Hello! My name is Lauren. I’m 33 years old and spent the last year traveling and couchsurfing with my partner of ten years, Ben (https://www.couchsurfing.com/people/ben-kunesh). We are integrating our travels in Bellingham. We have space to host in the spare bedroom at my partners parents house.

I am interested in plants, tea, art, poetry, languages, ethnobotany, spirituality, meditation, personal growth, social movements, DIY culture and punk spaces, mythology, good food, textiles. I want to know what makes you come alive.

I’m in an in-between space with my work. Before traveling, I was working as an herbalist at a non profit community health center in a small rural town. I had a private practice specializing in healing for the heart and spirit; soul retrieval, loss of power, trauma, etc. My speciality is the existential.

I was also doing community organizing around food access, local farmers/restaurants etc.

I like to hike, bake, read books, write, draw, have a good conversation over coffee/beer/wine/tea. I love cats and espresso tonics. I like seeing peoples gardens and art projects and poetry and collections. Show me what you love!!

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

To expand my world and connect with others. I’ve made some of my dearest friends through couchsurfing. It’s my favorite way to travel. And I love to host when I’m not traveling!

Interests

• baking
• meditation
• ecology
• mountains
• art
• mythology
• spirituality
• plants
• healing
• bookbinding
• vegetables
• handcrafts
• textiles
• herbalism
• ethnobotany
• botany
• social movements
• zines
• cooperatives
• baking bread
• linocut
• natural dyes
• ethnoecology

Music, Movies, and Books

Chicha, punk, female-fronted music, cumbia. Mulatu astatke, dinosaur Jr., the breeders, Lois

The Prince and the Dressmaker, Braiding Sweetgrass, Sheila Heti, Olivia Laing, Rubyfruit Jungle, Cookbooks and food lit

But I’m a Cheerleader, Pecker, Stranger than Paradise, Chungking Express, Daria, The Big Lebowski, Harold and Maude, The Taste of Tea

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

A nine year herbal apprenticeship 🍵🌿🌹🕯️

Teach, Learn, Share

I’m always happy to share any of my herbalism skills. I can teach you to make soap, salves, teas, tinctures, etc. Im available for a good conversation. I also love to bake and would be happy to bake a treat.

What I Can Share with Hosts

Herbal support, Baking/Cooking, good conversation, happy to help around the house

Countries I’ve Visited

Bulgaria, Cambodia, Canada, China, Costa Rica, Cuba, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Laos, Mexico, Nicaragua, Portugal, Spain, Thailand, United Kingdom, Viet Nam

Countries I’ve Lived In

Costa Rica, United States