Podcast 55: A Cup of Calm: Brewing Herbal Wisdom in Honesdale

In this heartwarming episode, Linda and Betty sit down with longtime friend and herbalist Gudrun of Mount Pleasant Herbary in Honesdale, PA. Together, they explore Gudrun’s journey from the Black Forest of Germany to rural Pennsylvania, where she’s built a beloved community hub filled with handcrafted teas, salves, soaps, and more. Gudrun shares her insights on sustainable herbalism, Reiki-infused plant care, and the slow, intentional growth of her business—from farmers markets to Main Street.

We talk about:
 – How childhood memories can plant lifelong passions
 – The healing power of calendula (and a really good teacup)
 – Building a life and a business aligned with nature
 – Why hands-on workshops are more needed than ever

Learn more at minervaed.com or mountpleasantherbary.com, and be sure to subscribe to hear more conversations at the intersection of wisdom, healing, and grounded joy.

Opening Credits Background Video by: Kaboompics.com

Transcript

Hello, and welcome to Two Crones and a Microphone. I’m Linda.

 And I’m Betty—and this is my friend Gudrun.

Gudrun:
 Hi!

 Hi, Gudrun. So lovely to have you here.

 Thank you—thanks for having me.

Betty:
You might notice we’re in a new space today. All our recording equipment is set up down here—it’s been a lot of fun. We’re in Gudrun’s space, downtown in Honesdale. She owns Mount Pleasant Herbary here in Honesdale, PA. I’ve known Gudrun for about 20 years. I think I first met you when I was teaching Reiki classes, right?

Gudrun:
Correct—you taught me Reiki I and Reiki II.

Betty:
And over the years, I’ve watched you create beautiful teas, salves, soaps, lotions... I've watched your business grow from local farmers markets and holiday fairs to now having your own brick-and-mortar store downtown.

Linda:
 We have so many questions for you! Maybe to start—what age were you when you first got interested in herbs?

Gudrun:
 I have a really early memory from when I was three. I was playing with my neighbor in her grandmother’s garden. We had little polka dot bowls and picked calendula flowers. I remember the smell so vividly. We pretended we were cooking with them. Even now, when I pick calendula in my garden, that memory always comes back.

Linda:
 And where was this?

Gudrun:
 Germany—I grew up in the southwest, in the Black Forest.

Betty:
 Lovely! And now here you are in Honesdale.

Gudrun:
 The short version: I came to the U.S. through a work exchange for German social workers. I was hoping for the West Coast, but I ended up in Scranton, Pennsylvania. That’s where I met my husband. The program was only four months, but we stayed in touch and had a long-distance relationship for four years. Then in 2002, I moved here permanently—straight to Wayne County.

Linda:
 Wow—you really landed with both feet in Pennsylvania.

Gudrun:
 I did, though it was still a bit of a culture shock.

Betty:
 Was your husband already living on a farm?

Gudrun:
 No—we both just shared a dream of living in an old farmhouse. We rented an apartment in Honesdale at first, then found our little place in Pleasant Mount. It’s only two acres, but the house was built in 1869 by a Bavarian immigrant. That’s where I grow many of the herbs I use.

Linda:
 Do you also forage?

Gudrun:
 Sometimes—yes. I recently picked St. John’s Wort and some ramps for the store.

Linda:
 Oh yum! I wish I could come pick some up right now.

Betty:
 Did you have formal training in herbalism?

Gudrun:
 Some. I got my certification through the Chestnut School of Herbal Medicine, in a 1,000-hour program taught by Juliet Blankespoor. It took about two years. That gave me a strong foundation. But I still feel like you’re never really “done” learning as an herbalist. The plants are always teaching you.

Linda:
 Absolutely. My teacher, Lupo Passero from Twin Star, helped found that school with Juliet.

Gudrun:
 Yes! I really loved the program—fun, informative, and Juliet has a great sense of humor.

Betty:
 And how did you fit it in with being a wife, a mother, and running a business?

Gudrun:
 I did all the theory in the winter when I wasn’t tending the garden. Then in summer, I focused on the hands-on learning. Deadlines helped too—they pushed me to finish.

Linda:
 If you had to pick—what’s your favorite herb?

Gudrun:
 Still calendula. It’s easy to grow, it reseeds itself, it’s beautiful, it smells heavenly—and it’s incredibly healing. Cuts, scrapes, sunburns, even scars. I think the world needs more calendula flowers.

Linda:
 What’s your favorite product or recipe you’ve created?

Gudrun:
 Definitely my calendula salve. It’s great for skin issues—so healing. Then my teas: I started the business with three blends I still love today. One is Mint Medley—spearmint, Moroccan mint. Great iced with strawberries. Another is Summer Breeze with nettle, lemon balm, sage, and calendula. And Flower Power, which has anise hyssop, yarrow, pink clover, lemon balm, and of course—calendula again.

Betty:
 You also make a stress relief tea, right?

Gudrun:
 Yes, with tulsi—also known as holy basil. It calms the nervous system without making you sleepy. It’s perfect for daytime stress, anxiety, or just being overwhelmed.

Betty:
 I drank gallons of it when my husband was sick. It really helped.

Linda:
 What’s your website so our listeners can find your products?

Gudrun:
 It’s mountpleasantherbary.com—that’s Mount Pleasant Herbary, all one word. “Herbary” comes from the Latin herbarium, meaning a place where herbs are grown.

Betty:
 And you do ship?

Gudrun:
 Yes! We ship anywhere.

Linda:
 And for our four-legged friends—you make paw balm too?

Gudrun:
 Yes! With shea butter and olive oil infused with dandelions. Great protection in winter when there’s salt on the streets, or in summer on hot sidewalks. And it’s safe if dogs lick their paws.

Betty:
 You also have a dog shampoo bar, right?

Gudrun:
 Yes! Plus we have catnip toys and accessories made by local crafters. There’s something for everyone.

Betty:
 And your arnica salve is amazing. I use it for my knees—it really helps. How did you come up with your formulas?

Gudrun:
 When I moved here, I missed the variety of loose herbal teas from Germany. So I started growing my own, blending based on what I had most of—like nettle. Herbs are forgiving. You can experiment and almost always end up with something delicious.

I started selling teas at farmers markets, then added soaps and dream pillows. It’s grown slowly but steadily since then.

Linda:
 Were you making all this in your kitchen at first?

Gudrun:
 Yes, at the very beginning. I had my kitchen certified by the Department of Agriculture to blend teas for resale.

Betty:
 How long have you been in business?

Gudrun:
 Since 2009 with the farmers markets. I opened my first storefront in 2015, and just last August moved into a bigger space right on Main Street.

Linda:
 Tell us about your current space!

Gudrun:
 It’s much more visible now, with lots of foot traffic. We’ve added seating, expanded the lunch menu, and created a true café. You can get iced or hot herbal teas and a healthy lunch, served in real teacups. No to-go cups indoors—so people actually sit, sip, and relax.

It smells incredible in there—no synthetic fragrances, just real essential oils. It’s become a peaceful community space. People hold book clubs here, meet friends, and just hang out. In the summer it’s packed with folks from New York and New Jersey.

Betty:
 You’re really living your dream. What advice would you give to someone wanting to start a business like yours?

Gudrun:
 Start small if you can. I grew this business alongside raising my daughter. I never borrowed money—just scaled gradually. If it’s possible, keep your day job or other income while you grow. That keeps the pressure down, and your energy stays clear—which is important when working with herbs.

Betty:
 And I remember you Reiki your herbs too?

Gudrun:
 Yes. I’ve always believed that energy matters. If you’re stressed, that transfers to the product. Reiki helps me keep that energy clear and intentional.

Betty:
 I remember those early markets—your table was always swamped. I said to you then, “You’re good. Have you thought about a brick-and-mortar?” And look at you now!

Gudrun:
 Thank you. It’s been a lot of work, but it’s also a joy.

Linda:
 Will you be teaching workshops again?

Gudrun:
 Yes! We have a whole series coming up. My friend Ellison, a master gardener, is teaching terrarium-making. I’m teaching soap making, infused oils and vinegars, green cleaning, natural body care... all hands-on. Every attendee makes and takes home four products.

Linda:
 That’s such a needed offering right now—especially when we’re all so online all the time. Getting your hands in something real is healing.

Gudrun:
 Exactly. These workshops won’t be online. You have to come in person to get the full experience. There are lots of B&Bs in the area if folks want to stay overnight.

Betty:
 People can come up for a weekend, stay with a friend, take a class—it’s a lovely getaway.

Linda:
 We’ll post workshop info and your website on our site and Facebook page. I’ll also send it to Libby, our web person, to include in the show notes.

Gudrun:
 Thank you, Betty.

Betty:
 I really am a fan. I give your products as gifts—they’re beautifully made, thoughtful, and healing.

Linda:
 Do you answer questions on Facebook?

Gudrun:
 All the time! And I’ll be posting upcoming workshops there too.

Linda:
 We’ll include your Facebook and Instagram links—Mount Pleasant Herbary on both, correct?

Gudrun:
 Correct!

Betty:
 Thank you for being such a light in the community, Gudrun. You’re making a difference—one cup of tea and salve at a time.

Gudrun:
 Thank you. This is my passion—I wouldn’t want to be doing anything else.

Linda:
 And thank you, everyone, for listening. You can find more at minervaed.com, where we’ll also post links to Gudrun’s work and upcoming classes. And don’t forget to sign up for our newsletter.

Betty:
 Sally’s away this time, so you’ve just got the two of us today. We also have a YouTube channel if you want to see us in action as well as listen.

Linda:
 This podcast is always dedicated to sharing techniques and wisdom to help you navigate the muddy waters of our time—with gentleness toward yourself and others.

Betty:
 And until next time—go out and find your glimmer.