Life and Work with Brittney Ferris

Today we’d like to introduce you to Brittney Ferris.

Brittney, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
I began my journey in the cannabis industry about four years ago. Being a vegan of five years, yoga teacher, yoga student for over 15 years, an avid gardener… cannabis and plant medicine is at the core of my health and wellness journey. Throughout my life, I have dealt with depression and anxiety starting at a very young age. I remember being placed on pharmaceutical anti-depressants and anti-anxiety medications at the age of 13. Now, with the help of cannabis, plant medicine, diet, and yoga – I am completely off of all conventional medications. The journey hasn’t been an easy one, but with the support of my family, friends, and community I have grown to a point in my life where I am able to hold space as a teacher in the yoga and cannabis communities for others facing the same issues.

Has it been a smooth road?
Definitely 111% NOT an easy smooth road of a journey. Even sitting here today, I still face the same issues with depression and anxiety. Daily sometimes. It does, however, get easier to manage. Plant medicine isn’t always as simple as taking a pill. It took many years before I figured out which plants work best for me and in what form. For example… it took forever before I figured out my body doesn’t react to plants in capsule form the way it does in tincture form. I just don’t like taking pills of any kind really. But I knew deep down that pharmaceuticals never really helped me in a deeper healing way the way that plants do. So, I persisted, asked advice from herbalists, READ EVERYTHING I could, and tried again and again. My advice always, to anyone struggling with depression and anxiety is to sit with it. Don’t try to force or change anything. Allow yourself downtime to process the emotions and feelings that are coming up. Just make sure you are doing simple things like bathing, drinking water, eating, and focusing on your breath so you don’t give in too deep to the depression or anxiety. The dark times help us see the light.

Please tell us more about your work, what you are currently focused on and most proud of.
I am an Event Manager for a local Arizona wholesale premium cannabis brand, Item 9 Labs. As the Event Manager, I get to manage small events like vendor days at local dispensaries to larger events like the reggae festival we sponsored this past 4/20 holiday called On the Grass. I also style all of our photoshoots and design all of the table displays and parties we host! I am most proud of the growth that Item 9 Labs has made in the last year I’ve worked for them. When I started with Item 9 Labs, I wrote blogs and was basically a promo rep at small dispensary events for them. They were a smaller company then and I’ve watched them grow tremendously this year! It’s been such an honor to grow right along with them. They have instilled a lot of faith in me and have given me so many amazing opportunities, building me up into the position I am in now. They even took mint from my garden and turned it into terpenes for me! I have a very talented team around me at Item 9 Labs that I learn from every day. I wouldn’t be where I am now without them! Super blessed!!!

What sets me apart from others I think is my attention to detail. I’m pretty organized and have pulled off so many events using my own props, plants I’ve grown, and design skills. I’m self-taught 111% and proud of that! People seem to know me from my garden photos and my time in the yoga and cannabis communities. Gardening and yoga are the two things that keep me grounded and people ask me for advice in both often!

Are there any apps, books, podcasts or other resources that you’ve benefited from using?
My top four books I always recommend that have changed my life are: The Heart of Yoga by Yogi Desikachar, The Power of Now by Eckhart Tolle, The Four Agreements by Don Miguel Ruiz, and Teaming with Microbes by Jeff Lowenfels and Wayne Lewis. Yoga and gardening books. 🙂

Podcasts always and forever will be From the Heart with Rachel Brathen and The Joe Rogan Experience with the great Joe Rogan! Both are super inspiring and host fascinating guests with so many eye-opening discussions.

The only blogs I really pay attention to are the Desert Iris blog and Brooklyn Photoblog (both dear friends with so much inspiring work) and the Garden Party blog by La Abeja Herbs.

Contact Info:

• Website: item9labs.com
• Instagram: @yoginibritt

Image Credit:
Brooklyn Huberty @brookklynphoto

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