Palcho's Products

I began gathering wild plants and turning them into potions as a child. My first product was called Huckleberry Finn Water (Wildberry Lifesavers soaked in warm water). Later, I learned to raise and preserve food- canning, pickling, brining, salting, fermenting everything from vegetables, beer and bread to cheese and sauerkraut. Living in Kodiak, Alaska, I made plant medicines and healing lotions and learned how to smoke and pickle fish, kelp, and tofu.

In 2004, after 20 years of teaching high school art, I resigned and started a business, Karen's Botanicals which continues today. I manufactured organic skincare products made from plant-based raw materials. Today, I work as a potter and ceramicist, and teach classes in making botanical lotions, potions, and plant medicines and in food and beverage fermentation. My activities are diverse but deeply connected.