Meet Monique Grimaldi | Budding Herbalist & Bee Wrangler

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

Hi Monique, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?
The idea of starting my own business sort of just happened organically (no pun intended). Looking back, I think that being an entrepreneur was always in my nature. It runs in my family: my great grandpa ran his own construction company for many years before retiring, my grandma still runs her own daycare from home, and my dad owns his own automotive repair shop. From organizing summer lemonade stands as a kid, to selling knit beanies on Etsy for some extra cash in college, I think somewhere deep down I always knew I’d find the most fulfillment in creating and building something that I could call my own.

Growing up, I always did well in school. I thought I needed a job that matched my math and science grades, so I got a degree in engineering. Somewhere along the way though, I realized that the engineering jobs I was looking at weren’t going to scratch the creative and adventurous itch I had. I wanted to work with my hands, to do something that was stimulating and everchanging, and to be anywhere but an office. I’m not sure what peaked my interest in herbal remedies first – maybe my time spent in rural Panama as a Peace Corps Volunteer or possibly my experiences as a farmhand in Sonoma County – but through some turn of events the path of becoming an herbalist was calling me.

I took my first herbalism course in 2020 at the California School of Herbal Studies (CSHS) in Forestville, CA and I was hooked from there. Who wouldn’t want to know more about using plants as medicine? There’s something so empowering about not only growing your own food, but also growing the herbs that stock your medicine cabinet. Feeling anxious? Here’s some California poppy. Can’t sleep? Try some linden. Want to avoid getting sick? Elderberry and echinacea. Once the door had been opened for me, there was no turning back.

The following year I found myself in San Diego and was able to continue my herbal studies almost immediately with the wonderful Shana Lipner of Sage Country Herbs. As I continued my education with Shana, I started making more and more of my own products. I drew inspiration from the natural world around me: I’d make tea blends for myself, soothing salves for my grandma, bitters for my dad, the list goes on. I enjoyed giving little gifts of wellness to those I love.

That fall my workplace, The Ecology Center, announced it would be hosting a Holiday Maker’s Market. It turned out we had quite a few entrepreneurs on the team – Austin with homemade pickles, Amber with graphic design posters, Ashley with photography, Kristin with natural dye clothing, and more! The opportunity to turn my hobby into a small business just sort of fell into my lap. My friends and family all encouraged me to participate, so I spent the next couple of months making even more products, designing and printing labels, and getting everything packaged and ready to sell. My mom even flew in to help get everything ready in the final days. I went into the market, my first market, with zero expectations and my products were a hit! It was this event that inspired me to keep going with my idea.

The first couple of years were simply proof-of-concept for me, still working full-time while figuring out if my business could be successful and sustainable. In 2022 I did a total of four markets, then in 2023 I did somewhere between 15-20 markets, and this past year I did well over 60 markets (honestly, I lost count)! I now work full-time for my fiancé, owner of We Save Bees, and spend my evenings and weekends working on my own business. I’ve learned a lot about starting a business and everything that’s involved. I design and print my own labels, I’ve learned about all the permitting and regulations around selling food products, I created my own website, run my own social media, and even do my own taxes! Needless to say, it’s been a lot of growth for me.

Running a business is a lot of work, and to be honest I have thought about calling it quits a few times. If I didn’t love working with the bees so much it would be an easy decision for me – quit my day job and focus on Bees & Teas full-time. But I love my work with We Save Bees just as much as I love working on my own business. If these last few years have taught me anything though, being a small business owner is all about being flexible and adapting to whatever seems to be happening around you. This year I’m focused on increasing online sales and therefore hopefully making more time for the things I love most: growing plants, creating new herbal products, and playing with the bees. The process is everchanging and that’s just the way I like it.

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
Bees & Teas Apothecary is more than just an herbal wellness shop. At Bees & Teas Apothecary, we are dedicated to crafting high-quality, hand-blended herbal products that nurture your body, mind, and spirit. With a focus on simple, intentional wellness, we offer thoughtfully curated teas, honeys, and wellness products to empower you to embrace a natural, balanced lifestyle every day. As the creator, I try to make products that are both simple to understand and easy to incorporate into any daily routine. Additionally, since teaming up with my fiancé, everything I do goes back to supporting the bees. His business (my full-time job) is all about saving the bees, hence the name We Save Bees. We rescue and relocate of honeybee colonies that find themselves in unwanted places throughout southern California. It’s a synergistic relationship between the bees and the herbs that every purchase from Bees & Teas supports.

I’ve been in business for about four years now and I’m proud to say that each year my business has grown quite substantially. As I mentioned earlier, it’s still very part-time for me. But the more success I have running my business part-time only makes me more excited to see the full potential of this small business over the next several years. I’ve got a myriad of new ideas that I’m excited to lean into over the next 5, 10, and 20 years. I have numerous new products that I hope to start creating and releasing into the world. I’ve played with the idea of creating a sort of “Herb-of-the-Month” subscription box. When I buy some land I hope to start growing more herbs – both for creating my own products but also to sell to other medicine makers in southern California. And I also hope to have a space where I can host workshops and events. There’s just so much potential, what’s not to be excited about?

It’s taken many long nights and help from friends to get to where I am today with my business. To this day I am constantly reminding myself that everything I’m doing is enough. It doesn’t have to be perfect. I try not to stress if something is out of stock before a market or if I have to handwrite labels because the one’s I ordered won’t arrive on time – it is what it is! I usually just try and trust that everything will work out. When I get overwhelmed, I reminded myself to just keep moving, to do something, anything. Even just making a list is a good place to start and usually help keep me focused on using my time efficiently. But the best motivation I’ve found is simply going to a market and meeting with my clients face-to-face. It’s always a good feeling to meet someone who appreciates what I do and the products that I make. It’s a good reminder of why I do what I do.

This is only the beginning. As all of my future plans begin to unfold, I look forward to inviting you all to learn and grow with me on this journey. I want to invite more people to connect with herbs, bees, and the natural world around them.

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.
If my best friend was visiting and I wanted to show them the best time ever, I would probably take them out to some of my favorite hiking spots. We would spend at least one night in Anza Borrego, reveling in the light of the starry sky at night and exploring the desert flora by day. Then we would probably spend a night or two in Julian, which would have to include a visit to the Julian Pie Company of course. We’d probably next stop by my friend’s cabin on Palomar Mountain for a few nights of boardgames, bonfires, hiking, fishing, and knife throwing. If there’s still time, a drive through Ortega Hwy with some stops along the way but only enough to watch the sunset in Dana Point. And I would end the trip with a visit to my house of course, with a tour of our backyard bees, the chicken and quail, and our newly added koi pond!

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I’d like to thank my mom for always encouraging and supporting me, even when my dreams and goals seems unrealistic. And I’d like to thank my fiancé for showing me that I’m capable of more than I ever thought possible. I love you both!

Website: https://www.beesandteasapothecary.com

Instagram: @beesandteas.apothecary