Our Journey

Dropping Seeds grew from responding to the emotional needs we were navigating as a society through recessions, pandemics, and profound uncertainty.

This is a story of remembering.

  • Connecting People to Herbs

    Plants have always been in relationship with humans — feeding us, sheltering us, clothing us, and shaping cultural practices across the world.

    Our journey is rooted in the belief that modern life has distanced many people from this relationship. Re-connecting with plants is about returning to rhythm, responsibility, and reciprocity.

    Working with botanicals became a way to rebuild this connection through everyday ritual.

  • Honoring Ancestral Intelligence

    Connecting to plants is not just about consumption — it’s about relationship.

    To work with plants responsibly means:

    • Honoring where they come from
    • Understanding their cultural contexts
    • Protecting ecosystems and lineages
    • Practicing gratitude and restraint


    This philosophy shapes everything we do, from sourcing to education to community engagement.
Campfire with a geodesic dome tent in the background

2008–2012 | Foundation

During the 2008 recession, life shifted drastically for Johanna Guevara & SirRoan Smiley. What followed was a period of travel, study, and immersion in plant traditions across Brazil, New Mexico, Costa Rica, Peru, and Colombia.

These years included formal studies in:

  • Plant medicine studies
  • Curanderismo & Ayurvedic training
  • Energy-based practices
  • Permaculture and ecological design

Plants became teachers — not symbols, but lived companions.

Hands holding a container labeled 'Focus' with dried herbs inside, on a white background with black line art.

2013 | Birth

The first blends were created informally—mixed by hand, stored in glass jars, and shared within community circles across New York City. What began as simple offerings quickly sparked curiosity, conversation, and resonance, encouraging deeper exploration.

In an interview with NativeTV Kokoro, this early chapter was reflected on as two foundational blends took shape:

FOCUS — for clarity and intention
CALM — for grounding and reflection

Woman and child sitting on a swing in a natural setting with rocks and plants.

2014–2016 | Growth

As the collection expanded, dualities began to shape the line:

  • SUN & MOON
  • SLEEP & AWAKE
  • HIS & HERS

Operations, production, brand awareness and family life grew side-by-side.

Two people in a kitchen setting with jars and bottles on a counter.

2017–2019 | Visibility

Dropping Seeds appeared in:

Collaborations with creatives, healers, and cultural spaces deepened the mission.

Woman in an apron with text 'Rooted Relationships' and 'Johanna Guevara Dropping Seeds' on a black background with gold accents.

2020–2025 | Evolution

In 2020, the pandemic marked a turning point—disrupting daily life and reshaping our family life forever. It prompted a relocation to the Hudson Valley, where my relationship with plants deepened through expanded growing practices, land stewardship, and education.

In 2022, I shared this journey on the Decolonize Everything Podcast, reflecting on how this period inspired a commitment to decolonizing medicine, education, economies, and our relationships to one another and the land.