February 5, 2025 • 37 mins
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After a life-changing car accident took away her sense of taste and smell, Kelly McMenamin, founder of Forest Farms, embarked on a transformative journey into beekeeping, clean beauty, and holistic wellness. In this inspiring episode, Kelly shares how nature became her greatest healer, leading her to embrace organic living, herbal remedies, and intentional self-care.
What You’ll Learn in This Episode:
🌿 How Kelly turned adversity into a thriving wellness brand
🍯 The power of beeswax, tallow, and oils in skincare
🫒 Why natural ingredients outperform synthetic beauty products
🌱 Healing benefits of herbs like comfrey and oregano
🧘♀️ Yoga and mindfulness as essential tools for intentional living
🏡 How connecting with nature strengthens personal and community well-being
From handcrafted lotion bars to the wonders of castor oil, Kelly reveals the secrets behind nourishing your skin—without toxins. This episode is packed with actionable insights for anyone looking to simplify their lifestyle, embrace clean beauty, and reconnect with nature’s wisdom.
Tune in and discover how small, intentional choices can transform your health, skin, and spirit. 🎧✨
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:02):
Welcome back to the Nearly Enlightened podcast, your
high vibe toolbox designed tohelp you connect to your body,
mind and spirit.
Today's episode is extraspecial because it's all about
the healing power of nature,community and intentional living
.
And who better to guide us thanKelly McMenamin?
Kelly is the founder of ForestFarms.
She's a beekeeper, herbalist,yoga teacher and a mom, and
(00:23):
she's an all-around expert increating a holistic,
nature-centered lifestyle.
Her journey began nearly 10years ago and today she's here
to share her story with us andher wisdom on how we can
reconnect with nature to nourishour families, our communities
and ourselves.
I'm so excited to have you here, kelly, Welcome.
Speaker 2 (00:42):
I'm so excited.
Speaker 1 (00:44):
So a little bit about how I know Kelly.
We've been friends since highschool, um, so this is like
extra special and it's fun.
You're actually the secondBayview guest to come on oh, no
way.
Yeah, represent Bayview Bengals, yeah um so let's dive right in
(01:04):
.
So you just recently startedforest farms.
Let us know what it is.
I'm actually wearing yourchapstick right now oh, do you
love it?
I am obsessed.
Actually, yesterday my lipswere so chapped that they, like
the bottom, my bottom lip,cracked and I wore that to bed
and my lip is completely healedthis morning.
Speaker 2 (01:23):
Oh my gosh, unbelievable.
I know, um, so forest farms Ium.
So I just started being abeekeeper, probably about a year
ago.
Um, my husband had bees forabout two years before but
started his own business, so, um, he didn't have time.
He's an electric.
Um, he has an electric andsolar business local solar and
(01:46):
electric.
Speaker 1 (01:47):
Shout out.
Speaker 2 (01:51):
I took over the bees and with that came all of the
beeswax, all of the honey.
I do all of these naturalremedies in my home so I figured
I would add in the honey andthe beeswax and it just gave me
an extra, like oomph to myproducts and, um, all the good
(02:13):
stuff that it provides honestlyit really is so amazing to have
it in your backyard like.
Speaker 1 (02:20):
I it's, it's like nature's best medicine.
So last year I had made likethe garlic that you put the
honey over and it's not really aferment but it's a way to
preserve the garlic and, likethe magic, of the honey and the
garlic together creates likethis natural antibiotic and I
swear by it.
It works every time.
Speaker 2 (02:39):
Every time garlic and onion is unbelievable, really.
Speaker 1 (02:44):
Yeah, I mean onion is an expectorant.
So right now, with all thisstuff that's going around, like
I don't know if you've heard,but everyone I know has like the
flu, but it's like settled ineveryone's chest and like, yeah,
do I haven't made the honeyinfusion with with um onion, but
I've heard it's a great coughsuppressant.
Speaker 2 (03:05):
Yeah, so I haven't done strictly um onion and um
honey, but what I do is I boilthe um, I boil the onion and it
kind of makes it's.
It's not amazing, it's it's,it's kind of gross, but it's um,
it's onion water, and then youput a little honey in it and if
(03:26):
you can just drink that as a tea, that's super good for you.
Speaker 1 (03:31):
Oh, I love it.
Everyone could use that rightnow, cause, like seriously,
everyone's got it.
Um so what inspired you tostart prioritizing a healthier
lifestyle?
Jeez, um, I know, loadedquestion.
Speaker 2 (03:43):
Yeah, well, we're're talking.
We're talking 10 years ago, um,I think it all started it's.
I started prioritizing it whenit came to food.
I actually, the truth is, I, ifanyone who knows me I was in a
bad car accident about 10 yearsago and I lost my my um scent
(04:05):
and my taste.
So when I would eat food, I wassuper focused on um, textures
and things like that, and Inoticed that when I would eat an
apple, I would feel like thewax film on it and it the taste
that I have now is justdifferent than normal tastes.
(04:26):
And um, so 10 years ago Iswitched to starting eating
organic and then um, and thenfrom eating organic I then moves
into.
It really was just a hugeexplosion and every single thing
I I was reading labels andreally diving into it and it
(04:47):
started with food.
Yeah, short answer Food.
Speaker 1 (04:50):
Same, I, I same.
And I know my friend, stefan,who's been on the podcast before
, he's talked about how, like,the beginning of his healing
journey was really started withfood as well, because when
you're healing your gut, you'rereally paying attention to, like
, what you're putting into yourbody and for a lot of people,
that's like the, the startingpoint and I think that is, you
(05:10):
know, at this point of the yearwe're in February like most
people have given up on their,their new year's resolutions and
I think it's because peopleoverwhelm themselves.
But it could start withsomething so simple as swapping
out your produce for organicproduce, like start there.
Speaker 2 (05:26):
Yeah, absolutely.
Food is medicine.
Speaker 1 (05:29):
Food is gonna heal you, yeah yeah, and that's a big
part of what you do now too.
You have, like, your backyardgarden and, um, like a lot of
the stuff you make you, it's allit comes from your backyard
backyard.
Speaker 2 (05:44):
Everything I make is all wholesome good ingredients.
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (05:50):
So how did the transition to like starting to
use more organic foods and like?
How did that transition startin your start to shape your
mindset and like your dailyhabits?
Speaker 2 (06:04):
So it, it really it it.
I paid more attention to thefood and so then I started
paying more attention to myskincare and then I then it
transpired into my makeup.
So it really becomes, um, itbecomes part of you, where every
single thing I'm payingattention to, what I ingest,
what I'm bringing into myhousehold, what now is going on
(06:29):
with my children.
But, starting with food, itreally turns into.
It turns into like every singlething is more selective.
I pay attention more.
I try to make as much as I canlike everything.
(06:50):
I want to provide myself withmy own lotion, because all the
additives and all the stuff inum store-bought, it's just.
I read the labels, it's justjunk, it's just not good for you
.
Speaker 1 (07:04):
No, it's junk.
Speaker 2 (07:05):
It's fucking toxic.
Speaker 1 (07:07):
It's like literally so insane.
Like when I go to the grocerystore, I spend so much time
because I'm reading every, everylabel, every ingredient, and
it's just like it's crazy whatwe've allowed.
And you know we're talkingabout it now, it's like at the
forefront of a lot ofconversations.
It's like a lot of these thingsaren't even legal in other
countries.
So it's like how are we stillusing them?
(07:28):
It's crazy, because of money?
I know Exactly, exactly, yeah,so that's how Forest Farms kind
of came to be, was now you'remaking these things.
So tell us a little bit aboutthe Forest Farms products.
I have a few and I'm lovingthem.
Speaker 2 (07:46):
Ooh, okay, so we're starting off with the Forest
Farms Trap Stick, because thatwas really, ultimately, my first
product that I came out withand that is with the beeswax
from my own hive, which I don'tknow.
Do you know anyone that's abeekeeper?
(08:06):
I'm still shocked at myself forbeing a beekeeper.
So it's just, it's just cool,like it's cool that that is my,
from my backyard.
So the chapstick it has honeyin it with all of the honey
healing properties as vitamin Ein it, which is good Shea butter
(08:27):
, coconut, almond oil, and Ireally I mix that all, I blend
it, I heat it up, I put it in mything.
It's really just more of adetailed.
I pay attention to the processand then I put my labels on it
and so that I have chapstick.
I have a hand lotion bar, whichmy husband is an outside worker
(08:50):
, he's an electrician, anyonewho works with their hands.
This hand lotion bar isunbelievable for you.
Speaker 1 (09:00):
Or New England, best time of year?
Oh my gosh.
Speaker 2 (09:03):
My girlfriend.
My hands are always wet inwashing bottles, constantly
cleaning my house.
Little touch of OCD and myhands are always wet.
So I put this on me before andbefore I go to bed and I just
wake up and my hands are so muchsofter.
(09:25):
The lotion bars are funny wherethey're a little oily, but you
really have to rub it in and themore you use it, the more
you're going to get to love it.
So you just got to give it ashot.
I would say they're.
I don't know what it's called,but the working guys know what
it is.
It's a little box.
It's kind of like petroleumjelly.
Speaker 1 (09:45):
Oh yeah, I know what you're talking about.
My brother used to use it too.
It's like a hand bomb thathelps with, like, cracking dry
hands.
Speaker 2 (09:54):
But it's probably awful.
Yeah, and petroleum derivedproducts like that's so crazy
that we're putting it on ourbody.
Yeah, like we're putting thaton our body, like so crazy.
And Ocufir so anyone listening,you're using Ocufur on your
baby.
I just want PSA.
That not good.
Speaker 1 (10:15):
Sorry, okay, this is the place to voice that opinion,
because let me tell you, we gota lot of hot takes over here
and I wouldn't use thoseproducts on my baby either if I
had one.
Speaker 2 (10:25):
So I have the chapstick.
I have hand lotion bar I justcame out.
Oh well, let me go with theother products.
First, I have candles, which ishalf beeswax, half tallow a
perfect combination.
You're a perfect combination ofmelting and infusing the air.
(10:46):
And guess what?
Everything that you burn you'reinhaling and everything that's
around your household.
So when people are burning theYankee candles that everyone
loves so much, you have toenvision that your children are
breathing that in.
You are breathing that in, likeI know that the dyes and
everything are in.
That you're it's.
Speaker 1 (11:04):
It's the fragrance that they're using, the
fragrance alone is toxic.
Speaker 2 (11:10):
It is chemicals, and so I have chapstick, hand motion
bars, candles.
I came out with a whipped bodybutter which is I haven't tried
it.
Speaker 1 (11:22):
I need to.
Speaker 2 (11:23):
You haven't, but so I have.
I'm doing a whipped body butterand honestly it is decadent.
Like I took my babies out ofthe bath yesterday because I
kind of have a cold goingthrough my house right now and I
lathered them in it and, oh mygosh, my little girl this
morning feels unbelievable, likethe way that these products
(11:49):
seep into your skin and you knowI can come out and like if you
were to try it out, you couldsay that maybe it's a little
oily but that's because in theother generations you're not
used to wholesome ingredients.
You're used to like Jergens,which is going to run into your
skin, it's going to absorb andguess what You're going to need
(12:10):
to reapply in probably like halfan hour.
So like my products, there aregood products.
You really rub it in it.
Honestly, I love it.
It makes me feel so awesome.
Speaker 1 (12:21):
I love like a thicker , more oily, especially this
time of year.
Like you need something that'sa little bit heavier and I I
mean I rub like straight castoroil on my body after I shower,
at night, before I go to bed, solike that doesn't bother me.
Speaker 2 (12:37):
I don't think it's oily.
I'm just saying that if anyonewere to try it, I'm just kind of
having my back, but I don'tthink it's oily.
I put our powder in it, whichis all natural, and that kind of
sucks it out and that.
But my my favorite productsactually have two of them.
My next one is my face cream.
Speaker 1 (12:59):
Yes, it's so awesome.
Speaker 2 (13:02):
That's, like my highlight, my favorite product.
So my face cream is only threeingredients.
Right, I have beef tallow whichis grass-fed rendered, and then
I mix it with castor oil andjojoba oil and, for people who
don't know, the tallow ishydrating, it's an antiseptic,
(13:26):
it's going to work against acne.
It's going to work against acne, it's going to hydrate you and
it's really going to give likethat nice glow, that nice
texture.
It really is the nice textureto help slide on.
And then, mixed with the castoroil, which is the God oil.
Speaker 1 (13:46):
It really is.
Speaker 2 (13:48):
That is my favorite oil.
Speaker 1 (13:50):
I put it everywhere at night.
I put it on my feet and thenI'll put it everywhere at night.
I put it on my feet and thenI'll put wool socks on.
I put it on my abdomen to docastor oil packs like gut work.
I put it in my belly buttonwhen I'm parasite cleansing like
I lather that shit on everysingle night.
Speaker 2 (14:06):
It's unbelievable.
So it has castor oil in it,which is an anti-aging.
I actually don't really evenwear eye cream anymore.
I lather this right around myeyes.
I put it everywhere.
Speaker 1 (14:21):
I've been doing that too.
Yeah, instead of using my eyecream.
Speaker 2 (14:25):
Anyone right, because castor oil, you can rub it on
your eyelashes.
Your eyelashes grow.
You can rub it on your eyebrows.
It will help bring it in and ifyou rub castor oil on your
eyelids there are studies thatshow that it in it will help.
If anyone has cataracts, itwill help bring that down any
(14:47):
eye issues.
Speaker 1 (14:48):
Yeah, theers too.
Um, dr jess petros talks aboutthis and that's part of like the
parasite cleansing.
But if you're someone who seeslike the little, like eye
floaters when you look towardsthe light and like you can see
them floating in your, in yourvision, um, that's like a
parasitic infection, and castoroil on the eyelids at night
(15:09):
helps with that.
Yeah, I mean, this isn'tmedical advice by any means, so
no one like not a doctor herenot making any claims, Nope.
Speaker 2 (15:20):
And then lastly, jojoba oil, which is just good
hydrating properties.
It's light, which I likebecause the tallow is a heavier
base, but I whip the shit out ofit, so it is light.
Speaker 1 (15:36):
The texture is amazing.
Yes, it really does A littlegoes a long way.
Speaker 2 (15:41):
I sell them in two ounce little containers and I
mean it depends how much you useit, but I mean a little goes a
long way with it.
And my face cream, I would say,is probably the star of my show
right now, Definitely I love it.
Speaker 1 (15:59):
Well, I don't know.
The lip balm is also very good.
It will.
When you put it on, it lasts solong, like if you put it on
before you go to bed.
You wake up and it's still onyour lips.
Speaker 2 (16:12):
Oh see, I wouldn't know, because I kiss my kids so
much.
Oh, so it's always coming off,which another highlight of I
feel safe kissing my kids and Idon't care if my chapsticks all
over their face because I knowthat the ingredients in it is
safe.
Yeah, yeah, that's like anotherthing with my products.
Like my little girl will be allover my face, her hands and
(16:35):
like, if I like, sometimes whenI'm wearing makeup although my
makeup is all natural and I'mclean I I try to keep my
daughter from touching my face,obviously, but, um, when I have
just face lotion on, I'm notconcerned, or I don't have any
worries about my kids touchingme.
Speaker 1 (16:55):
What's your go-to clean makeup brands?
Speaker 2 (17:00):
Well, I mean, I really only wear mascara and I
highlight.
Sometimes, if you catch megoing out on a dinner, I'll wear
makeup, but my everyday, myeveryday style is not not there.
My go-to makeup I really likePacifica.
I use Pacifica um highlighterand contour.
Speaker 1 (17:22):
Oh nice.
Speaker 2 (17:23):
Oh, and Hans Hans H A N, s, I use that, um.
I use that for bronzer, butalso contour.
Speaker 1 (17:32):
Oh nice, I'm always looking for good, clean brands.
Speaker 2 (17:36):
I want to go back to.
So those are the.
I have four of those productsthat I have in stock, but
yesterday I had a specificrequest on a product and I saw
your Instagram post.
Yeah Well, my friend came to meand she's like um, I saw your
Instagram posts.
Yeah Well, my uh, a friend cameto me and she's like, listen, I
have eczema and all of thetallow smells funky and all of
(17:59):
they have so much additiveadditives in it.
So I made a whipped body butterbut I added tallow and that
made it so much better.
But in that, um, I also I have,um, all the same ingredients
that I had in my whipped bodybutter.
So it has the castor oil in it,it has the um, vitamin E oil,
(18:21):
which is going to work, but thistallow butter, um, it is.
So the whipped body butter isgreat, definitely not putting
that down but the tallow, I justthink, is a little bit like,
gives an extra oomph and, um,that is really going to help
with the eczema.
(18:41):
And, um, my girlfriend, taylor,she just bought some um for her
belly.
She's she's newly pregnant,she's going to put, she's going
to put it on her belly and thetallow, mixed with the castor
oil, mixed with the vitamin Eand all of the shea butters and
cocoa butter, that is reallygoing to prevent any stretch
marks.
It's really going to sink intoyour skin and it's so nourishing
(19:06):
.
So nourishing.
I know that when I was pregnantmy back was always so itchy so
I was like a two times a day umbody butter person and um, so my
, I I'm not um, I haven't gottento advertise that yet but my
tallow whipped body butter is apretty, pretty spot on.
Speaker 1 (19:28):
Yeah, and I think when you're creating products,
too, with not just like throwingthings together, but like
there's intention and care andeverything is energy.
So when you're using theseproducts, you really feel that
like like the passion and youfeel all of your good energy
behind it, I believe in them, Ibelieve in them.
Speaker 2 (19:47):
And if I believe in it, I believe in them, I believe
in them.
And if I believe in it, if Ibelieve in it, I can sell it to
you.
I'm not that I'm persuasive,but I know when it's good and
I'm I'm going to preach it Likeit, it when I.
When it's good, it's good.
Speaker 1 (20:01):
That is how I feel.
That's like you know, no onecomes on this podcast without
being like complete, like youhave to be somebody that I have
worked with, would work with, orlike a very like you're in my
close personal circle but, likeI, when I use these products, I
was like, oh heck, yes, likeeveryone in Rhode Island needs
(20:21):
to know about them, and beyondyou love them.
Speaker 2 (20:24):
I'm so happy.
Speaker 1 (20:25):
I am a best, and I have my boyfriend hooked on the
chapstick now too, so I give youa candle.
Yes, I haven't burned it yet,but it smells so good.
Speaker 2 (20:35):
Which one did I give you?
Speaker 1 (20:36):
Um, it has like chamomile and rosemary on top.
Speaker 2 (20:40):
Okay, that was, that was special.
I made that a special for you.
I haven't advertised that yet,but I'll tell everyone I did a.
It's a warm vanilla candlevanilla essential oil, and I put
a little Rosemary on it becauseall of the benefits I don't
know if you guys know, um,rosemary water is so good, it's
(21:01):
good for your hair, it's goodfor everything.
And then I put a littlechamomile, uh, dried flowers, on
the top for almost like alittle, um, calm ambience.
Speaker 1 (21:11):
It's so pretty.
That's why I don't want to burnit yet.
I'm like waiting for a specialmoment.
Speaker 2 (21:16):
I feel that intentional yeah.
Speaker 1 (21:20):
Yes, and when I do, I'll post a little video for you
.
Speaker 2 (21:23):
Love that, love that.
Speaker 1 (21:25):
So what inspired you to take it from like your
kitchen to making these productsto yours, for yourself, to
being like okay, I'm going topursue this, I'm going to, I'm
going to create forest farms andwe're going to sell this.
Speaker 2 (21:39):
Um, what inspired me was um, well, I have the wax,
right, I have the wax from mybeehive, and I was, so I was
already making the otherproducts as far as, like, my own
lotions.
Um, I didn't make my ownchapstick because I, um, I
didn't have the wax and so Iwould buy, but I didn't have the
(22:06):
wax and so I would buy.
But these were things that Idid at home, and then I had the
element of my own beeswax andI'm like, listen, this shit is
good, like I use it and it'ssomething that I'm doing anyway,
so why not bump up the recipe,just make more and sell it?
And so so I did, and that'swhat I did, and I just started
doing it on Facebook, I startedon Instagram and I had a good
(22:29):
wave around Christmas time andthen I got a little deeper.
I bought insurance for it, Imade a website and I mean, I
have people looking at it andit's, it's it, it's.
It just speaks for itself.
You try that, you try it, youput it on and the next day, when
you wake up and your body feelsgreat, you're just going to
(22:50):
want to keep using it.
Speaker 1 (22:52):
Yeah, and it's so important, like not just what
we're putting in our bodies, butwhat we put on our bodies too,
cause, like you said, it absorbsinto your skin.
So if you're putting all ofthese chemicals on your body,
then that's just being absorbedand that's more things that your
body has to break down anddetox and get rid of.
Speaker 2 (23:08):
Yes, and I make all of these products with intention
, with care.
I don't know if anyone knowsthis, but I like art.
I can draw, I can paint andcreating the candles and make,
putting the, the rose petals onit and pouring the chapstick,
(23:29):
just right, and getting like aclean cut on the top.
It's, it's artistic to me andit is intentional.
So I um, my um hopes is thatwhen using my products, people
treat it almost as like a ritual, like when you put your lotion
on.
I want you to do it after youjust had a great shower and I
(23:53):
hope you just feel great afteryou do it, because I am a firm
believer that the energy thatI'm putting into my products is
a happy energy.
I'm happy to do it and I'mhoping that with that, the
energy travels through it andhelps make everyone else feel
good.
Speaker 1 (24:10):
It definitely does.
I love putting my face cream onat night.
It feels so good and my skinfeels so nourished, even though
it's been like super cold anddry here in New England, like I
don't have that like winter,like chapped face you don't the
you first of all, you look great, thank you you're welcome they
(24:33):
can't see me, but they'll haveto take your word for it take my
word, I'm not a liar, um.
Speaker 2 (24:40):
But yeah, I mean, I stopped using eye cream that's
how good it is and I am atypical cleansing, toner serum
lotion and I just dropped it.
I dropped that because mylotion covers it, my cream.
(25:00):
I don't want to call it lotion,I want to call it cream because
there is a difference If youuse lotion and you use cream.
You know the difference.
Speaker 1 (25:11):
Yeah, cream is a lot more like thick.
Speaker 2 (25:14):
It's softer, it's thicker and it's softer.
Speaker 1 (25:18):
A little bit more hydrating, I think it lasts a
little bit longer than like alotion does a little bit more
hydrating.
Speaker 2 (25:24):
I think it lasts a little bit longer than like a
lotion does.
Yeah, that's why you got toditch your lotion and get the
body butter too.
Speaker 1 (25:28):
Honestly, I'm ready for it.
I'm going to go right afterthis and order some.
You know it and everyone elsewill link um Kelly's website in
the show notes, so feel free togo over there and check it out.
Like the products are amazing,Honestly, the candle is so
beautiful.
Like you can tell that youspend time and care and
(25:50):
intention in these products andthey're not just like these mass
produced kind of things.
Speaker 2 (25:57):
Thank you, G.
I appreciate that.
Speaker 1 (25:59):
You're so welcome yeah.
Speaker 2 (26:01):
So you can link my um , you can link my website, but
also feel free to just follow meand message me, like it doesn't
need for everyone else not youspecifically anyone listening.
Um, feel free to just messageme.
I have a section on my websitethat, um, I mean I offer only
(26:22):
four products, but I am anherbalist.
I um I do create other otherthings, so I have a section
where people can um write what'sgoing on and see if I can
create anything.
So my girlfriend text messageme and she was just like hey, I
have severe at at, um, I havesevere eczema going on and so I
(26:43):
didn't have tallow whipped bodybutter on my quote unquote but
um so I'm able to just whip upsomething that um can target
whatever ailment you have goingon.
Speaker 1 (26:56):
I love that, and I think that also speaks to your
products too, because you takethat, that herbalist knowledge,
and you infuse it into yourproducts, and that's that's a
really beautiful thing too.
Speaker 2 (27:06):
Thanks.
Speaker 1 (27:07):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (27:09):
So right now, what would you say is like your
favorite, favorite herb to workwith, or oh gosh, um, my
favorite herbs, um, my favoriteherbs to work with, so, um, I
would say well, if you're closewith me, you would know that
(27:29):
right now my husband broke hisfoot.
Speaker 1 (27:32):
So I yeah.
Speaker 2 (27:33):
Yes, talk about this.
Oh my God I am handling.
First of all, he broke his footand it's not.
It's not that he's in a bootwalking, and okay.
He broke his foot to the pointwhere he is.
We're a month and a half intothis.
He is still on crutches.
He cannot even put his footdown on the ground, he cannot
bear weight, he cannot evenreally hold our daughter because
(27:56):
he can't walk without hiscrutches.
So I would say, at this momentmy favorite herb is comfrey.
Comfrey is the bone healingherb.
So I had this man drinkingcomfrey tea.
I made him a comfrey salve.
(28:16):
We're putting that on his foot,his foot, um.
So comfrey is going to helpwith infection, because at first
he did have a little cut on onhis foot and then, um, it's
really going to seep into theskin and it's going to help with
um.
It's going to help with thebones, it's going to help with
the joints, it's going to helpwith inflammation and stuff like
(28:38):
that.
But I mean, we're just talkingabout comfrey and um, and then,
quickly, I also want to do ashout out to oregano, because
oregano oil my kids are sickright now and I don't have any
on hand, but I wish I did.
And if you put olive oil overoregano right, let it sit in a
(29:00):
dark, dark place for about two,three weeks and then strain it,
then you have yourself, like ahomemade tincture, the
properties that the oregano giveout is.
Speaker 1 (29:12):
It's anti-parasitic, it's anti-viral, it's an
antibiotic, it's everything.
Speaker 2 (29:19):
You want to scream RSV, there you go, like, go,
like, that's what you have.
Um, and so let's say comfreyand oregano is, uh, the season
of right now.
Speaker 1 (29:31):
My dad, um, grows a shitload of oregano every year.
I have so much.
Speaker 2 (29:36):
Next time I see you I'll bring you some you need to,
I I will make it and then I'llmake tincture, and then anyone
who has babies feel free tomessage me, yeah.
Speaker 1 (29:46):
Yeah, because it's such a safe herb to use and it's
so potent, it's so powerful.
It's another one of those likeI think oregano oil tincture is
really hard to take.
It's one of those things thatit tastes tastes earthy, like
it's girl.
Speaker 2 (30:05):
You're talking to someone who doesn't have taste.
Speaker 1 (30:06):
That's true, it's but for the rest of us it's rough.
Speaker 2 (30:11):
Let me tell you oh well, trust me, my taste is um,
my taste is semi there.
Speaker 1 (30:16):
It just tastes like dirt to me, but I mean, it's
like to me it's almost like it'sso powerful it's like spicy
yeah, yeah, it is but it's in.
There is this um, I swear by it.
It's called wellness formulabut it has, like oregano,
echinacea, garlic, um vitamin c,it's like you're perfect for
(30:41):
this time of year you're almosttalking fire cider yeah it.
Basically it is in like acrushed pill form and my
boyfriend just had the flu, forliterally he was sick for over
two weeks and, knock on wood,here I am healthy, haven't
gotten it.
Don't want to jinx myself, butlike anytime I've been around
somebody who's sick like, I justpop a couple of those or I take
(31:03):
my honey garlic and hope forthe best.
Speaker 2 (31:07):
Yeah, I mean anytime someone's sick, like my whole
house is sick right now.
I had, I had an orange.
I had a spoonful of honey.
Um, I have some Rosemary inthere.
I might see some water in it.
So like food is medicine, somewater in it.
So like food is medicine.
That's honestly like.
That is me in a nutshell.
That's how all of thistranspired, like that's what I
(31:28):
believe.
Speaker 1 (31:29):
I believe in good, wholesome food good, wholesome
ingredients yeah, I agree, Icompletely agree.
And food and what you drink andwhat you put on your skin, like
.
I am in complete agreement withthat.
I think that's a good place towrap it up.
(31:50):
Is there anything else you wantto share with us?
Speaker 2 (31:54):
Let me wrap it up.
Anything I want to share.
I want to share my yoga.
I haven't talked about that,but I mean I've talked about how
food is medicine and I am anherbalist, so I'm into the herbs
(32:17):
but I didn't tie in my yogainto it.
And I'm also like a firmbeliever in like deep breaths.
I'm like your breathingcontrols a lot and if you can
just control your breath you cancontrol a lot.
So I'm a firm believer in thatand I'm not just yoga the
(32:39):
practice, but kind of mixing itall into the earth.
And it all comes back in thesense of like earth, putting
your feet on the ground, feelinggrounded, like inhaling the
outdoors, and all of that likeyoga the practice.
(33:02):
Yes, stretching, unbelievable,great for your body, but also
yoga in a way of life.
Speaker 1 (33:08):
Yes definitely.
I've talked about it a lot onthis podcast and it's something
that's coming to the forefrontof my classes as well right now
is like, especially here in theWest, we think of yoga as asana
and it kind of ends there, butyoga is so much more than that.
There's eight limbs of yoga andasana is only one of those
(33:29):
limbs and you know so.
Infrequently we talk about thefirst two limbs, which are the
yamas and the niyamas, which arereally like moral and like body
hygienic practices andobservances and like, yeah, I
totally agree with what you'resaying, because yoga is so much
more than the physical practice.
But once you get like thebreath and the mindfulness
(33:51):
involved and, um, like theseself-care rituals and not just
self-care rituals, but these,these moral observances like it
really really does impact andhave a huge change on your life.
Speaker 2 (34:05):
Yeah and and kind of.
It also makes everything moreintentional.
It makes it like you.
You go through like it's.
It makes everything morerituals and like I know it
sounds so silly, but like myskincare routine is a ritual.
Speaker 1 (34:27):
Absolutely no, it's not silly, I agree.
Speaker 2 (34:29):
It's like I take taking care of myself, like when
I have a shower, like I mean,you're a female, you know the
showers.
It's either you have a washshower, you have a hair shower
or you have a whole body shower,everything shower.
And when I have that everythingshower, I'm getting out and
first I'm brushing my hair andthen I'm starting with step one,
(34:51):
with my toner, and it justmakes everything more
intentional.
I mean that just circles backwith the products and it circles
back with yoga and really Imean, yes, I'm an herbalist, yes
, I'm a yoga teacher, but Iwould say probably, first and
(35:13):
foremost, definitely a mom.
But I would say, wrapping it up, I would say just an earth
enthusiast and all naturalenthusiasts, because that's
where, like, it all comes from.
Speaker 1 (35:31):
Yeah, and we've separated ourselves so much from
nature but we are so much apart of it and I think when you
start this intentional lifestyle, you start to like dive in, you
start to detox, you start to bemore intentional about what
you're eating, Like I think allof these things just kind of
like fall naturally into place,Like you really, you truly
(35:54):
transform from the inside out.
Speaker 2 (35:58):
Yeah, yeah.
Speaker 1 (36:00):
Well, thank you so much for being here.
I really enjoyed celebratingyou and celebrating Forest Farms
, because you gave me theseproducts a couple of weeks ago
and I am already obsessed.
Speaker 2 (36:12):
I'm so glad, I'm so glad.
Speaker 1 (36:15):
I absolutely love them and I've been telling
everyone about them, so now I'mvery excited to share it with
everyone on the podcast, becauseoh my gosh, that's so exciting
telling everyone about them, sonow I'm very excited to share it
with everyone on the podcastbecause it's like love these
products and for me, like I'malways looking for like the
cleanest things that I can puton my body and in my body.
So when I saw you posting aboutthis and then we got to chatting
(36:38):
and then you gave me someproducts to try, I just like
couldn't be more excited for youbecause this, I'm so passionate
about this and I I want to telleveryone it's so important what
you put in your body what youput on your body and like the
intention behind everything.
So I think this was a beautifulthing to celebrate.
(36:58):
So thank you so much for beinghere.
Speaker 2 (37:01):
Thank you for having me.
Speaker 1 (37:03):
Kelly's journey is a beautiful reminder of how small,
intentional steps can lead totransformative change.
From her dedication to herfamily's health and well-being
to the creation of Forest Farms,her story shows us all that
nature truly is one of the mostpowerful and empowering tools
for healing.
If Kelly's story resonated withyou, head over to Forest Farms
(37:25):
to explore her earth-enrichedhandmade products.
You can also follow her journeyon social media.
I'll link everything in theshow notes, so don't you worry.
And, of course, if you lovethis episode, don't forget to
subscribe to Nearly Enlightened,leave a review and share it
with someone you love who coulduse a little bit of inspiration
(37:45):
today.
Thank you so much for beinghere, kelly.
It was a pleasure to have you.
Speaker 2 (37:50):
Thank you for having me, gianna, this was fantastic.
Speaker 1 (37:53):
Absolutely.
I'll talk to you soon.
Speaker 2 (37:55):
All right, bye-bye.
Welcome back to the Nearly Enlightened podcast, your
high vibe toolbox designed tohelp you connect to your body,
mind and spirit.
Today's episode is extraspecial because it's all about
the healing power of nature,community and intentional living
.
And who better to guide us thanKelly McMenamin?
Kelly is the founder of ForestFarms.
She's a beekeeper, herbalist,yoga teacher and a mom, and
(00:23):
she's an all-around expert increating a holistic,
nature-centered lifestyle.
Her journey began nearly 10years ago and today she's here
to share her story with us andher wisdom on how we can
reconnect with nature to nourishour families, our communities
and ourselves.
I'm so excited to have you here, kelly, Welcome.
Speaker 2 (00:42):
I'm so excited.
Speaker 1 (00:44):
So a little bit about how I know Kelly.
We've been friends since highschool, um, so this is like
extra special and it's fun.
You're actually the secondBayview guest to come on oh, no
way.
Yeah, represent Bayview Bengals, yeah um so let's dive right in
(01:04):
.
So you just recently startedforest farms.
Let us know what it is.
I'm actually wearing yourchapstick right now oh, do you
love it?
I am obsessed.
Actually, yesterday my lipswere so chapped that they, like
the bottom, my bottom lip,cracked and I wore that to bed
and my lip is completely healedthis morning.
Speaker 2 (01:23):
Oh my gosh, unbelievable.
I know, um, so forest farms Ium.
So I just started being abeekeeper, probably about a year
ago.
Um, my husband had bees forabout two years before but
started his own business, so, um, he didn't have time.
He's an electric.
Um, he has an electric andsolar business local solar and
(01:46):
electric.
Speaker 1 (01:47):
Shout out.
Speaker 2 (01:51):
I took over the bees and with that came all of the
beeswax, all of the honey.
I do all of these naturalremedies in my home so I figured
I would add in the honey andthe beeswax and it just gave me
an extra, like oomph to myproducts and, um, all the good
(02:13):
stuff that it provides honestlyit really is so amazing to have
it in your backyard like.
Speaker 1 (02:20):
I it's, it's like nature's best medicine.
So last year I had made likethe garlic that you put the
honey over and it's not really aferment but it's a way to
preserve the garlic and, likethe magic, of the honey and the
garlic together creates likethis natural antibiotic and I
swear by it.
It works every time.
Speaker 2 (02:39):
Every time garlic and onion is unbelievable, really.
Speaker 1 (02:44):
Yeah, I mean onion is an expectorant.
So right now, with all thisstuff that's going around, like
I don't know if you've heard,but everyone I know has like the
flu, but it's like settled ineveryone's chest and like, yeah,
do I haven't made the honeyinfusion with with um onion, but
I've heard it's a great coughsuppressant.
Speaker 2 (03:05):
Yeah, so I haven't done strictly um onion and um
honey, but what I do is I boilthe um, I boil the onion and it
kind of makes it's.
It's not amazing, it's it's,it's kind of gross, but it's um,
it's onion water, and then youput a little honey in it and if
(03:26):
you can just drink that as a tea, that's super good for you.
Speaker 1 (03:31):
Oh, I love it.
Everyone could use that rightnow, cause, like seriously,
everyone's got it.
Um so what inspired you tostart prioritizing a healthier
lifestyle?
Jeez, um, I know, loadedquestion.
Speaker 2 (03:43):
Yeah, well, we're're talking.
We're talking 10 years ago, um,I think it all started it's.
I started prioritizing it whenit came to food.
I actually, the truth is, I, ifanyone who knows me I was in a
bad car accident about 10 yearsago and I lost my my um scent
(04:05):
and my taste.
So when I would eat food, I wassuper focused on um, textures
and things like that, and Inoticed that when I would eat an
apple, I would feel like thewax film on it and it the taste
that I have now is justdifferent than normal tastes.
(04:26):
And um, so 10 years ago Iswitched to starting eating
organic and then um, and thenfrom eating organic I then moves
into.
It really was just a hugeexplosion and every single thing
I I was reading labels andreally diving into it and it
(04:47):
started with food.
Yeah, short answer Food.
Speaker 1 (04:50):
Same, I, I same.
And I know my friend, stefan,who's been on the podcast before
, he's talked about how, like,the beginning of his healing
journey was really started withfood as well, because when
you're healing your gut, you'rereally paying attention to, like
, what you're putting into yourbody and for a lot of people,
that's like the, the startingpoint and I think that is, you
(05:10):
know, at this point of the yearwe're in February like most
people have given up on their,their new year's resolutions and
I think it's because peopleoverwhelm themselves.
But it could start withsomething so simple as swapping
out your produce for organicproduce, like start there.
Speaker 2 (05:26):
Yeah, absolutely.
Food is medicine.
Speaker 1 (05:29):
Food is gonna heal you, yeah yeah, and that's a big
part of what you do now too.
You have, like, your backyardgarden and, um, like a lot of
the stuff you make you, it's allit comes from your backyard
backyard.
Speaker 2 (05:44):
Everything I make is all wholesome good ingredients.
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (05:50):
So how did the transition to like starting to
use more organic foods and like?
How did that transition startin your start to shape your
mindset and like your dailyhabits?
Speaker 2 (06:04):
So it, it really it it.
I paid more attention to thefood and so then I started
paying more attention to myskincare and then I then it
transpired into my makeup.
So it really becomes, um, itbecomes part of you, where every
single thing I'm payingattention to, what I ingest,
what I'm bringing into myhousehold, what now is going on
(06:29):
with my children.
But, starting with food, itreally turns into.
It turns into like every singlething is more selective.
I pay attention more.
I try to make as much as I canlike everything.
(06:50):
I want to provide myself withmy own lotion, because all the
additives and all the stuff inum store-bought, it's just.
I read the labels, it's justjunk, it's just not good for you
.
Speaker 1 (07:04):
No, it's junk.
Speaker 2 (07:05):
It's fucking toxic.
Speaker 1 (07:07):
It's like literally so insane.
Like when I go to the grocerystore, I spend so much time
because I'm reading every, everylabel, every ingredient, and
it's just like it's crazy whatwe've allowed.
And you know we're talkingabout it now, it's like at the
forefront of a lot ofconversations.
It's like a lot of these thingsaren't even legal in other
countries.
So it's like how are we stillusing them?
(07:28):
It's crazy, because of money?
I know Exactly, exactly, yeah,so that's how Forest Farms kind
of came to be, was now you'remaking these things.
So tell us a little bit aboutthe Forest Farms products.
I have a few and I'm lovingthem.
Speaker 2 (07:46):
Ooh, okay, so we're starting off with the Forest
Farms Trap Stick, because thatwas really, ultimately, my first
product that I came out withand that is with the beeswax
from my own hive, which I don'tknow.
Do you know anyone that's abeekeeper?
(08:06):
I'm still shocked at myself forbeing a beekeeper.
So it's just, it's just cool,like it's cool that that is my,
from my backyard.
So the chapstick it has honeyin it with all of the honey
healing properties as vitamin Ein it, which is good Shea butter
(08:27):
, coconut, almond oil, and Ireally I mix that all, I blend
it, I heat it up, I put it in mything.
It's really just more of adetailed.
I pay attention to the processand then I put my labels on it
and so that I have chapstick.
I have a hand lotion bar, whichmy husband is an outside worker
(08:50):
, he's an electrician, anyonewho works with their hands.
This hand lotion bar isunbelievable for you.
Speaker 1 (09:00):
Or New England, best time of year?
Oh my gosh.
Speaker 2 (09:03):
My girlfriend.
My hands are always wet inwashing bottles, constantly
cleaning my house.
Little touch of OCD and myhands are always wet.
So I put this on me before andbefore I go to bed and I just
wake up and my hands are so muchsofter.
(09:25):
The lotion bars are funny wherethey're a little oily, but you
really have to rub it in and themore you use it, the more
you're going to get to love it.
So you just got to give it ashot.
I would say they're.
I don't know what it's called,but the working guys know what
it is.
It's a little box.
It's kind of like petroleumjelly.
Speaker 1 (09:45):
Oh yeah, I know what you're talking about.
My brother used to use it too.
It's like a hand bomb thathelps with, like, cracking dry
hands.
Speaker 2 (09:54):
But it's probably awful.
Yeah, and petroleum derivedproducts like that's so crazy
that we're putting it on ourbody.
Yeah, like we're putting thaton our body, like so crazy.
And Ocufir so anyone listening,you're using Ocufur on your
baby.
I just want PSA.
That not good.
Speaker 1 (10:15):
Sorry, okay, this is the place to voice that opinion,
because let me tell you, we gota lot of hot takes over here
and I wouldn't use thoseproducts on my baby either if I
had one.
Speaker 2 (10:25):
So I have the chapstick.
I have hand lotion bar I justcame out.
Oh well, let me go with theother products.
First, I have candles, which ishalf beeswax, half tallow a
perfect combination.
You're a perfect combination ofmelting and infusing the air.
(10:46):
And guess what?
Everything that you burn you'reinhaling and everything that's
around your household.
So when people are burning theYankee candles that everyone
loves so much, you have toenvision that your children are
breathing that in.
You are breathing that in, likeI know that the dyes and
everything are in.
That you're it's.
Speaker 1 (11:04):
It's the fragrance that they're using, the
fragrance alone is toxic.
Speaker 2 (11:10):
It is chemicals, and so I have chapstick, hand motion
bars, candles.
I came out with a whipped bodybutter which is I haven't tried
it.
Speaker 1 (11:22):
I need to.
Speaker 2 (11:23):
You haven't, but so I have.
I'm doing a whipped body butterand honestly it is decadent.
Like I took my babies out ofthe bath yesterday because I
kind of have a cold goingthrough my house right now and I
lathered them in it and, oh mygosh, my little girl this
morning feels unbelievable, likethe way that these products
(11:49):
seep into your skin and you knowI can come out and like if you
were to try it out, you couldsay that maybe it's a little
oily but that's because in theother generations you're not
used to wholesome ingredients.
You're used to like Jergens,which is going to run into your
skin, it's going to absorb andguess what You're going to need
(12:10):
to reapply in probably like halfan hour.
So like my products, there aregood products.
You really rub it in it.
Honestly, I love it.
It makes me feel so awesome.
Speaker 1 (12:21):
I love like a thicker , more oily, especially this
time of year.
Like you need something that'sa little bit heavier and I I
mean I rub like straight castoroil on my body after I shower,
at night, before I go to bed, solike that doesn't bother me.
Speaker 2 (12:37):
I don't think it's oily.
I'm just saying that if anyonewere to try it, I'm just kind of
having my back, but I don'tthink it's oily.
I put our powder in it, whichis all natural, and that kind of
sucks it out and that.
But my my favorite productsactually have two of them.
My next one is my face cream.
Speaker 1 (12:59):
Yes, it's so awesome.
Speaker 2 (13:02):
That's, like my highlight, my favorite product.
So my face cream is only threeingredients.
Right, I have beef tallow whichis grass-fed rendered, and then
I mix it with castor oil andjojoba oil and, for people who
don't know, the tallow ishydrating, it's an antiseptic,
(13:26):
it's going to work against acne.
It's going to work against acne, it's going to hydrate you and
it's really going to give likethat nice glow, that nice
texture.
It really is the nice textureto help slide on.
And then, mixed with the castoroil, which is the God oil.
Speaker 1 (13:46):
It really is.
Speaker 2 (13:48):
That is my favorite oil.
Speaker 1 (13:50):
I put it everywhere at night.
I put it on my feet and thenI'll put it everywhere at night.
I put it on my feet and thenI'll put wool socks on.
I put it on my abdomen to docastor oil packs like gut work.
I put it in my belly buttonwhen I'm parasite cleansing like
I lather that shit on everysingle night.
Speaker 2 (14:06):
It's unbelievable.
So it has castor oil in it,which is an anti-aging.
I actually don't really evenwear eye cream anymore.
I lather this right around myeyes.
I put it everywhere.
Speaker 1 (14:21):
I've been doing that too.
Yeah, instead of using my eyecream.
Speaker 2 (14:25):
Anyone right, because castor oil, you can rub it on
your eyelashes.
Your eyelashes grow.
You can rub it on your eyebrows.
It will help bring it in and ifyou rub castor oil on your
eyelids there are studies thatshow that it in it will help.
If anyone has cataracts, itwill help bring that down any
(14:47):
eye issues.
Speaker 1 (14:48):
Yeah, theers too.
Um, dr jess petros talks aboutthis and that's part of like the
parasite cleansing.
But if you're someone who seeslike the little, like eye
floaters when you look towardsthe light and like you can see
them floating in your, in yourvision, um, that's like a
parasitic infection, and castoroil on the eyelids at night
(15:09):
helps with that.
Yeah, I mean, this isn'tmedical advice by any means, so
no one like not a doctor herenot making any claims, Nope.
Speaker 2 (15:20):
And then lastly, jojoba oil, which is just good
hydrating properties.
It's light, which I likebecause the tallow is a heavier
base, but I whip the shit out ofit, so it is light.
Speaker 1 (15:36):
The texture is amazing.
Yes, it really does A littlegoes a long way.
Speaker 2 (15:41):
I sell them in two ounce little containers and I
mean it depends how much you useit, but I mean a little goes a
long way with it.
And my face cream, I would say,is probably the star of my show
right now, Definitely I love it.
Speaker 1 (15:59):
Well, I don't know.
The lip balm is also very good.
It will.
When you put it on, it lasts solong, like if you put it on
before you go to bed.
You wake up and it's still onyour lips.
Speaker 2 (16:12):
Oh see, I wouldn't know, because I kiss my kids so
much.
Oh, so it's always coming off,which another highlight of I
feel safe kissing my kids and Idon't care if my chapsticks all
over their face because I knowthat the ingredients in it is
safe.
Yeah, yeah, that's like anotherthing with my products.
Like my little girl will be allover my face, her hands and
(16:35):
like, if I like, sometimes whenI'm wearing makeup although my
makeup is all natural and I'mclean I I try to keep my
daughter from touching my face,obviously, but, um, when I have
just face lotion on, I'm notconcerned, or I don't have any
worries about my kids touchingme.
Speaker 1 (16:55):
What's your go-to clean makeup brands?
Speaker 2 (17:00):
Well, I mean, I really only wear mascara and I
highlight.
Sometimes, if you catch megoing out on a dinner, I'll wear
makeup, but my everyday, myeveryday style is not not there.
My go-to makeup I really likePacifica.
I use Pacifica um highlighterand contour.
Speaker 1 (17:22):
Oh nice.
Speaker 2 (17:23):
Oh, and Hans Hans H A N, s, I use that, um.
I use that for bronzer, butalso contour.
Speaker 1 (17:32):
Oh nice, I'm always looking for good, clean brands.
Speaker 2 (17:36):
I want to go back to.
So those are the.
I have four of those productsthat I have in stock, but
yesterday I had a specificrequest on a product and I saw
your Instagram post.
Yeah Well, my friend came to meand she's like um, I saw your
Instagram posts.
Yeah Well, my uh, a friend cameto me and she's like, listen, I
have eczema and all of thetallow smells funky and all of
(17:59):
they have so much additiveadditives in it.
So I made a whipped body butterbut I added tallow and that
made it so much better.
But in that, um, I also I have,um, all the same ingredients
that I had in my whipped bodybutter.
So it has the castor oil in it,it has the um, vitamin E oil,
(18:21):
which is going to work, but thistallow butter, um, it is.
So the whipped body butter isgreat, definitely not putting
that down but the tallow, I justthink, is a little bit like,
gives an extra oomph and, um,that is really going to help
with the eczema.
(18:41):
And, um, my girlfriend, taylor,she just bought some um for her
belly.
She's she's newly pregnant,she's going to put, she's going
to put it on her belly and thetallow, mixed with the castor
oil, mixed with the vitamin Eand all of the shea butters and
cocoa butter, that is reallygoing to prevent any stretch
marks.
It's really going to sink intoyour skin and it's so nourishing
(19:06):
.
So nourishing.
I know that when I was pregnantmy back was always so itchy so
I was like a two times a day umbody butter person and um, so my
, I I'm not um, I haven't gottento advertise that yet but my
tallow whipped body butter is apretty, pretty spot on.
Speaker 1 (19:28):
Yeah, and I think when you're creating products,
too, with not just like throwingthings together, but like
there's intention and care andeverything is energy.
So when you're using theseproducts, you really feel that
like like the passion and youfeel all of your good energy
behind it, I believe in them, Ibelieve in them.
Speaker 2 (19:47):
And if I believe in it, I believe in them, I believe
in them.
And if I believe in it, if Ibelieve in it, I can sell it to
you.
I'm not that I'm persuasive,but I know when it's good and
I'm I'm going to preach it Likeit, it when I.
When it's good, it's good.
Speaker 1 (20:01):
That is how I feel.
That's like you know, no onecomes on this podcast without
being like complete, like youhave to be somebody that I have
worked with, would work with, orlike a very like you're in my
close personal circle but, likeI, when I use these products, I
was like, oh heck, yes, likeeveryone in Rhode Island needs
(20:21):
to know about them, and beyondyou love them.
Speaker 2 (20:24):
I'm so happy.
Speaker 1 (20:25):
I am a best, and I have my boyfriend hooked on the
chapstick now too, so I give youa candle.
Yes, I haven't burned it yet,but it smells so good.
Speaker 2 (20:35):
Which one did I give you?
Speaker 1 (20:36):
Um, it has like chamomile and rosemary on top.
Speaker 2 (20:40):
Okay, that was, that was special.
I made that a special for you.
I haven't advertised that yet,but I'll tell everyone I did a.
It's a warm vanilla candlevanilla essential oil, and I put
a little Rosemary on it becauseall of the benefits I don't
know if you guys know, um,rosemary water is so good, it's
(21:01):
good for your hair, it's goodfor everything.
And then I put a littlechamomile, uh, dried flowers, on
the top for almost like alittle, um, calm ambience.
Speaker 1 (21:11):
It's so pretty.
That's why I don't want to burnit yet.
I'm like waiting for a specialmoment.
Speaker 2 (21:16):
I feel that intentional yeah.
Speaker 1 (21:20):
Yes, and when I do, I'll post a little video for you
.
Speaker 2 (21:23):
Love that, love that.
Speaker 1 (21:25):
So what inspired you to take it from like your
kitchen to making these productsto yours, for yourself, to
being like okay, I'm going topursue this, I'm going to, I'm
going to create forest farms andwe're going to sell this.
Speaker 2 (21:39):
Um, what inspired me was um, well, I have the wax,
right, I have the wax from mybeehive, and I was, so I was
already making the otherproducts as far as, like, my own
lotions.
Um, I didn't make my ownchapstick because I, um, I
didn't have the wax and so Iwould buy, but I didn't have the
(22:06):
wax and so I would buy.
But these were things that Idid at home, and then I had the
element of my own beeswax andI'm like, listen, this shit is
good, like I use it and it'ssomething that I'm doing anyway,
so why not bump up the recipe,just make more and sell it?
And so so I did, and that'swhat I did, and I just started
doing it on Facebook, I startedon Instagram and I had a good
(22:29):
wave around Christmas time andthen I got a little deeper.
I bought insurance for it, Imade a website and I mean, I
have people looking at it andit's, it's it, it's.
It just speaks for itself.
You try that, you try it, youput it on and the next day, when
you wake up and your body feelsgreat, you're just going to
(22:50):
want to keep using it.
Speaker 1 (22:52):
Yeah, and it's so important, like not just what
we're putting in our bodies, butwhat we put on our bodies too,
cause, like you said, it absorbsinto your skin.
So if you're putting all ofthese chemicals on your body,
then that's just being absorbedand that's more things that your
body has to break down anddetox and get rid of.
Speaker 2 (23:08):
Yes, and I make all of these products with intention
, with care.
I don't know if anyone knowsthis, but I like art.
I can draw, I can paint andcreating the candles and make,
putting the, the rose petals onit and pouring the chapstick,
(23:29):
just right, and getting like aclean cut on the top.
It's, it's artistic to me andit is intentional.
So I um, my um hopes is thatwhen using my products, people
treat it almost as like a ritual, like when you put your lotion
on.
I want you to do it after youjust had a great shower and I
(23:53):
hope you just feel great afteryou do it, because I am a firm
believer that the energy thatI'm putting into my products is
a happy energy.
I'm happy to do it and I'mhoping that with that, the
energy travels through it andhelps make everyone else feel
good.
Speaker 1 (24:10):
It definitely does.
I love putting my face cream onat night.
It feels so good and my skinfeels so nourished, even though
it's been like super cold anddry here in New England, like I
don't have that like winter,like chapped face you don't the
you first of all, you look great, thank you you're welcome they
(24:33):
can't see me, but they'll haveto take your word for it take my
word, I'm not a liar, um.
Speaker 2 (24:40):
But yeah, I mean, I stopped using eye cream that's
how good it is and I am atypical cleansing, toner serum
lotion and I just dropped it.
I dropped that because mylotion covers it, my cream.
(25:00):
I don't want to call it lotion,I want to call it cream because
there is a difference If youuse lotion and you use cream.
You know the difference.
Speaker 1 (25:11):
Yeah, cream is a lot more like thick.
Speaker 2 (25:14):
It's softer, it's thicker and it's softer.
Speaker 1 (25:18):
A little bit more hydrating, I think it lasts a
little bit longer than like alotion does a little bit more
hydrating.
Speaker 2 (25:24):
I think it lasts a little bit longer than like a
lotion does.
Yeah, that's why you got toditch your lotion and get the
body butter too.
Speaker 1 (25:28):
Honestly, I'm ready for it.
I'm going to go right afterthis and order some.
You know it and everyone elsewill link um Kelly's website in
the show notes, so feel free togo over there and check it out.
Like the products are amazing,Honestly, the candle is so
beautiful.
Like you can tell that youspend time and care and
(25:50):
intention in these products andthey're not just like these mass
produced kind of things.
Speaker 2 (25:57):
Thank you, G.
I appreciate that.
Speaker 1 (25:59):
You're so welcome yeah.
Speaker 2 (26:01):
So you can link my um , you can link my website, but
also feel free to just follow meand message me, like it doesn't
need for everyone else not youspecifically anyone listening.
Um, feel free to just messageme.
I have a section on my websitethat, um, I mean I offer only
(26:22):
four products, but I am anherbalist.
I um I do create other otherthings, so I have a section
where people can um write what'sgoing on and see if I can
create anything.
So my girlfriend text messageme and she was just like hey, I
have severe at at, um, I havesevere eczema going on and so I
(26:43):
didn't have tallow whipped bodybutter on my quote unquote but
um so I'm able to just whip upsomething that um can target
whatever ailment you have goingon.
Speaker 1 (26:56):
I love that, and I think that also speaks to your
products too, because you takethat, that herbalist knowledge,
and you infuse it into yourproducts, and that's that's a
really beautiful thing too.
Speaker 2 (27:06):
Thanks.
Speaker 1 (27:07):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (27:09):
So right now, what would you say is like your
favorite, favorite herb to workwith, or oh gosh, um, my
favorite herbs, um, my favoriteherbs to work with, so, um, I
would say well, if you're closewith me, you would know that
(27:29):
right now my husband broke hisfoot.
Speaker 1 (27:32):
So I yeah.
Speaker 2 (27:33):
Yes, talk about this.
Oh my God I am handling.
First of all, he broke his footand it's not.
It's not that he's in a bootwalking, and okay.
He broke his foot to the pointwhere he is.
We're a month and a half intothis.
He is still on crutches.
He cannot even put his footdown on the ground, he cannot
bear weight, he cannot evenreally hold our daughter because
(27:56):
he can't walk without hiscrutches.
So I would say, at this momentmy favorite herb is comfrey.
Comfrey is the bone healingherb.
So I had this man drinkingcomfrey tea.
I made him a comfrey salve.
(28:16):
We're putting that on his foot,his foot, um.
So comfrey is going to helpwith infection, because at first
he did have a little cut on onhis foot and then, um, it's
really going to seep into theskin and it's going to help with
um.
It's going to help with thebones, it's going to help with
the joints, it's going to helpwith inflammation and stuff like
(28:38):
that.
But I mean, we're just talkingabout comfrey and um, and then,
quickly, I also want to do ashout out to oregano, because
oregano oil my kids are sickright now and I don't have any
on hand, but I wish I did.
And if you put olive oil overoregano right, let it sit in a
(29:00):
dark, dark place for about two,three weeks and then strain it,
then you have yourself, like ahomemade tincture, the
properties that the oregano giveout is.
Speaker 1 (29:12):
It's anti-parasitic, it's anti-viral, it's an
antibiotic, it's everything.
Speaker 2 (29:19):
You want to scream RSV, there you go, like, go,
like, that's what you have.
Um, and so let's say comfreyand oregano is, uh, the season
of right now.
Speaker 1 (29:31):
My dad, um, grows a shitload of oregano every year.
I have so much.
Speaker 2 (29:36):
Next time I see you I'll bring you some you need to,
I I will make it and then I'llmake tincture, and then anyone
who has babies feel free tomessage me, yeah.
Speaker 1 (29:46):
Yeah, because it's such a safe herb to use and it's
so potent, it's so powerful.
It's another one of those likeI think oregano oil tincture is
really hard to take.
It's one of those things thatit tastes tastes earthy, like
it's girl.
Speaker 2 (30:05):
You're talking to someone who doesn't have taste.
Speaker 1 (30:06):
That's true, it's but for the rest of us it's rough.
Speaker 2 (30:11):
Let me tell you oh well, trust me, my taste is um,
my taste is semi there.
Speaker 1 (30:16):
It just tastes like dirt to me, but I mean, it's
like to me it's almost like it'sso powerful it's like spicy
yeah, yeah, it is but it's in.
There is this um, I swear by it.
It's called wellness formulabut it has, like oregano,
echinacea, garlic, um vitamin c,it's like you're perfect for
(30:41):
this time of year you're almosttalking fire cider yeah it.
Basically it is in like acrushed pill form and my
boyfriend just had the flu, forliterally he was sick for over
two weeks and, knock on wood,here I am healthy, haven't
gotten it.
Don't want to jinx myself, butlike anytime I've been around
somebody who's sick like, I justpop a couple of those or I take
(31:03):
my honey garlic and hope forthe best.
Speaker 2 (31:07):
Yeah, I mean anytime someone's sick, like my whole
house is sick right now.
I had, I had an orange.
I had a spoonful of honey.
Um, I have some Rosemary inthere.
I might see some water in it.
So like food is medicine, somewater in it.
So like food is medicine.
That's honestly like.
That is me in a nutshell.
That's how all of thistranspired, like that's what I
(31:28):
believe.
Speaker 1 (31:29):
I believe in good, wholesome food good, wholesome
ingredients yeah, I agree, Icompletely agree.
And food and what you drink andwhat you put on your skin, like
.
I am in complete agreement withthat.
I think that's a good place towrap it up.
(31:50):
Is there anything else you wantto share with us?
Speaker 2 (31:54):
Let me wrap it up.
Anything I want to share.
I want to share my yoga.
I haven't talked about that,but I mean I've talked about how
food is medicine and I am anherbalist, so I'm into the herbs
(32:17):
but I didn't tie in my yogainto it.
And I'm also like a firmbeliever in like deep breaths.
I'm like your breathingcontrols a lot and if you can
just control your breath you cancontrol a lot.
So I'm a firm believer in thatand I'm not just yoga the
(32:39):
practice, but kind of mixing itall into the earth.
And it all comes back in thesense of like earth, putting
your feet on the ground, feelinggrounded, like inhaling the
outdoors, and all of that likeyoga the practice.
(33:02):
Yes, stretching, unbelievable,great for your body, but also
yoga in a way of life.
Speaker 1 (33:08):
Yes definitely.
I've talked about it a lot onthis podcast and it's something
that's coming to the forefrontof my classes as well right now
is like, especially here in theWest, we think of yoga as asana
and it kind of ends there, butyoga is so much more than that.
There's eight limbs of yoga andasana is only one of those
(33:29):
limbs and you know so.
Infrequently we talk about thefirst two limbs, which are the
yamas and the niyamas, which arereally like moral and like body
hygienic practices andobservances and like, yeah, I
totally agree with what you'resaying, because yoga is so much
more than the physical practice.
But once you get like thebreath and the mindfulness
(33:51):
involved and, um, like theseself-care rituals and not just
self-care rituals, but these,these moral observances like it
really really does impact andhave a huge change on your life.
Speaker 2 (34:05):
Yeah and and kind of.
It also makes everything moreintentional.
It makes it like you.
You go through like it's.
It makes everything morerituals and like I know it
sounds so silly, but like myskincare routine is a ritual.
Speaker 1 (34:27):
Absolutely no, it's not silly, I agree.
Speaker 2 (34:29):
It's like I take taking care of myself, like when
I have a shower, like I mean,you're a female, you know the
showers.
It's either you have a washshower, you have a hair shower
or you have a whole body shower,everything shower.
And when I have that everythingshower, I'm getting out and
first I'm brushing my hair andthen I'm starting with step one,
(34:51):
with my toner, and it justmakes everything more
intentional.
I mean that just circles backwith the products and it circles
back with yoga and really Imean, yes, I'm an herbalist, yes
, I'm a yoga teacher, but Iwould say probably, first and
(35:13):
foremost, definitely a mom.
But I would say, wrapping it up, I would say just an earth
enthusiast and all naturalenthusiasts, because that's
where, like, it all comes from.
Speaker 1 (35:31):
Yeah, and we've separated ourselves so much from
nature but we are so much apart of it and I think when you
start this intentional lifestyle, you start to like dive in, you
start to detox, you start to bemore intentional about what
you're eating, Like I think allof these things just kind of
like fall naturally into place,Like you really, you truly
(35:54):
transform from the inside out.
Speaker 2 (35:58):
Yeah, yeah.
Speaker 1 (36:00):
Well, thank you so much for being here.
I really enjoyed celebratingyou and celebrating Forest Farms
, because you gave me theseproducts a couple of weeks ago
and I am already obsessed.
Speaker 2 (36:12):
I'm so glad, I'm so glad.
Speaker 1 (36:15):
I absolutely love them and I've been telling
everyone about them, so now I'mvery excited to share it with
everyone on the podcast, becauseoh my gosh, that's so exciting
telling everyone about them, sonow I'm very excited to share it
with everyone on the podcastbecause it's like love these
products and for me, like I'malways looking for like the
cleanest things that I can puton my body and in my body.
So when I saw you posting aboutthis and then we got to chatting
(36:38):
and then you gave me someproducts to try, I just like
couldn't be more excited for youbecause this, I'm so passionate
about this and I I want to telleveryone it's so important what
you put in your body what youput on your body and like the
intention behind everything.
So I think this was a beautifulthing to celebrate.
(36:58):
So thank you so much for beinghere.
Speaker 2 (37:01):
Thank you for having me.
Speaker 1 (37:03):
Kelly's journey is a beautiful reminder of how small,
intentional steps can lead totransformative change.
From her dedication to herfamily's health and well-being
to the creation of Forest Farms,her story shows us all that
nature truly is one of the mostpowerful and empowering tools
for healing.
If Kelly's story resonated withyou, head over to Forest Farms
(37:25):
to explore her earth-enrichedhandmade products.
You can also follow her journeyon social media.
I'll link everything in theshow notes, so don't you worry.
And, of course, if you lovethis episode, don't forget to
subscribe to Nearly Enlightened,leave a review and share it
with someone you love who coulduse a little bit of inspiration
(37:45):
today.
Thank you so much for beinghere, kelly.
It was a pleasure to have you.
Speaker 2 (37:50):
Thank you for having me, gianna, this was fantastic.
Speaker 1 (37:53):
Absolutely.
I'll talk to you soon.
Speaker 2 (37:55):
All right, bye-bye.
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