Grower Stories #69: Kelly Benson

Tia Moskalenko
Tia Moskalenko

Tia Moskalenko, author of the AskGrowers blog, brings a unique blend of content to her readers. She is known for conducting insightful interviews with key figures in the cannabis industry, including brand representatives, manufacturers, and experts. In addition to her interview skills, Tia has a keen focus on CBD. She expertly curates product selections and reviews, offering her readers detailed insights into the various effects and benefits of CBD. Tia's ability to combine in-depth interviews with comprehensive CBD analysis makes her a valuable asset to the cannabis community, offering a well-rounded perspective on the industry.

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Grower Stories #69: Kelly Benson

Sweet Like Honey: Our Interview With Kelly Benson of Innovative CBD Brand Mindful Earth

Kelly Benson, the founder and owner of CBD brand Mindful Earth, opens up about her personal struggles and how cannabis played a role in recovery, the origins, present, and future of the brand, and how people can use their CBD-infused products for better overall wellness! #growerstories


Twelve years ago I was on the streets of Boston addicted to substances and homeless. I had been in and out of rehabs and detox centers over 20 times. Mainstream recovery programs were not sustainable for me and I could not force myself to resonate with what was presented to me as the only option to heal. Then I simultaneously found yoga and plant medicine, which both played a pivotal role in my healing and transformation.

Soon I was running a nonprofit bringing yoga and meditation to recovery houses, but I ended up having to walk away because of the shame I felt for using medical cannabis. I didn’t feel I could be open about it - and this is a problem in my opinion. Therapeutic cannabis played such a HUGE role in my progression and when it’s used consciously and intentionally the benefits are immeasurable.


Tia (AskGrowers) : How did you start the brand? Tell us your origin story!

Kelly Benson : Aside from using cannabis to support my path - I also started studying the bigger world of plant medicine. I was also transitioning off of 15 years of pharmaceutical medications of all sorts (for mental health, reproductive health, and ADHD primarily). I started formulating ailment-specific products for myself and my loved ones combining cannabis with other plants - and the success experienced was really wild. More and more people continued to reach out to try them!

Mindful Earth as it is today was not intentional in the beginning. I just needed non-harmful, natural relief that actually worked - and so does everyone else apparently :) I found my purpose through this process and my mission is to support those looking for remedies for common ailments using the earth’s medicine as it was intended and passed down from our ancestors and indigenous cultures.


Mindful Earth product picture
Tia : Where is Mindful Earth CBD grown and how it is harvested?

Kelly : This past season was the first year I cultivated enough plants to fully support my product business. This season we ran Lifter, Hawaiian Haze, Suver, and a high CBG strain which I am really excited to explore further and work with! When I run out of flower for my tea and smoke blends I supplement from another badass local female-owned hemp business - Rooted Heart Remedies (if you don’t know Nyeela, she is totally worth checking out!)

We hand harvest, hang dry in the barn, and this past season CBW Labs in Fryeburg did my CO2 processing which I was really happy with! They do an excellent job!


Tia : How does Mindful Earth differ from other similar brands on the market? What are the specifics of the Mindful Earth brand that set you apart?

Kelly : I feel that my training as an herbalist and experience with a wide range of healing and therapeutic plant medicines to accompany the benefits of cannabis gives my brand a special niche. I formulate and hand craft over 40 products - including a variety of skincare, tinctures, salves, and my specialty is definitely my hemp electuarys! An electuary is essentially a thick medicinal honey. I blend local raw honey thick with herbal powders, CBD extract, and a touch of coconut oil to support specific ailments and to offer a wide range of flavor profiles. These serve as an instant tea - a teaspoon or two in hot water or milk is all you need for a convenient delicious medicinal beverage.


Tia : You have a wide range of products that help with pain relief. What dosage does someone need and how long does it take to feel the benefits?

Kelly : This is a very individualized answer. There are many variables that will determine dosings such as age, weight, current pharmacological medications, previous life experiences such as trauma (physical and emotional), and the state of that body’s endocannabinoid system. Some people can take 10-20 mg and benefit greatly. If your nervous system is taxed and you have a history of ingesting a lot of substances (whether doctor prescribed or illegal) you are likely going to require more to really experience the benefits. When someone is new to cannabis medicine I always recommend starting low and increase every few days until the desired effect is reached.


Mindful Earth interview quote
Tia : What kinds of resources have helped you in product development? How could an aspiring entrepreneur gain access to those same resources?

Kelly : Formulation is my passion. I am mostly a self-trained herbalist. I have some apprenticeships with a local clinical herbalist under my belt but in the beginning, it was really just obsessively studying plants in all the ways. Formulating a well-balanced product is really important so you don’t throw a person’s constitution off. Some folks run hot and dry and others run cold and damp. Some have an extensive history of trauma or illness - others don’t. The plants used in products should provide a balanced effect if offering to the public. I am starting to do customized formulations to certain cases as well, depending on my comfort level with their health situation. This allows me a more specifically targeted formulation to support individuals on a greater level.


Tia : What are your top three recipes with Herbal Hemp Honey?

Kelly : The three best-sellers are the Tulsi Nettle Chai, Hibiscus Rose, and Aphrodite, which is a mood/libido-boosting, anxiety soothing Cacao blend with Cinnamon, Tulsi, Maca, Mucuna, Gotu Kola, and Damiana.


Tia : How hard is it to compete with white-label brands with larger budgets and more resources?

Kelly : I’ve actually been asked many times if I’d be willing to white label honey! I’m content with remaining a smaller business and have more of a desire to incorporate education and small event opportunities to my local community rather than grow my product business.


Tia : You have a section for “Classes and Workshops” on your website. Can you tell us a bit more about those? What do people usually do in these classes? What is the idea behind them?

Kelly : This is a newer aspect I will be implementing more of this year! In July I am hosting my third annual Maine Women’s Herbal Retreat, which is a whole weekend of education, female empowerment, amazing local food, and cultivation of sisterhood. Details and registration will be released within the next couple of weeks.

I am also planning to offer a variety of classes and workshops once the weather breaks and the land dries out so we can be outside. Topics like “Plant Medicine for Trauma, Stress, and Emotional Wellness”, “Herbs to Support the Female Body”, and more.


Mindful Earth interview quote
Tia : What types of consultations do you provide?

Kelly : I find myself constantly freely giving away my time answering product recommendation questions and listening to potential clients’ life stories about their health issues. As I grow it has become almost a full-time job and it takes me away from other very important aspects of my business. So I have decided to offer mini consultations with the option for ailment-specific customized tinctures, salves, skincare, teas, and honey.

This is dependent on my comfort level with the individual’s health issues as I am NOT a doctor nor am I a fully clinically trained herbalist. I consider myself a community herbalist and work with safe and mostly common plant allies.


Tia : What’s your personal CBD consumption routine? What are the top three products that you’re using?

Kelly : This is a really tough one for me! I literally alternate through all of my products. I use them all. For the tincture line, I use the Cool and Calm CBD Elixir most as it’s incredibly supportive to anxiety and emotional wellness.

For skincare, I use the Aphrodite Exfoliating CBD Oil Cleanser every night followed by one of the Face Elixirs. And for the electuary honey, I use the Brain Boost every morning and the Lucid Luna every evening. Often times one of the Hibiscus Rose, Cacao Blends, or the Tulsi Nettle Chai at some point during the day.


Tia : If you could smoke with anyone in this world, who would that be and why?

Kelly : My dad. He passed before we were able to connect on that level.


You can follow Mindful Earth at:

Instagram

LinkedIn

Thank you so much, Mindful Earth team, for taking the time to do the interview. To learn more about them, head on over to their website.

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