Meet Heidi

Heidi Villegas, MA, CA, Herbalist is the founder of Healing Harvest Homestead and the School of Botanical Arts & Sciences. She is a passionate, experienced herbalist, professional-level aromatherapist, writer/researcher, formulator, clinician, homesteader, and grandmother. She teaches herbalism from a Christian perspective of God the Great Creator of all things good. Our health and healing come from Him, and so do the perfect medicinal plants He made for us.

Heidi has a heart-centered, burning mission to meet the challenge of getting an herbalist into every extended family and has for many years, ever since medicinal herbs literally saved her life.

She believes the BEST way to spread health empowerment to the people is by starting at the family level. She also knows how important it is to help the underserved, and she generously gives free information via printable resources, hundreds of articles on her website, and hundreds more free videos and instruction on her YouTube channel in addition to the professional course offerings in her School of Botanical Arts & Sciences.

Read more about Heidi Villegas here.

Meet Joe

Joe Villegas wears many hats. He’s first and foremost the brawn for Healing Harvest Homestead’s property, herb gardens, vegetable gardens, and any thing that needs to be done. Secondly, he’s our main customer service support, video editor, accountant, and tech master.

For around five years as Healing Harvest Homestead began, Heidi created, grew, taught, and ran the school by herself. Finally, she just couldn’t keep up the pace and do all the things necessary in business by herself. Mr. V. (her husband) graciously stepped in, sharing his skillsets and learning new ones that balance hers.

Healing Harvest Homestead is growing rapidly, and Joe is an integral part of it. Students in the special community groups, which are OFF social media on a private platform, just love his personable and caring help and concern for every single person.

When Joe isn’t working on the business, he’s out on his tractor, tending the orchards, the park area, and the vegetable and medicinal garden areas with Heidi, and spending time with grandchildren.

Meet Tina

Tina Dory is an herbalist, certified reflexologist, and writer/author.

Tina is our head researcher for Healing Harvest Homestead School of Botanical Arts & Sciences and an essential part of the HHH team. She is the main content creator for the Confident Herbalist Tribe plant masterclasses which requires heavy research into clinical studies.

Throughout her life, Tina has struggled with challenging health conditions in which doctors were unable to provide answers. Each unanswered question led her one step further away from allopathic medicine and one step closer to a more holistic life with herbs. Through searching for solutions on her own, she was introduced to essential oils and incorporated them into her life as an effective and alternative way to take care of her family’s health and wellness.

Tina is a mother of three wonderful children, and they have supported and helped her on her natural healing path in learning herbalism. When Tina isn’t creating remedies for family, friends, and fellow church members, she loves other hobbies like painting, archery, hiking, deep sea fishing, and hula dancing. She’s also an accomplished Black Belt!

Meet Jean

Jean McCabe is a professional level certified aromatherapist, herbalist, and is the lead Case Study Manager for our aromatherapy certification courses. She is also the Community Manager for all student communities and gives selflessly to ensure students get fast answers to their questions. She oversees comments and questions, makes sure all shared links are appropriate and accurate, and makes sure everyone is taken care of. Everyone just loves Jean!

Her passion for a more natural life led her to aromatherapy, where the spark was lit to also study herbalism. Jean’s experience also involves selling high quality herbal and aromatic products! She ran a very successful herbal and aromatic products shop for many years before joining Healing Harvest Homestead and the School of Botanical Arts & Sciences team. Her attention to detail and safety are a cornerstone of our school.

Jean is a grandmother and loves spending time with her grandkids and supporting them in their endeavors.

Meet Hrani

A lifelong native of Rhode island, Hrani has been more than casually interested in natural medicine from childhood. Perhaps it was through her grandfather's and aunt's vocations and research in medicines from plants that she became fascinated with how God has gifted humanity with a variety of naturally sourced products for people to use to improve their health and well-being.

Since whatever foods and medicines we put into our bodies literally becomes part of our physiology, Hrani's interest in natural products dovetails nicely with her studies in God's Word; what we choose to put in our hearts and minds is even more important, because it also "becomes us" on a spiritual level. Hrani testifies that the Lord Jesus Christ is the only One Who can truly "heal all of our diseases."

Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; Who healeth all thy diseases;...Psalm 103:3

As an apprentice under Heidi, Hrani brings her skills and experience in video editing and social media management to Healing Harvest Homestead with her enthusiasm and desire to always learn and share something new with those around her.

She currently enjoys teaching her Sunday School class, playing her violin, and tending numerous plants at home on her farm.

...and with His stripes we are healed.... Isaiah 53:5

Meet Shanna

Shanna Schwartz is our dedicated photographer, helping to develop the online ambiance and environment through photo work here at Healing Harvest Homestead.

She loves capturing authentic personalities, and she believes that great photography goes beyond just taking pictures: It's about building connections. She certainly does this in her ability to connect our love of plants to our business and life here at Healing Harvest Homestead.

Shanna excels at commercial work and has been featured in Bugle Magazine, In Her Studio magazine, the Clearwater County Vacation Guide and more.

You can find her at SS Reflections Photography

Meet Matt

Matt Wiedyk is an herbalist, certified aromatherapist, and plant expert. He has studied and practiced aromatherapy and herbalism for years and is a lifelong learner. Matt has a passion for helping others from children to elders, friends and family, to neighbors or complete strangers so they can be given the opportunity to obtain the knowledge of plant medicine in order to take control of their personal health needs.  

Working with individuals and designing a product to suit these individuals’ needs and concerns is where Matt shines. This is truly his superpower! He is instrumental within the Healing Harvest Homestead community in supporting and helping students with challenging situations, formula adjustments, and more. He is one of our case study managers for our aromatherapy certification courses.

Matt enjoys foraging in the Southeast of the United States, and shares both his bounty and his knowledge of plant medicine with others. He is a pro gardener and grows many of his own medicinal plants. He plans to start distilling soon, as he is now also growing his own ylang ylang (Cananga odorata)!

He loves spending time with his family.

Meet Stephanie

Stephanie is an experienced aromatherapist, level 2, professional and also enjoys teaching middle school. She is also one of our aromatherapy case study managers. She loves how essential oils can support people physically, mentally and emotionally and is passionate about sharing her knowledge to help others. 

While learning about essential oils years ago then choosing a more natural lifestyle, she decided to learn how to make her own soap and that led her to Heidi and Healing Harvest Homestead and School of Botanical Arts and Sciences. 

She is an original member of the Confident Herbalist Tribe and one of the first graduates of the Ditch the Drugstore class. She has experience selling products and working with clients with both herbs and essential oils.

Stephanie looks forward to retiring from her teaching career in the future and having more time to devote to helping others. In her free time, Stephanie loves hanging with her dogs, reading (both for pleasure and learning), and enjoying her new hobby, No Sew Baskets.

(We don't have a photo for Stephanie as her career is public, and she avoids photos online for this reason.)

Meet Amber

Amber Lynn Bradshaw (A.J.) is a published author, educator, and TV personality devoted to sustainable living and natural wellness. She's the former president and a lifetime member of the Lowcountry Herb Society in South Carolina, where she's been a passionate voice in the herbal community, leading initiatives and encouraging others to embrace herbs in every day life.

Amber has taught accredited extended learning courses at local colleges, sharing her love for herbs and how to use them safely and confidently. Her passion doesn't stop at the classroom--Amber also uses herbs daily to care for her livestock and support her beekeeping, blending traditional knowledge with hands-on experience. These real-life applications show up in her books and writing, helping others learn how to use herbs in simple, practical ways.

Living off-grid in the Smoky Mountains of East Tennessee with her family on their 47 acre mini-farm, Amber raises goats, hogs, chickens, bees, and more--all while practicing sustainable, organic methods. Through her websites-- Simple DIY Homestead, My Homestead Life, and Off-Grid Rebel--Amber inspires others to live more intentionally, cook from scratch, grow their own food, and turn back to time-tested skills that support a more self-reliant life.

Meet Mindy

Mindy Wood is an experienced herbalist, certified permaculture expert, and is the owner and founder of the popular homesteading and gardening website, Our Inspired Roots. She is passionate about healthy food, cooking from scratch, herbal medicine, and growing it all at home!

Mindy is a mom, and if you want to learn how to raise and grow your own food and medicine in a way that is healthy for people and the planet, Mindy can help you.

She is one of our talented content writers and researchers here at Healing Harvest Homestead.