When I set out to create Spells of Wylde one of the things I promised myself was to create a comfortable space in which to share ideas. What I wanted to steer clear from was a pushy narrative about one particular method of slow living, intentional living, dietary, ethical, spiritual, physical, and social practices.
Years ago, I became somewhat obsessed with nutrition. I scoured the internet for documentaries, essays, and the opinions of nutritionists, doctors, dietitians, holistic practitioners, gurus, and otherwise self-proclaimed health nuts for their opinions on what I should and should not eat. Needless to say, I was extremely overwhelmed and conflicted. One week I would follow the advice based on a particular study and the next I would be convinced otherwise by other sources or a well-meaning friend. And then I would call my folks and they would say, “But are you getting enough protein? Red meat is good for you!”, and yet again my certainty in my extensive studies would falter.
Beyond nutrition, I was also motivated by my desire to eat ethically. Although to an extent I was able to make my own conclusions about what foods were right for me, I was continually plagued with a vagueness that left me hankering to learn more. I became flustered with the back and forth on the do’s and don’ts, until, lo and behold, I had a bright moment. It was OK. It was ok not to be sure, and it was ok to continue to want to learn. It was ok that I didn’t have The Right Answer because truly there really isn’t one. It was ok to do the best I can and to stick by my well-informed opinion. And my well-informed opinion was not necessarily what was right for everyone else. And guess what? That’s ok too. You do you.
Designating Time to Slow or Flow
I’ve come to the conclusion that this is the case for most things in life, including a personal discord between enjoying stillness (the building blocks of a slow living practice) and being productive. While slow living is a lifestyle choice I stand by and practice, without a doubt it is practice and not something that comes naturally all the time. In recent weeks I’ve noticed myself feeling guilty when taking time to settle down and read something for pleasure or stopping my work to enjoy a cup of tea on my porch. A part of my brain would chime in, “But do you really have time to sip your tea and listen to the birds right now? What about all the things on your list?” Rather than finding a comfortable balance between enjoying my pastimes and productivity, I experienced days in which I attempted to savor a slow day while guilt-ridden about not working towards my goals, or obsessively (and miserably) tackling my endless to-do list without rest and without food or water.
It’s taken a while for me to realize that it’s not taking the afternoon off to enjoy life nor working persistently that’s the problem. It’s doing either one of these things while simultaneously feeling guilty about not doing the other. When I am not savoring the stillness I long for, and I am also not fully committed to reaching my goals when I’m working, I’m missing the point.
I am an advocate for slow living, not languid living. Part of the beauty of life is the sheer possibilities and the excitement of taking action, whether that be honing a craft, studying a subject of interest, or building a business. Having dreams, setting goals and challenges, and accomplishing those things is the greatest joie de vivre! It is just as important to me that I am taking action towards my goals as it is for me to enjoy the still moments.
The Many Ways to Enjoy Slow Living
So where do we find the balance between stillness and productivity? For me, this can only be found when setting boundaries which can be a bit tricky especially if you work from home like me. When I am working or studying I strive to immerse myself completely and get into a flow state. And when I am slowing down, I make my very best effort to savor that time without interruption from my phone, emails, or work. Similar to meditating, there is no slow living while allowing the monkey mind to run rampant. It’s certainly easier said than done, especially for those of us who have become accustomed to so much stimulation and to so much multitasking in our day-to-day. Again, it’s a practice.
It’s also important to note that everyone’s lives, circumstances, “free” time, responsibilities, and personalities are different. There is no one way to practice slow living, just as there is no one way to be productive. Your way is as unique as you are. Take some time to learn what works for you. Remember, YOU do YOU! I hope to share some of my own experience in struggling with a balance, too, and to share some tips I’ve found useful soon. Hope you have a wonderful day and that your week is filled with magic!
Everyone has at least one memory of picking leaves, flowers, collecting rocks, sea glass, and shells, or admiring the intricate patterns on a butterfly, the heft of an ant’s haul, the glistening of an alien-like sea critter. It’s an innate human quality to be curious about nature and to be inspired by its simultaneous complexity and seeming simplicity.
Sarah Stephens who is a dear friend of mine says she’s played in the woods gathering and foraging from a very young age. Though she continues to do so now, it’s not only for pleasure but to collect materials for her business, Mōhala Expressions. Mōhala Expressions has a rainbow-colored line of flavorful syrups and shrubs Sarah makes lovingly by hand with foraged materials she’s collected here on her adventures on O’ahu. Today we get to spend an afternoon with her, learning about foraging and even enjoy some cocktails using her creations. Join us for a leisurely stroll in Kalihi Valley and a little trip to the Spells of Wylde kitchen for a refreshing pau hana cocktail.
“Ever since I can remember, nature has been my safe space…hiking and being in nature has always allowed me to slow down and clear my head.”
We’ve talked in the past about your love of hiking and being out in nature, can you expand on this?
Definitely! Ever since I can remember, nature has been my safe space. I grew up in a chaotic home, and we lived next to three forests, so I used to go there to escape. I’d build forts, climb trees, and pretend to live off the land. I guess things haven’t changed much, but hiking and being in nature has always allowed me to slow down and clear my head. I’ll probably always be that type A personality that always has to stay busy and can never sit still, but at least I’ve figured out a way to move my legs while slowing my mind down a little. It allows me to be a little more mindful of the natural world around me, too.
What aspect of foraging do you love and enjoy most? Why is it more appealing than, say, purchasing ingredients?
I think what I love most about foraging isn’t something I consciously think about when I’m doing it. It’s an aura of instinctually getting back to my roots and being in tune with the natural world around me. Because humans have largely forgotten how to live off of the land, it seems complex to a lot of people– having to research edibility, environmental status, and plant identification among many other things can seem overwhelming– but for me it was simply borne out of sheer curiosity about the world in which I live!
Reducing the experience of foraging down to gathering free ingredients would cheapen it. Although saving money on food is a clear benefit, it is also so much more than that. Gathering invasive plants that harm your local ecosystem is beneficial to the environment, rather than engaging in the commercial food industry that is incredibly harmful on a global scale. Being out in nature gives me a chance to clear my head and get away from the hustle and bustle of city life, rather than being in a crowded, sterile grocery store. It also helps me to be more knowledgeable about the food I’m putting in my body and where it comes from. Most invasive plants have a lot of nutritional and medicinal benefits, so foraging is great for the physical body too!
“Being out in nature gives me a chance to clear my head and get away from the hustle and bustle of city life, rather than being in a crowded, sterile grocery store. It also helps me to be more knowledgeable about the food I’m putting in my body and where it comes from.”
A very large part of my respect for you and your business is that you educate your audience and customers on foraging etiquette and the importance of respecting the land you forage from. Can you tell us about this?
Definitely! This is something I’m incredibly passionate about that often gets overlooked because it’s not necessarily “interesting” or “marketable.” If there’s one thing I wish I could emphasize more, it would be the distinction between native and invasive plants. To elaborate: foraging is often mistaken for being a sustainable practice, but that’s not necessarily true. Every time I find a new plant, I always research name (common, Latin, and Hawaiian), edibility, status (native, non-native, culturally significant, etc), uses (edible, cultural, medicinal, etc), and environment (coastal, mesic, elevation, etc).
There are two major categories in terms of status: Native and non-native. For the most part, I never use native plants. Why? Most are having a hard enough time thriving on their home turf without people coming through and uprooting them. Before I moved to Hawai’i, I thought if a plant went extinct, it was sad and that was it. Now that I’ve done a lot more research, I’ve learned that ecosystems are intricate systems that are dependent on specific variables. For example, O’ahu receives massive amounts of rainfall during certain times of year, and is dependent on its unique watershed system. Many plants native to Hawai’i and to O’ahu specifically act as sponges that absorb the rain so it can trickle down into the watershed. Without these plants, the water gains momentum and can result in massive runoffs, landslides, and flooding. Obviously, these types of natural disasters are not ideal for many reasons.
Peppergrass we found growing wild on a garden wall.
Because native plants are essential to maintain delicate ecosystems, we want to leave those alone for the most part. If they are in abundance in a certain location or are cultivated, take only what you need and move on. But what about non-native plants? There are two major sub-categories for non-native plants: naturalized and invasive. Naturalized plants basically have learned to coexist in the ecosystem, meaning that while they’re not really supposed to be there, they’re not really hurting anything either. A lot of canoe plants, such as kalo and sugar cane fall into this category, and many of these are considered culturally significant because of their many uses on the islands during pre-colonization periods. Invasive plants, on the other hand, are incredibly harmful to the environment. Many of them have means of reproducing that cause them to spread incredibly rapidly, leaving little to no room for native plants or anything else for that matter. Many of these plants, such as strawberry guava, haole koa, and ginger, have incredible nutritional and medicinal benefits, so eating them is not only good for you, it’s great for the environment, too!
Do you have any tips for those who would like to learn to forage both ethically and sustainably, or any books or resources you recommend?
Absolutely! I like A Hiker’s Guide to Trailside Plants in Hawai’i by John B. Hall, and this was the first book I used a lot to start identifying plants here on O’ahu. Most of my other books are more on medicinal and cultural uses. I use the app Picture This a lot to identify plants, although on some occasions it can be slightly off, so I’d only use it if you already have a basic understanding of plant identification. Google is actually a great resource if you just start typing in visual keywords, such as “small orange berries Hawai’i!” Instagram is a great place to connect with like-minded people, and @ryanschang, @protectandpreservehawaii, and @kanakaclimbers are great accounts to follow if you want to learn about the responsible side of hiking or caring for the land. For specifically foraging, check out @sunnysavageofficial! She also has an app called the Savage Kitchen App that can give you locations at which to forage the top five invasive edible plants in Hawai’i, and recipes so you can make delicious meals with what you find!
“…creating my product line for Mōhala Expressions exclusively from invasive ingredients on O’ahu is the first step towards a very large goal of mine: to inspire and educate others on how to make invasive foods part of a healthy diet…”
How do you live in a way that honors your goals and values?
I can’t say that I honor my goals and values 100% of the time, but then again, we no longer live in a world where it’s realistic to live off the land while being a part of a society or community. However, just like everything else, every little bit helps. Even if I can forage most of the ingredients for a few meals per week, it’s better than exclusively buying from a massive grocery store chain. And creating my product line for Mōhala Expressions exclusively from invasive ingredients on O’ahu is the first step towards a very large goal of mine: to inspire and educate others on how to make invasive foods part of a healthy diet, and (hopefully) eventually the see the use of invasive plants to make commercial food products! At the end of the day, I know I have some very big goals, but as long as I stay true to myself and do everything with integrity, I know I’m headed in the right direction.
Creating cocktails, cocktail ingredients, and garnishes out of your foraged ingredients takes creativity and inspiration. What comes first, the inspiration or the ingredients?
I get asked this a lot, and I’m still not really sure! All I can say is that it just kind of happens naturally. I’d say most of the time it happens in this sequence: see a new ingredient, find out what it is (along with other necessary details), try it, establish tasting notes, figure out how to work with it, translate it to liquid form, then cocktail creation! Although occasionally I do get an idea for a cocktail and then figure out which ingredients I already know that would work best for that creation.
What’s your favorite way to live “slow”?
Taking long walks in nature, and being mindful of the little things. Noticing small changes, such as when a plant is flowering vs. fruiting, the different seasons, how things like rain affect the environment… all these things bring me a little joy when I see them.
I’m always in awe by Sarah’s love for nature and her magnetism to it. Despite what kind of a hectic week she’s had she’s always itching to go on a long and difficult hike not only to enjoy the meditative quality of foraging but to exercise and to be in nature to recharge. While Sarah’s general brisk pace in life doesn’t immediately bring to mind “slow living,” I think that it is such a perfect representation of my ideal style of slow living – being able to work toward your dreams but to take the time to slow down in the way that recharges you. Balance is key.
It’s also so refreshing to see another “transplant” here in Hawai’i, who educates herself and others on ways we can be allies to the Hawaiian people and to the wildlife and terrain of the Kingdom of Hawai’i. Taking her knowledge and practices and using it as the building blocks of her local small business truly sets the bar for something we should all strive to do – care for the land and people from which we borrow.
Keep Up With Sarah
Thank you so much, Sarah, for sharing with us today and for educating us on the values and ethics behind foraging! You can find Sarah Stephens on IG @foragingforcocktails and @mohalaexpressions QUICK TIP! Click the bell on each IG profile to choose notification settings so you’ll be the first to know when the Mōhala Expressions website is up! At the time of writing, you can purchase Mōhala’s line by DM on IG.
I think it’s time for a cocktail! Below is a recipe Sarah whipped up for us back at the Spells of Wylde cottage. This take on a classic French 75 marries the slightly bitter bite and juicy tartness of Java plum with just the right amount of sweet. Cheers!
Java Plum French 75 Cocktail Recipe
Ingredients
.75 oz Java Plum Shrub (purchase from Mōhala Expressions!) .75 oz Lemon Juice 1.5 oz Botanical Gin (we used Hendrick’s) Prosecco to float
Preparation
Build all but the Prosecco in a mixing tin. Add ice and shake well. Strain into iced Collins glass. Top with Prosecco. Sip to your heart’s content.
As spring turns over a new leaf, Atticus introduces us to a libation that’s a perfect welcome into the season. With a mango-leaf infused gin base and a cordial that’s reminiscent of a stone-fruit orchard, this light and uplifting cocktail is like a spring picnic under a fruit tree. With a noticeable but subtle aroma of sandalwood we’re transported into a heavenly bliss that can only be found in the woods. Before we go there, let’s get to know Atticus and the inspiration behind this creation.
Tell us a little about yourself. How did you end up behind the stick?
“I grew up in a small mountain town in Southern California, and ended up going to school in Orange County. I started working in a bar while I was going to school and just fell in love with it. Shortly after I started I was hooked. Around the same time I decided I wanted to move to Hawai’i to bartend out here, heavily inspired by Tom Cruise’s masterpiece “Cocktail”. I got extremely lucky and by happenstance ended up behind the bar at The Myna Bar at The Street where I was able to really cut my teeth and get a fast pace introduction to Hawai’i’s industry. While at Myna I was fortunate enough to work with a team of people who were all so incredibly passionate and talented they all pushed me to get better and better. Now I’m working at Bar Leather Apron and continuing to grow and learn from the best in our industry.”
What was the inspiration for your cocktail?
“As of late with my cocktails, I’ve wanted to focus largely on local ingredients. I think that focusing on local ingredients both foraged and farmed, really can showcase what’s unique about Hawai’i. We have an incredible wealth of talent out here that deserves recognition on a larger scale than just our state alone. In The Woods was inspired by the walks I’ve taken on Tantalus mountain. The crisp smells wafting in the breeze and the earth beneath your feet have played pivotal roles in the development of this cocktail.”
“I think giving up some things in your life can be extremely important for personal care. For me, it’s often just as simple as giving myself my own time and space to just relax and recharge.”
At Spells of Wylde we’re big on slow living. What things do you value most in life? Are there things you’ve given up to better align with what’s important to you?
“I think giving up some things in your life can be extremely important for personal care. For me, it’s often just as simple as giving myself my own time and space to just relax and recharge. I think in this line of work we can be so focused on the needs of others we often overlook the needs of ourselves.
It’s common for us to attach our own identity to where we work. For the longest time I’ve struggled with my own self worth being attached the the success of my career and the reputation of where I work. Attaching my ego and my own self worth from my work is still something I’m working on giving up to this day.”
What’s your favorite experience working in the service industry?
“It’s hard to pinpoint one exact favorite memory from my time behind the bar. What’s stuck with me the most throughout this time has been the people I’ve met. They’ve become my friends, confidants, mentors and so much more.”
Your favorite drink to order at a bar?
“My favorite drink has to be an Americano!”
Keep Up With Atticus
A big thank you to Atticus for finding time in his busy schedule to hang out at Spells of Wylde! Atticus currently tends bar at Bar Leather Apron, and will soon be at their sister bar, Bar Maze when they open shortly. Follow Atticus on Instagram @Atticus_Hood You can also follow Bar Leather Apron @BarLeatherApron and Bar Maze at @Bar.Maze
Recipe
Ingredients
1.5 oz Mango-leaf infused gin
1 oz Chenin Blanc cordial
.5 oz Lemon juice
Sandalwood infusion rinse
*While the substitution of any ingredient will inevitably affect the integrity of this complex cocktail, I feel it’s unfair to leave you drooling over this concoction without at least a pared down version for those that don’t have access to the ingredients. Try a botanical gin like Uncle Val’s in place of the Mango-leaf gin, Lillet Blanc in place of the cordial, and smoke the glass with a sandalwood smudging stick before you serve your cocktail.
Preparation
Ice a Nick and Nora glass. In your shaker, build all ingredients except for the Sandalwood rinse. Shake cocktail with ice then serve in Sandalwood rinsed glass. Cheers!
I’m only a novice in this area but have been sincerely enjoying the changes I’ve been making to simplify my life and reduce waste. It feels good to know that although I don’t know or do everything I could do to be kinder to our planet, that I’m doing SOMETHING. The world is a better place with each small choice we make. Here are 5 easy sustainable swaps. You can check out this post with more swaps if you missed it!
1. Purchase and recycle clothing responsibly.
Before throwing something away because of a hole or stain consider options to mend your clothing. When purchasing a new piece of clothing consider purchasing second hand first. If you can’t find what you’re looking for purchase good quality natural fiber clothing from an ethically and sustainably responsible brand. Do your best to purchase clothing that you will wear for years to come. Also never forget the most sustainable clothing is the clothing you own right now! If you must give up a piece of clothing, only regift or donate usable items. If you believe a charity shop won’t be able to resell your item, consider mending it first or upcycling the item to give it a newfound use!
2. Filter your water with a recycled container and Binchotan Charcoal.
Ditch Brita and other plastic based water filtration systems for a recycled container and charcoal. Just boil and dry the charcoal pieces every week and a half or so. It’s sustainable, simple, low maintenance and zero waste. When you’ve exhausted your charcoal, you can compost it.
3. Skip bottled and canned drinks.
Carrying your own water bottle is a no-brainer – simple, cheap, and ecofriendly. Use a container you already have, purchase second hand, or pick up a non-plastic reusable bottle. Instead of purchasing bottled and canned beverages opt for drinks you make at home or coffee/tea/juice from a cafe in your reusable to-go cup. If you must buy a bottled drink, opt for glass bottles over aluminum or plastic and be sure to recycle appropriately.
4. Swap bottled soaps, shampoo, and conditioners for solid.
This is a surprisingly easy swap and is cost effective too. You’re not likely to feel like you’re giving up much when swapping from shower gel to conventional soap. The shampoo did take some getting used to but I’ve used this one for a few years now and love it! It may seem a bit pricey but they last a very long time since you only require a tiny bit. Pro tip : make sure you store on a soap dish or shower caddy that drains away any excess water and store it in an area that keeps dry in the shower or you’ll end up with unusable melted soap. Learn from my mistakes! I have not yet found a solid conditioner that’s worked for me, but I’ll keep you updated if things change. Currently I use this one which is packaged in recycled and recyclable materials. I get the largest bottle and it lasts me about 5 months despite having thick, waist length hair. A quarter size amount is all you need, and it smells like berries and cream. (No, I am not sponsored.)
5. Make your own (food, cosmetics, and cleaning products).
This requires some time and effort, but if you opt for simple food, simple skincare, and multipurpose cleaning products it’s both rewarding and easy to do. I’ll be posting a bunch of recipes soon, but in the meantime Google is your best friend. The benefits are numerous as this often reduces overall waste associated with purchasing conventional products and you have full control of the ingredients used. Make things like a nontoxic, biodegradable, multipurpose cleaner, dishwashing liquid, deodorizing powder, linen sprays, laundry detergent, or stain remover, for your household. Mix your own scrubs, salves, cleanser, shaving cream, lotions, or serums. Make your own pickles, bread, nut milks, flour, or butters. As long as you can make the time to do these things you can do it! If I can do it, so can you. It’s healthy for the planet, for your body, and for your wallet too.
Hope these ideas inspire you to make small but impactful ecofriendly changes to your day to day. I’ll be posting more painless sustainable swaps soon. Stay tuned in the Borrowed Earth section of my blog.
It can be overwhelming attempting to make all the drastic changes necessary to live more sustainably. With the zero waste movement becoming widely recognized we’re reminded more than ever that our collective actions make a large environmental impact on our planet. We’ve all experienced putting too much on our plate only to find that at the end of the day our overwhelm prevented our productivity levels. The idea that we must do EVERYTHING to be sustainable has also made me feel similarly inadequate. Placing our focus on small improvements rather than attempting to completely reinvent our lives is a much kinder way to approach our new relationship with the planet. Rather than beating ourselves up for our sustainability shortcomings, let’s make small changes that quickly become our norm and from which we gain a sense of pride. You don’t have to do everything, but do SOMETHING!
1. Save and reuse jars.
It’s so simple. Wash and dry your jars for so many uses. Store brushes and pens, plants, small hardware bits or craft supplies, pantry items, DIY concoctions, homemade pickles, dressings, or sauces. You can literally use them for EVERYTHING. Opting for food in glass jars as opposed to plastic packaging means you can purchase the product guilt-free knowing you can either recycle or upcycle the jars later.
2. Hold on to your electronics.
We don’t often think about what natural resources and energy are used to create our electronic devices. Use the electronic devices you currently own for as long as you can. Despite modern marketing tactics encouraging us to “upgrade” to the newest gadget, it’s often unnecessary and wasteful both for the earth and your wallet. Thoroughly consider whether you need the item you intend to purchase. Then, purchase either a secondhand or new item best suited to your needs that will last the longest.
3. Eat vegan or vegetarian.
Food is so intertwined in our relationships with family and friends, memories, and our cultures. Being kind to ourselves and slowly starting to introduce changes to our diet is often more long-lasting and a much less daunting way to set out on this journey. The hardest things to give up will really depend on the person. For me, giving up cheese and ice cream are the hardest things! So rather than completely cutting these things out, I have almost completely given up the easiest animal products for myself, like red meat (for the most part) and use a cheese substitute (cashew cream, nutritional yeast, vegan cheese, etc.) whenever I can. The dogma that someone needs to be 100% vegan, unless of course this aligns with their personal values, should broken down. If everyone made a conscious effort to consume less meat, even if that meant just one meal a week, that would make all the difference. We all have to start somewhere.
4. Refuse plastic when possible.
This one is plain and simple. Make a conscious effort to purchase plastic products or products packaged in plastic, especially single use plastic. Each purchase we make is like a vote for companies that make an effort to reduce waste and be environmentally friendly. Continue to vote for these companies, and the mainstream companies will take the cue that they need to improve their sustainability practices to win the trust and loyalty of their customers.
9. Change up your laundry routine.
There are several things we can do here. First simple change would be to nix conventional liquid laundry detergents, softeners, enhancers, and pods which contain extremely harmful chemicals both for our bodies and for the planet. There are better options with natural ingredients, including liquid and powder formats. The liquid format almost always requires a plastic, albeit recyclable bottle, and is heavy/bulky and means more energy resources are used to transport them. If you can, use a natural powder detergent instead. Or make your own! There are plenty of recipes out there for DIY detergents. Do your research on the safety of each ingredient first. If you’re into a natural option that is almost 100% zero waste and doesn’t require being a mad scientist, you can also try soap berries or soap nuts. Mother Nature is awesome. Final tips! Wash only what you need to, and on the most energy efficient settings. Fill the water only as high as you need to, and only use heat for whites or heavily soiled clothing.
You did it! 5 painless and relatively easy ways you can be kinder to the planet. Don’t forget to also be kind to yourself – doing something is better than getting overwhelmed and not doing anything! Find more sustainable swaps here.
