Mary McCallum - Mountain Song Gardens & Herb School

Herbalism has become increasingly popular in recent years. There’s a great need in our community and beyond for herbal education, learning how to grow and make herbal medicines, and tending to the wild plants here in the Sierra Nevada Mountains.

Mountain Song was founded by Clinical Herbalist Mary McCallum, with a passion for herbal medicine and a deep connection to the natural beauty of the Sierra Nevada Mountains. As an avid herbal enthusiast with over 10 years of education and 5 years in the industry, I recognize the need for a local source of handcrafted herbal products that prioritize local and small farm sourcing, quality ingredients, and sustainable production methods. Over my years of growth and success with Sierra Roots Wellness, I also saw a real need to grow many of the native medicines I use in my formulas here on this land. I also saw the huge need for our Indigenous & BIPOC populations to have access to foraging and tending to the medicines that have continued to sustain their bodies for many generations. 

My journey began with a vision to create a business that not only provides effective herbal remedies but also supports the local community and promotes holistic wellness. Between myself (Mary) and my husband, Rich-we are a family of dedicated individuals who share core values about providing quality herbal medicines to our community and have worked with a big heart and effort to bring Mountain Song to life.

My vision for Mountain Song is to start growing herbs here on the land we call home on Washoe land and create a space for in-person & online herbal education. That's why I need your support in launching Mountain Song Gardens & Herb School. The steps to bring this to life would be to secure a high tunnel greenhouse for growing herbs and a yurt for our mountain song classroom. I am asking for your financial support and to spread the word near & far to bring this vision to life. 

We would like to build a high-tunnel greenhouse for growing herbal medicines. Here, we will grow medicines for Mountain Song product line, local Indigenous tribal communities, local non-profits that provide direct care to needed populations, and herbal educational courses, here on the land. 

A yurt is also a part of the dream, and the yurt will become the Mountain Song classroom for community herbal education. Mary plans to lead classes in the Mountain Song classroom as well as bring in other teachers and faculty as a part of the herb school. Mary has already secured a group of locally minded, Indigenous/BIPOC focused instructors to share their wisdom and knowledge in the Mountain Song classroom. The focus for the classroom will be from everything to learning how to grow plant medicines, make your own herbal remedies, classes for kids, first aid herbal classes, song circles, movement classes, grief circles, and communal led skills classes. There will be many layers to this greater vision with growing plants, but for now we are excited to get building this summer! 

This dream is in motion, but I need your financial support to bring this to life. Although I am building Mountain Song off of the foundation that I’ve laid out through Sierra Roots Wellness, in many ways, with this re-branding and strong community focus, I’ll be starting from scratch. Along with the hoop house and yurt space for Mountain Song, I need to invest in seeds & plants to grow in the hoop house, labor to bring this vision to life, shelves & workspace in the yurt, an outhouse, supplies for mountain song products, social media & marketing, a new website, and apothecary equipment for our teaching classroom. Your financial support is a pivotal part of the early financial viability of this new venture. 

Join me in this new chapter, and together we can create a beautiful future for Mountain Song and our community.

XO-Mary