How a Northern Rivers grower is turning plants into medicine

AFTER a Multiple Sclerosis diagnosis forced her to step away from the physically demanding farming work she loved, Northern Rivers resident Daphné Vachon turned to medicinal herbs and created Daphné’s Pantry.

Vachon produces botanical tallow balms, herbal teas and other plant-based products using herbs she grows herself, selling them at farmers markets across the Northern Rivers.

“I always felt drawn to help people around me who have health struggles,” she said.

“With a balm, a tincture, a cup of tea, or perhaps just be someone who would listen to them.”

Before launching Daphné’s Pantry, Vachon worked on market garden-style farms and spent years growing food and using herbs to support her own health.

 

During the period of the 2022 floods, a combination of personal, environmental and work-related pressures took a toll on her wellbeing.

After a series of medical appointments, she was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis, forcing her to rethink the physically demanding farming work that had shaped much of her life.

“Receiving that news was heartbreaking and terrifying,” she said.

“But I had an inner knowing that I was going to find ways to manage and eating the right food was the first strategy I was going to look at.”

While exploring ways to improve her health, Vachon also began searching for a way to remain connected to farming.

“Farming, growing plants was a part of my sense of self and identity and I thought ‘how can I still farm?’,” she said.

After moving to a small farm, she gradually regained strength with the support of friends who found work she could manage, including raising seedlings and nursery work.

Growing herbs proved a sustainable alternative to vegetable farming, allowing her to stay connected to the land while working at a slower pace.

 

“It felt slightly less intensive farming than growing vegetables, and I thought ‘ahh maybe this is how I can still farm’,” she said.

As she learned more about value-adding agricultural products, Vachon began experimenting with balms, teas and herbal remedies made from plants she was growing herself.

“I experimented with making my balms, with many trials, I came to a recipe that I like and started to give them away to friends and family,” she said.

“And kept making more and at some points thought… Maybe I could earn some money with those herbs and balms one day.”

Today, many of the herbs Vachon grows reflect both her horticultural knowledge and personal connection to the plants.

She uses ingredients such as chamomile and calendula in skincare products, while other blends are designed to support the nervous and respiratory systems.

“I’ve been focusing on herbs that protect the skin,” she said.

“Other herbs I like to grow to make herbal blends to support the nervous system, as I think many of us are running a pretty fast paced lifestyle.”

“Also supporting blends for the respiratory system seems to be very appreciated around here with the wet season and all the mold amongst us.”

Vachon said customer feedback had encouraged her to continue developing the business.

 

“A few people have come back telling me with amazement how much my botanical tallow balm helped their skin heal some issues they’ve had for a long time,” she said.

“Or many have reported to me how the Lung-Loving Tea has helped them clear their lungs from phlegm.”

She believes growing interest in natural remedies reflects a desire for simpler, more recognisable products.

“I think people want to use products with ingredients names that are recognizable from the label,” she said.

“In my experience, talking with people, I’m witnessing a lot of people have health issues, and we/they are drawn to clean food and medicine.”

Daphné’s Pantry products are available through local farmers markets across the Northern Rivers, with more information available on Instagram at @daphnes_pantry.