About Me
August 21st, 2006
My name is Steven Foster, and for those of you of a certain generation, no, I do not write songs. I have had the pleasure of working in the herbal field for thirty four years, beginning in 1974 at the Sabbathday Lake Maine Shaker Community’s Herb Department, America’s oldest herb business dating to 1799. On my first day on the job one of the sisters asked me to dig burdock root, which she used as a tea to treat a skin condition. See the tabs linking to my website on books, stock photography, bio, etc., for more information on my work which includes photography, writing and consulting, such as international development work on herb and essential oil production. I’m the author of 15 books including senior author of three Peterson field guides—A Field Guide Medicinal Plants and Herbs: Eastern North America (2nd ed., 2000 with Jim Duke), Venomous Animals and Poisonous Plants of North America (1994, with the late Roger Caras) and A Field Guide to Medicinal Plants and Herbs: Western North America (with Christopher Hobbs). My latest book A Desk Reference to Nature’s Medicine (2006, with Rebecca Johnson) was published by the National Geographic Society, Washington, D.C. In 2007 the book was named as a “Best of Reference” by the New York Public Library. I love plants and sharing information and imagery about the human experience with medicinal and aromatic plants. The beautiful Victorian spa retreat, Eureka Springs, Arkansas in the heart of the Ozarks is where I make my home. My travels take me to far-flung places and this blog is where I share experiences, post information on specific herbs, photography, lectures, and who knows what else! The more you learn, the more you discover how little you know. The herbal field offers the opportunity to learn something new every day and this is where I will share that knowledge and information. Welcome.
September 13th, 2006 at 1:07 pm
Hey Daddio!
Cool blog, man, you are up on it!
Just wanted to leave you a comment and let you know how proud I am to have you as my pops. I know I don´t tell you often enough how incredible I think you are. I hope that as much as I look like you, I got some of your brain genes too. I miss you so much and I love you more than words could possibly describe!
Love always, your daughter, Abbey
March 28th, 2007 at 2:17 pm
Hi, Steven,
You probably don’t remember me, but I used to work on the Herb Growing and Marketing Conference at Purdue with Jim Simon. So wonderful to see your website. I was searching for some information about you for a student who is trying to make the decision of whether or not to enter pharmacy school. I suggested pharmacosnosy or ethnobotany to her and thought that directing her to some information about you and Jim Duke and what you do might give her a broader perspective of the field.
Hope all is well with you and your family.
Laura Clavio
April 3rd, 2007 at 11:24 pm
Steve:
Just found your newly designed website and wanted to congratulate you on the new design. Your photographs inspire me everytime I have the pleasure of seeing them in various magazines, books, and other publications. Good luck with all your creative endeavors. Hope to get up to Eureka Springs and buy you lunch sometime this summer.
Blue skies,
Rob (Henry W. Robison)
August 7th, 2007 at 11:35 am
I had no idea you were in eureka.
I am a fellow herbalist, have heard you speak, and admire the work you and Jim Duke have done.
Our family may be moving to Eureka soon and I hope we see you sometime.
Blessings!