The Village Apothecary and Homestead

The Village Apothecary and Homestead I’m Community Herbalist, Lindsey Costa! I share about herbalism, growing a cottage flower garden, history, homesteading, homeschooling and more!

05/27/2026

Nourishing Herbal Tea/Tisane

My Nourishing herbal tea blend was one of my very first tea blends in my functional herbal tea collection. It’s a wonderful herbal tea blend for the whole family! Young and old. I especially love it for pregnancy (32+ weeks) as well as for the breastfeeding mother.

Stinging Nettles is praised for its tonic effect on the body. It is dense in nutrients like calcium, magnesium, iron, and potassium as well as vitamins A, C, K and many B vitamins. It has natural antihistamines, antioxidants, and is anti-inflammatory and a mild diuretic.

Raspberry leaf is one of my most favorite herbs! It’s a nutrient dense herb, also. It supports digestion and the female reproductive system. From youth to elderly, it’s “God’s gift to women” as the nickname holds true. It supports the body during menstruation and can slow heavy bleeding and bring relief from period symptoms. Many midwives recommend it starting around 32 weeks pregnancy to "tone" the uterus, which may make contractions more effective and potentially reduce the need for medical interventions during childbirth. It can support postpartum recovery and milk supply. It can support the body during perimenopause and menopause. I love that it tastes similar to a black tea because of the tannins it contains.

Oatstraw is full of vitamins and minerals and as a nervine, it nourishes the nervous system, making it great for daily use to combat stress. Its high concentration of silica and calcium makes it an excellent support for the health of bones, teeth, hair, and nails.

This blend can be brewed for 10 minutes for a nice daily tea or up to 12 hours for a strong herbal infusion for the maximum nutritional benefits.

💛Caffeine-free
💛Small-batch blended
💛Made with organic herbs

Find this blend plus more at Books & Beans
_______________________________________
Disclaimer:

THIS INFORMATION HAS NOT BEEN EVALUATED BY THE FOOD AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION. THIS PRODUCT IS NOT INTENDED TO DIAGNOSE, TREAT, CURE, OR PREVENT ANY DISEASE.

We recommend that you consult with a qualified healthcare practitioner before using herbal products, particularly if you are pregnant, breastfeeding, have a medical condition or are on any medications.

05/23/2026

We have wild black raspberry brambles all throughout the hedgerows on our property. I was surprised to see them starting to ripen. They typically ripen mid to late June in Virginia, but we have had some hot days this May.

Many confuse wild black raspberries for blackberries. One of the main differences to look for is whether the fruit has a core or not. Raspberries have a hollow center. Like a thimble. They come off easily when ripe. Blackberries have a core in the center of the berry and are more elongated. Another identification tip is to look at the leaves. Raspberry leaves have a silvery white underside and blackberries are green on the top and bottom of the leaves.

The fruit is delicious and densely nutritious. Amazing studies can be found on the benefits of the black raspberry as well has their amazing leaves. Medicinally, the raspberry leaves have so many health benefits and is generally considered safe for most. The leaves are high in vitamins and minerals, they support digestion, the female reproductive system, pregnancy and postpartum, and much more!. It’s one of my favorite herbs and I use it almost daily.

Fun fact, during the American Revolution tea boycott, the American patriots would use raspberry leaves for their daily tea instead of black tea. It is high in tannins similar to black tea. Delicious!

05/23/2026

I love fog! 🖤 We get fog here quite often. Especially when the cool air hits the warm air in the bottom field near the creek. It rolls in and falls down from the top of the trees. I can just sit and watch it for hours.

Happy International Tea Day! 🫖 ☕️ ☕️ The majority of the tv shows or movies I watch are British murder mysteries and so ...
05/21/2026

Happy International Tea Day! 🫖 ☕️

☕️ The majority of the tv shows or movies I watch are British murder mysteries and so many times a cup of strong tea with lots of sugar is offered to the witness to help with the shock. 😂 They truly believe a cup of tea could right wrongs. Or at least help you get through it. ☺️

🍃 International Tea Day is an opportunity to celebrate the cultural heritage, health benefits and economic importance of tea (specifically, Camellia sinensis), while working to make its production sustainable “from field to cup” ensuring its benefits for people, cultures and the environment continue for generations.

I source my organic black and green teas for my Literary Tea Blends from a company that has it’s own comprehensive sustainable sourcing program and purchases Fair Trade Certified products. They help growers develop certified organic, sustainable production methods and improve social conditions for workers and their families and communities.

I also source most of my organic herbs for my herbal tea blends from this same amazing company. 🍃

05/21/2026

Rhubarb is a classic British food. It reminds me of English cottage gardens and tea time cakes. Most people who know me know how much I love all things British. I’m a self proclaimed Anglophile. I love British history, food, culture, scenery, architecture, tea time, all of it! It’s in my blood! 🇬🇧

I found fresh rhubarb and rhubarb plants from Azure Standard last month. I hope to harvest my own rhubarb next year!

Here is a classic English treat. Rhubarb upside down cake. So quick and easy and everyone loved it.

Recipe in the comments. 💕

05/20/2026

We are in a major drought right now in Virginia. The drought is another added challenge on top of the high gas and fertilizer prices. Pray for the farmers!

I’m thankful we will be able to have our fields cut and baled for hay this year. I’m praying this forecasted week of rain ahead will help these fields before they are cut and baled. 🙏🏼

We are also fencing in another pasture for rotational grazing.

I agree Henry James! ☺️ Sometimes we enjoy an afternoon coffee but there is something so special about afternoon tea. Wa...
05/19/2026

I agree Henry James! ☺️ Sometimes we enjoy an afternoon coffee but there is something so special about afternoon tea. Warming the tea pot, steeping the tea leaves, picking out our tea cups and pouring that first cup. 🥰 The kids enjoy it, as well!

05/15/2026

I had an emotional day today. I’m not a fan of this part of life’s journey. The sadness and grief. I know time does eventually help, I just have to walk through it. When you’re in the middle of the trials you can feel a little “lost” or just floating without direction so I decided to take a walk around the cottage garden this evening as the sun was going down. Observing and walking in nature often helps me process my feelings. It’s part of holistic health. That, a cup of calming tea and a lot of prayer.

The cottage garden took a little beating from the rain this week, but I’m so thankful for the rain. All of these flowers are either perennials or self seed really well and come up on their own each year. That’s why the tall bachelor buttons are in the front. ☺️ The seeds fell towards the front of the garden bed last year. 🤷🏼‍♀️

What helps you process your emotions in a healthy way?

05/13/2026

We love sweet potatoes and have discovered a world outside of the basic sweet potatoes we grew up with. Did you know you can start your own sweet potato slips?! Sweet potatoes are best grown from slips. Slips are just rooted shoots from a sweet potato. I have a hard time finding slips where I live and I definitely can’t find slips from uncommon sweet potatoes.

We love Japanese sweet potatoes and purple sweet potatoes. The Japanese ones are so sweet and delicious! I ordered a variety of sweet potatoes from Azure Standard to start my own slips to grow Japanese, purple and regular sweet potatoes this year.

In zone 7, you have until the end of June or early July to get your slips in the ground so get started now on growing your own slips!

1) Fill a container with soil. Bury half the sweet potato in the soil.

2) Keep soil moist for the next few weeks. Make sure the tray gets sunlight and warmth. I keep my trays on a heat mat with grow lights.

3) After a few weeks your potatoes should have shoots. I like them to be at least a few inches long. Break the shoots off and put in a jar of water to encourage roots. It only took 2-4 days for my shoots to get long roots.

4) Plant sweet potato slips in your garden once they have roots and wait for your sweet potato harvest!

Herbs were here first! God’s gift to us. 💛🍃I’m thankful for modern medicine when absolutely needed but herbal and holist...
05/12/2026

Herbs were here first! God’s gift to us. 💛🍃

I’m thankful for modern medicine when absolutely needed but herbal and holistic medicine has been so good to me and my family over the years. So grateful!

Address

Amelia Court
House, VA

Telephone

+14087263166

Website

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when The Village Apothecary and Homestead posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Contact The Practice

Send a message to The Village Apothecary and Homestead:

Shortcuts

Share

Category