Season 7-From Timber to a Garden of Herbs
Season 7 of 9
From Timber to a Garden of Herbs
Learning to See the Forest Differently
After the nationwide log ban, I returned to our family's private forest.
One quiet morning, I sat beneath the shade of an acacia tree, surrounded by the forest that had shaped so much of my life.
For months, I had prepared to harvest timber. I had secured the necessary permits, complied with legal requirements, and paid the required forest charges. Yet not a single tree was cut.
At first, I wondered why God had allowed that door to close.
Then, in the stillness of the forest, a different question came to my heart: "Lord, what do You want to teach me?"
A Change in Perspective
The answer did not come through spoken words. It came through a change in perspective.
I stopped looking at the forest as timber waiting to be measured. Instead, I began noticing the life growing beneath the trees.
The seedlings. The vines. The wildflowers.
The medicinal plants that had quietly flourished there long before I learned their names.
I stopped counting board feet. I started counting leaves.
Disappointment slowly gave way to curiosity.
From Regulations to Remedies
Instead of studying logging regulations, I began studying Philippine medicinal plants — their names, their growing seasons, their traditional uses, and the importance of caring for them responsibly.
I planted herbs in my own garden. Each morning, I observed their growth, kept notes, compared my observations with available scientific research, and continued asking questions.
CPA Habits, Herbal Purpose
The habits I developed as a Certified Public Accountant never left me.
Accounting had taught me discipline.
Auditing had taught me to seek evidence before reaching conclusions.
Now, those same habits guided my study of medicinal plants.
Little by little, the forest became more than a place of work. It became my classroom.
Provision to Healing
Timber had taught me about provision. Herbs began teaching me about healing.
Most importantly, God taught me that stewardship is not always about harvesting resources.
Sometimes stewardship means protecting, nurturing, observing, and learning from what has been entrusted to our care.
Where The CPA Herbalist Took Root
Looking back, I now realize that the log ban did not end my journey. It redirected it.
What once appeared to be a closed door became God's invitation to discover a different calling.
Beneath the shade of that acacia tree, The CPA Herbalist quietly began to take root — not as a logger, but as a steward of creation and a lifelong student of God's garden.
Author's Notes
I am a retired Certified Public Accountant from the Philippines and a lifelong student of herbal medicine. I am not a licensed physician, pharmacist, or herbal medicine practitioner.
The information shared on this website is based on my personal experiences, continuous learning, and research, and is intended for educational purposes only. It should not be considered medical advice or a substitute for professional healthcare. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider before using medicinal herbs.
I also encourage readers to respect Philippine environmental laws, including regulations of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), when foraging or cultivating plants.