Meet Amy Chandler | Owner/Creator behind Heart 2 Home Elderberry

We had the good fortune of connecting with Amy Chandler and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Amy, maybe we can start at the very start – the idea – how did you come up with the idea for your business?
Heart 2 Home Elderberry came about organically but it took me a few years to realize it! My son was born immune compromised and spent the first year of life in and out of the hospital on many forms of medications. Being so vulnerable, he was picking up every virus that came his way and then some! I was looking for a natural way to help boost his immune system and tried a few recommendations before stumbling on to elderberry. Desperate to try anything at that point I made up a batch using a recipe found online and began to try it out ( first on myself and then on my son). It wasn’t long after that I began to see some pretty significant improvements in his and my health. Others also took notice and I began working on developing my own unique formula with the addition of some other power-packed wellness herbs and spices. I shared elderberry with those around me and got to witness the many ways it benefitted them. Not too long after, I was having lunch with a girlfriend who casually mentioned that I should look into selling professionally. The concept had never crossed my mind, but it was like a light went on the second she said it! I loved the feeling of being able to help those around me, and thought of being able to expand that to helping even more people felt like a no-brainer. Fast-forward one year and Heart 2 Home Elderberry was official!

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
Ironically my career and work history are unrelated to my personal business. Outside of running Heart 2 Home, I still work full-time in behavioral health. I completed my undergrad in psychology, and went on to obtain a Masters in social work with an emphasis in child welfare. I worked as a child and family therapist before moving into clinical management where I now provide clinical oversight to a team of behavioral health individuals.

One thing I learned throughout my clinical career is how all systems are tied together. Be it environmental, physical, or emotional…. if one system has damage, it can effect the rest. In a way, I like to think this is where my professional career and my personal business complement one another. They provide me with two distinct ways of helping to improve an individuals wellbeing and the freedom to do so using naturopathic approaches.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
I am painfully boring and have littles at home so my idea of a week long trip would probably look very different from others! Beings as though we both have kids our itinerary would look something like this:

Staying in town ( I am on the west side) We would probably stop off at Enroute Coffe & Tea in Goodyear to fuel up before heading to Parkwest or Arrowhead Farmers Market. Meals would often be made at home using goods picked up from there. We might do the waterfall trail hike with the kids in the White Tank Mountains or head out to Wickenburg to explore the Nature Preserve and have a picnic lunch. The Phoenix Zoo on a weekday would probably be in store or heading out to the Boyce Thompson Arboretum. If we got a girls night out, I am heading to Postino’s and then to a comedy club. I recently did an escape room at Escape Westgate. That was also a fun experience.

Heading North: We recently purchased property up near Heber AZ, so we like to head up the mountain for the weekend. We typically stop off at the Wild Woman’s Saloon at Bison Ranch for a burger or grab a margarita at Casa Ramos. We do some forest hikes, foraging, kayaking or take out the side-by-sides.

Heading South: If we wanted to get out of town I would head south towards Tucson. We would stop at Shamrock Farms dairy to take their tour and then head to Rooster Cogburn Ostrich Ranch. From there maybe stay a night in Tucson and check out Kartchner Cavers State Park and Trail Dust Town in the evening. I would probably head back the way of Florence and stop at Windmill Winery or Queen Creek Olive Mill. Pizza at Organ Stop Pizza is also an experience the kids like.

In an imaginary world where I had a kid-free weekend and an unlimited budget, I would be heading to Sedona to stay at the L’auberge de Sedona where I get far too many spa treatments, drink far too much wine and overindulge in a 5 5 course meal from Cress on Oak Creek.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
Though the start-up labors behind Heart 2 Home came internally, we would be absolutely no where without the love, support and ongoing labors produces by my business partner (and mother) Tina. After starting the business and continuing to work my “day job” full time, it didn’t take long to find that I needed some serious help if I had any plans of moving this thing forward. Without hesitation, Tina jumped in to help me run the day-to-day operations and let me tell you, there is nothing this girl cant/wont do! She can be found in the kitchen, at our farmers markets, stocking retail shelves and making deliveries. I really think she might be super-human! Did I mention she is also a full time nanny to my youngest? Without her ongoing labors of love, Heart 2 Home would be nothing!

Website: www.Heart2HomeHealth.com

Instagram: Heart2Home_Elderberry

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