Hearth & Heart Homestead

05/02/2025

I have silently pulled out of vending events and markets, removed the "shop" page from my website, and closed down my Etsy. Spirit told me to retreat, listen, and learn this year, and so that is what I am doing. And man, taking the "business" part out of my work with the plants has been so freeing! I can just be again... just play and learn through that play... it's wonderful!

I don't know if I'll ever return to selling products to be honest... but I still make them for myself, my family members, my neighbors, my friends... and this way of "production" feels good. I may keep it that way...

Still available to talk about plants... still can come to help identify and learn about the plants growing on your yard. Still will be writing blogs and trying to find time to host classes on The Hearth.

Blessed be 🙏

02/22/2025

Multiple people within my circle have been experiencing headaches lately, coming to me for advice... Feverfew Feverfew Feverfew I hear you; you're done being trapped in a jar on my shelf. I release you.

I knew the two to make the salve: Feverfew and Peppermint. Well, last stretch of winter and I'm all out of Peppermint. Waiting waiting waiting... Mint Blend acquired from Healing Spirits Herb Farm & Education Center during my Moonly trip to Avoca to collect Water.

Knew the two but not the rest, so I went over to my shelves to listen. White Pine for peace, the first to speak. Lamb's Ear so soft, so comforting, like a hug. Purple Sage says, "Don't forget: muddy energy gives heads pain." Mmhmm yes, you too. And of course Rose... Is that all? Someone's missing...

Set up the double boiler, thank and add the herbs, bless the oil, pour it over the herbs, and switch on the stove... time to begin other projects.

Going through papers in a drawer seeking a soap recipe, and open up to my handwriting: "Headache: helps with inflammation..." etc etc etc. Look up to the top of the page to read "Yarrow". Another that's been trapped in a jar on the shelf all winter long! No wonder so quiet... I hear you!

Add some Yarrow to the oil and herbs and poke it in with a metal chopstick. Such a beautiful scene... tried to take a picture; lens covered in steam.

Peace of Mind Headache Relief Salve now in stock. It's wonderful stuff and I made a good amount of it, but the way I formulate these things by listening to the plants and only using what I grow myself or can purchase locally, it's not something I can repeat for mass production. So if this is something you would like to give a try, message me to order. I'll add it on my website later... eventually

02/10/2025

A few mornings ago I had an idea to begin doing donation-based classes from my website. I spent a few hours exploring options for video conferencing software, wordpress integration of said software, & on how to go about collecting donations. Upon figuring it all out & setting up a test video call with a good pal to determine the fluidity & ease of the software, I put the project away while I prepared for a vending event.

The Mugwort that I harvested in the Fall has been on the drying racks in my garage all winter long (I'm a hibernator; don't judge me 😛). I finally brought her in and de-stalked & jarred the dried leaves while chatting about everything that has happened since we last connected. And then I asked Mugwort if she had anything to share with me & remained silent to listen.

I began to think about the platform I set up on my website & how I wouldn't always be using it, but that it would always be accessible on the interwebs. The message was clear: The platform I was building was meant to be shared with others so that they, too, could share their skills, art, & performances and receive donations to compensate their time and energy.

So I began building the vision. Things flowed smoothly & the platform came together quickly... & then the activation of an appointment booking plugin broke my entire website at 1AM this morning. Turns out, if you leave comments on on a wordpress blog, you're going to get A LOT of spam comments. And if you don't go through a couple thousand of those pending comments to mark them as spam & delete them, they take up space in your database. & a full database is slow & crashing database. Whomp whomp...

So, I restored a backup version, prior to plug in activation, & filtered the spam. I did all the things I needed to build my website to what it was before the crash and then went back to business.

& I did it! I built an online busking platform, called THE HEARTH, for skill sharing, performances, readings, you name it! I built it all, & will be running it all, myself with all free & open sourced software, so I'm keeping it low key & grassroots to prevent it from becoming more than I can handle.

NOW IS THE TIME TO GATHER & SHARE

02/10/2025

A few mornings ago I had an idea to begin doing donation-based classes from my website. I spent a few hours exploring options for video conferencing software, wordpress integration of said software, and on how to go abouts collecting donations. Upon figuring it all out and setting up a test video call with my good pal to determine the fluidity and ease of the software, I put the project away while I prepared for a vending event that evening.

The Mugwort that my friend and I harvested in the Fall has been on the drying racks in my garage all winter long (I'm a hibernator; don't judge me 😛). I finally brought her in and de-stalked and jarred the dried leaves while chatting about everything that has happened since we last connected. And then I asked Mugwort if she had anything to share with me and remained silent to listen.

I began to think about the platform I set up on my website and how I wouldn't always be using it, but that it would always be accessible on the interwebs. The message was clear: The platform I was building was meant to be shared with others so that they, too, could share their skills, art, and performances and receive donations to compensate their time and energy.

So I began building the vision. Things flowed smoothly and the platform came together quickly... and then the activation of an appointment booking plugin broke my entire website at 1AM this morning. Turns out, if you leave comments on on a wordpress blog, you're going to get A LOT of spam comments. And if you don't go through a couple thousand of those pending comments to mark them as spam and delete them, they take up space in your database. And a full database is slow and crashing database. Whomp whomp...

So, I restored a backup version, prior to plug in activation, and filtered the spam. I did all the things I needed to build my website to what it was before the crash and then went back to business.

And I did it! I built an online busking platform, called THE HEARTH, for skill sharing, performances, readings, seminars, you name it! I built it all, and will be running it all, myself with all free and open sourced software, so I'm keeping it low key and grassroots to prevent it from becoming more than I can handle.

Come check it out (linkylink in the commentos)

NOW IS THE TIME TO GATHER & SHARE

02/07/2025

We're here at the Cascata Event Room for First Fridays on Main brought to you by Taste of Montour with daughter company Lyn Wicks and partner Empty Hand Carpentry & Woodworking

02/04/2025

I got my first WHOLESALE order!!!! All 21 of my flower essences shipped to a shop in California!!!

Bills are getting paid this month 🤣

💫

02/04/2025

We enjoyed a cozy, quiet January here at the Hearth & Heart Homestead but February is another story... our booth returns to Montour Falls this Friday for Taste of Montour's First Friday on Main at the Cascata Event Room with daughters Lyn Wicks & partner Empty Hand Carpentry & Woodworking

01/03/2025

Dropped off a beautiful display of my flower essences at FLX Studio & Maker's Market today (shelf built and painted by Empty Hand Carpentry & Woodworking)! Excited to have these plant allies featured in a store, increasing their visibility and accessibility. Montour Falls is a favorite town of mine, and I'm happy to have a presence there!

Happening now is Taste of Montour's first First Friday event and while we aren't there vending this month, we plan to in upcoming months! And there are many wonderful vendors there tonight so if you're looking for something to do this evening, head down to Montour Falls and check it out!

01/01/2025

2024 was about building connections for me, and many of those connections were not with two-legged folk but with some of these wonderful plant allies!

2025 brings the opportunity for new connections and growth! And Flower Essences are a great way to connect with plants!

But what are Flower Essences?

Flower Essences are vibrational, energetic remedies used to address issues of emotional well-being, soul development, and mind-body health. They are part of an emerging field of
subtle energy medicine.

Flower Essences help us to understand and address deep-seeded emotional, mental, and spiritual imbalances in a meaningful and gentle way.

Each flower has its own personality and wisdom. When we use flower essences as our healing allies there is a sacred interaction that takes place in which the flower shares its teachings with us and lovingly embraces us wherever we are.

To Use: Take 1-3 drops on the tongue or add a few drops to a bottle of water to sip as needed. Imagine the plant & invite it to be your ally. Plant energies may affect different people in different ways. Try to notice when you feel the desire to take the flower essence. Meditate on the energy and/or message that this plant has for you.

12/31/2024

12/28/2024

When I do not have the experience or herbs to help a person that stops by my booth, I send them to my teachers at Healing Spirits Herb Farm & Education Center. If you haven't been to their farm in Avoca, NY stop by soon! It's a wonderful place!