MENDOCINO CO., 4/16/25 – Outside Laytonville’s oldest continuous business, Long Valley Feed and Supply, a local grassroots group’s “Wellness Wagon” has been making its rounds to help people treat their ailments with native herbs and plants grown in the region.
The Wellness Wagon is a team of herbalists, massage therapists, nurses and nutritionists from the Mendocino Community Wellness Collective, a group that brings herbal consultations and remedies to the community and coordinates pop-up events throughout the county to assist community members dealing with anxiety, depression or physical ailments like colds and inflammation.
The wagon offers consultations, health education and herbal remedies on a sliding scale, or in exchange for donations and trades. No one is turned away for lack of funds.
The Wellness Wagon, which has held two pop-up events so far in April, will continue its herbal education series on two more Mondays this month — April 21 and April 28. The pop-ups run from 2-5 p.m. and will take place rain or shine.
Sara Grusky, a longtime herbalist and farmer who runs Green Uprising Farm in Willits, sat outside the Wellness Wagon trailer at Long Valley Feed and Supply on Monday with another herbalist who goes by the name Prana, enjoying the warm weather while staying shaded beneath a tent set up earlier that day. Pamphlets, informational guides, stickers and signs were spread out on a table for folks interested in learning more about the group’s efforts.
Grusky, who has studied the medicinal use of herbs and plants for decades, was sharing samples of a concoction called “fire cider” — a mixture of apple cider vinegar, pepper and other herbs — resulting in an invigorating elixir that puts a little pep in your step.
“One of our aspirations is to build stronger connections and relationships with nurses and doctors,” Grusky said, noting that Prana, of the other herbalists in the collective, is also a certified nurse. “We want to create a more integrated health care system. There are tremendous ways we can complement each other.”
Specifically, the collective has also been working with Long Valley Health Center, located just outside Laytonville.
“We are trying to develop ways that we can be more complimentary with the health care system,” she added. “Instead of being outside of it completely.”
Prana, a nurse at Adventist Health Howard Memorial in Willits, said that teaching people about herbalism — along with providing information about nutrition and other natural remedies — helps individuals take charge of their own health care journeys.
“It’s really empowering people to play a role in their own health care,” Prana said. “And helping people to feel better, that’s why we are here.”
The Mendocino Community Wellness Collective will hold two more pop-up events this month, on April 21 and 28, from 2-5 p.m. at Long Valley Feed and Supply, 400 Branscomb Road in Laytonville. Community members are invited to stop by and learn about herbalism, even if they don’t need a consultation. The collective’s next pop-up event is planned for Covelo this summer, though details have not yet been announced yet.
For more information about the event or to contact the collective, call (707) 234-0113 or email MendoCWC@gmail.com.