June 11, 2026

Hi, there!

We’re getting close to the end of our Family Herbalist (Ditch the Drugstore and the Family Herbalist Certification program) enrollment window, and I want to ask you something as kindly and honestly as I can:

Where do you want to be six months from now?

Do you want another whole season to go by with the same herbs sitting in the cupboard, the same saved recipes you haven’t quite trusted enough to try, all the little essential oil bottles gathering dust because you're just not quite sure what to do with them?

And there's still that same little thought popping up when someone in your family doesn’t feel well:

“I wish I knew what to do.”

The thing is.... Time is going to pass either way.

Six months from now, you could still be meaning to start your home apothecary.

Or six months from now, you could have real remedies made, organized, labeled, and ready. You could understand why you’re choosing one herb over another. You could know which preparation makes the most sense. You could have a plan for your family’s actual needs—not someone else’s Pinterest apothecary, but yours.

Now, I know the background thoughts you might be having. I really do. That's because when I'm faced with a decision, I have them too.

Let's look at a few of these thoughts and questions:

“I don’t have time.”

Well, like most people, I don’t either. Like you and most everyone, I have a super full life.

I simply have learned to learn in the margins of my life. This is something anyone can do. Five or ten minutes here. A lesson while folding laundry. A replay while making dinner, or a quick tincture made while waiting for water to boil. A little bit today, a little bit tomorrow.

That’s how knowledge compounds, and it's pretty incredible how quickly your knowledge and skillset grows.

*****

“I’m afraid I won’t finish.”

I have some great news! Nobody ever "finishes." There's just too much to learn! We just need to learn "enough," then keep on going if we choose.

Don’t make “finishing perfectly” the goal. Make becoming more capable the goal. Make one remedy. Learn one body system. Understand one safety concept. Build one shelf of your apothecary. That’s not nothing. That’s evidence that you can be your family's trusted herbalist. You really can.

*****

“What if I’m not ready?”

That’s actually why Ditch the Drugstore exists. You don’t join because you already know what to do. You join because you need a clear path, solid guidance, an excellent foundation of safety, plus structure, and support.

I've been teaching groups of students in Ditch the Drugstore and the Family Certification program for years. (Five for DTDS and three years for the certification program). I've never had one single student tell me they wish they hadn't begun learning herbalism or started their home apothecary. Not one.

*****

“What if I already have herbs?”

That's GREAT! But having herbs and knowing how to think like a family herbalist are two different things. The goal isn’t more jars. The goal is confidence, discernment, and the ability to make wise decisions when your family needs you.

To understand when you would choose one herb over another one; which preparation method is best in the moment; and how to work with specific people over time if you're working with a chronic issue.

Do you see the reframe?

This isn’t about adding one more big thing to your life.

It’s about finally giving yourself a pathway for something you already care about, and you feel you need.

If you’ve been waiting for the perfect season to begin, for that "someday when....", I can tell you that "someday" often never comes. There's never a perfect time. There's just now....

Is it time to finally just begin?

Become your family's herbalist, and have the most fun and creative time planning, building, and organizing your personalized home apothecary. Enjoy learning with real people, a real community, and trusted materials and guides.

​Ditch the Drugstore closes tonight, and I would love to walk with you through this next step.

Herbalism saved my life. It's helped untold hundreds (maybe thousands) of my students. You own the course for life, so you can go fast, or slow---totally up to you.

Isn't it time to start? We're beginning tomorrow morning, and I hope you'll be with us!

Hugs, Health, and Herbs,

Heidi

P.S. The Three Video Series on Becoming a Family Herbalist is still available for a another day. You can watch it HERE. **If you have a friend who'd enjoy these videos and free downloads, go ahead and forward this note.

NOTE: If you're not interested in Ditch the Drugstore right now, or if you're already a student, please just ignore these next few notes. We don't want to miss anyone who's ready to begin their herbal journey, hence all the extra emails this past week. We'll be back to normal soon, with our one valuable herbal teaching note a week. If you're annoyed, I understand. You can unsubscribe, and you'll never hear from me again, ever.