Wildcrafting Ethics, Botany, and Trailblazing Herbalism with Howie Brounstein

Wildcrafting has gotten trendy, and that's not always a good thing. Misidentified plants, sketchy sourcing claims, and a whole lot of misinformation are floating around social media right now, and it's worth slowing down to talk about why that matters. Howie Brounstein, founder of Columbine School of Botanical Studies and an herbalist who has been teaching for over 40 years, talks about why botany matters, what real wildcrafting ethics actually look like, and why he’s scared by a lot of what he sees online. What's in this episode: The real risks of misidentification and why positive plant ID is non-negotiable Why botany matters, and when it doesn't need to be your focus as an herbalist How to evaluate herb books and spot information that isn't coming from real experience Why Howie teaches a long-term apprenticeship instead of one-day wildcrafting classes Why Howie believes you should taste every herb you give to someone else What it was like building an herbal career in the late 1970s when nobody believed it was possible How AI and social media are accelerating herbal misinformation For full show notes, resources, and links visit: theherbalistspath.com/blog/herbal-wildcrafting-ethics-howie-Brounstein Learn more about Howie's apprenticeship and classes at botanicalstudies.net Like the show? Got a Q? Shoot us a Text! If you've been learning herbs for a while, but still feel like you don't know enough, this free live class was made for you! We're going to cover the 3 essential steps to help you go from "dabbling" to feeling confident as an herbalist. Click here to get signed up for the free herb class! Support the show Ready to deepen your herbal skills and knowledge? Whether you're stocking your family's medicine cabinet, building your formulation skills, or stepping into the role of community herbalist, we have a program for you. Learn more here If you enjoyed this episode, it would mean so much if you left us a review and shared it with a friend. It helps more herbalists find their way here, and helps make herbalism #SpreadLikeWildFlowers 🌸 Join me on: TikTok | Instagram | Facebook | Pinterest | YouTube Disclaimer: *The information shared on this podcast is for educational purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for medical treatment. Please consult your medical care provider before using herbs.