At Roots and Branches we like to talk to people who are doing something interesting with their lives, and who are maybe a little unsung. People who are driven more by passion and creativity than profit and celebrity. That said, there is something undeniably glamorous about Claire Kelly, co-owner with her life-partner Steve Mckewon, of the fast growing Glastonbury based Indigo Herbs, and our interviewee in this issue.
When we meet at the Indigo office she is bubbly, friendly and exudes positive energy, whether from consuming her own superfoods and herbs, or from the excitement of running a fast expanding business, I don’t know.
As soon as we sit at the brand new boardroom table, she jumps up and disappears, returning five minutes later with an infusion pot and two cups.
‘This is called Get Well Stay Well tea. It’s an Indigo herbs blend. It contains liquorice, echinacea purperea, pau d'arco, ginger, liquorice and cloves.’
‘Where did you learn to blend teas?’ I ask as I watch the brew through the glass.
‘Me and Steve,’ that’s her long term life and business partner, ‘are hobby herbalists. Every night we used to put together a different tea. We were quite into aphrodisiac teas,’ she gives me a slightly cheeky smile, which makes me question the need for a nightly aphrodisiac. But I say nothing. Anyway, she is cantering on: ‘We just got in the kitchen and got lots of people to test them. We were always looking for good balance and action…. using ingredients that have been used for thousands of years: bark and root and leaves, anti microbial and immune boosting.’
When we meet at the Indigo office she is bubbly, friendly and exudes positive energy, whether from consuming her own superfoods and herbs, or from the excitement of running a fast expanding business, I don’t know.
As soon as we sit at the brand new boardroom table, she jumps up and disappears, returning five minutes later with an infusion pot and two cups.
‘This is called Get Well Stay Well tea. It’s an Indigo herbs blend. It contains liquorice, echinacea purperea, pau d'arco, ginger, liquorice and cloves.’
‘Where did you learn to blend teas?’ I ask as I watch the brew through the glass.
‘Me and Steve,’ that’s her long term life and business partner, ‘are hobby herbalists. Every night we used to put together a different tea. We were quite into aphrodisiac teas,’ she gives me a slightly cheeky smile, which makes me question the need for a nightly aphrodisiac. But I say nothing. Anyway, she is cantering on: ‘We just got in the kitchen and got lots of people to test them. We were always looking for good balance and action…. using ingredients that have been used for thousands of years: bark and root and leaves, anti microbial and immune boosting.’
While Claire and Steve were indulging their hobby at the kitchen table, something was going on in the outside world that was going to change the course of their lives. ‘Suddenly,’ she explains, ‘there was the herbal tea revolution, and it all became trendy.’
Their small kitchen table operation, built on enthusiasm and passion, turned out to be the thing the world was waiting for. Hence the big new offices and the smile on Claire’s face. It may be the herbs and superfoods, but success also does wonders for the complexion and the eyes.
After Claire pours the tea, I ask her about her childhood. She was born in Huddersfield, West Yorkshire, in the 60s. ‘I went to a progressive all girls’ school in the 80s where we were conditioned to being a leader. On the back of Margaret Thatcher. But I rebelled against the linear approach to the life of a career ladder.’
Their small kitchen table operation, built on enthusiasm and passion, turned out to be the thing the world was waiting for. Hence the big new offices and the smile on Claire’s face. It may be the herbs and superfoods, but success also does wonders for the complexion and the eyes.
After Claire pours the tea, I ask her about her childhood. She was born in Huddersfield, West Yorkshire, in the 60s. ‘I went to a progressive all girls’ school in the 80s where we were conditioned to being a leader. On the back of Margaret Thatcher. But I rebelled against the linear approach to the life of a career ladder.’
‘When I was 22 I decided to become a Buddhist Nun in Eskadale Muir. I lived in retreat in meditation and thought, what’s your role in humantity? And what is my vision? How can I make the world better?’
Instead she went to drama school and became an actor. ‘It was great training. Taught me I could be anything. Got me out of the box.’ But a year as a professional actress, mainly doing community arts projects, theatre & education made her reconsider her options.
‘When I was 22 I decided to become a Buddhist Nun in Eskadale Muir. I lived in retreat in meditation and thought, what’s your role in humantity? And what is my vision? How can I make the world better?’
She started by getting pregnant, and had her daughter Delphi. And that meant a few years at the University of Single Mumhood, that well known institution that grounds women, toughens them in parts and softens them in others, and gives them independence and self-reliance. ‘You’ve got to get up in the morning. Learn how to light the morning fire,’ she smiles. As her baby grew up, Claire went back to formal studies, learning about crystals, massage and herbs.
Around that time her mum got cancer.
‘When she was ill I rubbed her feet and brought her all manner of herbs. Me and Delphi were the entertainment crew.’
Not long later, she died.
‘So I had a birth and a death,' Claire sighs, and pauses. 'And they were similar energetic occurrences. They even felt the same. The opening spiral occurring at the transmission moment, along with the feeling that it was on both sides. Before I had Delphi I definitely had a feeling of her presence and a sense of who she was. When my mum passed over I had a real feeling of her ancestors. It was a major experience for me. I believe life is about preparing for a good death. A peaceful transgression, to leave a legacy of having lived life fully.
She suddenly catches herself; she is meant to be in the part of CEO, not zen mystic. ‘I like a good laugh too!’ she smiles.
‘When I was 22 I decided to become a Buddhist Nun in Eskadale Muir. I lived in retreat in meditation and thought, what’s your role in humantity? And what is my vision? How can I make the world better?’
She started by getting pregnant, and had her daughter Delphi. And that meant a few years at the University of Single Mumhood, that well known institution that grounds women, toughens them in parts and softens them in others, and gives them independence and self-reliance. ‘You’ve got to get up in the morning. Learn how to light the morning fire,’ she smiles. As her baby grew up, Claire went back to formal studies, learning about crystals, massage and herbs.
Around that time her mum got cancer.
‘When she was ill I rubbed her feet and brought her all manner of herbs. Me and Delphi were the entertainment crew.’
Not long later, she died.
‘So I had a birth and a death,' Claire sighs, and pauses. 'And they were similar energetic occurrences. They even felt the same. The opening spiral occurring at the transmission moment, along with the feeling that it was on both sides. Before I had Delphi I definitely had a feeling of her presence and a sense of who she was. When my mum passed over I had a real feeling of her ancestors. It was a major experience for me. I believe life is about preparing for a good death. A peaceful transgression, to leave a legacy of having lived life fully.
She suddenly catches herself; she is meant to be in the part of CEO, not zen mystic. ‘I like a good laugh too!’ she smiles.
I steer the subject back to Indigo Herbs.
‘I started Indigo with Steve in 2008. I met Steve in 1996 when Delphi was 2 at playgroup. He had a child there too. Isn’t that cute? But we’ve definitely known each other before; it was like meeting an old friend. We’ve got quite involved about how we met before. Working with a couple of local psychics we discovered we were troubadours in France in the 1800s.’
I love Glastonbury. I love it that a major business woman can say something like that with a straight face. But I nevertheless stop her and ask her if she really believes it.
‘We shouldn’t look for definitions. Sometimes we need to play with possibilities,’ she says enigmatically and wisely.
The two of them formed a partnership and a mission.
‘We lived in a Bristol bus. Joined the tribe. We were hippies and had two more kids, sons.’
I had heard that they were well known on the festival circuit for their Love Potion No. 10, and asked if it was true, and what it contained.
‘We gave it away a long time ago at festivals,’ she says, ‘and then people asked us to make it for them. It’s a blend of different herbs. Some are Chinese and some are western. Balancing hormones, sexuality, uplifting. It was a real folklore remedy. Known by word of mouth.’ EU regulatory issues mean that it cannot be sold commercially, but if you find and Steve or Claire at a party you may just be in luck and get offered a nip.
A growing market for alternative medicines and superfoods, combined with what Claire calls ‘the wow factor of the internet’, meant that things at the office were suddenly buzzing. ‘It was the democratisation of knowledge that has been so helpful to people, and brought them to Indigo Herbs,’ Claire says. ‘We took a third partner on, Michael Hanby, who brought structure to the business,’ but you don’t get the impression that the company is purely profit driven. ‘We run an equitable business; there is enough for everyone: suppliers, staff, customers and owners. We are definitely a living wage company.’
‘I started Indigo with Steve in 2008. I met Steve in 1996 when Delphi was 2 at playgroup. He had a child there too. Isn’t that cute? But we’ve definitely known each other before; it was like meeting an old friend. We’ve got quite involved about how we met before. Working with a couple of local psychics we discovered we were troubadours in France in the 1800s.’
I love Glastonbury. I love it that a major business woman can say something like that with a straight face. But I nevertheless stop her and ask her if she really believes it.
‘We shouldn’t look for definitions. Sometimes we need to play with possibilities,’ she says enigmatically and wisely.
The two of them formed a partnership and a mission.
‘We lived in a Bristol bus. Joined the tribe. We were hippies and had two more kids, sons.’
I had heard that they were well known on the festival circuit for their Love Potion No. 10, and asked if it was true, and what it contained.
‘We gave it away a long time ago at festivals,’ she says, ‘and then people asked us to make it for them. It’s a blend of different herbs. Some are Chinese and some are western. Balancing hormones, sexuality, uplifting. It was a real folklore remedy. Known by word of mouth.’ EU regulatory issues mean that it cannot be sold commercially, but if you find and Steve or Claire at a party you may just be in luck and get offered a nip.
A growing market for alternative medicines and superfoods, combined with what Claire calls ‘the wow factor of the internet’, meant that things at the office were suddenly buzzing. ‘It was the democratisation of knowledge that has been so helpful to people, and brought them to Indigo Herbs,’ Claire says. ‘We took a third partner on, Michael Hanby, who brought structure to the business,’ but you don’t get the impression that the company is purely profit driven. ‘We run an equitable business; there is enough for everyone: suppliers, staff, customers and owners. We are definitely a living wage company.’
‘I love to be involved with local businesses. Companies like Orchard Pig, Glastonbury Ales, Haruka, are all so good. I believe that business can and should create positive social change.’
‘What about the future?’ I ask.
‘We are looking to push up to the next level. New offices,’ she smiles looking round the large half empty room. ‘New packaging. New website.’
‘Would you ever relocate from Glastonbury?’
‘I adore Glastonbury,’ she enthuses. ‘I love to be involved with local businesses. Companies like Orchard Pig, Glastonbury Ales, Haruka, are all so good. I believe that business can and should create positive social change.’
‘So you won’t be selling out to Kraft for millions and going to live in Marbella?’ I ask.
‘No. no no,’ she laughs. And I believe her. Annoying as it may be for Kraft.
To find Indigo herbs go to: http://www.indigo-herbs.co.uk
Words: Guy Kennaway
Images: Dimitris Koutroumpas
‘We are looking to push up to the next level. New offices,’ she smiles looking round the large half empty room. ‘New packaging. New website.’
‘Would you ever relocate from Glastonbury?’
‘I adore Glastonbury,’ she enthuses. ‘I love to be involved with local businesses. Companies like Orchard Pig, Glastonbury Ales, Haruka, are all so good. I believe that business can and should create positive social change.’
‘So you won’t be selling out to Kraft for millions and going to live in Marbella?’ I ask.
‘No. no no,’ she laughs. And I believe her. Annoying as it may be for Kraft.
To find Indigo herbs go to: http://www.indigo-herbs.co.uk
Words: Guy Kennaway
Images: Dimitris Koutroumpas