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THE JOB

Find a herbalist

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Overview

Find A Herbalist is your comprehensive North American directory for connecting with the world of herbalism! Whether you’re an herbal enthusiast, a student, or simply seeking natural wellness solutions, we provide a trusted, curated hub to discover local herbal shops, educational resources, experienced practitioners, and the latest news in the field. Find qualified herbalists, explore workshops, and delve into the benefits of herbal remedies – all in one place.

findaherbalist.org

What We Have Created

We built findaherbalist.org as a clean, elegant, and cost-effective directory website to connect users with professional herbalists. Here's a breakdown of how we built it:

Theme & Site Architecture

We used a custom Gutenberg-based theme to keep the site lightweight, fast, and easy to manage. The choice to use Gutenberg (WordPress's native block editor) instead of a page builder like Elementor allowed us to:

  • Reduce plugin dependency

  • Improve performance

  • Maintain long-term compatibility with WordPress core

The theme uses minimal templates and supports full site editing (FSE) features, allowing for customization via blocks while keeping the codebase clean.

Directory Functionality with CitadelWP Plugins

The core directory functionality is powered by CitadelWP plugins, which provide robust features for:

  • Custom post types (Herbalists)

  • Custom fields (Location, certifications, specializations, etc.)

  • Front-end filtering and search

  • User submissions, so herbalists can apply to be listed

CitadelWP offered a great foundation for building a scalable, searchable directory without needing to develop these tools from scratch.

Mapping with OpenStreetMap

To ensure long-term affordability and avoid third-party pricing issues (e.g. Google Maps API fees), we integrated OpenStreetMap using Leaflet.js.

  • Custom maps are rendered using Leaflet.

  • Locations are pulled from custom fields and displayed as pins.

  • This setup is lightweight, open-source, and free to use.

Branding & Design

We created a visual identity inspired by natural, earthy tones, reflecting the herbalist profession and a deep connection to nature. The design process included:

  • Logo design and typography selection

  • A calming color palette of greens, browns, and neutrals

  • Minimalist layout for better readability and focus on content

Performance & Accessibility

We followed modern best practices for performance:

  • Lazy-loaded maps and images

  • Clean, semantic HTML structure

  • No bloated page builders

  • Accessibility-optimized navigation and contrast

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What Technology Did We Use?

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