Ohio, USA
Rebecca J. Wood is a longtime herbalist, educator, and healer whose life’s work is rooted in the land, community, and a deep commitment to holistic wellness. Born near her grandparents’ family farm and grocery store in rural Lawrenceburg, Indiana, Rebecca was raised in the heart of the Midwest during a time of profound social change. Her early years in Xenia and Yellow Springs, Ohio immersed her in the energy of the region’s countercultural, Civil Rights, and liberation movements—experiences that continue to inform her values and work today.
Part of the “back to the land” generation, Rebecca left Miami University to study natural resources and recreation management at the newly established, experimental Hocking College in Southeast Ohio. This pivotal shift launched her lifelong journey into the interconnected worlds of plant medicine, ecology, and healing. She later expanded her studies to include forestry, wildlife biology, and conservation, while deeply immersing herself in the vibrant herbal medicine scene that defined the Appalachian foothills as the heart of America’s Herbal Renaissance.
After working in forestry and spending decades in outdoor education and mental health—including work with programs similar to Outward Bound—Rebecca returned to Hocking College as a professor. There, she created the Herbal Studies program and led a long-running cultural and botanical study abroad course in Central America, helping to establish the college’s global reputation in eco-tourism and ethnobotany.
She also founded Hopewood Farm & Education Center in rural Southern Ohio, named in honor of her grandmother, Hope Wood, who inspired a lifelong love of nature in all her grandchildren. The farm became a beloved hub for herbal education, land stewardship, and community healing.
Today, Rebecca leads Hopewood Holistic Health, a practice that weaves together herbal and food medicine, energy work, integrative bodywork, and cross-cultural herbal exchange. Through her “Holistic Journeys” travel offerings, she continues to create spaces for learning, healing, and global connection.
Website: hopewoodholistichealth.com