Blog
Beginning with Waterfalls
I needed a vacation. I love my gardens and my work but every now and then a lady just has to throw up her hands and say, “to hell with it all! I’m goin’ exploring.” So that’s what I did. In July I hopped a flight back to my hometown in Pennsylvania. No…
Weaving a Pack Basket
Recently I had the spectacular opportunity to learn how to weave a Black Ash pack basket. There were a few variants in the weaving technique (regular loose plaiting at the base, hexagonal plaiting up the body, and a dash of weaving) but, all you really need to know is this: stars. If you can…
Practicing Relaxing
It’s been over a month since I last posted. There are always a million reasons why you let something fall by the wayside. Most of the time, though, it boils down to this: I was too busy. This past month, however, I’ve been trying to rewrite that old tale. I have been busy, of course….
Lost in the Garden
For weeks now I have been utterly and completely lost in the garden. Planting, pruning, digging, and expanding– the pursuit of growing things has literally devoured my life. What began as a modest vegetable garden last year, is now in the midst of a transformation. For years I have been dreaming of pausing in…
First Camping Trip of the Season
At the beginning of the week I loaded Mr. Forester (my Subaru who also goes by the name “silver fox”) with sleeping bags and long johns and friends and headed to the woods. The drive itself was beautiful. We passed through Appalachian farmland, admiring the weathered barns sliding drunk from the hillsides and the empty…
Bach Flower Essences
‘Tis the season of flower essences. In honor of all the new blooms I’m reposting an article I wrote about the most well known of all flower essences, Bach Flower Remedies… The first time I ever read about Bach Flower essences I actually cried. Not out of any particular wound or hurt, but…
House plants: On Growing and Dying
This time last year I arrived in Asheville with just my pluck, my dreams, and every possession I could fit packed inside my car. Everything I needed to start a new life was crammed inside that vehicle. Needless to say, I had to be quite selective. I left whole wardrobes behind, not to mention…
Herbally Healing Bronchitis // sick days & making syrup
So, I got bronchitis last week. On Sunday I suddenly felt a damp bog settle into my chest. Monday the cough began and Tuesday the fever set in. The rest of the week was spent bemoaning my existence and grappling with the three-headed dog of misery that is respiratory illness (as well as trying to…
