Erin could probably best be described as a sustainable hedonist*, believing that living well is more about abundance, and even indulgence, than it is about sacrifice or self-restraint. Erin loves slow food, Canadian music, field guides, and propagating from seed. She’s a member of the Ontario Herbalists Association, United Plant Savers, Bird Studies Canada & Nature Canada, and a student of the Science and Art of Herbalism .
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Erin Gallagher, Creator of BTB
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Erin has had an adventurous and varied career path that has taken her from university classrooms to some of the most remote wilderness of northern Ontario. Erin has been a maintenance worker (thrice over), a researcher and teacher of Religious Studies, a friend and mentor to youth-at-risk, a wilderness canoe guide, a native plant nursery coordinator, a geurilla gardener, a sustainability coordinator, and a student of herbology. She brings all of these aspects of herself to growing a sustainable home-based herbal skin care business.
Erin's recipes are completely original and born out of a deep relationship with plants, years of experimentation and testing, and thorough research. Her formulations have been well-received by naturopathic doctors, herbalists and people who like to read ingredient lists.
Erin has been described as a dynamic speaker and sees lectures, demonstrations and workshops as an important part of the mandate of Big Tub Botanicals. As interest grows from an increasingly informed & curious public, Erin (with support of partner John) decided to open her studio of herbal arts to the public. This brings increased transparency to production and provides a "home" for a growing Big Tub community.
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Wait... there's more...
John and I are avid outdoor’s people and for years spent our summers in one remote setting or another, paddling, portaging, foraging & sleeping under the stars. I was also a guide for Boy Scout canoe trips in and around Quetico Provincial Park. I began picking & applying herbs fresh or as infusions (strong teas) for myself & for others. Treating poison ivy with jewelweed, bee stings with plantain, bruises with heal-all, colds with wild ginger, and pms with raspberry leaves; making wintergreen mouthwash, crushed tansy bug repellent, sarsaparilla root beer, and labrador tea; using fir needles to disinfect hands, sarsaparilla root to wash wounds, and fir sap to heal & disinfect open wounds... the boy scouts nicknamed me "Plant Whisperer."
I learned about the plants by living with them, watching them, reading about them and using them. Paying attention to how and where a plant grows, it's form, structure, habitat, & community can tell you a lot about its properties & applications. I have also spent much time pouring over historical data on traditional uses of plants (Native North American, Wise Woman & traditional Western medicine), modern botanical profiles, and herbal & dermatological research.
My journey into hand-crafted skin care began with herbal salves, which I formulated from wild-crafted native plants & "weeds" we would gather on our many walks in the woods, or in our neighbourhood. I made salves & creams for years, which family & friends happily received for Christmas, just in time to ward off dry winter skin.
Soaps took a little more time and convincing. There was a soap making book kicking around the house, and I was curious, but I thought all bar soaps were harsh by nature. Soap bars left that powdery, tight residue on my skin. The mad scientist in me soon won out, eager to put on the safety glasses & experience this phenomenon called saponification.
After making my first batch, I was hooked! I made a very basic chamomile soap, with coconut oil, olive oil, lye, water & crushed chamomile flowers . It was divine! It smelled cleaner than anything I’d smelled before and it looked so pure, simple & beautiful. Sea salt & pepper was my first original recipe & my second ever soap batch… I still make it today and it’s a great seller… very unique!
Every product addition since has been about bringing true skin nourishment & fun together. As well as considering the properties of each ingredient, formulations aim to bring together eclectic & unique scents, textures & colours. All with natural ingredients!
I'm happy that so many are enjoying these carefully crafted products. I look forward to many more joining the Big Tub.
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