns wort and rosehip, to name a few of my favourites!
• Celebrating the abundance nature provides.
• That you too can make your own skincare from your herbal garden.

What has been important to you since day one? 

Sourcing a mix of organically grown and spray-free ingredients; locally whenever possible. This ensures small fresh batches are made to order or seasonally. Growing what I can, being part of the the whole process from planting the seeds to making and labelling the products. Safety first. Honouring the wisdom from our ancestors, past and present herbalists and healers.

Tell us about your philosophy for Plant and Share?

Our philosophy and practice stems stems from herbs, tinctures, essential oils and hydrosols for example that can help treat and care for people. I consider what will give the highest source of integrity, and then take all the actions required in healing at the most basic levels; for stimulation, restoration, combative, maintenance, hydration, and soothing.  It starts when I see or hear of a need in my family or others, I research the chemical profiles of plants to develop products with active ingredients.  I spend hours lovingly designing, labelling and wrapping each product; it is really creative and satisfying too!

Tell us about the Plant and Share studio.

It’s such fun!  It is my zone to be creative, it can get a little crazy in there will all the different projects I juggle but it all seems to tie together. I have reflective and contemplative moments, frustrating trial and error times and Wow! Yes! times.

Is there a constant daily challenge for Plant and Share?

How to achieve things simply and beautifully.

Are you proud of Plant and Share?

I am proud yet it’s not really about pride for me. I have so much respect for the traditional methods, the plants and for people. I have had wonderful experiences, and loads of support from family, the community and teachers. This has given me the confidence to keep doing what I love. The positive effects are showing as health benefits for my customers- it’s been years of making, trial and development.

Where to now for Plant and Share?  

Well, still making, making making and in doing that sharing the range with families and travellers. I am being asked to teach the practice and run workshops a lot lately and we are currently developing our property so that is possible.  It’s evolving and that is really exciting!