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Wholly Rooted, LLC, is Denise Cusack, Brice Ruth and our adult children Ammy and Gavin. We work together on projects on our farm, and we work together on our courses. Denise is the educator and presenter, Ammy is the creative support (visual graphics, proofreading), Gavin is video and web support (filming, editing). |
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I'm a Clinical Herbalist and Certified Aromatherapist with over 15 years of clinical experience, holding certifications in herbalism, aromatherapy, permaculture design, hydrosols, flower essences, first aid, and more. My expertise extends to mental health, trauma response, regenerative agriculture, first aid, disaster relief, and other holistic modalities. I'm passionate about using aromatic and medicinal plants in products and gardens, as well as in food. Outside of my professional life, I enjoy baking, gardening, crafting, making things by hand, and spending time with my family. I'm also an artist, writer, educator, and mother. My family and I are committed to living sustainably, reducing waste, and staying connected to the land. I love growing medicinal plants and focus my work on growing and preserving our wild and cultivated medicine.
Art | Writing | Design Work | Photography | Food | Perfumery | Herbalism & Aromatherapy | I also have extensive education and experience in nonprofit management, marketing and advertising, and brand design and illustration. I have designed marketing campaigns as a visual designer and copywriter for many brands and businesses, from fortune 50 to small local eco-oriented shops. My nonprofit experience includes Board Development, Marketing & Communication, Management, Grant Writing, Policy, Programmatic Management, Fundraising, Leadership Development, and more. With over 35 years of business management experience, I have a lot to bring to the table in addition to my holistic health and wellness, herbalism, aromatherapy, nutrition, medicinal plant growing, seed saving, mutual aid coordination, art, photography, and writing experience. I write for many magazines - both print and digital - and am currently working on 2 books. |
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Owner, Wholly Rooted, LLC, Current
Wholly Rooted is a permaculture and regenerative living farm and space. I write and educate about herbal health and aromatherapy for many print and online magazines. We also grow medicinal herbs & work to develop educational programs for medicinal herb growing, plant walks, and plant sustainability. We grow medicinal herbs here at my farm to donate to the HWB US Donation Network. Owner, Lunar Hollow Farm/Wholly Rooted Farm We grow over 350 varieties of herbs, fruit, vegetables, natives, and trees. Wholly Rooted is a UpS Botanical Sanctuary and Certified Wildlife Habitat. We work to preserve and restore endangered and at-risk medicinal plants. Lunar Hollow is a family homestead and an herbal education and plant education space. Herbalists Without Borders September 2017 - Current Executive Director I manage all vision and day to day of an international nonprofit organization including membership, policy, website, volunteers, programs and projects, free clinics, disaster relief, donations and fundraising, grant writing, budgets, design, communications, and more. I served as ED for HWB from 2017-2024, growing HWB membership by over 600%, fundraising by 1300%, and expanding HWB social media reach from 0-59,900 Instagram followers, 7,000-27,000 Facebook followers, and more! I created and managed the US Seed Grant program, the US Donation Distribution Network, and continue to volunteer as HWB Coordinator for both programs (see my Daily Point of Light Award to the right!). Veterans Resiliency Holistic Clinic November 2017-September 2022 Clinical Herbalist I volunteered as a Clinical Herbalist and Aromatherapist working with vets who are suffering from the symptoms of PTSD in our all volunteer monthly clinic. Before COVID met on clinic day, and when COVID hit, continued to meet via Zoom at the veterans convenience, packing and shipping herbal packages out monthly directly to folks. Writing See my editing and writing experience here. I write content for businesses, including creating custom articles, recipes, product and retail content, press releases, social media, and more, in addition to copywriting and copyediting services. I love words, I love to write, and I love to take photos and develop recipes and formulations. Creative Director, Marketing Director, Art Director 1999-2022 Creative Director, Art Director, Interactive Creative Director for direct marketing, print advertising & design, magazine design, website design, branding, identity, packaging and retail interior design, POP, billboards, and interactive marketing. I have over 30 years of experience in end to end production from concepts and storyboarding to final production and launch. My work has spanned from fortune 50 to small local businesses and I have worked as a solo freelancer as well as a team lead for large teams. I have worked for some of the largest advertising and direct marketing agencies in the country. My extensive experience in visual design, copywriting, illustration, content creation, video editing, website design, and marketing and advertising, supports the projects I work on and the nonprofits I volunteer for. I am skilled using Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign, Pages, DaVinci Resolve, GarageBand, iMovie, Acrobat, and social media platforms. EDUCATION Columbia College, Chicago. BA Arts Management with minors in Fine Art/Design & Audio Engineering Studied music, fine art, design, arts management, graphic design, audio engineering. Focus on arts & entertainment business, nonprofits, and arts organizations. ~University of Wisconsin Milwaukee Professional Nonprofit Management ~Grantsmanship Training Program, The Grantsmanship Center Permaculture Women's Guild - PDC Permaculture and Advanced Social Systems Design Program Completed, Dec 2021 |
Certified Permaculture and Social Systems DesignerAwards:Daily Point of Light Award, 2021
https://www.pointsoflight.org/awards/herbalist-dedicates-life-to-providing-accessible-health-and-wellness-to-the-worlds-underserved/ 
Volunteer WorkLilium Initiative, 2023
Board of Directors, Vice President Chair, Communication Committee Chair, Plant Conservation Committee Herbalists Without Borders - 2017-present Currently Volunteer as US Donation Distribution Coordinator, US Seed Grant Coordinator. I am a Certified Aromatherapist and Clinical Herbalist and formulate aromatherapy products for US distribution throughout network several times per month. Chief Editor, Without Borders Magazine I manage a quarterly 100+ page magazine including managing writers, articles, themes, deadlines, and design of the publication. I also contribute articles each issue and edit the articles of all submissions with a team of volunteers. Veterans Resiliency Holistic Clinic 2017-2022 Volunteer Clinical Herbalist & Aromatherapist, VRHC I volunteered in this free clinic, working with veterans who have experienced PTSD, monthly for 5 years, as herbalist & aromatherapist. November 2017-September 2022 American Herbalists Guild, 2020-Current, Ethics Review Advisory Committee AHG Board of Directors, 2022 Chair (stepped down in 2022) 2020-2021 Assistant Chair 2018-2021 Secretary 2018-2022 Co-Chair Diversity Equity and Inclusion Advisory Committee 2018-2022 Governance Committee IM4US, Board of Directors, 2021-2022 Co-Chair Membership Committee, 2021-2022 #happyflowerproject 2015-2017 Moms in Madison 2003-2017 MPNA, 2006-2012 Madison Wellness Collective 2016-2017 Education & Writing CV Download
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I have thousands of hours of education in nonprofit management, herbalism, permaculture, aromatherapy, plant conservation, environmental education, design, health justice, diversity and inclusion, crisis management, first aid, CPR, psychological first aid, international aid, trauma, and more. This listing is just a few.
Courses:Mental Health / Trauma-Informed Practice
Sustainability:
This Is just a few of the courses and programs I have completed. I have over 23 years and over 5,000 additional hours of continuing education in hydrosols, herbalism, aromatherapy, aromatic medicine, holistic nutrition/natural nutrition, whole foods, trauma, holistic health, youth education, permaculture, humanitarian aid, CPR/AED certified, first aid training, clinical experience, nonprofit work, and more. I am usually enrolled in a few classes at a time, and am always on a quest to learn more. If you are interested in a full CV listing of completed coursework, schools of herbal and aromatherapy education, and experience hours, please email me. Software: I have experience in many design, management, and marketing communication applications including Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign, iMovie, Garage Band, DaVinci Resolve, Canva, Weebly, Wordpress, PowerPoint, KeyNote, Procreate, Mailchimp, Adobe Lightroom, Google Suite, and so on. |
(Social Permaculture, Regenerative Agriculture
Teaching/Interviews
Courses: Nutrition/Food
Courses: Conference Education & Intensives
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Memberships
American Botanical Council - Professional Member Alliance of International Aromatherapists- Professional Member National Association for Holistic Aromatherapy- Professional Member |
United Plant Savers - Botanical Sanctuary & Partner in Education Member Herbalists without Borders - Board Member American Herbalists Guild - Associate Member |
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