Our Staff

In April 2006 me and my husband JP moved to Scotland for a more peaceful and quiet life. Before settling down in the Stirling area we did voluntary work on organic farms all over Scotland. In the isolation of Achmelvich (near Lochinver) we learned that trying to be self-sufficient is what we want to pursue.

Working in a health food shop has been the next step to try and be environmentally friendly. And of course owning a health food shop is an even bigger part of the dream. Ever since I was a teenager I have been interested in alternative remedies. I remember countless nights me hanging over a bowl with nettle tea to try and cure my teenage acne. Or when I was a student taking valerian for sleepless nights.
I have been against animal testing for a long long time and have been a member of BUAV, SSPCA, Friends of the Earth and the RSPB in both the Netherlands and Scotland.

I have tried a vegetarian diet for some years, before deciding to eat mainly vegetarian with occasionally fish or game. My husband and I always cook from scratch and we have tried various "foreign" foods, like couscous, quinoa and kamut. Being self-sufficient means we grow our own vegetables at our home in Glendevon, making our own bread, jams, wines, beer, biscuits, sauerkraut and pickles. I am a big advocate of seasonal eating and have created a recipe book based on the seasons.
I write a monthly newsletter for the shop in which I blog about my garden and our woodland-to-be.

I've got a certificate in A. Vogel's herbal supplements, Nature's Aid training course and a HFI Health Food Institute Diploma. I've also got a Food Hygiene Certificate. I am currently studying for a degree in Natural Sciences with the Open University.

So, if you got any questions about homebrewing, cooking or alternative remedies just ask me or any other member of staff.

I'm very happy to be working for an independent health food shop with a loyal base of local and nationwide customers.

I started prioritising organic food, natural products and supplements 25 years ago because I wanted to optimise my own health and it was exciting to research and try different products.

I’ve always been keen to deepen my knowledge about herbs and their uses: attending workshops and taking courses online and in person.  I have a special interest in herbal first aid and I make my own balms and salves for personal use from the plant allies I cultivate in my garden and from those I forage whilst walking my dog around Stirling. 

"I enjoy being part of the friendly team that supports the store's customers with healthy living. I feel that I can both contribute and learn about the topic every working day, within this huge field of knowledge. My passion for connecting people to the natural world led me through a Master of Science, Biology-Communication of Scientific Knowledge. I like to support actions in everyday life where we aim to take care of both the planet and people in a caring way. I also work part-time as a climate change coordinator for a charity, and find that the two jobs go hand in hand.

I take great pleasure in hill walking, dipping my feet in a river and writing thought-provoking fictional short stories."