🌿 Meet the Maker: The Hands Behind Bast Botanicals

Hi, I’m Katie Johnson— creator of Bast Botanicals, grower of plants, maker of things, and lifelong believer in the healing power of nature.

I didn’t come to herbalism later in life — I was raised with it. Plants were our first aid, our comfort, and our care. In the 90s, I spent time at The Uncommon Herb, a place that deeply shaped how I see healing and the natural world.

This way of living — rooted in tradition, guided by the seasons — has been with me ever since.

As I got older, I deepened that relationship with formal study, learning Horticulture at OSU-OKC and furthered my studies of Herbalism with the Hawthorn Academy of Healing Herbs as well as the Whispering Willow Farm School. But even with the coursework and textbooks, it’s the lived practice — hands in the dirt, slow infusions, healing shared — that keeps teaching me the most.

Bast Botanicals is my way of honoring that path. Everything here is made with intention, using garden-grown herbs, ethical sourcing, and small-batch practices. Whether it’s a floral arrangement, a jar of salve, or a small craft pressed with petals, it’s all part of the same care.

This blog is where I’ll share what’s blooming, what I’m learning, and what I’m making. I hope you’ll come along for the ride.

With love, and light
— KJ