Hi, I’m Madeleine. I’m a queer white non-binary zinester, folk herbalist, witch, and feeler residing on un-ceded Awaswas-speaking Ohlone territory, known to some as California’s Central Coast. My work carries threads of magic, unsettling & facing white supremacy/mediocrity, and queer femme power.
I regularly offer a variety of paid and free workshops intended to support community healing. I assist in a couple community health/herbalism projects, and write zines and articles on climate catastrophe, surviving abuse and rediscovering agency. I also create and share educational content on my Patreon, website, instagram, and newsletter. You can find more of my work there.
If you are looking for info about my herbal training and approach, please scroll down
Contact Info
I love hearing from you. Please feel free to send me comments or questions.
For business inquiries: Please note, I only respond to those proposals that are a good match for my schedule and interest.
- Email: madeleinelkeller (at) gmail (dot) com
Anti-Oppression + Liberation Framework
It is my intention to incorporate liberatory principles into the knowledge and practice of herbalism. This means that my vision of health rejects the gender/biological binary and all purity discourse (ex: “clean eating,” etc.). These values are elements of the capitalist, white supremacist, cis-hetero-patriarchal society we live in. They have no place in discussions of health or care. In addition to that, I also strive to recognize both the strengths and shortcomings of Western medicine. I refuse to shame anyone for engaging in any type of healthcare, or for any identities they hold in relation to their care needs. Get the care your body needs. In my work, I hold the intention to create a caring and compassionate space.
My intention in sharing this knowledge is to create accessible, queer-literate space where people can learn important skills for self- and community care. My definition of folk herbalism incorporates sharing and interaction between both people and plants, and between people and their larger communities. Through this work, I hope to add to our collective care toolkits and create more resilience and opportunities for health in our networks. Read more about my anti-oppression framework here.
Traditions + Background
I am a white (descended from settler-colonists) person, and my herbal training background is grounded in Traditional Western Herbalism. Therefore, my teachings and practices are based in a Western Herbalism understanding of energetics, dosing, medicine making, care protocols, etc. I refer to myself as a folk herbalist, because my practices focuses more heavily on traditional ways of working with and preparing herbs, rather than on a clinical or scientific approach. My practice has a heavy emphasis on bioregionalism, seasonal living, and using plant medicine as a way to connect with the food- and life-ways of my European ancestors.
I recognize that much of the Western herbal materia medica has been appropriated from other herbal traditions, like Ayurveda, Traditional Chinese Medicine, and many traditions Indigenous to Turtle Island. I work to counter the harmful impact of this by incorporating monetary support for the Amah Mutsun Tribal Band, the people indigenous to the land I live on, and prioritizing BIPOC folks for free herbal learning opportunities and resources.
I am also a trained educator and a passionate teacher. I love to cater to all learning styles and work to support folks’ access needs in my courses wherever feasible. See below for more info on my education background.
Additionally, I am a trained co-counselor or peer counselor and an active member of the Re-Evaluation Counseling community. I am passionate about peer-counseling and community-led forms of support, and this is another healing modality that I hold dear and often incorporate into my practice and sessions. See below for info on this training.
Herbal Training
Self-study in medicine making starting in 2015
Garden Herbalism Workshop with Darren Huckle, 2017
Cultivating Resilience: 9 Week Introduction to Herbal Medicine with Windfall Herbal Studies, 2019
Blossom’s Biodynamic Herb Farm, Farmer’s Market Sales and Herbal Product Production, 2019-2020
Practitioner Skills Series with Blue Otter School of Herbal Medicine, 2020
The Taste of Herbs course by Rosalee De La Foret, 2020
Community Herbal Program with various teachers through Wild Ginger Community Herbal Center, 2020-2021
Education Training
Winter Training Seminar: Developing Sustainable Leadership, 2015
UC Santa Cruz Diversity Facilitator Training, 2015, 2016, & 2017
B.A. Community Studies and Education, UC Santa Cruz, 2013-2017
Outdoor Educator, Exploring New Horizons Outdoor School Sempervirens Campus, 2018-2019
Counseling Training
Re-Evaluation Counseling Fundamentals, 2019-2020
Re-Evaluation Counseling Community Member & Facilitator’s Assistant, 2020-present
