Spread Love Signs by local artist Brandon Thrift

We’re so thrilled to have local artist Brandon Thrift’s Spread Love Signs in-stock at Wild Ginger Apothecary! Brandon has become an inspirational force in Sarasota with his cheerful and bright art.

Spread Love

Based in Sarasota has brought some amazing collaborations with businesses, local landmarks, fellow artists and more.

Artist Brandon Thrift

As featured in The Observer, Brandon has been traveling around the United States, leaving his feel-good art wherever he lands!

Brandon Thrift knew his place in the world. 

He liked to make music and share that music with others. The 25-year old drummer would constantly get up on stage with his band and play to cheering crowds in Sarasota. 

That certainty ended along with group events in general when the pandemic arrived. Losing his main source of artistic expression was a blow to Thrift.

“There was a lot of downtime,” he said. "There was a lot of time to overthink and kind of mull in the darkness and, and let all of the negativity consume me … but creative expression will find a way regardless.”

He started exploring new outlets to showcase his creativity. It wasn’t long before he knew painting was the medium for him — he said it felt right.

"It was electric,” he said. “That connection is nonstop. You just want to do it forever and ever and you forget to eat and you forget to drink water.”

 His style of painting — originally abstract expressionism in the vein of Jackson Pollack — began to shift as Thrift explored. 

He realized he wanted to be more expressive with words, and have his art convey a feeling that would help people. The vessel for that came to him in a flash — “Spread Love”.

“It's two syllables, it's enrolled anybody can absorb that subconsciously or consciously,” Thrift said. “It's received theoretically 100% of people that see it.”

Thrift was already planning a nearly three-week road trip across the American Southwest, and decided to bring his message and art along with him, sharing it with as many people as he could.

The new artist has visited countless states across the country, leaving behind painted “Spread Love” signs at landmarks and hotspots. You might have seen his work painted across a tarp hung up in New Orleans, on a piece of wood overlooking the Grand Canyon, or on a surfboard left near a World War II bunker in California. He's left hundreds more.

He’s recently returned home, and says he’s been forever changed by the experience.

“It was a divine intervention of timing and purpose,” he said.

Thrift didn’t have a destination in mind when he set out on his trip on June 1, but he did have a direction. He drove through New Orleans, Texas, New Mexico, California, Oregon and Colorado over the course of more than 12,000 miles. In each city, he would stop at a Michael’s store to pick up paint supplies and find tables, desks, and furniture on Craiglist to break down and use as canvases. 

He preferred those makeshift canvases as a way to recycle things that would be tossed away anyway. Some were small pieces of wood while others were large tarps he would hang in New Orleans. He’d research where he was traveling ahead of time and place them in photographic areas or places with high foot traffic

Thrift would create these works in parking lots and parks all over the Southwest, and was able to get a batch of signs painted and finished in around five hours if the weather permitted. People would often walk up to him to see what he was doing, and they would trade stories. Thrift said that sense of connection was one of his favorite parts of his trip.

"There was this little girl whose father I stayed with and she was you could tell in her eyes," Thrift said. "That she was so inspired by what I was doing. How much was just you could see her beaming at at the thought of what an impact it could potentially make."

He returned home June 23 and feels he's come a long way. His initial trip was just that — the first in additional trips to spread his message to other parts of the country. Thrift is brainstorming a trip up the east coast in the future. 

“I think it’s moved me but it’s also motivated me to do so much more and see what’s out there,” Thrift said. “This is a never ending project.”

Spread Love Signs

Stop in for your own Spread Love sign at Wild Ginger. We have small canvases available for $25! Then follow Brandon’s journey and artistic creations via his Instagram: @artbybrandonthrift!

PRESS: Style Magazine Health & Wellness

As seen in Sarasota Herald Tribune's Style Magazine: HEALTH & WELLNESS: Nicole Leffler, owner of Wild Ginger Apothecary

Wild Ginger Apothecary offers a vast array of alternative and natural beauty and health products. After almost 15 years in the industry, owner Nicole Leffler makes sure to offer cannabidiol (CBD) in many of them. Though it is a derivative of cannabis plants, CBD is not psychoactive, and, in fact, is legal in all 50 states and does not require a prescription. 6557 Superior Ave., Sarasota; 941-312-5630; wildgingerapothecary.com.

What are cannabinoids and what are the benefits to humans?
Cannabis plants contain over 100 naturally active compounds called cannabinoids. The human body has a central regulatory system called the endocannabinoid system (ECS) that contributes to a variety of biological processes, establishing the body’s natural state of balance for the central regulatory system.

Why would one supplement with them?
Endocannabinoids interact with the body’s central regulatory system. They’re the cannabinoids our bodies can produce as needed. If we have a deficiency or imbalance, our system recognizes and responds to cannabinoids from external sources (phytocannabinoids) that can promote healing.

How do endocannabinoids accomplish this?
Basically, they bind to cannabinoid receptors in both the central nervous system and the peripheral nervous system. This is also true for “phytocannabinoids,” the naturally occurring compounds that include CBD.

What’s the difference between THC and CBD?
Both are cannabinoids; THC, however, is psychoactive and requires a medical marijuana license for use in Florida. CBD is the most abundant naturally occurring non-psychoactive cannabinoid, totally legal in all 50 states.

What are some of the health benefits of CBD?
Research shows CBD has helped people with a host of conditions, including multiple sclerosis, arthritis, chronic pain, inflammation, high blood pressure, anxiety and depression. This compound supports feelings of relaxation, and can reduce stress and anxiety, improve mood and sleep and increase mental clarity.

Do you also recommend CBD for pets?
Yes, and for the same reasons. It’s effective for pain relief in animals and reduces anxiety, which is especially helpful during thunderstorms! Older dogs can really benefit from a daily CBD dosage.

What’s a short list of your CBD products?
CBD offerings include everything from tinctures, capsules, edibles (chocolates, gummies, honey, tea, etc.), vape options, topicals (balms, oils, face care, lotions, etc.), and more. We offer more than 100 options of CBD products.

How can our readers learn more?
CBD educators are always available in the store. They offer free, one-on-one CBD consultations, with a focus on individual health needs.

CBD Arrives at Wild Ginger Apothecary

Wild Ginger Apothecary has recently started carrying Sarasota-based Mindful Medicinals products!  Stop by to try for yourself or join for a CBD information class in the lounge monthly.

The following information is from MM:

Our most frequently asked question is, “What is CBD?” Simply put, CBD is an abbreviation for Cannabidiol, a non-psychoactive phytocannabinoid naturally found in cannabis. What does that mean? Quite a lot actually.

Recently people have begun to discover the seemingly miraculous benefits of cannabis, specifically CBD. Unfortunately, too many people still believe cannabis, in all its forms, is illegal. Propaganda perpetrated by the US government along with major players in pharmaceuticals and commodities industries in the early twentieth century successfully fooled the status quo into believing cannabis was a dangerous drug. Nearly a century later, peer-reviewed science has proven that notion utterly and patently false.

The human body has an intricate endocannabinoid system (ECS) built with receptors throughout the brain, central nervous and circulatory systems as well as the gut, heart, kidneys, spleen, liver, bones, blood vessels, lymph cells and even the reproductive system. CBD is the most abundant cannabinoid accounting for up to 40% of the typical cannabis sativa plant. The last two decades have delivered countless studies showing the benefits of CBD in the limbic system (affecting memory, cognition and psychomotor performance) and the mesolimbic pathway directly relating to pain perception.

CBD is one of more than 100 active cannabinoid chemicals in the marijuana plant. Unlike the main psychoactive cannabinoid in marijuana, tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), CBD does not produce euphoria or intoxication. Cannabinoids have their effect mainly by interacting with specific receptors on cells in the brain and body: the CB1 receptor, found on neurons and glial cells in various parts of the brain, and the CB2 receptor, found mainly in the body’s immune system. The euphoric effects of THC are caused by its activation of CB1 receptors. CBD has a very low affinity for these receptors (100 fold less than THC) and when it binds it produces little to no effect. There is also growing evidence that CBD acts on other brain signaling systems, and that these actions may be important contributors to its therapeutic effects. […]

CBD has several benefits including but not limited to

• Anti-Depressant

• Anti-inflammatory

• Antipsychotic

• Anti-Anxiety

• Anti-Seizure

• Neuroprotective Properties

• Analgesic Effects

• Nausea Relief

• Anticonvulsant

• Antitumoral

• Antioxidant

• Cardiovascular Health

PRESS: SarasotaDay's "5 Essential Oils for Every Home"

Essential Oils are all the rage.  Did you know that Wild Ginger Apothecary offers Certified Organic, Therapeutic-grade Essential Oils by Simplers? Their oils are sourced all over the world to ensure they are 100% pure, genuine, species specific, and expertly distilled.  And no, you don't need to join a multi-level-marketing team to purchase them.

SarasotaDay recently featured some of our must-have essential oils (Lavender, Lemon, Tea Tree, Peppermint, and Eucalyptus).  They also mentioned a few of our ready-to-go blends that take the guesswork out of aromatherapy.  Check it out!

As seen in SarasotaDay: 

5 Essential Oils for Every Home

"Everyone’s digging on the essential oils these days, and who can blame them? They’re a safe and simple way to take care of your body and your home. Still, the lists of all the EOs and their many uses can be a bit daunting to anyone who is unfamiliar with this wonderful and mysterious world."

I Love Kombucha (and why you will too)!

I remember my first experience with Kombucha a decade ago.  Kind of like your first beer, you have a hard time determining just what you think about it: is it too tart, too sweet, too fizzy, too acidic? But then you realize it's the perfect combination of all those things, and you wonder why you haven't known about it years earlier.  The 2-for-1 sales on 'booch became my best friend, and I'd pack my refrigerator full every chance I got.  I've been addicted ever since.

What is Kombucha? It's a fermented tea that been revered as an "elixir of life" for 3000 years.  It helps your immune and digestive systems, detoxifies, and gives you energy.  This I can personally vouch for! Plus it's full of probiotics, amino acids, B vitamins and more.  (And did I mention it's the best hangover remedy out there? You're welcome.)

Lucky for those of us in Sarasota, we have an amazing local brand: Kombucha 221BC.  Aneta + Eric make some of the most creative 'booch flavors I've had.  (Lemon Lime Cayenne might even beat out Ginger for my absolute favorite.)  They've been a great friend to Wild Ginger Apothecary, and we've been proud to sample their delicious tea at both our Grand Opening as well as our monthly First Friday parties.  Stop by and see us for a Kombucha Cocktail: they are really fantastic! They are available to buy throughout town and right here at WGA!

Drinking so much 'booch you want to venture making your own? I've got the answer for you for that, too.  I postponed brewing my own for years because I thought it'd be impossible to get a Scoby.  When I came across this super-easy Kombucha Starter Kit, it was the perfect solution.  Easy to follow directions and less than $1 a serving for your first batch: well worth trying it!  We have numerous herbal teas you can infuse your batch with at Wild Ginger Apothecary; one personal favorite was the Evening Spa for a calming, lavender flavored tea.  I have to admit, though, original black tea is my go-to.  It's a crowd favorite with it's cider-like finish. 
If you're looking for an energizing and refreshing beverage that's far healthier than soda, give Kombucha a try!  You can impress your friends with what Scoby means (Symbiotic Colony of Bacteria and Yeast) and feel good about indulging. Cheers!
 

xx
Nicole

Available online at www.wildgingerapothecary.com or in-store at 6557 Superior Avenue in the Gulf Gate Shopping Village.  Feel free to email or call anytime at 941.312.5630.  ENJOY!