Today we’d like to introduce you to Natalie Friedrich.
Hi Natalie, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstories with our readers.
In 2010, I moved out of California and into my new home in the country, surrounded by lush woods and gardens in the heart of Ohio. I have always had a curiosity and love of the natural world and as I began to explore this new region, I was in awe of the diversity of plants growing around me. I delved into self-studying herbalism and foraging. I identified many species of flora and worked with them individually to learn their various uses and medicinal properties, each one seemed to have a special purpose. I created simple concoctions from body care to remedies for wounds and ailments, many of which we grew to love and used on a daily basis. Working with plants to support our health gave me a deep sense of presence, gratitude, and connection with the land.
Years passed and I continued to share my herbal preparations with friends and family. Through their encouragement, I sold my first handcrafted goods in 2018. That first sale on Instagram featured five tea blends, salve, body oil, and bath salts. I have designed and printed all of the labeling, developed original recipes, grown, gathered, and processed plants, chosen sustainable packaging, and sourced additional ingredients. The business continued to grow and evolve. We began stocking a few local shops, attending shows, teaching some classes, and building a website. I’m great at making huge messes and every shelf and nook of our woodland home was brimming with jars of herbs, teas, and supplies. Being open to learning and adapting allowed my home business to experience steady and organic growth that has felt crazy and challenging at times, but fun and fulfilling all the same.
In March of 2022, I resigned from my full-time job as a manager at our local co-op to turn my focus solely on my own business. The amount of growth we have seen has been very humbling. We now offer about twenty tea blends and twenty different types of botanical body care products. Our creations can be found at dozens of small retailers around the country and we are packing orders daily. It has been a joy to collaborate with other businesses, artists, and teachers. My favorite part is hearing feedback on how our products have helped improve people’s health and well-being. It’s incredible to know that we have regular customers with favorite products that have continued to support us over the years. We have reorganized dedicated workspaces in our home for more efficient production and shipping, of course without losing the cozy charm of an herbal apothecary. I wouldn’t have been able to have come this far without one amazing full-time team member, and a couple of part-time helpers. At this point, I feel like there is so much potential, no turning back, and I am making big goals for future expansions.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way? Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Working multiple jobs, parenting, and taking care of a homestead (plus myself, my husband, friendships, etc. you know how it goes in this busy life) definitely had me stretched too thin at many points. It seemed like when one of those things would be going really great, everything else was just decent or altogether neglected. Those really low points were red flags that it was time to slow down, clearly lay out all of the things being juggled, and choose what stays and what goes.
Having one job to focus on made a very big difference for me, and I am so grateful I was able to make that move. I have more time and mental space for activities that bring me joy and also contribute to the quality and connection to my products, like gardening and foraging for the freshest ingredients. Becoming more organized and setting boundaries for work schedules keeps the peace and flow in my life and in our home.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I have always been creative and have found ways to infuse this into the different work I’ve done throughout my life. In cooking and baking, I always have to add special details to the final presentation. In my last job, I was a manager and marketer for our local food and art co-op. I loved helping to redesign the interior retail space to be visually impressive, organized, and functional. I also had a lot of fun creating graphic designs for their digital marketing. All of this was self-taught, I really enjoy creative challenges.
Now, in my own work, I take pride in producing my products by formulating original recipes, sourcing the perfect packaging, and designing labels that sometimes feature my own artwork. It’s important to me that the final product is effective and beautiful. I am usually guilty of changing and tweaking a design or recipe many times over, but I really want it to feel and look just right. I wouldn’t call myself a perfectionist, but I know what I love and I always want to offer the best that I can. I think that really shows in our products.
Do you have any advice for those just starting out?
Follow your passion and build a clear mission to support it. This will be the golden thread through everything you do. Through your own experience, strive to become an expert at your craft, never stop learning. Find your voice and your perfect audience and clientele will follow.
Becoming self-sufficient and creating your own job is one of the greatest freedoms that a person can have in this culture. It takes work, time, and patience. Stay consistent and organized, but also be open to the evolution of your business. It will feel like your baby, but one day it will probably grow bigger than you. Don’t be afraid to ask for help, and delegate tasks to others. Set boundaries for yourself in your work so you can continue to find joy in it and live a fulfilling life.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.gnatandbee.com
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/gnatandbee
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/gnatandbee
