ToadstoolBotanicals

08/27/2022

Some coastal foraging on Hatteras Island yesterday… but I’m back in the DMV folks! Last chance to join me & the amazing farmers at for a foraging walk & smoke cleansing bundle/tea workshop.
In basket: juniper leaves and berries, pine needles, green pine cones, assorted shells, and baby agave plants

Ticket link: https://gathering-springs-farm.square.site/product/foraging-with-rachel/164?cs=true&cst=custom

08/22/2022

EVENT ANNOUNCEMENT! Foraging and food friends, I am so stoked to be co-hosting a foraging workshop w/ this Sunday, August 28th — swipe for event description and location (DC friends, hit me up if you want tix and a ride out to VA). Link for Tix:
https://gathering-springs-farm.square.site/product/foraging-with-rachel/164?cs=true&cst=custom

07/15/2022

REISHI BABY!! Wow, the bounty of summer is coming in *hot* these last few weeks. It’s the time of year where I could be (have been) harvesting and processing for 12 hours a day and still not get everything done!
Updates:
-I’ve added to my Etsy page finally and will continue to do so, including pressed flowers! DC folks if you want non-Etsy pricing hit me up via DM
-I am also officially a seller on .market , an awesome app that features foragers from all over. You’ll be to find some seasonal fresh products there and i offer free local pickup 🍄
-I have TONS of fresh edible flowers available (DM me), which will be featured at ‘s event this Sunday!
All of these news flashes could have been there own posts but it’s harvest season and this farmer puts off Instagram for weeeeeeeks.
DM me for flowers and berries etc, check out foraged and Etsy and my gardens for what’s growing. New foraging classes coming after my current poison ivy heals! 🍄🌱

06/22/2022

First foraging class in the books! Yesterday was awesome, I hung out with ~18 folks and talked a lot about just a few of the many edible and medicinal plants growing around us! We also covered basic safety & ethics around foraging. Foraging walks and wild plant ID is something I have been doing with friends for years but had never actually hosted a formal class, it was so cool to see the event sell out quickly and have so many folks interested in foraging! We ended the solstice with picking wine berries and it was absolutely lovely. (Insta cut out 2 people on either side of this group pic and I’m so sorry 😭) Keep an eye out for more classes in the coming weeks, and thank you SO much for the wonderful participants yesterday, y’all were a perfect first class 🍄🥰
Photo cred for pics 2 and 3 goes to , thank you so much for snapping!

06/17/2022

EVENT ANNOUNCEMENT! Join me for a chill, informative, and delicious Summer Solstice Foraging Walk this Tuesday in Fort Totten. Link in bio for tickets, we will take a stroll through the woods, learn the basic ethics of a foraging, and I’ll show you some easy and delicious foods that are growing all around DC right now. Come equipped with your bug repellant of choice, a cool drink, and any foraging/plant questions you may have! https://www.eventbrite.com/e/368983067287

05/30/2022

Spent the last few days in Asheville, Great Smoky Mountains, and Tennessee. Asheville gifted us serviceberries and MASSIVE wood ear fungi (like, seriously the biggest most perfect ones I’ve ever seen), and Tennessee made me fall in love with moss all over again. Feeling refreshed & ready to get back to my gardens — Mugwort Workshop is now this Saturday, tix are still available so grab them while they last!

05/17/2022

**Mugwort Workshop POSTPONED to June 4th**
Living and growing food in a group house is wonderful, except when half of us are exposed to COVID among other nasty spring viruses in the same week. Does it feel like everyone in DC possibly has Covid right now or is that just my bubble? In the interest of keeping everyone safe, I am postponing my mugwort workshop to June 4th. For folks who have already purchased tickets, I’ll be in contact with you today to make sure you can attend the rescheduled date or get a full refund!

My hometown is in northern New Jersey, and this weekend I was back there for my grandfather’s funeral. As always I find peace and meaning in the woods… so of course I foraged while up there🌿I took advantage of NJ’s spring season being a solid 2-3 weeks behind DC, and foraged some fresh new mugwort and newly emerged stinging nettles. Came home to absolutely gorgeous strawberries and my final round of spring seeds germinating beautifully.

Last pic is a collection of plants I had the privilege of donating to ‘s community garden for youth in Columbia Heights. My favorite part of growing so many plants is that I get to give so many away and spread the love!

05/06/2022

WORKSHOP ANNOUNCEMENT! (Link in Bio)
Mugwort: Honoring Resilience & Resistance
May 21st, 4pm-6ish

Tickets: https://bit.ly/3vOmkmk

25% of ticket sales will go directly to local abortion funds in critical regions (exact orgs TBA in the next week)

Many herbalists and plant-folk have been thinking about mugwort this week. Even if you weren’t familiar with this amazing herb before, you may have seen snippets about it this week as a potential tool for abortion. Here’s the thing, and I am echoing what tons of (far more experienced) herbalists are saying here: I hope you never have to think about what plants to take to end a pregnancy. I hope I never do. And I would never suggest using mugwort or any other herb as an alternative to abortion under the care of a doctor. Current, legal abortion through medication or a medical procedure is extremely safe and effective, and that’s why everything happening is so terrifying.
The alternatives are not always effective, and oftentimes harmful or fatal.

HOWEVER— mugwort has a lot to teach us. It’s among the first abundant, wild herbs I began learning and using in my herbalism journey, and it features heavily in the tinctures I make (Hoppy Dreams!). It is a beautiful ally to folks for menstruation, pregnancy, and a plethora of other uses. It’s Latin name is artemisia vulgaris, a nod to Artemis, a goddess of the moon, childbirth, and the wilderness.

Mugwort often grows in disturbed places, places that have been uprooted and destroyed repeatedly. It’s a tenacious plant, it often grows at the edges of forests and fields, in the ‘between’ spaces of nature. It prefers full sunlight, but persists in darker conditions. Mugwort knows what resiliency truly means- that we must continue to grow and survive at the margins, and push our way towards light, towards thriving.

All this to say- I am hosting a mugwort workshop in my lovely garden/baby urban farm in North Petworth. Space is limited & I have some sliding scale spots available. Watch this feed in the coming weeks for lots more mugwort info, how it ties into reproductive justice, and what its history can teach us about the struggle for bodily autonomy today.

05/05/2022

Pre-rain harvests … Trying to do a lot more with flowers this year and so far it’s going swimmingly! TOMORROW: new event drop that I am super excited to announce, stay tuned!

04/20/2022

Are we done with frost warnings yet? Black choke berry tree is in full bloom, and my gardens are getting greener by the minute! Keep an eye out for markets and May/June foraging class announcements in the next week 🍄

03/19/2022

TOMORROW I am so thrilled to be joining a selection of other awesome women ANXO District’s market in honor of women’s month! Proceeds to the raffle (which features products from all of the lovely makers at the market) goes to an extremely worthy cause that I’m proud to support,

This is my first market of 2022, believe it or not! I’ll have lots of goodies to get you started for spring, as well as ways to get plugged into upcoming spring classes and newsletters. See you there!

03/01/2022

It’s been a minute! Took a somewhat unintentional break from social media for February, but have been hard at work planning, seeding, and dreaming about the coming growing season. Also had the pleasure of dropping off a custom made salve to as a part of their solidarity CSA add-on! I really loved the formula I made, lovingly called ‘farm hands’, so more of that to come later. Keep an eye out for my March and April schedule drop in the next couple days— there will be markets, a plant sale, and foraging class sign ups coming your way! In the meantime, check out these pics that make me excited for the warmth and growth of spring 🍄🌻

01/05/2022

I’m so stoked to announce Toadstool Botanicals’ FIRST CLASS of 2022– Herbalism in Uncertain Times. I’ve actually taught quite a few different classes and workshops over the years, and it’s one of my favorite ways to interact with folks and create community. This class will be VIRTUAL to keep everyone safe, live workshop happening on January 25th at 730pm. I’m offering Two ticket levels, one super affordable option for the live workshop + recording + info only, and one level where I hand deliver you an adaptogenic bundle of herb products foraged or grown by yours truly, before the evening of the workshop. Eventbrite link is in bio, stay tuned this week for new product drops (lions mane, anyone?!)
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/herbalism-in-uncertain-times-adaptogenic-herbs-and-mushrooms-workshop-tickets-239418385837

Photo is of me in awe of a beautiful jack o lantern mushroom flush, taken by my fiancé the day we got engaged

12/27/2021

Guess the mushroom?! It’s a winter fave of mine for sure

November/December were beyond chaotic with holiday markets and you know, starting a whole business from scratch. But after taking a couple weeks off (by force through multiple covid scares and booster malaise 🥴)— I’m so stoked for 2022 and cannot wait to continue creating and growing as an herbalist. Keep an eye out for some more ~interactive~ offerings— workshops and classes— in January!

12/11/2021

So cool to have my neighborhood’s Buy Nothing group featured in the Washington Post! Buy Nothing groups and similar local, anti-capitalist communities have been MASSIVELY helpful to me personally and for my business in being as close to zero waste as possible. I have never had to buy storage jars new, and am able to reduce food waste and many other types of waste. I even was able to forage/harvest hops, artichoke leaves, and rose hips using these groups when there were gaps in my supply. It’s also a super cool way to build community and meet neighbors. There are Buy Nothing groups all over the world, I highly suggest checking them out, as well as the NextDoor free section, Craigslist free, Freecycle, and TrashNothing in your area.

Here are some other things I do as an herbalist/business owner to reduce waste:
1. I compost 100% of my business’ and about 75% of my 7 person household’s organic waste using 3 different compost methods: vermicompost with worms, traditional heat based compost, and bokashi style to ferment items like meat, dairy, and grains. This takes up less space than you may think: I have one pallet with ~4 heavy duty plastic totes, plus a small (30” tall, 20” diameter) worm bin
2. I will ALWAYS take your empty/used tincture bottles from my business or any others that you may have. Salve tins, too!
3. Before I buy something new for my business I wait to see if I can find it used, any of my market decor/staging items are usually thrifted or vintage
4. Labeling and packaging items that are typically plastic based are compostable (Kraft paper tape and labels with biodegradable adhesive)
5. Non recyclable/reusable plastic that I have to use (label backings, mostly!) is compacted into plastic bottles to create eco bricks, which will eventually be used to build a new garden bed

https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2021/12/10/buy-nothing-gift-economy/?fbclid=IwAR3kZVh_G5Npx54dU2O9gc_TtjCo89ZzM8_5vNaqB8XgQ7UXrnJfLt_eA-g

Besieged by inflation and isolation, many people are finding purpose and connection in these “circular gift economies.”

12/03/2021

THIS WEEKEND: We are so excited to be joining ‘s MakeShop Market this Sunday from 11-4pm! Stay tuned for a new set of floral inspired goodies that I’ve been dreaming up for awhile, as well as some locally foraged spice blends (local sumac ftw!). Turns out, it’s hard to prep inventory and run markets while also updating my Etsy shop, so if you see any new products in my stories/posts, DM me for details/purchasing options. Some of the stuff currently in stock that have NOT yet been posted to Etsy (hopefully will be in next couple weeks):
-Lavender Hydrosol
-Maitake Mushroom Dual Extract
-Liver Tonic Tincture (artichoke leaf and mugwort)

11/25/2021

SO excited to be spending this weekend in DC, and to have all my pop up markets in my own neighborhood, supporting two amazing independent coffee shops. Friday and Saturday Toadstool Botanicals will be popping up at for their
and market. On Sunday, come see me and other amazing vendors . I’ll have lots of super gift-able items, as well as herbs to support you and your family during this hectic time of year.

11/20/2021

Need a perfect gift for your thanksgiving hosts, or for yourself? This week I‘ve created a mini gift box with 3 unique items, $24 per box. Each box includes an herb infused finishing salt (genovese basil or oregano), a whole herb (rosemary, fennel seeds, and/or maybe some other goodies) and a calming, digestive, or liver tonic tincture — who doesn’t need at least one of those after a holiday weekend? I can create a fun surprise mix or you can let me know what types of stuff you prefer. DC folks and surrounding areas (~8 mile radius)— message me with your order THIS WEEKEND to ensure free local delivery between Monday and Wednesday (depending on when you need it by)! Cheers!

11/15/2021

I will have a booth tomorrow at Edlavitch DCJCC ‘s Chanukah Holiday Market, and I am SO excited to debut some new locally foraged spice blends and mushroom extracts tomorrow evening! The DCJCC is located in a really accessible spot between Logan Circle and DuPont Circle, so stop by after work!

Hot chocolate + live music ✅
Local foodies, crafters, and makers ✅
The perfect holiday gifts ✅

Don't miss EntryPointDC's Chanukah holiday market next week! Get your tickets now ➡ https://bit.ly/30p9y0O

11/11/2021

My bestseller this week, and my personal favorite product (love it when I’m convincing enough to make that happen)! HOPPY DREAMS is a potent tincture blend of herbs that induce sleep and vivid dreams: a base of cascade hops, layered with mugwort, catnip, lavender, and lemon balm. I love hops, if you know me you know that I’m typically a fiend for an IPA. But did you know that there’s a reason why, for some of us, IPAs feel especially ~relaxing~? Before hops were used in beer, they were mostly known for being a powerful sedative. I’ll get into the chemical mechanisms of how hops help with our circadian rhythm on another post, maybe, if anyone wants an essay on bitter resins. I am committed to growing or locally harvesting ALL of the plants i use, and i didn’t get to grow hops this year, but I did happen upon folks in the neighborhood giving away their massive, organically grown hops harvest. Plants have a way of telling me when/how to work with them, and I love that. Mugwort is another one of my favorite herbs, and you can find her EVERYWHERE. Mugwort is especially known for facilitating lucid dreams, and has been a trusted herbal sidekick of women for millennia. Folks who are trying to get pregnant or are carrying a wanted pregnancy should NOT use mugwort, it can be an abortifacient (a substance that induces abortions/miscarriages ). If you fall into that category and would like a different sleep aid tincture, I would highly suggest CHILL OUT (more to come on that soon).

11/08/2021

11/08/2021

Why Toadstool??
The name “Toadstool Botanicals” is an attempt to combine my two passions— herbalism and mycology (the study of mushrooms). The term ‘Toadstool’ specifically refers to the most recognizable and whimsical looking red mushroom with white spots, called the Fly Agaric (another common name referring to its ability to kill/repel flies), or its Latin name Amanita Muscaria. Like the fields of mycology and herbalism, Amanita Muscaria is often misunderstood and mischaracterized, as well as somewhat controversial in its uses. Western, mostly white botanists/mycologists will say that Amanita Muscaria, like some of the other mushrooms in the Amanita category, is deadly poisonous in any amount. However, Amanita Muscaria historically and today is used as a profound plant medicine & psychoactive for spiritual and other purposes.
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Personally, I love this paradox. Toadstools all at once represent death, whimsical fantasy, and spiritual awakening. There are a lot of paradoxes like this in nature— in the way we interpret what is medicine, what is poisonous, what is appropriate to eat and where/when it is appropriate to harvest. My gravitation towards foraging and plant medicine is in part because I think these questions and our answers to them tell us a lot about ourselves and society/our communities’ relationships with nature.
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The OTHER reason I used the name Toadstool Botanicals is for my other (unofficial) mascot— Toadstool (Toad, oft called ‘Baby Sir’) the Kitten. My fiancé and I adopted Toad shortly before/during I was brainstorming business names/models, and mushrooms are pretty much always on my mind. The best part is he came with the name Toad, we just added in the mushroom context 😉
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Disclaimer: this is NOT a suggestion to pick up and eat any mushroom, especially in the Amanita family, without a deep knowledge of fungi and your body— there ARE amanita species that will 100% kill you within a few days.

11/07/2021

Toadstool Botanicals’ first market! We are at my neighborhood coffee shop today from 10-2. Stop by to see the FOUR new tincture blends I am launching today, and chat about herbalism!

11/03/2021

LAVENDER! I love lavender because people are typically comfortable with it. I consider it a great ally as a 'gateway' to herbalism. When folks think lavender, they often think of aromatherapy, of essential oils, maybe of their favorite soap. They think of calming, serene scents. It remains one of my favorite scents and an endlessly giving plant to work with. I have two BIG lavender plants at the moment, and they have flowered for me more than 5 times this season, for which I am eternally grateful. Keep an eye out for lavender bud products, or maybe even some tea blends, soon. Lavender tincture has all the same benefits as lavender aroma therapy -- it ALSO makes a great addition as flavoring to lavender desserts, teas, and even cocktails! Lavender gin and tonics, anyone?
If you need some serenity, snag a lavender tincture at my link in bio

11/02/2021

Ah, one of my first loves in my herbalism journey! Yarrow is a beautiful, potent plant with fernlike leaves and hundreds of florets that make up each flower head. It has so many benefits both topically and internally! Historically in battle fields and still today, yarrow is used topically as a highly effective and anti inflammatory styptic (that means it stops bleeding). Many hikers carry yarrow styptic powder as a part of their herbal first aid kits. Internally, yarrow has even more uses. It has analgesic (pain relieving) and anti spasmodic properties, and is known as a 'blood mover'. A great tincture to have in your apothecary when you are under the weather with a chest cold or the flu.