Ebony at Nettles & Bees creates foraging and wild-crafting workshops, experiences and projects. She explains how her aim is to encourage people to reconnect with nature for health and wellbeing, and how the eScalate programme as helped her on her business journey.
How did Nettles & Bees start?
Nettles and Bees was created through a passion for learning about plants, specifically wild flowers and their vast beneficial properties. I have always been interested in the process behind creating your own products, learning about land, soils and plants due to my geoscience background. I started my journey by actually trying to find the best oil for my hair moving onto more skin based ingredients and researching plants and natural ingredients around us. Foraging is important for Nettles and Bees because this is how I would source my plant ingredients. I love to create and this brings it all together.
What is the purpose and vision of Nettles & Bees?
I want to share and bring people to connect with nature and learn about the wonderful medicine and natural nurture we have available but also in a sustainable way. I enjoy teaching the younger generation this skill in crafting their own balms and oils and teaching this freedom they have in creating and making their own things from foraging to creating or botanical sources to creating to spark more of an appreciation of Earth.
What support did you receive from eScalate and how has it helped you?
I received support through webinars, workshops and also discussions to help me understand certain business aspects such as business models and what support is out there for a future social enterprise to keep achieving the goal it was created for.
What are the most rewarding moments you’ve had with Nettles & Bees in Oxfordshire?
My most rewarding moments in Oxfordshire would be enjoying time in woodland schools teaching young people and also meeting and sharing my products with people of Oxfordshire at various markets in and around the area.
What are your plans for the future?
My plan is to complete my book which I hope to be finished and published by next September and also work on more community based projects to give back to nature and also harbor the wonderful plant power we have all around us and in the wonderful green of Oxfordshire.
The eScalate programme provides support for purposeful businesses, social enterprises and trading charities in Oxfordshire. You can access remote 1:1 support for your business through the programme. If you would like to book a 1:1 with Grant Hayward, Enterprise Support Manager, please email escalate@oxfordshirelep.com.
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