About Of Forest & Human

Rooted in the earth. Made for all humans.

I think, in many ways, Of Forest & Human began when I was a child who never wanted to stop playing outside.

I was the girl who wanted to stay in the dirt a little longer, make habitats for worms, and run barefoot through the grass to the creek. I swam in rivers, sketched unknown plants, and climbed any tree I could. Inspired by my cousin's organic shop in small town in Iowa, I knew from a young age that I wanted to have a community shop of my own. As I grew older, that dream began to take shape. My curiosity for the natural world grew into a deeper relationship with plants, ancient herbal practices, and the ways we care for our bodies and one another.

Eventually, that childhood wonder became something I was determined to build my life around.

Of Forest & Human was dreamt into creation while I was in labor with my second child. Somewhere in the profound, transformative experience of bringing new life into the world, I found myself envisioning something that felt bigger than a collection of products. I could see a business rooted in the earth, shaped by my hands, and guided by a clear sense of purpose. I could envision the shop I had always wanted to create, the knowledge I wanted to share, and the kind of community I hoped to help cultivate.

Today, Of Forest & Human is an independently owned apothecary and a living expression of that vision.

The Human Behind the Apothecary

I'm a folk herbalist, lesbian, single mother of two young children, holistic postpartum doula, and a community educator. My life is shaped by the work of caring for people, learning from our natural world, and questioning the systems that tell us what care should look like, who deserves it, and whether it must be earned.

Motherhood has deepened my understanding of care as something tangible and necessary. My work as a postpartum doula has taught me to honor the physical, emotional, and spiritual transitions that shape our lives, while my work as a community educator has reinforced my belief that knowledge is meant to be shared. Folk herbalism brings these parts of my life together: the plants, the people, the traditions we carry, and the everyday practices that help us feel more connected to ourselves and the world around us.

I am forever interested in the knowledge that lives outside institutions and industries — the wisdom passed between generations, the remedies made in kitchens, the plants growing along a familiar trail, and the skills we learn by paying attention. I believe there is so much to remember about caring for ourselves and one another, and I want my work to be part of that remembering.

Of Forest & Human is not separate from my life. It is woven into my motherhood, my values, my relationship with the land, and my hope for a more connected way of living.

Made by Hand, Rooted in Relationship

I work with wildcrafted and garden-grown botanicals, thoughtfully sourced ingredients, and slow, hands-on processes that allow plants to be part of the making from beginning to end. Many of my formulations take weeks or months to develop through careful infusions and intentional preparation. The majority of my ingredients and formulations are made by my own hands, in a process that asks for patience, attention, and a willingness to let things take the time they need.

I don't believe everything needs to be made faster! In fact- maybe we all need to just slow the hell down. I believe there is value in knowing where our ingredients come from, understanding the materials we work with, and making things with care rather than simply for the sake of producing more.

My approach to body care is holistic, sensory, and deeply personal. I create botanical scents inspired by forests, soil, resins, roots, and the living landscapes that stay with us. Each formulation is an opportunity to reconnect with the body through touch, scent, and the simple ritual of tending to ourselves.

These offerings are not about fixing yourself or becoming someone else. They are about making space for care in the body you already inhabit, with ingredients chosen thoughtfully and processes that honor the plants behind them.

Care Beyond Capitalism

I believe the earth is not a resource to be endlessly extracted, our bodies are not commodities, and care should not be accessible only to those with disposable income.

These beliefs shape the way I run this business. I prioritize ethical sourcing, regenerative practices, thoughtful packaging, and giving back to the ecosystems that make this work possible. I plant two trees for every product sold, and I strive to make decisions that reflect reciprocity rather than consumption for its own sake.

I also offer sliding-scale pricing because I want thoughtful body care to be more accessible. I believe in mutual aid, community support, and the idea that we can build meaningful alternatives to systems that place profit above people. My work has supported grassroots efforts and local community members, and I hope to continue growing that part of the business in ways that are practical, tangible, and rooted in real relationships.

Of Forest & Human is a queer-owned, one-person operation. Every product represents my time, labor, knowledge, and care. I hold both the labor of making these offerings and the importance of making them accessible with intention. I don't believe those values have to exist in opposition.

I want to build something sustainable not only for the land, but for the person doing the work, the people receiving it, and the community that makes it possible.

For All Forests. For All Humans.

At its heart, Of Forest & Human is an invitation to return to our relationship with the living world and with one another.

It is an extension of the child who never wanted to come inside, the herbalist who keeps learning, the mother who understands how much care a life requires, and the community educator who believes knowledge is more powerful when it is shared.

It is a business, but it is also a practice, a set of values, and a vision for the kind of world I want my children to grow up in.

Thank you for being here, for supporting slow and independent work, and for making room for a different way of doing things. Every purchase, conversation, and act of support helps me bring this vision a little closer to life.

With care for the earth and the people who call it home.

With endless love,

Miranda