Herbal clinic, apothecary and school focused on holistic, plant-centered wellness.
01/06/2026
A Habit With A Twist
Not a day goes by without having afternoon tea, my favourite, black tea with milk.
It's a pleasurable habit of the past 30 years or so.
Black tea, I love you, but it's time to move over to make room for other hot drinks.
I am increasingly focused on optimizing my health, thus I'm adding more "superherbs" to my diet. These include turmeric, mushrooms, matcha, and withania, among others.
I consume them in powder form, prepared as a hot milky tea, using high fat milk plus butter for better absorption of fat soluble compounds. (Dairy free sub plant milk with coconut oil).
I add honey and a pinch of salt & pepper to each, and in the case of mushroom powder, I add cocoa.
Every bite, every sip counts. I'm building on existing habits/routines, often easier than making new ones.
01/06/2026
The Bloom Institute is housed in the George Wright building.
He built the mansion as his residence and willed it to the Local Council of Women.
It has been theirs ever since he went down with the Titanic.
George Wright, born October 26, 1849, in Tufts Cove, Nova Scotia, was a successful businessman who created Wrights World Business Directories and was involved in the construction industry, particularly focusing on better housing for the working poor. He was known for his private nature, social conscience, and enthusiasm for yachting, having created the George Wright Cup for sailing races.
In 1911, Wright was in Europe and, after hearing about the Titanic, booked a last-minute passage. His name didn’t appear on the passenger list, and no one recalls seeing him on board. Wright was a heavy sleeper, and it’s believed that he may not have woken up during the sinking. His body was never identified.
He was also a major contributor to the Y.M.C.A. and Dalhousie University and left his house to support the cause of women's suffrage in Halifax.
01/02/2026
The Power of Rest
I often recommend herbal nerve tonics and adaptogens for stress and overwhelm—but nothing beats the power of rest.
I’m in week two of a much-needed three-week break from Bloom, following autumn, my busiest season of the year. I’m indulging in both physical and mental rest—and the benefits are tremendous.
I feel more relaxed, calmer, clearer, with fewer headaches and more energy. I simply feel better. There’s more room for optimism and creative thinking.
Of course, I’m still taking herbal restoratives—my current favourites are withania, St. John’s wort, and reishi—but my best remedies have been walks with my dogs, voracious novel reading on the sofa, long baths, and stillness in nature.
Most of my anxiety comes from neglect: when I get too busy, I become overwhelmed and fall behind on responsibilities. Self-care often suffers, and anxiety creeps in.
This break has given me space to focus on self-care, including meaningful interactions with family and friends—something that usually takes a backseat to caring for clients and students.
I’m starting 2026 feeling more grounded and look forward to returning to Bloom next week—to reconnect with all my lovely students, clients, and apothecary visitors.
I wish you a happy new year and I hope you’re also experiencing the power of rest. 💚
12/24/2025
Essential in my home and clinic apothecaries for dealing with bacterial infections.
70% alcohol extract, chop, let steep for two weeks then strain.
Tastes like the forest.
12/03/2025
Drop in delayed until 1 pm today.
I'm waiting for the weather to shift before driving to the city.
Drop in December 3, 10 & 17, then closed until January 7
When you purchase herbs at drop in, your name will be entered into a draw for a herbal holiday gift basket.
I am collecting items for the Parker St. food bank.
11/25/2025
Herbs blend well with creativity!
Level 2 students presented their fall semester plant projects; whether through song, dance or spearmint chocolate chip cookies, herbal knowledge and celebration came in many forms.
Holistic Immune Health was the focus in our November herb classes. I always love sharing this material — it’s incredible to discover how much our immune systems do to keep us in balance.
This helps us know when and how to work with “immune herbs,” so we can support the body in a way that feels collaborative rather than reactive.
A central theme in our conversations was the importance of informed, empowered self-care. Our healthcare system has its challenges, our day-to-day wellbeing truly starts with us — with the small, consistent choices we make and the supportive communities we build around ourselves.
And I’m honoured to offer the Bloom Institute as one such supportive community — a place to explore holistic herbal care together.
11/20/2025
Student-lead herbal clinic -
Opening Friday, 2:40 pm
In person or online, $25
Register via the Bloom website.
11/11/2025
I sometimes take my basic stability for granted.
Even amidst peri-menopausal mood swings and a turbulent society, I don’t lean too far off centre, or if I do, I am able to regain my balance.
I have two wise old teachers who nurtured this ability, from a young age, they are the Ocean and Nature.
I am eternally grateful for their presence at my doorstep, and their ongoing guidance and reminders of the natural rhythms of life.
Ocean tides tell us that change is inevitable, and occurs several times a day. It keeps harmony through consistency.
Nature reminds us, through the seasons and the life cycles of plants, that large scale change is natural. There is a greater balance within the flux.
The word stability comes from the Latin stabilitas, which means firmness, steadfastness, or security.
My stabilizing force is a connection to my Soul and Life Purpose. It permits me to surrender to change, welcome it; I ebb, flow and grow.
These teachers are available to all of us; they only ask that we slow down and observe.
💚🌱🩵🌊
11/10/2025
Did you get your ticket yet?
The Canadian Herb Conference is this week, Nov. 13-16, online.
Connect with the Canadian herbal community and expand your knowledge of herbal medicine thanks with an incredible lineup of teachers.
Code for a discount: Bloom25
See you there!
🌿 The herbal community is gathering! 🌿
We’re thrilled to share that 35 teachers + panelists are already confirmed for the Canadian Herb Conference 2025 ✨ with even more still to come.
This year’s theme, Diverse Minds, Common Ground, dives into how herbalism supports the brilliance of neurodiversity and the full spectrum of nervous system health.
Here’s what you can look forward to:
📚 40+ in-depth workshops & panels
🌱 20–40 CE Hours (continuing education)
💬 Live chat + global herbal networking
🌿 The Mycelial Marketplace
What better place to contemplate the cycles of life-death-rebirth than the garden!
10/27/2025
Bloom launched into a new year of herbal study in September.
I am delighted to welcome students to levels 1-4 holistic herbal wellness programs. 💚
We've met twice in Halifax, Blue Forest and online.
So far we've met many local plants, walked through forests and vacant lots, made tinctures, syrups, glycerites, juices and liniments.
We've dug roots, peeled bark, tasted hips and haws directly from the branch. We've plucked seeds from their nest and learned about poisonous look-a-likes. Giant old birch and apple trees have cradled us through dream journeys.
We've determined our Ayurvedic doshas and are all set to relate to herbs and health through the lens of energetics, and our taste buds. Withania milky tea is now a staple in the fall diet.
We've made new friends and shared common ground, which is our love of plants and quest for holistic wellness. 💚
"Dear Savayda, The long drive back gives the advantage of having time to reflect on the amazing day that was. Thank you so much. The energy of Blue Forest and having the possibility to spend time there is a gift. The strong smell of pine and sweet forest from our walk stayed with me and this morning, gray and rainy, still has me longing for more time in the woods. It has only been two classes and already I feel I'm learning so much, a whole world is quietly opening and inviting me in. I really enjoyed my nightly ritual of ashwagandha withania decoction. I'm not sure it helped me sleep, maybe in the first week or two, but I felt (still feel) more grounded for sure. I look forward to adding rituals with aromatherapy and routines to keep in balance my strong vata tendencies... haha. I'm also discovering my little backyard has more treasures than expected." ML
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I can remember my first herb walk as a young herbal student, we gathered under a hawthorn tree loaded with red fruit in a park at Jericho beach in Vancouver before heading off on a path of discovery that changed my life forever. My teacher, Don Ollsin, drew my attention to multiple common weeds such as dandelion, plantain and yarrow, that I had passed a thousand times before but didn’t recognize as medicine. I was filled with awe as I met each plant and learned it’s many virtues. I was enchanted and have been since.
My greatest delight as a herbalist comes from helping to create that moment of awakening to the plant world in others. I have been enjoying my role as a herbal educator here in the Maritimes for sixteen years. The common goal in each of the hundreds of classes and herb walks I’ve lead has been to open the gateway of learning nature’s remedies to bring health and vitality to body, mind and spirit. This remains true now as I expand in new directions as a herbal educator.
The Bloom Institute for Herbal Studies grew out of my previous Mayflower Herbal Studies. The recently launched Bloom Institute for Holistic Living and Learning Inc. is the culmination of twenty five years on the herbal path as a student, clinical herbalist, educator and plant mentor. Bloom is an officially registered private career college operating the Bloom Herbal Practitioner Program. The Bloom vision is to help place a herbal practitioner in every sizable town in the Atlantic region. Our communities need access to traditional and herbal healing practices.
The Herbal Practitioner Program opens a career path for those with a strong calling to become a voice for the plants and to establish a clinical practice, helping others with their healing potential. Graduates will receive a diploma in herbal medicine and will be qualified to register as a professional herbalist with the various herbal associations within Canada and abroad. As the profession of herbal medicine gains increasing recognition by the public, government and the integrative medicine community, herbal colleges such as Bloom are seizing the opportunity to guarantee the highest quality education, comprised of core herbal skills, medical science, traditional and modern healing technologies, research and clinical expertise. A distinguishing feature of the Bloom Institute is the plant centered learning; at least 2/3 of the herbal instruction will come from direct, hands-on experience with plants. Another unique feature of Bloom is the inclusion of Mi k’maq and indigenous healing traditions of Canada.
The Bloom Institute will continue to offer the popular year-long introduction to herbal medicine program, along with the children’s programs and a multitude of workshops and seminars on herbalism and holistic health practices.
The Bloom Institute is a growing community of individuals awakening to the power of plants for healing and the many inspired living strategies emerging from traditional wisdom combined with new innovations. I must express much gratitude to the Bloom team of advisers, instructors and collaborators who form the foundation of Atlantic Canada’s new herbal college - Yaro Darmos, Hal Richman, Gaelle McNeil, Chanchal Cabrera, Ember Peters, Daniel Wiseman, Maryna Cassar, Dr. Zenovia Ursuliak, Dr. Elizabeth Gold, Robbie Gueli , Jayme Melrose, Joel Denny, Lynn-Marie Mattie, James Christian, Michael Vertolli, Bev Maya and many others.
Thank you for taking the time to visit this page. Like plants, the Bloom community is growing daily, we welcome you to join us in building the herbal movement.
