Michael's Stories | Martha's Stories | Shalom's Stories

President & Co-Founder Michael Volchok shares his stories

Today: Michael relaxing in a field of Dandelions
Birth of Blessed Herbs Twenty years ago and struggling to support 4 children, we were asked to pick Mullien and bought groceries with the $30... Read more. I like the woods The thoughts of humankind, the pressures of our small mindedness and the vibrations of our busy lives have not been laid down there... Read more. My first experience with herbs All the infection left his leg and the wound drained naturally, I became a believer... Read more. My personal pain and hope. I have lived most of my life with a deep uneasiness that never allowed me any real lasting peace. Yet, I am finding that I have hope, despite these old and crusted patterns of behavior. Read more. More stories by Michael - Drying our first herbs - Searching for true species - Washing roots - Our first powder machine - Our first liquid extracts - About my wife Martha - Pricing herbs - Advice on buying herbs - Handling & Storing herbs - Where we find our herbs - Environmental Concerns - Where we are today - Go lightly , Go simply.	About My Wife Martha by, Michael Volchok Martha has been fighting infections, body pains, broken ribs, immune disorders, disease of the blood and various illnesses almost all her life. She fell off a horse when she was 12 and had her intestines and liver crushed when the horse stepped on her as it got up. This accident alone almost killed her and certainly the interior scar tissues have only complicated her other health problems. As a family, we have been dealing with her pain and suffering all these years and it has made us all bond close together and has strengthened us all in various ways. It hasn't always been easy but it truly has been a blessing and sometimes in disguise. Through all of these illnesses Martha has primarily relied on natural healing remedies: acupuncture, meditation, liquid diet, all raw food diet, wheat grass, colonics, internal cleansing, prayer, fasting, saunas, massage, flower remedies, herbs, nature and very huge doses of love. She has stayed positive, optimistic and always with a smile on her face and good and kind word to everyone. Her example of how to quietly suffer, all the while still looking and listening to the needs of others has not gone unnoticed. She continues to be an inspiration to all who meet her and always has good insight into the healing needs of others. When you watch someone else remain so peaceful and loving in a situation where you know you would be the biggest whiner in the crowd if it were you, does something to a person. Slowly but surely, all of us who know her continue to try to raise our bar of behavior, stretching to be a little better, a little more patient and kind to others we come in contact with. It is hard to allow oneself the so called freedom to "do one's thing" when you see your own selfishness as it stands so bare and exposed in the light of someone who always cares. You are simply drawn to the love as is a moth to the flame. May we all ask for greater strength to do the very best we can. It is time we grow up and recognize our call is to give and to love and to care, shaking off the tendencies to look out for ourselves and miss the very moment life is presenting us with, the opportunity to taste and see how love is in our midst. Is this preaching? I don't know. But being as we are all one human family, it is a crying shame we have not done a better job of making life more bearable for all. I only know we should really try to remember that each step we take for goodness is a step towards holiness and each of those steps lead to all that is good. You want to like yourself more? Like someone else a little more. Each and every day look for an opportunity to extend a kind word or gesture to someone else...it will make your day.