Meet Amy Parsons: Atlanta Native, Outdoor enthusiast, Homeschooling mom, and Entrepeneur

We had the good fortune of connecting with Amy Parsons and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Amy, is there something you can share with us that those outside of the industry might not be aware of?
Elderberry is considered a food-like herb, similar to ginger and garlic. It is loaded with antioxidants and specifically anthocyanins, which give the berries their deep purple coloring. Elderberries themselves are essentially a super food, that has been studied for their ability to also help reduce inflammation, fight free radicals and help strengthen immune response. A spoonful a day is a wonderful way to support wellness, and we work with local, pure raw honey for additional benefits. Buying fresh Elderberry products is different however, than purchasing from “big box” stores, where additives have been mixed in to thicken the products and provide shelf stability. Our local, fresh, and small batch syrups are made with all organic Elderberries, Elderflowers, Rosehips, Hibiscus, Lemon and Orange Peels, Ginger, and Pure Raw Honey.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
I know it may come as a surprise, but I actually do not hold a degree in Fairyhood. After graduating with a dual degree in Psychology and Outdoor Education, I spent the first portion of my young adulthood, working with at-risk and adjudicated youth. I have always been passionate about working with people, and have especially been drawn to working with youth. I love nurturing people, and knew I wanted to work with people who were in need of just that. I started out working with families as a mentor and counselor, and spent afternoons working with local Outreach programs for students. Eventually I landed a full time position with the state of North Carolina, and worked in their Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Program. Specifically, I worked with a small but mighty team of adults, who had the opportunity to relieve teens from their sentences behind bars for 30 days at a time, where we instead challenged them to explore their strengths and challenges through month long expeditions of backpacking, rock climbing, canoeing, horseback riding, life skill activities, team building exercises and service learning projects. As I transitioned into motherhood myself, I recognized the need and desire to also focus my energy on my own children as well. So, in 2010 I put my career on hold, to focus on family. This evolved into the continuous nurturing my own tiny humans, and of course with that, came battling the always revolving colds, coughs, runny noses, and scratchy throats. I started out with exploring the benefits and power of foods like ginger and garlic, and eventually learned of Elderberry too. I was all about making everything I could from scratch, and Elderberry syrup quickly became a staple in my home.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
The Atlanta Botanical Gardens is one of my favorite spots in the city. I swear it’s a good 10 degrees cooler there, on the hottest of Summer days! I also love Piedmont Park, so we usually spend the entire day just between those two places. If we had time, we would pop in for a visit to Big Lou, at the Lake Claire Land Trust. And finally from there, I would trek across town to my favorite eatery, Arepa Mia. I’ll pretty much always look for the best outdoor spots around town!
Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I would love to give a shoutout to my friends at Grow With the Flow. I met Reggie and Roger through a Nextdoor Ad, where they were seeking homeowner plots throughout Tucker, to grow food instead of lawns, in neighborhood front yards. I had seen this movement taking hold on travels out West, and was excited to see them bringing it to life in my own neighborhood as well. We dedicated our own front yard to them, in the Summer of 2016, and the rest is history! They have been successfully growing fruits, vegetables and herbs in my front yard, and many others throughout town, ever since. They have become like family to us, and have also helped me in the production of my own products and business ventures. It is a beautiful, full circle!

Website: myelderberryfairy.com

Instagram: @myelderberryfairy

Facebook: My Elderberry Fairy

Image Credits
Photography Credit to Virginia Reece Photography (Shoutout to her too!!)