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Get to know your neighbors! Learn some cool stuff! Eat yummy food! Support our local farmers! We are starting a new market called The Soquel Homesteaders Market on the First … Read More

It is great to know that you can keep planting seeds and seedlings well into August and into Fall, at least for those of us in more temperate climates. August … Read More

Jill Troderman   Fresh, crisp and so delish! Perfect on a hot summer day. Watermelon is 92% water so it is a wonderful fruit to keep you and your family … Read More

Inspire yourself, empower others Wednesday’s 2023 May 24th  –  October 25th (no class July 5th) 10:00 am -11:30 am Group Nutrition Sessions RIGHT NOW IS THE RIGHT TIME TO MOVE … Read More

Save The Date! September 23, 2023 The 2nd Santa Cruz CommUNITY Harvest Festival 2023 with Painted Mandolin, Superblume, Anthony Arya and Joe Waters, and award-winning Jessica Malone!! Come and enjoy this … Read More

Spring SessionsMarch 25th 10 am – 4 pm (9:30 am arrival) April 8th 10 am – 4 am (9:30 am arrival) From Toddlers to Teens and Everyone In Between, Kids … Read More

Please enjoy this article I contributed to. Read below to learn great tips on growing your own herbs. Creating an indoor herb garden can be one of the most fulfilling … Read More

June in the Garden While we are busy dismantling the old Earth and creating a New Earth, spending time in nature is pure healing medicine. Whether you love to grow … Read More

Warm weather, blue skies, chirping birds…Spring is finally here and I have a ton of great garden tips to share with you for the month of May. There are plenty … Read More

Nori is dried seaweed that is in the genus of red marine algae, called Porphyry. It is loaded in vitamin A, vitamin C, calcium, iron, zinc and, iodine. Nori is … Read More

Known as a super tonic, turmeric is attributed to having numerous beneficial health properties. To be clear, turmeric is spice botanically known as Curcuma longa and is part of the … Read More

Colds and flu now have their own season and that season is fully upon us! Lucky us. So, instead of falling prey to a host of un-unfriendly germs, why not … Read More

Mulled Apple Cider is a delicious seasonal drink to be enjoyed with the best of company or in the peace and tranquility of solitude.   Ingredients: 1 gallon  fresh unfiltered apple … Read More

Happy Summer!  I want to share my absolute favorite summer salad with you. It is the perfect combination of savory, sweet, crunchy and is so refreshing on a hot day.  The benefits of … Read More

We love bees! They bring buzz to our gardens and honey to our tea. I have always had a strong affinity towards these little yellow and black striped beauties, but … Read More

Spring is in the air, but the calendar reminds us we are still in the middle of winter. I’m sure the folks back east probably don’t need any reminders. But, … Read More

We have the privilege to enjoy gardening all year round in California but don’t hate us for it! Our dear friends elsewhere, start lushing over all those garden catalogues during … Read More

Summer’s over which means back to packing school lunches! Here are five ways to pack a healthy lunch that will sure please your crew: Kids make their own! Pack a … Read More

Forget about using chemical hormones to root your plant starts. Instead, with this recipe, you can make your own NATURAL rooting hormone using branches from the willow genus. Willow trees … Read More

Gardening in May   Whether you are baking in full sun or still experiencing winter like weather, you can still get a head start on this years garden. Look below for … Read More

Enjoy this simple and lovely deliciousness of herbal infused water with any thirsty summertime crowd. Infused water is one of the easiest ways to incorporate herbs into your daily life … Read More

  Whatever the reason to send a thank you note, appreciation, or even a little love letter, it’s a nice gesture in our email – text worshiping world to actually … Read More

Cool winter winds rustle the last remaining leaves on deciduous trees. Get out there and enjoy the outdoors! PLANT START IN FLATS DIRECT SOW PLUS many other gardeny things to … Read More

Introducing the ultimate veggie comfort food -Veggie Shepherd’s Pie! And, not surprisingly, is both of my sons’ favorite dish. Well, we all love this dish, especially on a cold winter … Read More

  Flu season is best navigated by a good dose of common sense and a good helping of nutritive foods to keep you and your family healthy. As a family … Read More

Girl’s Night Out October 23rd, Thursday at Shops at the Hook and Pleasure Point Apothecary  in Santa Cruz, CA. Come enjoy a night of treats, pampering and shopping with your gal pals. … Read More

Fall weather is in the air and this hearty rich soup is the perfect food to help us transition into the cooler months ahead. Enjoy. Minestrone Soup Serves: 6-8 Preparation … Read More

Autumn is already here but why am I surprised? It’s as if I want to slow down the natural cycles to enjoy just a few more hot summer days. However, … Read More

Just because summer is over it doesn’t mean it’s time to put away your gloves and trowel. In fact, September is a great time of year to garden and the … Read More

August is one of my favorite months to garden in. For one, I love that we can just eat our way through it!  I love the sun kissed smell of … Read More

It is the beginning of July, thankfully warm, and therefore we can officially say summer is here. The hot sun and long days feels glorious. July is a peak month … Read More

CHAPEL HILL — An e-mail from one of my children’s teachers to all parents in the class said in part, “The week of the EOGs we will have daily themes to … Read More

Pronounced “ah-zoo-kee”, these lil’ bitty red beans are simply scrumptious.  They provide a delightful nutty flavor and a nice texture along with a good deal of protein, too. Ingredients 1 … Read More

  Like a mini burst of sunshine in the garden, Calendula is a darling amongst herbalists and gardeners. Calendula has amazing skin healing properties and is primarily used topically in … Read More

Here is a list of ideal potting mixes to use for plant propagation. Experiment to see which mixes and in what combinations work best for your cuttings. Ideally, rooting medium will … Read More

  Spring is here and so are the asparagus shoots. In our modern day quest to eat locally grown foods in season,  asparagus is the vegetable to start with. The … Read More

  Wash your hands!!! We say it to the kids all day long. We see signs for the employees in restaurant bathrooms and then pray that they wash their hands! … Read More

Partially Hydrogenated Oils are Jill’s Number 2 Nutrition Vampire Real earth grown fats like mono-poly-and even saturated fats in the right balance are not only good for you but are … Read More

  Who Says Chocolate Isn’t A Health Food? Mood booster- check √ Heart healthy treat- check √ Delicious and nutritious-  check √ These truffles are literally out of this world! The … Read More

I hope you enjoyed every indulgence the holiday season offered! But if the season to be jolly has left you with a jiggle around your middle or feeling mentally and … Read More

Get your inner pioneer woman on and start a-cookin’ in that cast iron pan!  Cast iron is my absolute favorite type of kitchen cookware. My brother Jeff is a fabulous … Read More

The Happy New Year brings all kinds of new opportunities to spend more quality time growing your favorite fruits, vegetables and herbs.  We also take time to tune in to … Read More

Fall is a good time to start gathering herbs for the chilly days and winter months ahead. These roots, shoots, leaves and flowers are beneficial to help restore and sustain … Read More

Food Day is happening October 24th, 2013 all over the country! Food Day is a project spearheaded by Jamie Oliver in conjunction with CSPI promoting the benefits of teaching kids … Read More

Thank you to our friends at Nut Kreations located in downtown Santa Cruz, CA who have generously shared this yummy and healthy raw and vegan recipe! This is a great after school … Read More

Wednesday, August 28th, 2013 7pm-9pm  Pacific Wellness Center Annex 4841 Soquel Dr. Soquel, CA RSVP Jill @  831-476-2303 x103  $15- $25 donation requested Swami Nityamuktananda Saraswati “The original meaning of the … Read More

  Discover 7 Essential Do’s and Don’ts For Surviving Family Feeding Frenzy Enjoy an evening filled with fun and food as we explore the ups and downs every parent deals … Read More

This delish raw vegan recipe is generously shared by an amazingly inspiring friend, Health Coach and Fitness Trainer, Brenda Chapman, from all the way over in Australia! Here is what she … Read More

Aspartame, and its aliases, NutraSweet, Equal, Spoonful and now AminoSweet, are found in products like Diet Coke/Pepsi, diet/ sugar free beverages including diet shakes, chewing gum, Jello, yogurt, cookies, candy, … Read More

Botanical name – Urtica dioica, Urtica urens Health Benefits Ahhchooo! Don’t let the last few weeks of chilly weather get you down. Boost your system with the medicinal herb, Stinging Nettles. … Read More

Help is on the way for those who may be suffering with cold and flu related respiratory congestion and rattling cough or if you are plagued with dreaded seasonal allergy … Read More

Dry cold winter weather can strip your hair of its natural oils leaving your locks like fly away frizz. If this happens to you or your loved ones, help is … Read More

Start the week of with Meditation Monday, beginning March 11th every Monday from 11am – noon at the Pacific Wellness Center in Soquel. Gentle movements, guided meditation, inspirational readings.  Drop off … Read More

This dish is graced with nutritional royalty, the beet, which is full of rich flavor and texture. We also introduce under- appreciated fennel to the mix adding vital nutrients such … Read More

Wow, who knew crafting the tastiest and most tempting ice pop could be such an eclectic art!  The flavor combos are quite endless and it’s pretty hard not to create … Read More

This perfect summer time thirst quencher is delicious, sugar-free and is naturally sweetened by the amazing herb, Stevia. Stevia doesn’t interfere with blood sugar regulation so is a great drink … Read More

Refried beans aren’t really refried at all! Refried beans are actually just mashed pinto or black bean with savory items added like sauteed garlic and onions and a little liquid to make them smooth. … Read More

The Food Tree Magnetic Boards are the perfect fun and engaging learning tool for preschool through 5th graders reinforcing real honest to goodness nutrition education. We are offering The Food … Read More

Whoop Whoop! That is how I feel when I find a volunteer. Volunteers are everywhere but I’m not talking about the kind you need to solicit for your kid’s school … Read More

Spring is here and so are the asparagus shoots. In our modern day quest to eat locally grown foods in season,  asparagus is the vegetable to start with. The growing … Read More

Wednesday March 14,  10:00 to 11:00 AM    Reserve your space today! We all get them and we all try our hardest to resist but sometimes they get the better … Read More

From Stress to Serenity, Now! Wednesday March 7, 2012                                  10:00 AM to 11:00 AM … Read More

2012 is sure to bring in wonderful new opportunities to enhance your health and wellness. And to start this year off with a kick we invite you to join us … Read More

This roasted sweet potato dish is warming for a chilly winter night or perfect to brighten up any lunch or brunch. Sweet potatoes are loaded with antioxidant carotenoids that will … Read More

We are thrilled to be able to screen the newly released full length documentary,Thrive, What On Earth Will It Take, at the Pacific Wellness Center, next Friday, December 1st. I … Read More

The Global Revolution has begun!! It is now 3 weeks into the Occupy Wall Street non-violent protest that has grown into a nation wide movement joining the rest of the … Read More

You are invited to the Pacific Wellness Center Grand Opening and Ribbon Cutting Ceremony!! Saturday October 15th from 1pm-5pm Come and celebrate with delicious organic local food & wine, infused … Read More

This recipe is shared by Live Earth Farm, Watsonville, CA- What great neighbors to have! Transform summer’s bounty into this incredibly beautiful soup with bursts of sweet peppers drifting in … Read More

“Plastic Spoon”  by Maxistentialism.com        

And other great tried and true tricks to keep the jiggle away from your middle!! Tried and True Trick # 1: Start by sucking it in! This simple tip will … Read More

A Good 30 Day Challenge to WASTE LESS for the month of July. Read on to hear their suggestions because according the the the Environmental Protection Agency, the average American produces about … Read More

Make Quick and Easy Quinoa for a Creative New Take on Breakfast Clear away the fog of what to make for breakfast by starting with a base of easy to … Read More

Breathing. We do it all day long but how often do we actually pay attention and bring our awareness to the quality of our breath? We often forget what the … Read More

Happy Channukah, Merry Christmas and Blessings for an Amazing New Year!! Providing Medicinal and Culinary Herbs, Nutrition Counseling, Vitamins and Supplements, Plants, Books, Green Gifts, Classes, and more! Closed November 25-27 for Thanksgiving Holiday … Read More

Boost Health and Vitality – Raise Healthy Happy Eaters – Achieve Your Healthy Weight The journey towards optimal health is one of the best gifts you can give yourself and … Read More

Why We Live for and Love Chocolate Chocolate is, has been, and will probably always be one of the most amazing foods on the planet. It is an aphrodisiac, an … Read More

Go totally raw this Super Bowl Sunday and enjoy the simplicity and tasty flavors of Nutty Raw Soft Tacos. I go to “watch the game” but  secretly, ok – no … Read More

Get infused with super green foods. Wheatgrass is one of those foods that bring up images of hippies in the kitchen getting down and juicy with health foods. Well, speaking … Read More

You can never have a shortage of bean recipes especially since we want to be eating these power packed protein and fiber delicacies daily. This satisfying winter dish calls for … Read More

Oranges along with other members of the citrus family are in season right now, so make the best of using this versatile family that is packed with antioxidants like –everyone … Read More

ECO-HERBALISTA WISHES YOU ALL A HAPPY, HEALTHY, PROSPEROUS AND ENLIGHTENING NEW YEAR in 2011!!! I want to share my favorite Green New Year’s Resolutions from my own list and from … Read More

Heal Your Hangover and Start the New Year Bright Whether you are one of the smart and well disciplined to ring in the New Year with a morning chakra balancing … Read More

May we find in our hearts the space to honor the mother earth upon which we live, reminding us of the sacredness of life during the darkest and longest nights … Read More

Raw, vegan, and alcohol free (or not!), this nutritious delicious drink is the perfect treat to serve your family or guests during the holidays. This recipe calls for you to … Read More

Bring the rustic beauty of nature to your home by making a garland, wreath or swag. I was inspired to write about this DIY project by my dear friend Heather … Read More

Parties, dinners, presents, decorations, travel; these are the celebrated activities and symbols of the Holiday Season. However, this year we have felt and continue to feel unprecedented planetary strain through … Read More

Celebrate Hanukkah with Curried Sweet Potato Latkes! If you haven’t ever tried a sweet potato latke this is definitely the one to try. And they’re great even when it’s not … Read More

Learn to make HEALTHY DESSERTS just in time for the Holiday Season!! Come join us for a night of SWEET Fun!! December 8th 6-9pm, Soquel About the class: This season, … Read More

Cheddar cheese surrounded by savory green onion bits melting together nestled in a warm muffin …..mmmm. Do I need to say more? I am thinking of hording these delectable muffins … Read More

Great news! We can eat flowers! Certain edible kinds, that is! Edible flowers are more abundant than you might think. The flowers growing in your backyard could just very well … Read More

Refuse the Naked Body Scanner and Invasive “Enhanced” Pat Downs Welcome to the New World Order. Enhanced security measures are being employed at airports across the country and are causing … Read More

In my quest for inner and outer peace I hear the words “Peace Begins With Me”, a mantra my dear friend Chris uses all the time, and I am glad … Read More

Jill recently caught up with “real life pirate” Charles Hambleton, producer of the Academy Award winning film, The Cove, in an Eco-Herbalista interview exclusive! If you haven’t already seen it, we … Read More

We feel magic all around us as Halloween, Witches’ New Year, Samhain (pronounced Sow-en), or All Hallows Eve is celebrated October 31st. This holiday steeped in lore begins the onset … Read More

Soup! It’s a classic comfort food and this one is perfect for keeping warm and cozy on those chilly days and nights. You can whip up this delicious nutritious dish … Read More

Passed on to me via my Aunt Marilyn via Lois via….. Consider yourself now part of the family! This is a vegetarian version of Chopped Liver-eww –that still sounds off … Read More

“Better to be deprived of food for three days, than tea for one.” (Ancient Chinese Proverb) There is a treasure chest filled with health claims when it comes to analyzing … Read More

We love Santa Cruz and we love our favorite local hometown brewery, Santa Cruz Mountain Brewing. I couldn’t wait to give a shout out about them after Elizabeth and I … Read More

The history of barley follows an amazing journey through many cultures and continents around the world reaching back into the latter part of the Stone Age. This ancient grain is … Read More

Tell me if this doesn’t sound like a fair deal and please don’t take this as ethical parenting.  My son wanted to watch a very important football game so I … Read More

Herb of the Month:  Ashwagandha Stress! We have too much of it and it can end up making us sick.  According to the Center for Disease Control, stress accounts for up … Read More

Gazpacho is a classic summer dish filled with a cornucopia of garden bounty. This delicious chilled soup, originating from Spain, was the food of the field worker and comes loaded … Read More

We love love love these simple, tasty, and oh so very healthy little treats. Pepitas, or “little seed of squash” are the Spanish name for pumpkin seeds. These green seeds … Read More

Did you know that 80% of your immune system is located in the digestive tract? Since that’s the case, it’s essential to keep those pipes healthy, especially during the fall … Read More

Who’s up for a good tummy slimming and trimming tea? The summer sun is here, finally warming our skin. This tea is just the jumpstart I need to stimulate my body … Read More

Sprouting is a such simple, fun, and cost effective way to grow nutrient dense foods for you and your family. I mean come on! This has to be one of … Read More

These delicious treats take care of the fiercest sweet tooth! This cookie provides the familiar tastes of an old fashioned oatmeal cookie rolled up into a healthier version! And is … Read More

This is a simple, yet so very delicious way to enjoy beautiful broccoli. This recipe is adapted from my favorite vegetarian cookbook, The Passionate Vegetarian, by Crescent Dragonwagon. And yes, … Read More

Start your spring off light and guilt free by enjoying the benefits of nature’s most amazing herbal sweetener, Stevia.

The Eco-Herbalistas are continually amazed by the inspirational people we meet every day in Santa Cruz.  This is a  community filled with progressive, eco-conscious, creative people.   Some of our favorite … Read More

Delicious! This hearty nutrient-dense soup is sure to be a crowd pleaser! Loaded with vitamins, minerals and plenty of fiber that helps to regulate blood sugar. This is a complete … Read More

This light dish is perfect for those wonderful summer days ahead! Serves: 6 Prep time: 10 minutes Cook time: 10 minutes Ingredients 2 pounds green beans, ends trimmed 1 tbsp … Read More

  Mysterious as vanilla is, it a common plant in many parts of the world that evokes feelings of comfort and seduction. I invite you to become a bit more … Read More