The Good Village Co. Our local herbal apothecary

BY KATHLEEN KRUEGER

PHOTOS BY JEN SALVEVOLD

Apothecary is an old term. It refers to a shop that prepares and sells medicinal components. Our modern equivalent is the pharmacy or drug store. But the medicines sold in the apothecaries of old were not chemical compounds created in a laboratory. They were made from plants and herbs known for their medicinal properties. The herbalist was the “pharmacist,” the person who had been trained in the medicinal properties of plants and how to combine different species into treatment compounds.

In times past, “natural medicine” was the standard, not a secondary choice. You consulted your local herbalist for solutions to common health issues like coughs, fevers, stomach upset, allergic reactions and other maladies. Lauren Hardy is our local herbalist and The Good Village Co. is the apothecary shop where you can consult with her and purchase natural remedies for your family.

From home health to home business

Feeding and caring for her family from natural sources has always been a part of Lauren’s lifestyle. It was something she grew up with. When she and her husband, Michael, started a family of their own, submitting their child to the status quo of modern medicine raised questions in their minds. What was safe to place in the bodies of their children? What were the long-term effects?

Lauren has a naturally curious mind, research and learning are a passion. Organic and sustainability were more than labels to her. She wanted to know how the foods she purchased were grown and processed. Understanding the nuances of what is “natural” and what is not was very important to her.

Raising a healthy family meant more than just feeding her family safe and nutritious food, it also meant preventing sickness and disease. Lauren began purchasing and preparing natural remedies for her family, such as elderberry syrup, for immune support. She purchased or locally sourced herbs for teas and tinctures to promote respiratory health, mood issues and hormone regulation.

Friends and family began reaching out to her to share her natural remedies with them. Her elderberry syrup was a big hit. Often, she would post a notification on Facebook when processing a new batch so people could place their orders.

Online marketing takes a viral turn

Selling a few herbal remedies was not a serious income stream for the family. Michael worked a full-time job and Lauren brought in income from several different home-based jobs over the years. She sold health-related products through a network marketing company and did a short stint reselling Amazon products. Her longest and most profitable homebased job was as an editor for a company

- Lauren Hardy

that hired mostly writers from nonEnglish speaking countries. When that job ended abruptly with the innovations of AI, Lauren decided it was an opportunity to give her dream business a shot.

Natural health and wellness were her passion. She decided to invest her last paycheck from her online editing job into packaging materials for her herbal remedies and selling them at local farmer’s markets. Interacting with the community and sharing her passion was a life-giving experience for Lauren. She knew this was what she was meant to do.

The farmer’s market opportunities were a great starting point, but the income potential was limited. In her years working to add to their family income, Lauren used her research skills to study online marketing, branding, product development and sales. She knew a lot about what it took to make your products stand out. When the farmer’s market circuit was winding down, she took her product to social media and launched a marketing campaign on TikTok. Her product went viral! The sales came pouring in!

Brick-and-mortar, a new challenge

What happens when the sales start pouring in? You have to fill the demand!

Thankfully, Lauren knew that it takes more than a great product to succeed long-term. She needed the mental and organizational skills necessary to lead the business. To reach that goal, she spent time listening to podcasts and audiobooks about selfdevelopment, entrepreneurial development and what it takes to be a leader. This mental and emotional preparation, along with the essential support of her husband, carried her through the explosive growth of her business while she and Michael were also building a new home.

The business was quickly outgrowing their family home. Lauren and Michael began looking for a commercial kitchen that would fit the needs of the business. On the same day they began their search for a space, a location in downtown Brainerd became available on Laurel Street. It was perfect!

The location had the commercial kitchen space they needed and also had a small retail area in the front where they could set up an herbal tea and apothecary shop for local consumers. This meant purchasing equipment and furnishing, hiring employees and making lots of decisions about what types of offerings to draw in customers.

“Change has been a constant,” Lauren explains. Initially they had a baker producing a variety of baked goods to accompany the herbal tea offerings. Their “Tea for Two” specials with plates full of sweets and finger sandwiches were a big hit. But the extra expense, along with a sideline that didn’t really fit with the wellness focus of the business, meant the bakery aspect was short-lived.

Receiving guidance from an herbalist

Helping people is what it’s all about for Lauren. Her favorite part of the business is talking one-on-one with individuals at the shop or at her booths at farmer’s markets and other local events. Her knowledge is ever-expanding and sharing it with her local community is the most natural thing in the world for her.

“Serving the lakes area for over 75 years”

• Custom Shower Doors

• ThermopaneInsulated Units

• Patio-Door Replacements

• Window And Screen Repair

• Aluminum Storefronts & Doors

• Custom TableDesk Top Glass

There are many different courses and paths for those who call themselves herbalists. To date, Lauren has completed over 600 hours of the 900 hours of study required to become a certified herbalist with the American Herbalist Guild, one of the most respected organizations in the U.S. If you have specific health or wellness needs or questions, Lauren encourages a private consultation. But you can easily choose from her prepackaged products, which include descriptive guides as to the benefits attributed to them.

Lauren’s herbs and tinctures are available online at thegoodvillageco.com but why shop online when you can shop in person? The local apothecary shop at 704 Laurel Street in downtown Brainerd offers you the option of creating your own blend of herbs from the wide selection on the shelves or sitting down for a warm brew of your favorite off the menu. It’s the perfect place to meet with friends in a homey atmosphere.

Kathleen Krueger has been a full-time freelance writer since 2011. Her book, “Hey Freelancer Go Clone Yourself” shares advice based on the experiences of her successful freelance career and that of her co-author. Learn more about Kathleen on her website: KathleenKrueger.com.

Mon-Thur: 7:30am -5:00pm Fri: 7:30am-4:00pm • Sat-Sun: Closed Mon-Thur: 7:30am -5:00pm Fri: 8:00am-2:00pm • Sat-Sun: Closed