Erika Nolan

Holistic Health + Homestead Consultant

I am a Licensed Landscape Horticulturist and an Expert in Holistic Health, the Founder of INSTAR, providing Holistic Health and Homestead consulting and education! Born and raised in New Orleans, I graduated from Arizona State University with a Bachelor of Psychology with a curiosity to explore more of the natural world. After graduation, I spent 6 months in the Ecuadorian Amazon, volunteering at a biological research station. Afterwards, I spent my 20’s trying to figure out what fueled my fire to pursue as a career, not knowing how I could work with plants. While pursuing music in NYC, my path drastically changed when I found out my mother and best friend had a brain tumor with breast cancer 6 months later. I moved home to New Orleans and was on a mission to learn the root causes of Disease and Chronic Illness.

This began with the basics... Water and Food! I hit the ground running with INSTAR and received my Certification of Horticultural Studies and License in Landscape Horticulture. I sold plants at people’s doorsteps, installed gardens and even sold what I grew out of my 50 s.f. rental at the Farmer’s Market. The hustle turned into a thriving organic landscaping company. Business grew fast as I transformed every landscape into something New Orleans had not yet seen: artistically arranged, sustainable landscapes, edible and even rooftop gardens!

When the pandemic hit, I embarked on a new phase of my career in virtual consulting. With 100+ clients spanning from Egypt to Australia, most of my clients reside within the United States, achieving Food and Health Independence with me and the INSTAR team by their side.

Throughout this journey, I have dived deep into my own exploration of HEALTH. I grew up drinking coca cola instead of water, ate whatever I wanted and, even after having half of my thyroid removed at 20 years old, I wasn't aware to question food. I could tell the medical system wasn't conscious of Food as Medicine either after my mother's surgeries. This began my personal investigation into the meaning of TRUE HEALTH!

After independent research, the pandemic, then finding a like-minded community of health professionals from functional medicine to biological dentistry, I learned that I was on the right path with whole body nutrition, following the direction of our ancestors and optimizing health holistically. I have my bloodwork and energy to prove it!