Mathew Jorgensen
Founder of Galactic Gateway
About Me (Timeline basics):
Born in Longreach, QLD, Australia (1990), to an Australian Dad and Kiwi Mum.
Raised on an outback sheep/cattle station outside the small town of Ilfracombe, QLD (raised gardening and tending to plants, pet Kelpies/Collies, birds, lambs, chooks, horses, and calves, and assisting around the property).
Boarding School in Yeppoon, QLD (2003-2007).
University Bachelor Degree Graduate of CQU, Rockhampton (2008-2012). Also studied at ISU Kassel, Germany (2010).
Worked in Camera sales, and customer service jobs thoughout Rochhampton, Bundaberg, & Sunshine Coast (2008-2019).
Professional and hobby photographer at festivals and music events throughout Northern NSW and QLD (2015-2017).
Moved to the Sunshine Coast mid 2016.
Birth of Galactic Gateway and the start of the creative journey working with various mixed medium art forms - November 2018.
NEIS Business program - Nov 2019-2020.
2021 was the beginning of my journey making herbal glycerites.
2022+ progressive transition of all herbal extracts to be made from freshly harvested organically homegrown herbs, in Maleny (Reesville).
Working part-time at multiple plant production nurserys on the Sunshine Coast (2023-2025/Current).
I have lived in the Maleny area now for 3.5+ years, and have run various market stalls locally, and supply glycerites through the local Co-op, and direct via online order.
My Herbal Journey:
Throughout my journey with herbal medicine I have come to learn of the poor standard of the Certified Organic imported herbs we have access to in Australia. Whether it's due to unintuitive harvesting times, excessive high temperatures used in the drying processes, poor storage conditions, or low grade materials harvested.
This is something that becomes very apparent when you grow, harvest and dry your own fresh herbs and see the difference for yourself.
The observation has greatly modivated me to research, acquire, grow and harvest from my own plants. Free from pesticides and chemicals, and only using Certified Organic potting mixes, fertililizers, organic home compost, and rain water. I harvest my herbs in their medicinal peaks, planting and harvesting during the most appropriate moon phases, seasons, and stages where their essential oils are at their highest, and I dry the herbs at low temperatures mindful of maintaining peak medicinal potency.
I also aquire my seeds and plants heirloom, non-gmo, certified organic, to the best of my ability and subject to availibility (some of the very rare herbs and seeds are difficult to acquire "organic certified" but I still aim to only source non-gmo, untreated, and chemical free).
There are many rare and intriguing herbs I possess that are not yet included my available herbal glycerine and tincture range, so more exciting innovations are yet to come as the plants themselves and my experince with them advances.