Meet Theresa Goodman

Today we’d like to introduce you to Theresa Goodman.

Hi Theresa, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, let’s briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today.
I am an indigenous medicine keeper, My mother was a medicine woman, and I followed her steps. When I was 8 yrs old, a Homeopathic doctor came to live with my family, I am the oldest of 15, so it was vital for our family to be healthy and to find alternatives to allopathic medicine. My curiosity for plant medicine has always been there, and my life has always led me back to plant medicine. While living in Germany for almost a decade, I lived next to an herb processing center where I saw the traditional herbalist lifestyle, and that is what I aspired to be. In 2005 I moved back to the US to be closer to my family and ended up in KC (the day we came looking for a place to live, the Midland theatre had “congratulations Mark and Theresa”). There was a sign! In the process, I became a yoga therapist and worked for Phoenix Herb Company, the first herb shop in Kc. I learned as much as possible in this process, telling everyone that I would own my own herb shop one day. On Sept 1, 2016, my youngest son’s ninth birthday, I was hit by a car while walking my dog on the Plaza. The impact left contusions on my upper and lower femur, herniated discs, and torn ligaments in my left knee. With all the knowledge I had from my life’s work, I stepped into my life’s path as a keeper of medicines. To heal from this, I took time off to focus on my healing. I created a pain salve to apply topically to ease the pain. Eventually, my friends began to purchase this product from me. I had an opportunity to sell my product at 4107 A Troost. At the time, it was Soulcentricitea where it all took off. I asked for a small loan from one of my dear friends, and she graciously agreed. In July 2019, I officially opened Harvest Moon Botanica, where we sell locally-made products from local artisans and entrepreneurs in the community. Today we offer herbalism, smudge wand classes, cacao ceremonies, and other classes to assist others on their healing journeys, mind, body, and spirit. I teach all about the honorable harvest, and other classes teach about reclaiming my culture. As I learn, I teach what I know. People in the community know me as Mama T or T Bird. (Thunderbird). I am also a vocalist. I found my voice in yoga therapy and have not stopped singing since!

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not, what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
At the beginning of the partnership, everything was well until I invited another partner who did not align with my values or understand what an entrepreneur required and the passion needed to do what needed to be done. My struggle recently was with my business partners, who chose to leave the partnership and tried to tear everything apart that I had worked so hard to build. In the process, I realized that nothing could stop the momentum of the community that I had worked over 12 years to build. I am still struggling with access to capital to expand my business. I have been open for almost four years and still cannot get a business credit card.

As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might need to become more familiar, what can you tell them about what you do?
I am an artist and creative first. My inspiration comes from nature, which is abundant. We have all we need and more in the natural world. My mother would walk through the woods and harvest plants and mushrooms for our family. That is where my love for nature and our connection to it became my life’s work and inspiration. There are food and medicine abundantly in our natural world. One of the native words for a plant means medicine, so all plants are considered medicine. In my art, I seek out what is abundant and create art. My mediums are everything that I have access to; materials, henna, gathering herbs, smudge wands, and cacao ceremonies are all parts of how I express myself. I am also a vocalist and sing mantras. Being indigenous, I use all I can to reduce the waste from the clothing industry and use and reuse things in my environment. I harvest as many plants locally as possible when making my plant medicine.

What do you like best about our city? What do you like least?
Kansas City is one of the best places to live. There are so many communities within communities that one can thrive. Whatever community you seek, we have it. We have a wonderful underground Marti Gras scene, artists, and collages. Kansas City has it all! The Cost of living is very reasonable, and many farmers’ markets and people are passionate about growing food. I dont appreciate absentee building owners who don’t do anything with these buildings, they are one of the main reasons for blighted neighborhoods.  I feel there should be a no use tax for those who hold on to these properties instead of fixing them and allowing small local businesses to rent from them. I don’t like football, baseball or anything like that because we pay higher taxes to host them here, they make plenty of money and should be paid for by the leagues and not the taxpayers. If they would truly give back, it would be great. I don’t like that we were able to spend a million dollars for a parade, and continue to have an ever-growing homeless problem.

Contact Info:

• Website: harvestmoonbotanica.com
• Instagram: hmbotanica
• Facebook: hmbotanica