75: Kitchen herbal medicine and building a Kosmic Kitchen with Sarah Kate Benjamin and Summer Singletary of The Kosmic Kitchen

Medium Well

A long time in the making, I finally chat with my wonderful and talented friends Sarah Kate Benjamin and Summer Singletary, herbalists, and co-founders of the Kosmic Kitchen. We talk about their journey into herbalism, how they chose to focus on kitchen medicine, their thoughts on how the field of herbalism is evolving, and so much more. We also talk all about their new cookbook (which is really also an herbalism textbook!), The Kosmic Kitchen Cookbook, which they recently published.

In this episode, we discuss:

• How they Sarah and Summer came to herbalism through gardening

• How they decided to start The Kosmic Kitchen

• Where and when elemental living came into their herbalism practices

• Themes related to the elements playing out

• Sarah and Summer’s thoughts on herbalism is evolving as it becomes more popular

• Why it’s important to take a more nuanced approach to herbalism instead of an allopathic “pill for every ill” approach

• Sarah and Summer’s advice for getting started with herbs

• How to connect more deeply to herbs and plants

• How and why to start a tea practice

• Sarah and Summer’s tips for dealing with skeptics

• How they are thinking about cultural appropriation in herbalism

• Their favorite recipes and rituals from their book, The Kosmic Kitchen Cookbook

Mentioned in this episode:

• The Kosmic Kitchen Cookbook

• Atomic Habits by James Clear

• Traditional Medicinals

• Woke without the work by Rootwork Herbals

All the deets:

• Learn more about The Kosmic Kitchen, their book, and their workshops at thekosmickitchen.com

• Sign up for The Kosmic Kitchen’s One-on-One Virtual Cooking Classes, which are open for registration now! Through western herbalism and Ayurvedic practices, you’ll feel confident creating kitchen rituals that are not only tasty, but help you stay well each day.

• Follow The Kosmic Kitchen on Instagram at @thekosmickitchen (one of my favorite herbalism accounts to follow— Sarah and Summer provide so many helpful tips and graphics!).

• Tag me (@saraweinreb) and The Kosmic Kitchen on Instagram with your favorite takeaways from the episode and what type you are— we’d love to hear!

Related episodes:

• Episode 43: Connecting with the energies of plants, nature, and our bodies through herbalism with Erin Lovell Verinder

• Episode 61: Balancing wellness with real life, relationship building, and evaluating trends with Rachelle Robinett

• Episode 70: Plants for the people, celebrating local plants, and nourishing yourself with Erin Lovell Verinder

• Episode 73: Forging relationships with plants, evolving as an herbalist, and building an herbal Apothecary brand with Lauren Haynes of Wooden Spoon Herbs