OUR COMMUNITY
Hands in the Dirt …
Melina Bronfin and her daughter Eliana Rivka
Oak Park herbalist’s Sunny Squirrel Farm is a healing and sharing place. ROCHEL BURSTYN CONTRIBUTING WRITER JERRY ZOLYNSKY PHOTOGRAPHY
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JUNE 16 • 2022
Heart with Nature W hen Melina Bronfin moved into her Oak Park home 10 years ago, she looked at her neglected weedfilled garden and knew she had lots of work ahead. Fortunately, she was in her element. Melina has loved nature since she was small and has fond childhood memories of exploring the meadows beyond her small German hometown. She’d collect wild greens and blend them into soups and salads. Here, Bronfin cleaned her yard, began planting, and educated herself about herbs and their remedies.
“I discovered that herbs have so many beneficial uses — for beauty, nourishment and healing,” Bronfin said. “When my daughter, Eliana Rivka, was born in 2017, I knew I wanted to give her the best, and healthy choices became even more important. I then embraced a simpler lifestyle with less waste, toxins and plastic.” During the pandemic, she further honed her passion. “We never grew so many plants before!” she said. “I was also finally able to achieve my dream to start formal herbal medicine education.”
