My City Series | Lauren Haynes
No one knows a city better than its people. Consciously Connected Travel shares with you our global fam and friends through our My City Series. Unmasking some of the coolest places and it’s people and giving you a deeper more connected insight.
A lot of you would have heard of Wooden Spoon Herbs, perhaps even salivated over the brands sumptuous insta feed. Many of you probably have the yummy products gracing your night stand. Well we want you to meet the incredible Lauren Haynes, born and raised in Chattanooga, Tennessee, Lauren is the Founder and woman behind the brand, get to know a bit more about how she spends her days in her picturesque cabin in the woods and what makes her tick.
Wooden Spoon Herbs grew out of her personal herbal practice and curiosity about the incredibly rich, biodiverse region that is southern Appalachia. A small-batch herbal apothecary. Rather than tap into the booming global herb trade, where herbs are imported from a myriad of countries and travel countless miles, their products are thoughtfully made with American-grown herbs, sourced directly from the farmers that grow them. With plant medicines offered in every approachable incarnation - tinctures, salves, creams, sprays, syrups - and striving to bring you high vibrations in every package.
Born and Raised or Expat?
Born and raised
How did the idea of Wooden Spoon Herbs come about?
Through an interest in the slow food movement really. Exploring the idea of foraging food, I came across the world of plants as medicine. Everything clicked for me then and I realized I found my true calling.
What are your fondest memories of Wooden Spoon Herbs when you started your business?
Being outside, harvesting and learning about plants. Watching the seasons change by watching the plants’ life cycles. These are things that are hard to make time for years later, now that the business has grown to this larger level.
4. On your Day-to-Day routine?
I wear a lot of hats. On any given day, I could be filling orders, making products, writing newsletters, answering emails, or all of the above. The only through-line is a warm beverage every morning, usually decaf coffee or herbal tea.
5. Tell us some of your favourite spots in Cloudland, Georgia?
Anywhere along the river! The Little River runs through our backyard, and is the property boundary for two miles. There’s a spot on the back edge of the land that’s an enormous natural water slide and swimming hole. Further south on the mountain we live on, Lookout Mountain, there’s a 600-foot canyon in the mountain with the river at the bottom. There are spots there that are like natural jacuzzi pools. It’s incredible.
6. Where do you go to escape?
Oddly enough, into town! We like to go to Atlanta or Nashville to eat at amazing restaurants and get our dose of city life.
7. You can’t take a vacation, so you decide to have a staycation, what do you do, where do you eat, where do you stay and why?
Do: read for hours and wander the woods.
Eat: drive into town for tacos at Vallarta in Rome, Georgia or Lupi’s Pizza in Chattanooga, Tennessee.
Stay: home! It’s a staycation, right? We already live in a dreamy cabin.
8. What local brands do we have to know about?
There’s a great ferment company that’s based near us called Harvest Roots. That’s about the only other brand that’s not a farm!
9. Where’s your next adventure?
Either to Santa Fe, New Mexico, New Orleans, Louisiana, or Washington, D.C.
10. Does Travel breed creativity?
Absolutely!
11. Where to shed those kilos, detox the body or protect the temple?
I really enjoy Kait Hurley’s online workouts. For cleansing body and soul, I love any hot springs or in the summer, swimming in wild water in general.
12. Are there any philanthropic programmes or projects that you’re passionate about or would like to shed some light on?
Yes! The Herb Bus out of Atlanta and Lunch on Me out of LA.
13. Entrepreneurs, Tastemakers and Trailblazers, Where do people like you hangout in your city?
On the water or at each other’s homes. Picnics.
14. Give a shout-out to someone in your city that is doing groundbreaking things, and what is it that makes them a trailblazer?
I’ll give a shout-out to my friend Beth Kirby, who’s based out of Chattanooga, Tennessee, where we’re both from and which is only an hour from where I live now. Her brand Local Milk is taking the world by storm. She’s an amazing creative entrepreneur. A force.
15. A locals-only, off-the-radar, black book spot?
The Desoto Scout Trail.
16. What's the next big thing when it comes to Apothecary in Georgia?
I’m so tired of “the next big thing.” I’m ready to only do what’s real and fun and organic and creative. So ready to get off the next big thing hamster wheel because, frankly, it’s vapid and exhausting.
17. Currently working on?
A digital workshop series
18. Advice for budding entrepreneurs?
Be 1000% sure that you really love what you’re doing because it’s going to take everything you’ve got.
19. We’re living in a world where our attention to new innovation doesn’t seem to have longevity, how do you find your inspiration to make new waves with long-term prosperity?
My mission has been the same from day one: empowering people to take their wellbeing into their own hands. I feel we’ve been continually innovating, as is the nature of building a business, and so the longevity is just our long term vision. I mean, if you love something you pay attention forever. We only want the audience and community who are here for the long-haul. That’s who we’re seeking and that’s typically who’s finding us.