Spencre McGowan, Cookbook Author & Herbalist, Gingertooth

Spencre L.R. McGowan is an herbalist and writer from many places, but primarily Maine and Nantucket. She is the creator of Gingertooth & Twine, a blog and shop dedicated to enhancing herbal wisdom through plant-based brews, meals, and publications. Spencre received her certification as an herbalist from the California School of Herbal Studies in 2013. She currently lives alongside the icy caps of Montana with some plants.

Where are you based? Who are the indigenous peoples of this land?

I’m in Butte, MT, where the Salish people lived. From what I can gather, this area was also known as a common hunting ground between tribes. I’m brand new to this city, and I’m looking forward to learning more about the people who lived here before I did.

Can you share a bit about what ignited your herbalism journey?

I had the privilege of going to a Waldorf school from Kindergarten to 4th grade, where our education focused on a lot of natural arts and the land around us. I didn’t get into medicinal herbalism until I was 19 though.

Who are your ancestors? Do they influence your herbal practices?

I am primarily of Swedish and Celtic descent. My grandmother, Berit, was from Sweden and I am very lucky to have grown up so close to my culture because of her. I have spent a good amount of time in Sweden as well. I still have a lot of family there, which is so nice.

I’ve been skirting around my Irish roots, since I’m mostly familiar with tired Irish American behaviors, but I’m slowly learning more about that side of my ancestry and falling in love with the traditions.

How do you incorporate herbalism into your everyday life?

I have to admit that I’ve fallen almost entirely out of my everyday herbalism routine since finishing my book. Over the summer, I contracted a tick borne illness that kept me exhausted and in bed for most of the summer. I neglected herbs and any form of routine, but I’m just starting to get back into it. I met with an herbalist who is helping me establish an herby routine again, and it’s my goal to make tea at least once a day again in this new space. I think it’s really common for herbalists to be their own worst patient, so reaching out for help from peers is essential.

What are your tips for someone who is just starting?

Start small. In herb school, we focused on a plant of the week. At the start of each school week, we were given a small baggie of a dried herb to take home and make tea or some other form of medicine with it, then document how the plant made us feel. I always advise people to treat herbs like you would a new lover or friend. Take time, experiment and get to know them as individuals. Don’t overwhelm yourself.

How do you cultivate reciprocity with plants?

I was taught to sit by plants before harvesting as a way to thank and think of them before they pass on their medicine. This can also look like verbally saying thank you (which I find myself doing a lot) and/or giving the plant a physical gift such as their own medicine once you’ve extracted what you need.

As for community, I try to keep product and workshop prices low and accessible options with my recipes. My greatest fear is making herbalism solely for a certain group of people. I’d rather eat my own hat than make herbalism an elitist, inaccessible practice.

Lightning︎Round

Favorite herb book(s): Medical Herbalism by David Hoffman is always my go to. When I can’t find what I need from that book, I usually look to Rosemary Gladstar or Stephen Harrod Buhner. I would love to see more diversity in herbal publications and am always looking for suggestions. 

Non-herb book(s): Just Kids by Patti Smith is my bedside table book at all times. I’ve carried my copy around for over ten years and open up to random chapters when I need to feel inspired creatively. I’m also a major sucker for low brow thriller novels. I blow through those, and it’s such a good distraction when I need it.

Film: The movies that I think about the most are: The Worst Person in the World, Room with a View, Elvira Madigan, Practical Magic, Picnic at Hanging Rock, In the Realms of the Unreal (the Henry Darger doc), X + Pearl, Wayne’s World and Tommy Boy. It really ranges.

Song: I’m usually playing 90’s R&B, hiphop, Joanna Newsom, or some morose 80’s sad dance girl stuff. I recently discovered the joy of making spotify playlists and I’m obsessed.

Artist: Ohhh wow this is hard! Maud Lewis, for her folk simplicity and magic. Simone Rocha, for her whimsical, puffy, Edwardian Irish clothing designs. My husband and I have a collection of so many thrift store pieces from unknown folk artists that we love so much. I think that the best artists haven’t been given the platform they deserve. We’re just lucky to come across them.

Destination: Any coastal region as long as there's lots of fog involved. And I’m a sucker for cities with an abundance of good food, like New York or Rome.

Tea: I treat myself to sugary black tea with lots of cream every now and then. It’s so comforting, and reminds me of the vanilla milk my grandparents made me as a kid. When keeping things herby, I love birch mixed with roses, calendula and a stick of cinnamon. Or basic overnight oatstraw infusion! That’s probably the one I turn to most.

Herbalists who inspire you: My friend Summer Singletary of Warmly Agency, is a big inspiration for modern herbalism and the business that goes along with it. Liz Migliorelli of Sister Spinster has been a major inspiration as well. She inspired me to join Instagram actually. My friend Kratua makes the most incredible herbal food at her cafe in Thailand. I’m always in awe of her creations. Chanelle Allesandre of Moon by Moon Apothecary has also been inspiring me for years. I love her combination of herbalism and art/music as medicine.

Herbs that are always in your apothecary: Rose petals, oatstraw, nettles, tulsi … sooo many. I’ve been told that I say every herb is my favorite when I teach - haha.