Our Story
Sage & Cedar was founded by two lifelong Black Hills locals with a passion for plant medicine. We began our journey by opening ourselves to a deeper understanding of “health” that sought answers for mediating our everyday aches and pains. In this search we found herbalism; a health system rooted in the earth. The plants asked us to be a voice, a bridge, and a resource for our local community. To guide our journey, we called upon the wisdom and protection of the sacred sage and cedar to honor this path.
As herbalists, we recognize the innate intelligence present in all beings. Our work is to understand the language of plants and to share their teachings with our family and community. In searching for ways to connect plants with people we recognized the comfort and familiarity so well known to tea and thus found our focus. It is our mission to provide a resource for superior quality herbs and tea leaf in the Black Hills, and to create value around their names.
Meet Joe
Herbalist, Philosopher, Master Blender
Joe Vandenberg is originally from Lead, South Dakota. Growing up, he had a close relationship with nature and spent his weekends camping, fishing, and exploring the Black Hills. His never ending passion for asking “why” lead him down a path rich with experience. In his late twenties, his body began communicating an imbalance within which shook his world and pushed him to uncover a new perspective on caring for himself. Driven to find the root cause of his health concerns, he was called back to the earth through herbalism.
Joe has a deeply rooted passion for eastern philosophy and the art of tea making. He has studied herbalism through Herbal Academy and various other institutions. He is our master tea blender, sourcing specialist, and initiating spark.
Meet Ashley
Herbalist, Artist, Medicine Maker
Ashley Holtquist is from Custer, South Dakota. From an early age, she was called into the forest to explore the diverse ecosystem the Black Hills has to share. Born with an instinctual calling for caregiving, she has always held a passion to help people on their journey in healing. Caught between a passion for heart centered healing and a strict education, the warm embrace of plant medicine reminded her of her roots firmly established in the earth.
Ashley views health through the lens of astrology, following the patterns which link the macrocosm to the microcosm. Chestnut School of Herbal Medicine and various instructors have supported her foundation in herbalism while a deeply rooted passion for honoring the feminine guides her path. She is our intuitive medicine maker, designer, and grounding flame.
Our Mission
Our mission is to provide a resource for superior quality herbs and tea leaf in the Black Hills and to create value around their names. In this, we help to connect plants with people while supporting family farms who love growing herbs.
Establishing Quality through connection
Our founding value is quality and through this guiding light we work to establish direct relationships with our growers. By knowing where our plant medicines come from we are able to ensure we source from the most ethical, sustainable, and loving people we can find. The quality we seek ensures the herbs speak for themselves and we find no need to use artificial flavorings or colors in our blends; just plants!
Creating Value around Herbs to support our farmers
We work as a bridge between farmers and the people. By sharing plant medicines through our platforms we extend the reach of our farmers so they can do what they do best with their hands in the earth. In this we can offer them a premium price for their time and energy while we do what we love by bonding with our community.