About Me

My name is Holly Grippe and I am truly thrilled to say that I finally live in beautiful Eugene Oregon. The lakes, the rain, the green, the waterfalls, wow I love this place. Ever since I was a little girl I have loved all things in nature. I have a tremendous love of beauty. Beauty in music, clothes, makeup (organic of course), trees, art, sky. I could go on and on. I love girly things like doing my hair and makeup, smelling nice, and glitter. I have a passion for shoes which is odd because one of my favorite things to do is run barefoot through the grass. I also completely love the outdoors and getting dirty, we spend the summer camping, fishing, swimming and of course working in the garden. I want a T shirt that says “This Hippie wears high heels”. My favorite pastime when I was little was making creations with the plants and soil in the backyard. I loved the smell and texture of all of the different plants. I tried and failed several times to start a flower, herb and vegetable garden. However the extreme heat and rocky clay soils of Arizona choked out my efforts time and time again. However that is all behind me now. Now I live in Oregon and everything grows here with minimal effort, I have an enormous herb and vegetable garden and my mysterious plant concoctions are now usable products that are good for people and the planet. I graduated as a nationally certified massage therapist in 1999. During my schooling, I had several lessons on wild crafting herbs and preparing herbal infused oils and salves. This whet my appetite for more herbal knowledge. I began reading every book on herbs, homeopathy, aromatherapy and flower remedies I could find.

Later on, in 2004, my husband and I found out we were going to have a baby. This inspired me even more to make our home as nontoxic and healthy as possible. I also became very concerned about the types of products I was willing to put on my body with a growing life inside of me. I did extensive research and learned about the parabens, petrochemicals, and phthalates used in commercial cosmetic and cleaning products. Even more alarming, these harmful chemicals were in all of the grocery store baby products. I became determined to not introduce these poisons and damaging synthetic products to my precious little baby. I began handcrafting my own safe organic body products for both myself and my son, as well as making my own household cleaning products. I was very pleased with the results. I was also very excited to share these products with friends and family. So, before long, I was making products and giving them away.

My father suggested that I begin selling my creations, and so began Garden of Holly. I am still avidly pursuing more knowledge and in the process of getting my herbalist certification under the training of Rosemary Gladstar and her fantastic team of educators. I hope you will enjoy the herbal preparations I have to offer. I assure you, your body will thank you.

Love,
Holly