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.	Our First Liquid Extracts by, Michael Volchok We started to make liquid herbal extracts (called tinctures) very early on. Some folks in Canada wanted extracts made from the fresh plant (not dried plant). The herbs could not be sent into Canada fresh, so they asked us to make the extract for them. They taught us how and we just went ahead and made them what they wanted. Japa took an interest in this process and became our 'lab manager' overseeing all production and bookkeeping. He finally sold us his share of the operation when he turned fifteen. A little too early to retire for most of us but it was inspiring. We have been making extracts for over fifteen years, and now make over 200 different fresh and dry plant extracts. Bark, root, seed, flower, berry...all can be extracted and have their medicinal properties preserved for several years in grain alcohol and water. It doesn't always taste too good but you can get the medicine down fast and often beats nursing a bitter cup of tea.