Photo by Daniel Regner

In June 2020, Elizabeth was furloughed - like many others experienced - from her primary position as a Probation Officer.  The transition sprouted into Erly Remedies.

Elizabeth has a passion for people and the outdoors.  While in Baltimore, she worked for the Baltimore City Recreation and Parks department and interned with the Parks and People Foundation.  She also spent time volunteering in the Baltimore County Detention Center with inmates.  Most days when she came in, their first question was "what's the weather outside?" (*yes, this is a whole other rant*). There is no doubt about it - quality of life is deeply intertwined with access to outdoor spaces.  (Check out these stats from the NRPA.) As well, this access and opportunity is linked with economic class divides and racism - coined "the nature gap".

After Baltimore, Elizabeth came back to her roots in Perry County, PA and became a Probation Officer.   It can be noted that Perry County does not boast as many human health resources as some other areas (there is not a hospital located within the county, so funding and statistics can get skewed and resources are not as often invested).  This is a difficult circumstance for those struggling with substance addiction, and those trying to find access to treatment.   However, Perry County is an area that is absolutely abundant with vast natural space. This creates a unique opportunity for connection. 

Author Johann Hari states that the opposite of addiction is not sobriety, it is connection.  While substance addiction is indeed an urgent issue in Perry County, various addictive tendencies are also often experienced by nearly everyone - to work, social media, consumption, etc...the list is massive.  No matter the addiction, a key component to remedy is through improving connections.  With that, Elizabeth believes that one of the strongest most ever-present connections we can strengthen is with Earth itself, particularly with plants. Deepening this connection can dramatically improve quality of life for the individual, the community, and the environment as a whole.  

Elizabeth respects that with the gifts of plants comes a responsibility of reciprocity.  This means stewarding the land and plants in a supportive way to continue to give, grow, and receive in relationship.  It also means holding reverence for Indigenous people and practices.      

Elizabeth has completed the Foundations of Vitalist Herbalism program with the Northern Appalachia School for Vitalist Herbalism and Ecology and plans to continue herbal education in a variety of ways.  She deeply recognizes there will always be more unknown than known to her within the plant world, but embraces the opportunity of life-long learning.