We had the good fortune of connecting with Rebekah Joy Luhrs and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Rebekah Joy, can you walk us through the thought-process of starting your business?
Night Hawk Apothecary was born organically out of community interest and demand. I started the business in 2017 while living in Knoxville in response to the number of friends and family interested in the holistic remedies I made for myself, and shared as gifts. My Fire Cider, an immune-boosting tonic, was the first product. My offerings naturally grew as the all-natural deodorant I made and local honey from bees I kept became popular.

In 2021, I started making an Adaptogenic Cacao (a bold and flavorful coffee replacement), which single-handedly supported me in breaking a lifetime morning coffee routine. It was never my intention to start a business, but the interest and demand for my hand-crafted products made it a fun and rewarding process. I love building awareness around natural and alternative remedies and supporting my community when it comes to health and wellness, as well as breaking addictions.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
My offerings are inspired by the world around me, by my connection with nature, community, and Spirit. Items in my Apothecary are made from all-natural, clean, allergen-aware, and locally sourced ingredients when possible. In conjunction with my apothecary, I also have a line of jewelry inspired by what I like to call nature’s confetti. I love collecting treasures from the earth and finding ways to wear them: I make earrings out of pinecones and cicada wings, necklaces from wire-wrapped crystals and stones, and have made Artisan Nannyberry and Deer Drop earrings (using actual droppings!).

The creative process ebbs and flows, and I’ve learned that moving with the seasons is a vital process. I spend most of my time creating in the Winter when it is dark and I can curl up by the fire with a lap of crafts. In the Spring, when plants are alive and abundant, I spread out ingredients in my kitchen with a warm cup of tea. When opportunities arise, I share my items at farmers markets and other local vending opportunities.

One of the efforts I am most proud of is the organization and facilitation of OM Sanctuary’s Winter Wellness and Relief Weekend and Pop-up Market, which I coordinated as their Artist-in-Residence. Executed from start to finish in only two weeks, OM Sanctuary staff and 12 volunteers held the event to support the community in November 2024 after Hurricane Helene. For two days, members of our community were able to access tools to regulate their nervous systems, honor and give voice to what was lost, be held in their grief, and also stock up on much-needed supplies.

As the founder and facilitator of Earth Healers Exchange Holiday Market, an annual bartering and exchange market that started in 2019 in Knoxville, TN, I am passionate about moving away from cash-based systems and connecting earth-minded creatives to share and exchange goods. In 2024, we held our first Earth Healers’ Exchange Holiday Market here in Asheville at our very own OM Sanctuary. It was such a success, that there are plans to coordinate another one in Decemebr 2025.

Though Night Hawk Apothecary could be a full-time job, I have a myriad of other offerings that I pour my time and energy into. It can be challenging to find a balance between running an Apothecary while also supporting intentional gatherings and being a full-time writer. I’ve learned that I can’t put pressure on myself to do it all or to do it perfectly. So I choose to honor the seasons, both in nature and in life. When things get challenging, I give myself grace and trust that Spirit will support me in the ways I need.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
If my best friends were coming into town, I would bring them downtown to explore all of the local and unique shops. I would probably bring them to one of Billy Zanski’s sound healing seesions at Skinny Beats Drum Shop. We would go out to eat for lunch at the Gree Sage on Marriman. I also LOVE bringing friend to the GoodWill Bins (outlet) on Patton where there are always unique finds and treasure awaiting. And as much as I love Asheville, my favorite part is getting out into the mountains or visiting a local watering hole. We would spend a day hiking up at Black Balsam, stopping at overlooks along the Blue Ridge Parkway. If they were taking outside reservations, we would stop in at the Pisgah Inn for a top quality dining experience with a priceless view.

Currently, as the Artist-in-Residence at OM Sanctuary, I love inviting company to participate in the wellness and nature-based programs offered at the holistic retreat center. I also look forward to inviting guests to stay onsite when the magical Woodland Cottages open this fall.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
Nigh Hawk Apothecary would not be what it is today without my yoga and AcroYoga community in Knoxville, TN. Many of my students were huge supporters of the products I make, encouraging me to offer them more widely, and were my first customers. Without their steadfast enthusiasm and belief in my offerings, Night Hawk Apothecary would not exist.

Website: https://www.rebekahluhrs.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rebekahjoyluhrs

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NighthawkOfferings

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@RebekahJoyLuhrs

Other: Personal Newsletter: https://substack.com/@rebekahjoyluhrs
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@rebekahjoyluhrs

Nominate Someone: ShoutoutNorthCarolina is built on recommendations and shoutouts from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.