Borealis Backwoods Apothecary

Borealis Backwoods Apothecary Herbal wonder in the north woods 🌱 Returning to our natural state as one of balance, wholeness and vitality. Foraging - Hunting - Fishing - in the Yoop

Deliveries are done! And the farm stand is loaded!! Thank you everyone so much for the love of this passion project!!Lil...
06/05/2026

Deliveries are done! And the farm stand is loaded!!

Thank you everyone so much for the love of this passion project!!

Lilac cookies, lilac lemonade, lilac jelly!

Sauerkraut, Rampacha, rhubarb pie filling, apple + honey sea moss, fresh herbs

Remedies:
Tick & mosquito repellent
Itchi gitche gumee spray and salve
Drawing salve
Tick bite tincture
Naupaka sunscreen
Backwoods lotion
Kiss the itch lotion
Inflammation tincture
Liver & lymph nourishment
Fire cider
Elderberry Aronia tincture
Herbal baby powder
Calendula glycerite
Lemon balm glycerite
Herbal massage bars
Balm of Gilead salve
Liniment oil
Andrographis tincture
Gut balance
Throat ease
Censored
Keep your wits
Bee well elixir
Allergy tincture
Heart to heart
Restore tincture and tea
North woods ear drops
Barberry root tincture
Emotional support
Fungi boost tincture
Ramp salt
Fire cider salt
Adaptogenic golden milk
Spruce and fir tip sugar
Herbal marshmallows

I have another T-shirt in there (size L) and some kids foraging first aid cards as well as one last spring foraging packet!

06/05/2026

It took me a bit to get moving this morning but the mosquitos definitely put a pep in my step today 😆

Ive almost got the farm stand all loaded up and then will be hitting the road to do deliveries around 3!

When I first moved up here I went to the lilac festival on Mackinac island. Since then I’ve gone a few more times and no...
06/05/2026

When I first moved up here I went to the lilac festival on Mackinac island. Since then I’ve gone a few more times and now that I know what it is and have my expectations right- it’s a fun time. However, that first time (because I am who I am 😆) I definitely thought I was going to a lilac festival that was all things lilac. Lilac cookies, lilac ice cream, all the lilac treats and perfumes ect. When we got there, there was no lilac treats. Just fudge 😂 and not even lilac fudge. And all the lilac fragrances were synthetic. I was soooo incredibly disappointed 😂

Well, now I have my own personal lilac festival with all things lilac. Im excited for everyone to try these cookies that signed up for delivery tomorrow!! And super excited about everything that’ll be heading to the farm stand later in the afternoon. The lilac bouquets are beautiful and smell divine!!

The lilac honey and the lilac enfleurage take the entire lilac season to complete, but they are available for pre-order!

Another quick reminder that all deliveries this week will be tomorrow instead of the normal Thursday as  I’m in Marquett...
06/04/2026

Another quick reminder that all deliveries this week will be tomorrow instead of the normal Thursday as I’m in Marquette for some appointments. The farm stand will be restocked late afternoon tomorrow too.

I hope everyone is enjoying this beautiful day! I found so many lake superior agates this morning and can’t wait to make some necklaces!

He’s a prime example of why it’s so important to continue to pursue your hobbies and passions after becoming a parent. I...
06/03/2026

He’s a prime example of why it’s so important to continue to pursue your hobbies and passions after becoming a parent. It might be harder at first, but if you just push through and keep going with them eventually it’ll all become their normal. Camping, hiking, working out, everything.

He used to be the absolute most miserable running partner 😂 all last year (I even had to call and get rescued once because we were like 4 miles away from the house with 4 more to go and he was losing his mind 😭). Even this spring it was a hit or miss but now he just hangs out with his sippy and his snack with one arm hanging out like a little boss 😆

Running is so important to me, especially because at one time I was never supposed to be able to walk again after an accident in my teens. Even though it was rough there for a bit with him, now it’s smooth sailing.

Keep pursuing your passions, let your kids see you taking care of yourself and loving your spouse. Let them see you work hard and play hard so that is what’s normal for them 🥰🥰

Restocking today! This lotion has gotten a lot of great feedback and Ive been absolutely loving it too! I initially made...
06/03/2026

Restocking today! This lotion has gotten a lot of great feedback and Ive been absolutely loving it too! I initially made it as a base moisturizer for these warmer months with the added tick prevention. It’s proven to be so much more! It’s so light and soft and perfect for my hands and feet after working in the garden all day. It nourishes my sun kissed skin and locks in my tan so beautifully. Ive been really enjoying how my skin looks, especially on my face- so clear and bright!

Here’s a little recap on how this new lotion came about 🌱🌱

I had been in my head a bit about tick season. The snow was melting fast and after my son had lyme last year I knew I was going to be extra diligent. Honestly, we are outside alll summer long. In the woods, in the garden, in the yard, at the beach. It’s non stop and I don’t always just stop and get everyone sprayed down for ticks as often as I should. And I neglect spraying myself down even more 😅 I wanted something else to include that is already part of my daily routine that could help keep ticks down. Lotion! I put lotion or body butter on every single day. In the summer I need something a little thinner then a body butter. Something that will hydrate but soak in quickly and feel good and light all day long.

My mind started turning and a little voice in my head kept pushing me to Juniper. Juniper and ticks. Turns out, Juniper berries (especially from the eastern red cedar) are incredible tick repellents. From extracting compounds from the berries, needles and bark to even planting the trees in your yard. There’s an overwhelming amount of studies done actually.

So I used some of my Juniper Hazelnut oil (which this batch came out so fantastic and aromatic!!) and tallow and whipped together an incredibly light silky lotion with all of junipers beautiful gentle aromatics.

This Juniper lotion comes in an 8oz amber round with a pump top 🤍

I absolutely adore hazelnut oil. It quickly became my go to. If you read my previous post about sourcing closer to home and fully embracing the trees and plants that grow in our region, that’s how I came to explore hazelnut oil and it did not disappoint. Topically, I’ve never used an oil that my skin absorbed SO well. It’s so silky soft and my skin eats it up! I love how my skin feels after I apply it. I extracted one of my absolute favorite Wildcrafted herbs in the hazelnut oil and it’s a match made in heaven. Double plus, studies show its efficacy in being a strong filter and even offering some SPF!

So let’s dive into it!

Let’s begin with the oil base. Hazelnut isn’t something you often see in skincare and Im not sure why! As I mentioned, it absorbs beautifully and feels incredible. It’s a mild oil and great for sensitive skin and all ages and stages. This skin food is suitable to utilize all over the body, the face, as well as the scalp and hair. I’ve found it balances our bodies oil production so well (it’s actually scientifically proven to be a sebum regulator). Hazelnut oil is a great source of oleic acid and is an amazing emollient. It’s so silky and moisturizes and conditions so well keeping you so soft and supple. It aids with collagen production, helps to fight free radicals and yes it is a MUFA 🥰 it has wonderful anti inflammatory actions making it useful for a variety of topical inflammatory conditions (such as eczema for example). It’s also a pretty potent anti microbial. It’s rich in antioxidants, phytosterols, carotenoids, and vitamins E and K which work together to protect the skin as well as encourage regeneration and healing and elasticity. On the scalp, it’s a wonderful ally for dandruff and just an unbalanced scalp in general. It adds a natural gloss to dry hair and conditions thoroughly.

Now, if Hazelnut wasn’t enough on its own, I then extracted Juniper berries into the oil. Now, Juniper berries arent actually berries. They’re cones and therefore should go through the extraction process as you would cones, not berries. The hazelnut oil captured the aromatics and volatile oils so well. It even seems to have extracted the resinous compounds in the Juniper berries. Juniper is such a wonderful ally to the skin. It’s popular for treating irritation and inflammatory conditions, everything from acne to eczema and dermatitis and psoriasis. It’s been shown to help strengthen the skin, pull impurities, promote circulation, soften scar tissue, aid with an even complexion and so much more!

And then you have the insect repellent qualities. Studies showing efficacy comparable to deet. In this lotion Ive pulled both water soluble constituents from the juniper, as well as fat/oil soluble constituents.

As you can see, this remedy may be simple, but it’s powerful, gentle, versatile and effective and I am so grateful for it. I’ve been utilizing the Juniper + Hazelnut body oil on my face, my scars, as a massage oil- I even applied it to my little guys diaper area when we woke up with some redness and it worked like a charm 🤍 I am over the moon for the lotion. Heaven in a bottle 🌲🤍

I hope you all enjoy this bottle of love!

Free delivery Thursdays will be Friday this week! As I’ll be out of town all day Thursday. Farm stand will also be resto...
06/03/2026

Free delivery Thursdays will be Friday this week! As I’ll be out of town all day Thursday. Farm stand will also be restocked Friday. Herbal treat of the week is lilac cookies and lilac lemonade 🥰🥰 the lilac cookies are on the website and available for delivery 🤍

For deliveries this week orders just must be placed by Wednesday so I can make sure I get everything together Wednesday evening since I won’t be around to do it Thursday! Thank you all so much for the love 🤍🤍🤍

Just click free delivery Thursday at checkout on the site! There’s also free farm stand pickup as an option and of course shipping (orders over $60 have free shipping 🤗)

I wanted to do a quick recap on this one because it was recently slightly reformulated! Rather than just being a glyceri...
06/02/2026

I wanted to do a quick recap on this one because it was recently slightly reformulated! Rather than just being a glycerite, I made it a glycohol which is a glycerin and alcohol extraction. The lions mane is dual extracted in this.

Crafted to support your brain!

Crafted with Gotu Kola, Ginkgo, Lions Mane, Schisandra Berries and Rosemary

Gotu Kola is a rejuvenative nervine. The constituents in this herb support the body's ability to keep a healthy neurotransmitter function. It's often used to aid with mental clarity and memory. Gotu Kola is also lovingly called the "Herb of Longevity". Next we have Ginkgo biloba. This is probably one of the most well known herbs for supporting cognitive function. It's been found to be helpful in several studies for vertigo and dizziness, mental fog and concentration and even mood stabilization. Then we have Schisandra. This is my favorite adaptogen and is such a unique herb. It falls under all 5 flavors and supports every single one of our systems. It's commonly used to aid with mental clarity and even adhd symptoms. I'm not sure I can sum Schisandra up here in this post as it's such a complex and beneficial plant but it's an amazing cognitive enhancer and works in synergy with the other herbs enhancing the formula. Rosemary is also in this blend, and while most of us think of this herb as a nice culinary herb, its benefits go far beyond just tasting and smelling good. Rosemary has been shown to stimulate blood flow to the brain. There's a chemical in our brain called acetylcholine. This chemical promotes the brain cells responsible for memory and reasoning. Rosemary has been found to actually stop acetylcholine from breaking down!Lastly we have Lions Mane. Thankfully, medicinal mushrooms have really taken a spotlight in modern studies the past decade or so and some incredible results just continue to be revealed. Lions Mane has shown some pretty impressive results aiding with memory, focus and mood stabilization. The lions mane in this blend was raised by me, and dual extracted in 190 proof everclear

Opening up registration for the early summer foraging walk! June 27th at 11am! So many plants in various stages of growt...
06/02/2026

Opening up registration for the early summer foraging walk! June 27th at 11am!

So many plants in various stages of growth right now allowing for diverse harvesting. The idea of the walk is to allow folks to smell, feel and get their eyes on plants in real time. Everyone will get a booklet of everything we went over, including identification features like the leaf shape, vein patterns, flower structure (shape and arrangement, stamen and pistil characteristics ect), fruit type (color, seed dispersal mechanisms, shapes), and stem shapes (branching patterns ect) to refer back to.

Many of these plants and mushrooms will be on this walk. Some wont depending on weather but they will all be in your booklet.

If there is no burn ban in place, we will have a fire on the beach after to go over any questions, and cook a meal out of our harvests with venison over the fire.

Trees & shrubs

-Gray alder- leaves, bark & catkins
-Choke cherry- leaves, flowers, bark & berries
-Black cherry- inner bark
-Red pine- needles, tips, pollen and male cones
-Sand dune willow- bark & leaves
-Narrow leaf willow- bark & leaves
-High Bush Cranberry- inner bark & fruits
-Rowan- leaves, flowers
-Birch- leaves and bark
-Fir- needles, tips & pitch
-Wild Apple- leaves, flowers and bark
-Cedar- leaves
-Elderberry- Flowers, leaves and bark
-Barberry- roots
-Rose- flowers, leaves

Brambles

-Red Raspberry- leaf
-Blackberry- leaves
-Black Currants- leaves & fruits

Herbaceous Plants
-Marsh Bedstraw- leaves & seeds
-Sweet Gale- aerial parts
-Yellow toadflax- aerial parts
-White turtle head- aerial parts
-Queen Ann's lace- seeds
-Wood avens- roots
-Beach Pea- shoots, pea pods & flowers
-Joe Pye W**d- aerial parts & roots
-Soapwart- bouncing bet- roots
-Mullein- aerial parts & roots
-Jewelweed- aerial parts
-Boneset- aerial parts
-Plantain- leaf
-Watercress- aerial parts
-Wild Mint- aerial parts
-Goldenrod- aerial parts
-Nettles- leaves
-Yarrow- aerial parts & roots
-Cattail- seed head and rhizomes
-Asters- aerial parts & roots
-Milkweed- flower buds
-Horsetail- aerial parts
-Dwarf Red Blackberry- berries, leaves & roots
-Violet- leaves
-Arrowhead- Tubers
-Evening primrose- roots & aerial parts

-Blue Vervain- flowers & leaves

-St Johns Wort- leaves and flowers

-Ghost Pipe

Mushrooms & Fungi

-Oyster mushrooms

-Pheasant back

-Chicken of the woods

We'll also talk about some plants that carry some toxicity like:
-Clematis
-Wild Parsnip
-Nightshade
-Dogwood
-Bindweed
-Canadian anemone

Foraging is like learning to read another language. I like to compare it to when you learn to read. Before you know how to read, you see signs and text everywhere but don't actually know what it says and don't pay any mind to it as a child. Once you learn how to read, your brain automatically processes letters into words with meanings and you just know what things say, without even realizing it most of the time. And always for the rest of your life, learning new words and meanings.
Foraging opens up an entire new world, the woods doesn't just look like greenery anymore. Everything becomes individuals, with names and a history behind them and I hope I can help folks unlock this language.

I spent a large portion of the morning reading about alpha gal and all of that. I feel pretty well versed in Lyme and mo...
06/02/2026

I spent a large portion of the morning reading about alpha gal and all of that. I feel pretty well versed in Lyme and most coinfections but not as well versed in alpha gal. The reason being is because I saw a lone star tick yesterday crawling on the kids toys which kind of took me back because I didn’t realize we had lone star ticks up here. I’d only ever seen deer and dog ticks. The tiny almost fluorescent dot on its back was hard to miss though and almost shined in the sun it seemed.

Anyways, I just wanted to do my due diligence. Our diet is largely red meat and our household is a hunting household like most. So down the rabbit hole I went. Well it turns out Stephen Buhner was also very educated on alpha gal (I have his book “Healing Lyme”) and most of the herbs that are incredibly effective and have quite a bit of scientific literature behind them for Lyme and other tick borne illnesses are also beneficial and the go to herbs for alpha gal. Japanese knotweed, catsclaw, houttuynia cordata, Andrographis ect

So, I’ll definitely be utilizing the tick bite tincture as a preventative even more and will probably bottle some up in 4oz droppers as I’ll be giving it to all 7 kiddos too. A simple precaution that could prevent a lot of heart ache and stress.

I also do have single herb glycerites of Andrographis as well as Houttuynia Cordata available and I restocked drawing salve yesterday- which is an absolutely fantastic summer remedy and goes way beyond just tick bites!

Address

Cooks, MI

Opening Hours

Thursday 10am - 4pm
Friday 10am - 4pm
Saturday 10am - 4pm

Telephone

+19064502317

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