Meet Stephanie Hardie | Herbal Medicine Practitioner & Holistic Health Coach

We had the good fortune of connecting with Stephanie Hardie and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Stephanie, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?
Gate and Garden started incredibly grassroots! I began as an herbalist first, not an entrepreneur, so before I ever even had a thought about operating a business, I was already making remedies for friends and family members. As an avid gardener, I often had an abundance of herbs to tinker with, which is where my love for herbalism began. As I made more remedies, and word of mouth grew interest in what I do, Gate & Garden was born as a legitimate business. The roots of my work as a clinical herbal medicine practitioner, holistic health coach, & herbal product maker started as and will always remain in the interest of helping others heal with respect, choice, & autonomy. That is what drives every session I hold, every tincture I make, and beyond!

What should our readers know about your business?
This is such a loaded question! As mentioned, Gate & Garden had humble beginnings. When I took the first step and registered as an LLC & officially began the business, I had ZERO expectations. I remember signing the paperwork and setting a net sales goal for my first year…and by the years’ close, I had sold nearly 5 times what my original goal had been. I think one of the things that contributes to Gate & Garden’s success is it’s intention and my genuine passion. I have always approached this work with respect and honor for nature and all of its creatures–other human beings included. I LOVE what I do, wholeheartedly believe in and embody holistic healing, and would fight for the visibility of this necessary work until my dying breath. Small business ownership is not for the faint of heart, and there have been a fair amount of “maybe I should just give up” days, but I’ve tried hard to use those challenges as learning and growth opportunities. I’ve had to pivot in some areas, but those actions have always lead me to a place that is more aligned with my ultimate vision. I hope to be an example of “you can do hard things and deserve happiness”, not in the toxic positivity kind of way, but in the truly holistic way, which is what I strive so hard to preach!

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
As a nature lover, you’re obviously coming on a hike with me! My favorite places are the quiet ones…the ones where you can look at mushrooms, hear birds, and the wind rustling leaves. Being from the South Shore of MA, I am near some pretty neat stuff, but as a home-body, I don’t really hit the clubs, bars, or hustle and bustle scenes. My favorite restaurants are usually quiet, independent owned places that are heavy on brunch (I have an obsession with breakfast food), and my favorite hang out spots are hiking trails, the beach, the woods, etc.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I could talk about this forever! My personal philosophy is that there is no such thing as “self-made” and I am no exception. My shout-outs are endless, but I will try to be concise and provide a single answer. As a serious introvert, I had always believed that my very particular & not-always-socially-conforming interests were mine alone, and I was destined to remain semi-isolated. Through Gate & Garden, however, I had the the fortune of finding & building some incredible friendships. Kata Stack, who owns/operates Black Moon Botanics and Christina Haskins who owns/operates The Glass Garden have been some of the most supportive, inspirational, amusing, and genuine friends that I have ever had the pleasure of knowing. In a world that often feels depressingly competitive, the pair (whose businesses joined forces under the moniker Botanicult) are shining examples of community, and I thank them both endlessly for their love.

Website: https://www.gateandgardenherbals.com/

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