Casa Curativa is an herbal education, retreat center and apothecary, we offer courses to educate and foster connection between humans and the plant world. Casa Curativa was built on regenerative principles. Casa Curativa is a place for herbalists, nature lovers, and creatives to connect with the earth and allow nature to guide them on their path.
A female led business in the Mayan heartland of Guatemala
Hi, I’m Julia
I fell in love with plants and the practice of herbal medicine when I myself was sick. It was the first place I found not only hope for my condition, but a solid action plan that brought me long-term health. I am passionate about medicine making, and my goal is to cultivate the space for people to experience the healing power of plants in their own personal way. I also hold space as a doula and birth worker.
I’m a mother, an herbalist and a birth doula
MY TRAINING
I studied for 2 years in person with Sajah Popham at The School of Evolutionary Herbalism. It was a life-changing experience, and completely revolutionized my world-view in profound ways. My office and field work now includes the natural landscapes and plant teachers that are a part of my daily practice in this bountiful life I am grateful to live. I love working with people and plants to draw connections and catalyze the same spark of understanding I experienced in my training. Finding my school and training with my newfound family of herbalists was like coming home. My greatest joy is working away in my apothecary until sunset, coming up with new formulations to best serve my clients.
BIRTH KEEPING
I have served multiple families here on Lake Atitlan, including supporting their births, and facilitating postpartum care. Birth is a profoundly sacred moment in our lives, and one you will never experience again. I hold space for the medicine of birth to be honored, supported, and protected.
I completed my training with DONA Int., but I found that my own personal experience of giving birth was the greatest teacher of all.
Regenerative mindsets lead to abundant landscapes
I had a simple dream: to live somewhere that is both comfortable and motivating, and to task myself with work that occupies my hearts, unlike the jobs that had previously left me unfulfilled. Leaving many of the comforts of the developed world behind me, I took a chance and sprouted roots in the village of Tzununá, at the shores of Lake Atitlán, in the Guatemalan highlands.
My motivation was to live simply, in harmony and stewardship with the land, cultivating a space to nourish my family for many years to come. Free to find our own way, we began our first terrace, separating the stones from the rich volcanic native soil, planted the first rows of herbs and vegetables, and kept moving forward in reciprocal communion with the land.
My journey has been ongoing, creating a land project that is built on regenerative permaculture principles in harmony with the natural forces here. I am continually creating opportunities for my team here, and expanding my business in the most sustainable way possible.
Living the Atitlan Dream
Food Forest & Abundance
When we first found the land that would become ours to steward, it was a rocky undulating coffee plantation. Years of discarded trash had formed sedimentary layers of plastic, and the soil was dry and thirsty from years of commercial pesticide use. In our mind’s eye, we envisioned a diverse permaculture landscape and food forest. So we set about implementing the systems that now shower us with abundant food and beauty all year-round.
Today the soil is rich and teeming with microbes, fungal friends are sprouting all about, and we are greeted daily by chirping birds and buzzing bees. We are truly blessed.
FRUIT TREES, VEGGIE GARDENS & HERBAL MEDICINE
AVOCADO TREES
Harvest is twice a year, and all at once, so get ready for guacamole if you are here at the right time. Unripe fruits are always falling, so you’ll find the dogs eating them on the lawns most days.
YEAR-ROUND FARM FRESH VEGETABLE HARVEST
Guests are welcomed and encouraged to harvest daily from the veggie gardens. We grow a diversity of salad greens and roughage, as well as sweet potatoes, chillies, onions, carrots, celery, tomatoes, and malanga. They are here for all of us feel nourished.
HERBAL MEDICINE
We utilize the land by filling in most spaces with something medicinal or edible. We grow a wide variety of herbs, both native and non-native species, and harvest them fresh for use in the medicines we craft in our herbal apothecary.
FRUIT TREES
Loquat, Lime, Orange, Fig, Pomegranate, Mulberry, Papaya, Guava, Dragonfruit, Zapote, Acerola Cherry, and the local favorite, Jocote. They are everywhere, and each have their own time of year for harvest, meaning perpetual yields, so pick and choose from what is ripe as you meander through the gardens.
EXPLORE THE LAND
Ceremonial Fire
Yoga Shala/Group Space
Furry Friends
Farm to table
Cold Plunge Pool
Thoughtful Design
Food forest
Temazcal/Sauna
Comfortable Interiors
This Land is here, for you. Its design has evolved through the symbiotic interplay of the voices of nature and the action of human hands, moving each rock with care and purpose. This Land reflects the art of harmonious reciprocity in a world beset with challenges and distractions. We need only listen to the voices of the Land, and we shall be guided. Aho.
MEET THE TEAM
JULIA BENTLEY
Founder - Director - Liason
ASHLEY MCDONELL
Clinical Herbalist - Herbal Educator
LINDSAY CHESNUT
Apothecary Manager
Medicine Making & Sales
BABI MONTENEGRO
Housekeeping Manager
CECELIA MAGDELENA
ANGELICA MENDOZA
Housekeeping
DELROY-EMMITT ZEAL
Toddler at-large
PASCUAL & JUAN
Grounds & Landscaping
Hegelian Philosopher & Resident Grandfather
CHARLES CORTIS BENTLEY
Casa Curativa is coming to Mexico
We are making a really exciting leap into the Mexican market in 2024. From the Oaxacan beach town of Mazunte, we are embarking a whole new branch of this amazing brand in collaboration with some incredible new teammates in Mexico.
