12 | JUNE 16 • 2022
OUR COMMUNITY
W
hen Melina Bronfin moved into
her Oak Park home 10 years ago,
she looked at her neglected weed-
filled garden and knew she had lots of work
ahead. Fortunately, she was in her element.
Melina has loved nature since she was small
and has fond childhood memories of explor-
ing the meadows beyond her small German
hometown. She’d collect wild greens and blend
them into soups and salads.
Here, Bronfin cleaned her yard, began plant-
ing, and educated herself about herbs and their
remedies.
“I discovered that herbs have so many bene-
ficial uses — for beauty, nourishment and heal-
ing,” Bronfin said. “When my daughter, Eliana
Rivka, was born in 2017, I knew I wanted to
give her the best, and healthy choices became
even more important. I then embraced a sim-
pler lifestyle with less waste, toxins and plastic.”
During the pandemic, she further honed her
passion.
“We never grew so many plants before!”
she said. “I was also finally able to achieve my
dream to start formal herbal medicine educa-
tion.”
Hands in the Dirt …
ROCHEL BURSTYN
CONTRIBUTING WRITER
JERRY ZOLYNSKY
PHOTOGRAPHY
Heart with Nature
Oak Park
herbalist’s
Sunny Squirrel
Farm is a
healing and
sharing place.
Melina Bronfin and her
daughter Eliana Rivka