It is the co-op’s vision to support and strengthen community connections with our local producers — so here are their stories! In this Meet Your Producer series, we will highlight our neighborhood farmers, ranchers and producers so you can see and hear what they’re all about.
Wild Ivy Herb Farm
Lori Trojan
649 E 1450 Rd, Lawrence, KS
Visit the website
About the Farmer
“I’m Lori Trojan, and I am passionate about learning and teaching about the healing powers of herbs. As a Master Herbalist and Master Gardener, I grow over 80 varieties of culinary and medicinal herbs on my 3-acre farm. It’s a joy and a privilege to transform them into teas, body care products, kitchen delights, and herbal remedies using recipes passed down through generations in my family.”
Lori’s introduction to herbalism and medicine making was observing her material grandmother, who learned her practice from her own mother. Her family acted as medicine women for their communities before pharmacies or doctors were readily available. This lineage set Lori on her own journey with herbs.
About the Farm
Lori had been growing herbs and creating remedies for decades prior to moving south of Lawrence seven years ago. Shortly after relocating, she started planting the herbs that were essential to establish for her product line.
Comfrey was first, which is a key ingredient in her healing salve. Plantain, echinacea and St. John’s wort were all planted that first season as well as marshmallow, oregano and sage. Today there are nearly ninety varieties of culinary and medicinal herbs and 300 elderberry bushes on the farm. Lori adds five or six herbs each year that catch her curiosity. As she provided a tour of her garden to our staff, she shared the types of benefits each plant provides, the unique way each is harvested and processed and their growing habits.
About an acre of her three-acre plot is in production. The Wild Ivy Herb Farm shop includes soaps, lotions, salves, teas, vinegars, oils, dried herb blends, herb salts and elderberry syrup (“a delicious immune boost in a bottle!”).
Behind the production spaces is a stream and woods. A shady clearing is the perfect space for workshops and events. On July 19th Lori will lead Making Medicine for Unpredictable Times. She also hosts local makers and artists sharing skills such as making plant-based dyes, yoga, forest walks, mushroom inoculation or building fairy gardens for kids.
“I want to be a place that people come to, to think of community, learn about plants, identifying them, live a sustainable life — that’s a big part of what I feel is my purpose. Knowing your intention, that’s how you build your world.”
Find Lori’s tea blends, herbal salts, soap and elderberry syrup at the co-op! For all her available products, visit her website.
