I'll tell you a little about how we came to be. When I was a girl (I'm Christine by the way - Christine Wilson) I spent a lot of time with my Grandad in his garden. Learning the routines of planting seeds, propagating, keeping them safe from frosts and bugs. Loving them, transferring them, seeing the blooms and eventually harvesting the seeds from the flowers and starting the routine all over again. And I loved it!
I also loved making potions with the petals - which I'm sure annoyed my Grandad no end, but he never let on. He was so kind and patient. Even taught me how to stroke fat, fuzzy bumble bees. His garden was our heaven. I never told him that and I wish I had. Then I grew up. Got busy, started working, got married and turned into a boring adult. I forgot the magic of the garden. But it remained in some of my most precious memories.
Until my husband became ill. Really ill. The kind of ill where a very worried looking doctor tells you even if he does live, they might not be able to save his legs. Terrifyingly ill. Somehow, and honestly I do not know how he did it, he started to improve. He lived. He kept his legs. He's not better. He's never going to be better than he his right now, but he's alive. That’s what matters. … And so we learned a new way to live. A slower way. It did leave him on a lot of medication. All gave him side effects. So he got new meds to help with them ... then he got new side effects ... so he got new meds to help with them and on and on it went. He ended up on 34 tablets a day and felt horrible. And that's when I went back to the garden and remembered my grandad telling me this helped with that, people used to chew this for pain, cloves help with toothache. And I started researching. Looking at herbal alternatives and cutting chemicals out of our home wherever possible.
And then I realised maybe others could benefit. I'm in no way suggesting we all give up medications and start eating flowers to cure our illnesses, but rather that plants could have a place in our lives to negate the need for things like sleep aids. That aromatherapy can help, that natural products without chemicals have a place in everyone's life ... but so does the doctor! So I started Wilson's Apothecary. Our ethic is kind to you, kind to the world. Everything we make in house is sustainably sourced and the products we buy in all follow that ethic too. Because everyone deserves to have a piece of my Grandads garden, a beautiful, kind, healing place where we can be sure there are no hidden nasties and we know without doubt that we are safe and held.
That's how we started.
Now we have three generations of women involved in the business. I'm pleased to be passing down my knowledge to my daughter and granddaughters. You can meet us in person at the markets and events we attend. We're always happy to meet new people and answer any questions on what we do. We will update the events we're attending regularly. If you can come by, please do.
Thank you for reading our story, and if you have any questions, please get in touch.
Christine x
One very important thing to remember is we are not doctors. We cannot prescribe herbs to you and we will always recommend you seek medical advice for any conditions or complaints you may have and always consult your doctor before introducing herbs in to your diet - particularly if you are on existing medications, are pregnant or breastfeeding.