Home & Garden

Final Golden Pitchfork of the Season Honors Teamwork of Mark Jones and Memory of Andi Ward

Publisher — Sat, 20 Sep 2025 20:00:00 +0000

Final Golden Pitchfork of the Season Honors Teamwork of Mark Jones and Memory of Andi Ward

Publisher Sat, 09/20/2025 - 22:00

By Connie Patterson

Valley Service Organization

Although the season’s last VSO Golden Pitchfork award was presented to Mark Jones, he was adamant the award should be posthumously presented to Andi Ward, stating, “All the credit for this yard is given to Andi Ward. Her efforts, talents, spirit and beauty are still manifesting themselves.”

Mark said Andi’s selection of perennials our resident deer don’t like is one of the reasons for the beautiful flowerbeds adorning the yard. A premise that was tested this year when he replaced the house siding, but hasn’t yet reinstalled the gate, so the deer freely wander in, but haven’t really found anything very appetizing and so they wander back out, leaving the flowers uneaten.

The thick, lush grass also contributes to the yard’s attractiveness and Mark does take credit for this aspect. He said it was a yard that had a lot of crabgrass and dandelions and was a mix of bluegrass and another variety of grass. His regimen included applying crabgrass and weed killer and fertilizing the grass three times a season until the grass crowded out the undesirable weeds.

Mark’s labors and Andi’s creative selection of perennials, along with a good sprinkler system, have made it a yard that is easily maintained. Mark said his sons laughed when he told them about the award. He said they know that he has spent most of the summer at his cabin in the mountains, only coming to town once a week to mow before heading back to his cabin and hasn’t done much work on the yard at all.

Mark said he was both honored and humbled to receive the Golden Pitchfork, adding that it is a fitting legacy to Andi, much more than himself and thinks she was smiling down as he received the award.

Williams Family Earns Golden Pitchfork for Transforming Yard with Love and Legacy

Publisher — Sat, 19 Jul 2025 05:00:00 +0000

Williams Family Earns Golden Pitchfork for Transforming Yard with Love and Legacy

Publisher Sat, 07/19/2025 - 07:00

By Connie Patterson

Valley Service Organization

Although both Alan and Sarah Williams have yard beautification in their genes, Alan credits Sarah as being the “green thumb” in their yard improvement projects.

Alan and Sarah are the recipients of this year’s first Golden Pitchfork award presented by the Valley Service Organization during the summer months.

Alan’s mother, Marty Perue, began the Golden Pitchfork award years ago during her reign as president of the local organization. Carrying on the family tradition, Alan started a small lawn care business on the side, helping others beautify their lawns, after his regular job at Perue Printing is done for the day.

Sarah gets her green thumb from her mother as well. In tribute to her mother, Sarah plants peonies, her mother’s favorite, growing the perennial flowering bushes from the seeds of the bushes in their yard. She has lined the front fence with beautiful and fragrant bushes.

The lot next to the house had nothing but clover and weeds when the Williams purchased the property and they have worked hard to transform it into something special. They planted grass and Quaking Aspen trees to begin the beautification project. Alan said he’s the “muscle” behind Sarah’s ideas. They have incorporated many large quartz rocks from a friend’s place and added an antique wagon into the lawn décor.

The Quakies are quite tall now and, as all Quakies do, put out plenty of baby shoots. While most people remove the shoots as unwanted growth, the Williams replant them into an area Sarah has decided needs some trees. She loves the sound of the Quakies, so they are her tree of choice.

Alan said she experiments with the flowers, often transplanting them to a different area if they aren’t doing well.

Their newest bed began years ago when Sarah’s father, the well-known Chef Api, started watering some raspberry creepers that came under the fence from the neighbors’ raspberry plants. Chef Api continued to water the creepers until the Williams had their own berry-producing bushes, so Alan fenced off the area and Sarah has complemented the bed with some flowers that grow well in the same lighting.

Safety tips for your home this fall season

Publisher — Sat, 09 Nov 2024 06:00:00 +0000

Safety tips for your home this fall season

Publisher Sat, 11/09/2024 - 07:00

Press Release

Rocky Mountain Power

Fall is the perfect time to do some upkeep around your yard and home

As the leaves change color, fall weather arrives in the Intermountain West. The chill in the air and the falling foliage are reminders to take a moment to check the condition of your yard and tend to maintenance issues around your home.

“Fall is a great time to check the condition of your trees and a good opportunity to prune them before they become an issue once storms start,” said Jeremy Gee, Rocky Mountain Power’s vice president of health and safety. “Winter storms that bring down branches are a common source of power outages. Check around your property to see if any trees or branches could harm power lines if they fell. Some preventative work now could save you additional trouble and inconvenience related to power outages later.”

Use caution when pruning trees. Don’t use pruning tools or ladders near power lines. Always keep yourself and anything you’re handling at least 10 feet away from overhead power lines. Never try to remove a branch that is tangled or lying across a power line. Instead, call Rocky Mountain Power at 1-888-221-7070. We’ll be happy to remove it for you.

Some additional tips for fall safety:

• Treat all electric lines with caution.

• Use only wooden and fiberglass ladders. Metal ladders conduct electricity.

• Be aware and steer clear of overhead electrical wires when installing, removing, cleaning or repairing gutters.

• Never use electrical equipment or tools near a pool or other wet areas such as puddles. Additionally, make sure outlets are equipped with a ground fault circuit interrupter, designed to automatically disconnect if the tool comes into contact with water.

• Plant trees and shrubs away from meters, switching cabinets and boxed transformers. Vegetation that blocks electrical equipment makes repairs and maintenance challenging and sometimes dangerous for utility workers.

• Have help when installing or adjusting a satellite dish or antenna. Make sure you’re working at least 10 feet away from overhead power lines.

• Underground power lines are just as dangerous as overhead ones. If your project involves digging, make sure the locations of underground power lines are marked. Call 811 to have underground utilities located and marked for free.

For more safety tips or to order free Rocky Mountain Power safety materials, call toll free at 800-375-7085 or visit RockyMountainPower.net/Safety.

Moores Honored with Final Marty Perue Memorial Golden Pitchfork Award of the Season

Publisher — Sat, 12 Oct 2024 05:00:00 +0000

Moores Honored with Final Marty Perue Memorial Golden Pitchfork Award of the Season

Publisher Sat, 10/12/2024 - 07:00

By Connie Patterson

Carbon County Comet Contributor

The last Marty Perue Memorial Golden Pitchfork award of the season was presented to Jody and Jack Moore.

Jack has lived on the property where he and Jody now make their home his entire life. He said the “shop disguised as a two-bedroom house” next door is where he and his four siblings were raised.

Jody is originally from Oklahoma but has lived in Saratoga for over sixty years. Together Jody and Jack use their creative talents and common items to decorate their front yard according to the season. The front is currently sporting an autumn theme, which works for both Halloween and Thanksgiving, Jody said.

The house the Moores now use as a shop, and next door to their current home, is where they create some of the yard art displayed in the front yard or store the off-season decorations until it’s time to put them out.

Venturing into the back yard, fenced to keep deer out, one finds a lush, green beautifully manicured lawn surrounded by colorful flower beds with trees interspersed throughout. The landscaping in the back is very serene and peaceful, created from a lifetime of care.

Valley Service Organization (VSO) has renewed its Golden Pitchfork award in honor of a longtime member, Marty Perue, who began the project during her tenure as president of the organization. Marty was instrumental in town cleanup projects and began presenting the Golden Pitchfork as an award to inspire people to clean up and improve their yards.

Newest Golden Pitchfork Winner

Publisher — Sat, 31 Aug 2024 05:00:00 +0000

Newest Golden Pitchfork Winner

Publisher Sat, 08/31/2024 - 07:00

By Connie Patterson

Valley Service Organization

People living in Saratoga often must contend with deer that like to munch on their flowers, trees and bushes, but according to the newest recipient of VSO’s Marty Perue Golden Pitchfork award, people living in subdivisions outside of town must also contend with antelope searching for tasty snacks.

Bonnie Turner is the second recipient this summer of Valley Service Organization’s traveling Marty Perue Golden Pitchfork award. The Turners, Bonnie, and her husband Brian, purchased property in Cow Creek Station in 2006, although they didn’t build a home until 2010. Bonnie said she learned antelope have different tastes than deer so she keeps her flowers fenced off in summer months, but it doesn’t require the high fences that keep out deer.

In the fall, her husband Brian removes the fencing around the flower garden and moves it to fence off the trees and bushes, keeping those safe from the deer. Bonnie noted they cut their flower garden down completely to the ground each fall and because most of her flowers are perennials, the beautiful blossoms grow back each year, sometimes re-seeding in places where she didn’t plant them. The wind seems to carry seeds along its trajectory and drop them in places Bonnie didn’t plant them, or birds carry them. She doesn’t really know why they bloom where they haven’t been planted but doesn’t consider it an obstacle that can’t be overcome.

If she doesn’t like where the flowers decide to take root and bloom, she just digs them up and gives them away. She once gave a pick-up bed of unwanted flowers to the Encampment Dirt Diggers Garden Club.

Bonnie worked at RNB in Rawlins for 32 years before retiring and the Turners love living in the wide-open spaces at Cow Creek Station where their view of Baggott Rocks and the Snowy Range is spectacularly unparalleled and unblocked. She also has space for a vegetable garden but due to knee surgery this year, she didn’t plant veggies, although she’s looking forward to doing it again next year.

Her garden is adorned with interesting rock formations, gazing balls she has purchased or made, birdhouses, glass art crafted by herself and her mother and a fish pond. Her eight goldfish do quite well even in winter, but she puts a stock tank heater in the pond to keep it from freezing solid. She said because the fish metabolisms slow down during the winter, she only feeds them once every couple of months until it warms back up in the spring.

Grasshopper Wars

Publisher — Sat, 10 Aug 2024 06:00:00 +0000

Grasshopper Wars

Publisher Sat, 08/10/2024 - 08:00

By Mike Armstrong

Reporter, Carbon County Comet

My gardens have not gotten the attention this year I would like to give them.

I have two homes and it seems like an impossible dream to keep up with the mowing and then the weeding required to make the gardens look good.

Now to make my situation worse, the grasshoppers are coming out.

Nasty little creatures.

I know mine are bad, but they have been worse.

It is because I am starting to take them on immediately.

I have learned by experience, to get them out as quickly as possible.

An old gardening tip I have discovered is taking a quart jar filled with a solution of 1 part molasses or syrup and 9 parts water. Leave room for the solution to draw the little buggers in, but enough room where they cannot get out.

This method doesn’t get them all, by any means, but it helps when you are trying to make inroads against these voracious eaters.

Triaizide granules work well.

I just started using this last year. It is supposed to kill 100 pests that attack gardens. It worked well last year, but it is still early to see if the results are going to be good this year.

My sister bought praying mantis pods online. They took a while to hatch and quite a lot of babies were produced. Her garden is not as vast as mine, and I am waiting to see if they work.

Garlic spray is an organic spray that suffocates grasshoppers as they move around plants. Garlic can also nourish your soil. There are commercial sprays that can be purchased online and they are also at some hardware stores and Walmart. I have seen them from $6.99 to $21.99.

I have made it from scratch before with cloves of garlic and water, but I was doing it to keep the deer at bay. It works well against the deer, but when I watered, I would have to apply again.

Honestly, I am going to go out and buy the spray instead of making it this year.

I know that compared to when these insects come out in hordes, I am doing okay against them.

Gardens really need attention against grasshoppers when they first appear.

I recently read that in the 1870s in the Great Plains, the grasshoppers were so bad, that they even ate the paint on homes. All plants were consumed during this time.

I can’t imagine.

They were so bad, that trains would have to stop and railroad workers would have to shovel the pests off the warm rails, made so slippery by dead insects, that the locomotive wheels could not get enough traction to pull the train.

When I read stories like that, I realize my grasshopper problem pales in comparison.

Smiths Win First Marty Perue Golden Pitchfork Award for Stunning Perennial Garden

Publisher — Sat, 27 Jul 2024 20:00:00 +0000

Smiths Win First Marty Perue Golden Pitchfork Award for Stunning Perennial Garden

Publisher Sat, 07/27/2024 - 22:00

By Connie Patterson

Carbon County Comet Contributor

Bob and Sierra Smith are the winners of the first Marty Perue Golden Pitchfork Traveling Award this summer. The Smith’s yard is stunning for its many perennials that come up year after year, making it an early visual delight while many of us are still waiting for the weather to cooperate.

Sierra said the property had no yard when they bought it in 2005 and was covered with thistles. They got a backhoe and dug down four feet to eliminate the root system of the thistles before placing a commercial-grade weed barrier down and then covering that with gravel. They put a hole in the barrier wherever they wanted a plant to be, and it’s been very successful. The plants thrive but they have little trouble with weeds coming up through the barrier.

While Sierra uses her artistic talent to create some of the unique artwork that adorns the Smith’s front yard, she gives credit to her husband Bob for the plant selection. She said Bob used to own a greenhouse and laid out the yard in his head before planting it. He knows the name of every plant in the yard and selects them according to their bloom cycle. She said they have a continual variety of blooms and colors, noting that as one plant flowers and then withers, another is ready to bring its color to the unique yard.

Sierra said the front yard is probably 75 percent perennials, but they also have annuals in baskets and containers to fill in where color is needed. The backyard has a lawn and a bed that Bob uses as a testing area to see if he likes certain plants before giving them a permanent home in the front yard.

Over the years, the Smiths have added a garage, shop and art studio to the property, in addition to a cabin they utilize as a short-term rental, known as the Roan Hill Ranch. Sierra does the booking and cleaning of the rental property herself because she said she’s very particular about how it presents itself.

The Marty Perue Golden Pitchfork is a traveling trophy presented monthly during the summer and early fall by the Valley Service Organization to residents to encourage beautification of property. It is named after then president Marty Perue who began the project years ago during a beautification push by the town.

Yarrow: Weed or Wonder?

Publisher — Sat, 06 Jul 2024 05:00:00 +0000

Yarrow: Weed or Wonder?

Publisher Sat, 07/06/2024 - 07:00

By Liz Swynarczuk

Carbon County Comet Contributor

You’ve probably seen it along roadsides, in fields and meadows, maybe even in your yard. Clusters of tiny white flowers topping a strong, sturdy stalk with sage green fern-like leaves. Some think it smells sweet, others say pungent, or spicy, while others believe it stinks. No matter the scent, this is Yarrow and it has been used medicinally for thousands of years.

Yarrow’s scientific name, Achillea millefolium, is derived from mythology and Latin. The word Achillea is believed to have come from the Greek warrior, Achilles, who was said to have used the plant as a poultice to staunch the blood flow of his soldiers’ wounds in battle. Millefolium is from the Latin words mille (a thousand), and folium (leaf), or a thousand leaves.

Typically known as common Yarrow, or Milfoil, this plant is part of the very large Asteraceae family which includes sagebrush, cosmos, dahlia, and daisies to name but a few, and is native to North America, Asia and Europe. Other varieties of Yarrow with flowers of red, yellow, pink, white and gold and often used in gardens since deer, rabbits and other animals leave them alone due to their unenticing smell.

Often considered a weed, Yarrow has been used as a medicinal herb for thousands of years by ancient civilizations. Native Americans have used Yarrow for toothaches, headaches, gastrointestinal issues, and also in poultices to heal wounds. The Navajo consider Yarrow one of the Sacred Life medicines.

In China, Yarrow is known as shī cǎo, shī meaning Yarrow, and cǎo means grass or herb. In ancient China Yarrow was not only used as medicine but also for divination and in rituals. Many of these traditional uses remain today. Yarrow has been utilized medicinally to stop bleeding and treat wounds, break fevers by inducing sweat to help cure flu and colds, relieve bloating, ease indigestion, reduce inflammation and fight infections. The hearty stalks have been used to cast hexagrams in The I Ching, or Book Of Changes. Believed to ward off evil spirits and expel negative energy, Yarrow symbolizes protection and healing and is used in ceremonies and rituals.

All of the aerial parts, or those growing above ground, are used medicinally for clotting blood, speeding up the healing of topical wounds, relieving stomachaches and toothaches, ulcers and gastrointestinal problems, reducing anxiety, lowering high blood pressure, reducing inflammation, regulating menstrual cycles while easing pain, and acting as an antiallergenic to help relieve hay fever symptoms. Along with using the leaves as a wound-healing poultice, people have also been known to chew on leaves to alleviate toothaches and have added leaves and flowers to salads or brewed them as tea.

Scientific research continues today for pharmaceutical applications of Yarrow based on its long history of traditional medicine as it is considered an important species. In 2017 a study was conducted on neurodegenerative disorders based primarily on the flavonoid constituents of Yarrow. Flavonoids are phytochemicals or plant chemicals that keep plants safe from bacteria, viruses and fungal infections.

A published review in 2017 on the current research of Yarrow on neurodegenerative diseases reported that most of the anti-inflammatory and antioxidant benefits of Yarrow are from its flavonoids. Oxidation and inflammation are some of the major causes of neurodegenerative diseases which are chronic conditions affecting the nervous system, primarily the brain. Diseases like Multiple Sclerosis, Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, epilepsy and stroke had been researched. They found that Yarrow aqueous, or water, extract was beneficial when tested on rats.

In 2019 the published results of a randomized, triple-blind placebo-controlled trial over one year with 75 Multiple Sclerosis patients found that, in fact, the aqueous extract of Yarrow not only reduced the relapse rate, the volume of the lesions decreased. The trial concluded that Yarrow extract, as supplemental therapy, was beneficial to MS patients.

Research into Yarrow’s biopharmaceutical applications includes obesity, anti-tumor properties including pancreatic cancer, and dermatology for cosmetic purposes due to Yarrow’s anti-inflammatory and skin rejuvenating abilities.

Though Yarrow is generally considered safe when used in moderation, those on anticoagulant or other medications, and women who are pregnant or breast-feeding should not use Yarrow without medical supervision as it may cause drug interactions. As with most herbal, botanical and dietary supplements, you should consult your physician before using Yarrow.

Liz Swynarczuk has worked with botanicals and essential oils for 26 years. She received her Certificate in Plant-Based Nutrition from T. Colin Campbell Center for Nutrition Studies in 2017 and her Certificate in Medicinal Plants from Cornell University through eCornell in 2021.

Blossoming Bookworms Brighten Library Entrance with Flower Planting Fun

Publisher — Sat, 08 Jun 2024 05:00:00 +0000

Blossoming Bookworms Brighten Library Entrance with Flower Planting Fun

Publisher Sat, 06/08/2024 - 07:00

By Dana Davis

Reporter, Carbon County Comet

The Saratoga Story Hour at the local library is a weekly event for the community’s young readers. This week, the children in attendance were treated to a special activity - planting vibrant flowers in the barrels that line the library’s front entrance.

The Saratoga Friends of the Library, a dedicated group of volunteers, had generously donated an array of colorful blooms for the kids to arrange and nurture. As the children dug their hands into the rich soil, their faces lit up with excitement and pride, knowing that their efforts would transform the drab planters into cheerful, flower-filled displays.

The librarians guided the youngsters, offering tips on proper planting techniques and the unique care requirements of each variety. The kids worked together, their laughter and chatter filling the air as they brought new life to the library’s entryway.

Once the last plant was tucked into the soil, the children stepped back to admire their handiwork, beautifying the space for all who pass by. This hands-on gardening project not only nurtured the children’s green thumbs, but also their sense of community pride and ownership over their local library - a place that clearly means so much to them and their families.

The Dandelion: Fiend or Friend?

Publisher — Sat, 01 Jun 2024 05:00:00 +0000

The Dandelion: Fiend or Friend?

Publisher Sat, 06/01/2024 - 07:00

By Liz Swynarczuk

Carbon County Comet Contributor

Springtime arrives and your yard has traded its white blanket of snow for a lush emerald cloak. Flower gardens start to extend their leaves with the promise of future blossoms. But what’s this? Yellow spots speckle your fresh green carpet and pop up throughout the flower beds. Dandelions! It’s time to weed and spray. But wait…what exactly is the dandelion? Where did it come from? Why is it here and what good is it?

Our common dandelion is scientifically known as Taraxacum officinale and there are several types in the Taraxacum family. The name, Taraxacum, has Arabic or Persian origins and was adopted as the Latin scientific name much later. It gets its common name, dandelion, from the Latin, dens leonis, which in French translates to dent de lion, meaning teeth of lion or lion’s teeth, due to the teeth-like form of the leaves. The English ultimately simplified it with dandelion.

Considered a fast-spreading, noxious weed that infiltrates pristine yards while antagonizing homeowners, gardeners and farmers, dandelion is not even native to America and it is actually considered an herb. This annoying little plant was intentionally brought to this country in the 1600s for food and medicine. Native to Asia and Europe, the first recorded use of dandelion was in “Tang Bencao,” a medical book written during the Tang Dynasty (657-659 AD) of traditional Chinese medicine. Later, during the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644 AD), the “Yunnan Materia Medica” reported that this plant has a great detoxifying effect.

Arab physicians recommended it in the eleventh century. European botanists have published the praises of dandelion since the seventeenth century in books such as “The Herball” by botanist and herbalist, John Gerard in 1630, “A Curious Herbal” from 1737 in the National Library of Medicine, and “Culpeper’s English Physician and Complete Herbal” in 1789 by renowned English botanist, Nicholas Culpeper. The National Library of Medicine has publications on the dandelion entitled “A new and complete American medical family herbal” (1814), and “The American practice abridged, or The family physician: being the scientific system of medicine” (1846).

For centuries Latin America, Asia and Europe have recognized the medicinal properties of dandelion, and according to ancient records and present-day research, every part of the dandelion can be used to alleviate a constantly increasing range of symptoms.

In China, dandelion is called Pugongying and is used to treat over fifty diseases with more than forty Chinese patented medicines recorded in “The Chinese Pharmacopoeia, 2020 Edition. It is used to clear away heat, reduce swelling, cure inflammation, detoxify, and cure stomach ailments, tumors, urinary and gynecological diseases. As a natural diuretic, it reduces fluid retention. Considered an important medicine to Arabs, Indians and Native Americans, it treats heartburn, hepatitis, anorexia, issues with the liver through detoxification, and various cancers according to 2008 and 2009 studies. Current research with dandelion root extract on animals has shown promising results in killing cancer cells. Studies have shown dandelion to have anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-bacterial, anti-cancer, prebiotic, and anti-rheumatic capabilities. Dandelion is also used to treat acne, boils, constipation, hangovers, gallbladder issues, gout, spleen conditions and the list goes on.

Dandelion contains vitamins A, B, C and D, potassium, calcium, iron, magnesium and other constituents such as triterpenes and sesquiterpene lactones. Coumarins and carotenoids are found only in the leaves, while taraxacoside, phenolic acids and calcium are found only in the roots. While typical diuretics deplete the body of potassium, dandelion leaves contain such an abundance of the mineral the body gains even more potassium after diuretic use. The minerals found in dandelion are essential for bone and heart health. According to the Journal of Medicinal Plants Studies, dandelion leaves also contain beta carotene, many of the B-complex vitamins, choline, silicon, sodium, zinc, manganese, copper and phosphorous. They are also higher in iron and calcium than spinach while delivering antiviral, anti-diabetic, and anti-fungal properties.

As a food source, dandelion greens are also high in fiber and are picked for use in salads, soups, stews and pesto, pasta or dried and ground as a seasoning. The leaves can be blanched and frozen for future use in cooking. Tender, young leaves are mild but once dandelion has flowered, the leaves become bitter however, bitters are known to help the digestive system and ease gastrointestinal issues by increasing stomach acids and breaking down food. Bear in mind, bitter dandelion greens may cause problems for people with acid reflux, bloating, cramping, nausea or heartburn issues so you should consult your physician first.

Dandelion flower heads can be used fresh in salads, fresh or dried for tea, fried or sautéed. The petals, pulled from the sepal or lower green portions of the flower, are used to make jelly, cookies, bread, mead, wine and anything else you can imagine. Flower heads can be dried in a dehydrator or by placing them in the oven on low until all of the moisture is gone, then stored in an airtight container.

The long dandelion taproot is often roasted or baked for use as a caffeine-free coffee substitute or a snack. They can also be ground for addition to soups, stews and baked goods. The roots are best harvested in the fall from plants that are at least two years old.

As for the stems, washed and placed in a jar of pickling brine, then refrigerated, they make a delicious snack or side dish.

Next time you reach for the weed spray, think about giving these amazing herbs a try instead.

To help ensure healthy use, dandelions should not be picked if they’ve been sprayed or fertilized and those along roadsides should be avoided due to automobile exhaust and contaminants. Some gardeners set aside areas specifically for dandelions so the yard can be maintained and the plant will be kept free of pesticides and chemicals.

Though the dandelion is considered safe, if you suffer from a disease or illness, or you are currently on any medication, please consult with your doctor before trying them.

(Liz Swynarczuk has worked with botanicals and essential oils for 26 years and received her Certificate in Plant-Based Nutrition from T. Colin Campbell Center for Nutrition Studies in 2017 and her Certificate in Medicinal Plants from Cornell University through eCornell in 2021.)