Episode 163: Botany for Herbalists with Thomas Elpel 

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Episode Summary

I’ve known Thomas Elpel for several years, and was really excited to have the chance to talk with him again. Tom sat down with me to discuss how a basic understanding of botany can be helpful for herbalists, but our conversation went way beyond that.  While not strictly an herbalist, Tom is definitely a plant person through and through, and his curiosity about the natural world is infectious!

Tom has written many books about a variety of subjects.  His book Botany in a Day, which can help you learn to recognize and identify plants through their botanical families, was transformative for me when I was first learning to identify plants!  Tom has shared a sample page from Botany in a Day about the oleaster plant family with us; you can download your copy from the section below.

By the end of this episode, you’ll know:

► How learning to recognize plants by the patterns of their botanical families can be useful to herbalists and other people who work with plants

► Why it’s so important to actually go out and experience the natural world – the way the deer do!

► Why “invasive plants” is a complicated term, and how working to eradicate plants with this label can sometimes do more harm than good

► Four ways that plants in the oleaster family can benefit the environment around them

► and so much more…

For those of you who don’t know him, Thomas J. Elpel is the director of Green University in southwest Montana, and is the author of nine books ranging in topics from wilderness survival to consciousness. He is best known for his book Botany in a Day: The Patterns Method of Plant Identification. With his background in wilderness survival skills, Tom applied a self-sufficiency ethic to all aspects of his life, from living in a tent and building his own stone and log home to later launching his own publishing company. Tom has produced two card games that teach plant family patterns and one that teaches wildlife ecology. He is presently writing a book about the ecology of the American West.

I can’t wait to share our conversation with you today!

Would you prefer reading this episode? If so, click here to download a transcript.

Would you prefer watching this episode? If so, scroll down below.

Connect with Thomas

• Websites | Hollowtop.com and GreenUniversity.com
• Instagram | @thomasjelpel
• Facebook | Thomas J. Elpel

What You'll Learn from This Episode

• [01:10] Introduction to Thomas Elpel
• [02:40] Tom’s plant path, and how he got the idea for Botany in a Day
• [06:22] Tom’s aspirations to be a “deer botanist”
• [10:04] How recognizing plants by their botanical family is useful to herbalists
• [14:53] Tom’s travels and botanical adventures
• [21:32] Characteristics of the oleaster plant family
• [24:53] Why “invasive” plant management is a complex subject
• [31:47] Russian olive
• [38:30] Buffaloberry
• [44:29] Tom’s current projects
• [54:55] New skills Tom is currently cultivating with plants
• [1:00:42] Herbal tidbit

Get Your Free Download!

-- TIMESTAMPS -- 

• 01:12 - Introduction to Thomas Elpel
• 02:45 - Tom’s plant path, and how he got the idea for Botany in a Day
• 06:37 - Tom’s aspirations to be a “deer botanist”
• 10:33 - How recognizing plants by their botanical family is useful to herbalists
• 15:50 - Tom’s travels and botanical adventures
• 23:18 - Characteristics of the oleaster plant family
• 27:12 - Why “invasive” plant management is a complex subject
• 34:52 - Russian olive
• 42:32 - Buffaloberry
• 49:14 - Tom’s current projects
• 1:01:09 - New skills Tom is currently cultivating with plants
• 1:07:23 - Herbal tidbit

Connect with Rosalee

• On Instagram | @rosaleedelaforet

• On Facebook | Herbs With Rosalee
• On YouTube | Herbs With Rosalee

• Website | herbswithrosalee.com


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