Wildcrafting has gotten trendy, and that's not always a good thing. Misidentified plants, sketchy sourcing claims, and a whole lot of misinformation are floating around social media right now, and it's worth slowing down to talk about why that matters.

Howie Brounstein, founder of Columbine School of Botanical Studies and an herbalist who has been teaching for over 40 years, talks about why botany matters, what real wildcrafting ethics actually look like, and why he’s scared by a lot of what he sees online.

What's in this episode:

• The real risks of misidentification and why positive plant ID is non-negotiable
• Why botany matters, and when it doesn't need to be your focus as an herbalist
• How to evaluate herb books and spot information that isn't coming from real experience
• Why Howie teaches a long-term apprenticeship instead of one-day wildcrafting classes
• Why Howie believes you should taste every herb you give to someone else
• What it was like building an herbal career in the late 1970s when nobody believed it was possible
• How AI and social media are accelerating herbal misinformation

For full show notes, resources, and links visit: theherbalistspath.com/blog/herbal-wildcrafting-ethics-howie-Brounstein

Learn more about Howie's apprenticeship and classes at botanicalstudies.net

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Disclaimer:
*The information shared on this podcast is for educational purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for medical treatment. Please consult your medical care provider before using herbs.