About Denise Cusack
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I am a clinical herbalist, certified aromatherapist, permaculture designer (PDC) with a Permaculture and Advanced Social Systems Design Certificate (PDC), and have additional certificates in hydrosols, flower essences, first aid, mental health first aid, trauma, disaster response, regenerative agriculture, natural nutrition, nonprofit management, women's herbal health, and more. I like to bake, grow food and herbs, work in my apothecary, distill my own hydrosols, spend time with my family, and volunteer for mutual aid and community action work. I am an artist, writer, maker, stitcher, grower, forager, baker, educator, fermenter, canner, mother, and many other things.
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Experience
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Owner, Wholly Rooted, LLC, Current
Wholly Rooted is a permaculture and regenerative living consulting business. I write and educate about herbal health and aromatherapy for many print and online magazines. We also grow medicinal herbs & work to develop educational programs for medicinal herb growing, plant walks, and plant sustainability. Wholly Rooted is the LLC under which I work, Lunar Hollow is our homestead/land. I am launching a Regenerative Education Platform soon! Owner, Lunar Hollow Farm We grow almost 500 varieties of herbs, fruit, vegetables, natives, and trees. Lunar Hollow is a Botanical Sanctuary and Certified Wildlife Habitat. We work to preserve and restore endangered and at-risk medicinal plants. Lunar Hollow is a family homestead and an herbal education and plant education space. Herbalists Without Borders Sepbember 2017 - October 2022 Executive Director Manage all vision and day to day of an international nonprofit organization including membership, policy, website, volunteers, programs and projects, free clinics, disaster relief, donations and fundraising, grant writing, budgets, design, communications, and more. I served as ED for HWB from 2017-2022, growing HWB membership by over 600%, fundraising by 1300%, and expanded HWB social media reach from 0-53,900 Instagram followers, 7,000-27,000 Facebook followers, and more! I created and managed the US Seed Grant program, the US Donation Distribution Network, and continue to volunteer as HWB Coordinator for both programs. I have volunteered over 9,000 hours for HWB from 2017-2023 (see my Daily Point of Light Award to the right). Veterans Resiliency Holistic Clinic November 2017-September 2022 Clinical Herbalist Volunteered as a Clinical Herbalist working with vets who are suffering from the symptoms of PTSD in our all volunteer monthly clinic. Before COVID met on clinic day, and when COVID hit, continued to meet via Zoom at the veterans convenience, packing and shipping herbal packages out monthly directly to folks. Writing See my editing and writing experience here. I write content for businesses, including creating custom articles, recipes, product and retail content, press releases, social media, and more, in addition to copywriting and copyediting services. I love words, I love to write, and I love to take photos and develop recipes and formulations. Creative Director, Marketing Director 1999-2022 Creative Director, Art Director, Interactive Creative Director for direct marketing, print advertising & design, magazine design, website design, branding, identity, packaging and retail interior design, POP, billboards, and interactive marketing. I have over 30 years of experience in end to end production from concepts and storyboarding to final production and launch. My work has spanned from fortune 50 to small local businesses. I like to help small eco-minded businesses leverage their brands to compete in the market. EDUCATION Columbia College, Chicago. BA Arts Management with minors in Fine Art/Design & Audio Engineering Studied music, fine art, design, arts management, audio engineering. Focus on arts & entertainment business, nonprofits, and arts organizations. ~University of Wisconsin Milwaukee Professional Nonprofit Management ~Grantsmanship Training Program, The Grantsmanship Center Permaculture Women's Guild - PDC Permaculture and Advanced Social Systems Design Program Completed, Dec 2021 |
Certified Permaculture and Social Systems DesignerAwards:Daily Point of Light Award, 2021
https://www.pointsoflight.org/awards/herbalist-dedicates-life-to-providing-accessible-health-and-wellness-to-the-worlds-underserved/ 
Volunteer WorkHerbalists Without Borders - 2017-present
Currently Volunteer US Donation Distribution Coordinator, US Seed Grant Coordinator, and serve on the HWB Board of Directors. Veterans Resiliency Holistic Clinic 2017-2022 Volunteer Clinical Herbalist & Aromatherapist, VRHC November 2017-September 2022 American Herbalists Guild, Board of Directors, 2022 Chair (stepped down in 2022) 2020-2021 Assistant Chair 2018-2021 Secretary 2018-2022 Co-Chair Diversity Equity and Inclusion Advisory Committee 2020-2022 Ethics Review Advisory Committee 2018-2022 Governance Committee IM4US, Board of Directors, 2021-2022 Co-Chair Membership Committee, 2021-2022 #happyflowerproject 2015-2017 Moms in Madison 2003-2017 MPNA, 2006-2012 Madison Wellness Collective 2016-2017 CV Download
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Education/Experience
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I have thousands of hours of education in nonprofit management, herbalism, permaculture, aromatherapy, plant conservation, environmental education, design, health justice, diversity and inclusion, crisis management, first aid, CPR, psychological first aid, international aid, trauma, and more. This listing is just a few.
This Is just a few of the courses and programs I have completed. I have over 23 years and over 4,500 additional hours of continuing education in hydrosols, herbalism, aromatherapy, aromatic medicine, holistic nutrition/natural nutrition, whole foods, trauma, holistic health, youth education, permaculture, humanitarian aid, CPR/AED certified, first aid training, clinical experience, nonprofit work, and more. I am usually enrolled in a few classes at a time, and am always on a quest to learn more. If you are interested in a full CV listing of completed coursework, schools of herbal and aromatherapy education, and experience hours, please email me. |
Social Permaculture, Regenerative Ag
Teaching/Interviews
Courses: Nutrition/Food
Courses: Conference Education & Intensives
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Random Bits
~I am almost six feet tall.
~I am a virgo (shocker)
~I volunteer for health justice and herbal nonprofits
~I use permaculture and organic principles in life and garden
~I embroider, work with clay, can, pickle, preserve, paint, draw, sing, write music, knit, dye, and make things.
~I worked as Creative Director for decades - magazines, direct marketing, interactive design, illustration, and print design.
~I grow hundreds of varieties of plants - including medicinals - every year in my gardens.
~We roast our own coffee.
~We have chickens.
~I am a speed reader, so I can get through dozens of books per week. And I do.
~I am INTJ.
~My husband is 10 years younger than me.
~My husband is a genius. Literally.
~My children have never gone to school
~We are lifelong autodidacts and unschoolers
~I have RA and Lupus.
~I have a BA from Columbia College in Arts Business Administration with specializations in music, fine art & audio engineering.
~I am in a family of neurodiverse folks, and we see it as superpowers, not a negative.
~I have a photographic memory.
~I still work as a designer for people that align with my ethics - designing print materials, branding, websites, packaging, signage and even eBooks for small, eco-oriented organic businesses.
~I twirled fire and knives for years - opening for bands in Chicago.
~I was 35 when my first son was born, 37 for my second.
~I love to write, paint, sing, and create.
~I respect my kids, love my kids, and LIKE my kids.
~My teenagers still like to hang out with me.
~I am a synesthete.
~I see everything in pictures.
~I am a virgo (shocker)
~I volunteer for health justice and herbal nonprofits
~I use permaculture and organic principles in life and garden
~I embroider, work with clay, can, pickle, preserve, paint, draw, sing, write music, knit, dye, and make things.
~I worked as Creative Director for decades - magazines, direct marketing, interactive design, illustration, and print design.
~I grow hundreds of varieties of plants - including medicinals - every year in my gardens.
~We roast our own coffee.
~We have chickens.
~I am a speed reader, so I can get through dozens of books per week. And I do.
~I am INTJ.
~My husband is 10 years younger than me.
~My husband is a genius. Literally.
~My children have never gone to school
~We are lifelong autodidacts and unschoolers
~I have RA and Lupus.
~I have a BA from Columbia College in Arts Business Administration with specializations in music, fine art & audio engineering.
~I am in a family of neurodiverse folks, and we see it as superpowers, not a negative.
~I have a photographic memory.
~I still work as a designer for people that align with my ethics - designing print materials, branding, websites, packaging, signage and even eBooks for small, eco-oriented organic businesses.
~I twirled fire and knives for years - opening for bands in Chicago.
~I was 35 when my first son was born, 37 for my second.
~I love to write, paint, sing, and create.
~I respect my kids, love my kids, and LIKE my kids.
~My teenagers still like to hang out with me.
~I am a synesthete.
~I see everything in pictures.
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Memberships
American Botanical Council - Professional Member Alliance of International Aromatherapists- Professional Member National Association for Holistic Aromatherapy- Professional Member |
United Plant Savers - Botanical Sanctuary & Partner in Education Member Herbalists without Borders - Executive Director American Herbalists Guild - Associate Member |
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Other Memberships
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Find me at the Alliance of International Aromatherapists
Find me on the National Association for Holistic Aromatherapy
I am insured through Alternative Balance.
*in progress