For those who have known me best as an oceanographer, it may seem strange that I ‘ve headed off in what appears to be an unusual direction – botany, ethnobotany, herbalism, and permaculture. However, I come by these interests quite naturally. My parents were farmers, and I spent about half of my childhood growing up on a cattle ranch, and the remainder of my childhood living and working on a fruit orchard. I have always had a close connection to the land and living, growing things. I started gardening as a child, and have grown gardens in a variety of locations off and on throughout my life. My mother is an Irish-descent Canadian, and she learned both Celtic and North American plant lore from her parents. Fortunately, I inherited an interest in this type of knowledge.