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Caroline Parker

About

Hello and welcome to the little world of The Cottage Herbalist.

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I’m Caroline - a degree-qualified herbalist, gardener, forager, and author of internationally released book 'The Medicinal Garden'.

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I’m endlessly inspired by cups of tea, digging in the dirt, growing beautiful herbs and flowers, and foraging for wild weeds and herbs to turn into nourishing food and practical medicine. I love sharing what I’ve learned through hands on workshops that make herbal knowledge simple, joyful, and part of everyday life.

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My small home based studio, tucked away in the cool and misty Wombat Forest, is where I hand blend my award winning teas and tisanes. Each batch is crafted by me using certified organic tea, flowers, and herbs, along with seasonally wildcrafted or homegrown botanicals. I think they’re beautiful, thoughtful blends, and I hope you do too.

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When I’m not in the studio, you’ll find me outside in my own Medicinal Garden - sowing seeds, picking flowers, building garden beds, turning compost, chatting to plants, cloud watching and zipping around on the ride-on mower.

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I’m also part of the gardening teams at Acre of Roses and Trentham Estate here in Central Victoria, where I work alongside others who share a love of beauty, seasonal living, and tending to the land with care.

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I can’t wait to send a little parcel of The Cottage Herbalist tea your way, or welcome you to a workshop sometime soon.

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Caroline xo

As Seen
& Heard

Alongside my garden-based herbal work, I've had the joy of sharing my knowledge through podcasts, festivals, workshops, and writing. I love connecting with others who are curious about natural medicine, seasonal living, getting their hands in the dirt and growing their own healing plants.

 

Podcasts
I've been a guest on some thoughtful, inspiring conversations, including:

– The Eldertree Podcast with Jess Bosscha
– Reskillience Podcast with Catie Payne
– Futuresteading Podcast with Jade Miles

 

Talks, Presentations & Workshops
Over the years, I’ve presented at a range of community festivals, conferences, and local events, including:

– Ballarat Autumn Harvest Festival (2022, 2023, 2024)
– Estuary Learning Earth Medicine Conference (2023 & 2024)
– Herbfest (2024)
– Bendigo Writers Festival (2024)

- Rare Trades Centre - Pecha Kucha IGNITE (2025)
– Mountain Festival (2024)
– Mount Macedon Horticultural Society (2024)
– Collingwood Library (2024)
– The Listening Station (2024)
– Creative Harvest Garden Festival (2025)
– Clunes Booktown (2025)
– Sorrento Writers Festival (2025)
– Daylesford Horticultural Society (2025)

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Publications
Feature articles about me and my work have appeared in:
– Pip Magazine (Nov 2024, Feb & Mar 2025)
– Lost Magazine (Autumn 2024)

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Qualifications

I bring together formal study, hands-on experience, and a love of lifelong learning to support others in growing and using healing plants with confidence and care.

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- BHSc Western Herbal Medicine – Endeavour College of Natural Medicine

- Member of the Naturopaths & Herbalists Association of Australia (NHAA) – Member #157257

- Member of The Herb Society, UK - Member #2025058

- Co-Head of Education, Estuary Learning

- Kinergetics – Level I

- Certificate III in Emergency Medical Response, Ambulance Victoria

- Mental Health First Aid Certificate

- Senior First Aid Certificate

- Permaculture Design Certificate

- Currently studying Therapeutic Horticulture at CERES, Melbourne

© 2025 The Cottage Herbalist

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The Cottage Herbalist acknowledges

and pays respect to the

Dja Dja Wurrung & Wadawurrung peoples

(of the greater Kulin Nation)

on whose unceded country

we work and live.

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