I know it will take heaps of muscle and a generous amount of care to revive this old plot for spring planting, but there’s no other work I’d rather be doing. I am a gardener. I carry the energy, the vision, and the heart to cultivate magic. Here’s my best master gardener tips for amending soil and preparing your garden beds for spring using the no-till method.
Read MoreThis year we found ourselves with loads of bits and scraps of paper from various learning activities + projects, and I was inspired by a pen pal to give paper making a go. For a little extra fun, we added wildflower seeds, so the paper can be returned to the earth and provide for our pollinator friends.
Read MoreLearn how to make your own wild pine infused vinegar natural cleaning spray. Forage for pine needles and try my easy Wild Pine All Purpose Cleaning Spray recipe to enliven your spring cleaning activities this season. Consider this a sneak peek into my upcoming Forage & Wildcrafting Course that launches Spring 2021.
Read MoreSeasonal living supports us in many practical ways throughout daily life. Connecting to nature seasonally can also support us from a spiritual perspective. Rooted in ancient sacred paganism and the modern Wiccan tradition, The Wheel of the Year offers a sacred calendar and rituals that align with nature.
Read MoreOur approach to view the seasons is to break down the year into six seasons that correlate with the life cycle stages that all life endures. As gardeners and foragers that so often observe the rise and decline of life outdoors, we view the year from this six-season perspective. Here I’m sharing the annual year broken down by the 6 seasons plus ways to align with the season in order to experience a seasonal year.
Read MoreEmbarking on a journey of seasonal living has been one of the most nourishing and transformational experiences of my life. Although, it required experiencing an intense burnout and breakdown in order for me to realize how important living closer to nature was for my health and happiness.
Read MoreLearn from a zero-waste flower studio how to dry flowers to create sustainable flower arrangements for the holidays or any season.
Read MoreNature has always been a place for me to self-soothe. Whether it's been starting a garden and learning how to tend my heart in the same way I do my plants, or by going on walks in the forest to discover wild herbs and edibles. There's no denying how therapeutic it is to escape into nature and recalibrate our true north, or as I call it: rewilding. In the chaos of our global pandemic, economic instability, climate change, and social justice movements layered on top of an already fast-paced and overstimulated culture, I see the need now more than ever, for people to rewild. So, I’ve rounded up a list of 15 ways to rekindle your connection nature and rewild yourself.
Read MoreSo you’ve planted your edible garden (perhaps for the first time), and now it’s summer and your plants are starting to grow. What an exciting time it is to be in this stage of the growing season! If you are new to gardening or lack confidence in growing a bountiful and nutrient rich kitchen garden, then these summer garden maintenance tips will not only help you keep your garden healthy, but make sure it thrives and produces a delicious harvest all summer long.
Read MoreWeeding has become an essential self-soothing routine these weeks at home lately. On the worst of days it’s a task to distract me. Other days it feels more like a sacred meditation, or an intimate dialog between me and Her. In this therapy session with nature, she reminds me that things are not always as they seem. Labels are deceiving. A “weed”, after all, is only a flower growing in a place where someone doesn’t want it.
Read MoreWhile I’m sequestered at home during this pandemic I’m on a mission to occupy my time with any seasonal nature-based craft that I can. I love crafting with plants and finding new ways to use up old kitchen scraps to minimize my food waste. Because of our economic circumstances, I’ve been inclined to be a bit more thrifty - to use every last lit bit and use what resources I already have wisely, instead of going out and spending money on non-essentials. Since Easter is right around the corner, I decided to dye easter eggs using only a few natural and readily available ingredients from my kitchen. This seasonal craft is insanely easy to do, and the color possibilities are so limitless that it’s the perfect nature craft for both adults and kids.
Read MoreGrowing our own food to be more self-sustaining has never been more important than it is right now. During these fearful times of this evolving economic and pandemic crisis, knowing that I could grow all of my household’s food if necessary gives me great comfort. If you are anything like me, you are dying to get seeds into the ground in as soon as possible so your family can be that much closer to eating delicious home-grown veggies. Knowing what to plant and when can be overwhelming as a beginner gardener, but I’m here to demystify this process, share my best tips as a master gardener, and help you get your dream kitchen garden started.
Read MoreSpringtime is an entire season dedicated to the celebration of new beginnings, fertility, the quickening of life, and the beautiful birthing and rebirthing process. In nature we watch new babies hatch, fuzzy wide-eyed animals emerge and take their first steps, and delicate blooms flower a fragrant performance. This season is intoxicatingly beautiful and always passes much too quickly. In my efforts to slow down and live more connected to nature, I’ve compiled a list of ways to live seasonally in spring.
Read MoreThese longer sunnier days feel more like springtime, and I've definitely gotten bit by the spring cleaning bug. I feel that a household refresh is an amazing way to usher in the start of new season. Since transitioning to a lower waste lifestyle, some of my most favorite swaps have been in my cleaning supplies kit. Before making these low waste and natural cleaning swaps, I did a lot of research because I wanted to do what was best for my health and home, as well as for the environment. In an effort to help you reset and refresh your home this spring, I’m sharing my tips on how to make sustainable and natural cleaning swaps in the home.
Read MoreWhether it is your first time growing a kitchen garden or you’ve grown crops before, putting plans on paper is a good way to start. This time of year (when my green thumb is really aching for work) is when I do my best garden dreaming. And this eventually evolves into creating a kitchen garden that feeds me well and brings me joy. While dreaming up a garden is a lovely indulgence, I have to admit that when first beginning gardening it can be an overwhelming task to make plans that will actually work. So, I’ve decided to help you in this process.
Read MoreIn an effort to put a little pep in my step during these mid-winter blues, I decided to do a small project that might satiate my green thumb. And it’s true, I have learned that making a kokedama garden, while sipping on a cheery sunshine latte, is the best help for these mid-winter blues. Plus, a mood-lifting playlist while crafting only made this project that much better. I’m glad to admit that before long I found myself grooving to the music and wiggling out the grouch inside of me.
Read MoreSeasonal living, and the artful practice of connecting nature, is tonic for the body and soul. It is all about taking care to notice the delicate transformations in our environment as they happen through the year and adjusting the way we live in response. It’s about being more in tune with each of the micro seasons that fall within a single year and the life cycles of the flora and fauna that inhibit our ecosystems. It’s about growing our awareness of the interconnectedness of all beings and engaging in communication with nature.
Read MoreThis time of year I always turn a bit reflective. The dark languid days between holidays seem to finally offer a bit of well needed respite. During this little gap on the calendar, time seems to slow to a crawl and we finally have time - time to rest, time to play, time to breathe, and time to dream. I find this time of year perfect for reflecting on the year gone by and setting intentions before launching myself into a new year, and in this case, a new decade.
Read MoreIn general, I’ve been keeping it simple this year; by “it” I mean the whole Christmas-holiday thing. All of the expected activity that accompanies this hallmark holiday feels unnatural to me and out of alignment with my seasonal needs. Much of the over-consumption that happens during this season only adds to the global waste epidemic, and I no longer want to be a participant in that cycle. In true form, I’ve decided to create my version of what I want the holiday season to be. As you could have guessed, I want this season to be slower, simpler, in alignment with my seasonal needs, and gentler on the environment. I want to spend this season embracing the stillness that accompanies the freshly fallen snow. Here’s how I’m creating a slow and sustainable Christmas. Plus I’m sharing my low waste gift wrap design that is easy to implement.
Read MoreIt’s that time of year again - one of the most beautiful seasons, yet also one of the most stressful for many people. If you are a highly sensitive person like me, perhaps you can relate to the sheer overwhelm this season induces. However, when the crazy gets crazier during the holiday season, I know it's time to press pause and turn to my plant allies to help ease the stress and anxiety. Here are my favorite ways to use herbs for stress and anxiety, plus a handful of common herbs that calm.
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