Skip to content

rachel wolf | clean

* Messy, Authentic, Magical Life *

  • Home
  • Blog
  • The Unplugged Family Activity Book
  • Herbal Adventures Book
  • About Me
  • LüSa Organics

Sign me up!

Want tips and tricks for a healthier, happier family delivered straight to your inbox? Darn right you do!

Share this:

  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window)
Tweet
Pin
Share
0 Shares

The Unplugged Family Activity Book

Herbal Adventures

LüSa Mama Instagram

lusa_mama

Rachel Jepson Wolf
Oh, hey, look. We made a thing! I promise to sha Oh, hey, look. We made a thing! I promise to share more soon, but here's the abridged version: This natural swimming pool was Sage's final hurrah of a lifelong journey of project-based homeschooling/unschooling/interest-led learning. 11 months after we broke ground, he–we!–made it to the finish line. This project took so much planning, budgeting, and sweaty manual labor, but it's done at last (well, almost done–there's still a touch of finish work to attend to, but who's keeping score?). Though this kid likes to keep things ultra low-key, I think with this inaugural dip we can officially proclaim that Sage has graduated from homeschool! And, dang, if this project was a heck of an ending. If you need us in the next 2 1/2 months, we'll be right here. #unschooling #interestledlearning #homeschooling #naturalswimmingpool
I don’t love summer. There. I said it. Even as I don’t love summer. There. I said it. Even as a kid, summertime wasn’t my favorite season. Spring and fall, all the way! Sure, I loved having off of school and the abundance of free time to play in the creek with my neighborhood friends, but the weather was never my thing. I'm a little overwhelmed by the heat, the humidity, and the hustle-and-bustle pace of it all. A few years ago, I was diagnosed with Lyme Disease in mid-June, requiring me to pivot and scrap my usual overflowing summer rhythm. The garden was largely abandoned, long, overstimulating pool days were cancelled, and my busy farm schedule was discarded. We spent our days sleeping in, relaxing in the shade of the woods beside the creek, playing games and making art in the house, and generally chilling the heck out. And? It was the best summer ever. That healing season informed my decisions going forward on how I approach the summer months. It taught me to slow down and prioritize doing a little of what everyone wants it needs, instead of trying to do it all. Friend, we are not the sum of our busyness. We are worthy of slowing down and just simply being. We can take up space without needing to look busy. We can give ourselves that. We're worth it. And for those longing for a slow, simple summer reconnecting with friends and family, the Summer Simple Living Collection is just the ticket if you’re looking for a few fresh (slow) ideas. The collection is only is available this week, and includes over 40 simple, do-able summer activities that provide the tools you're longing for to create a slow + simple summer season with your family. Learn more through the link in my bio, then get out there and do… nothing. You’ll be so glad you did.
A heartfelt thanks to all of you who hopped on boa A heartfelt thanks to all of you who hopped on board yesterday with the Summer Collection! What fun we will have. This collection is truly is a gem for creative, seasonal exploration and adventures. (Link in my bio to learn more about the Summer Simple Living Collection.)
The Simple Living Collection Summer Issue is here! The Simple Living Collection Summer Issue is here! If you’ve already heard about this resource, head to the link in my bio. Or read on to learn more. 🌱 Now more than ever, the desire to slow down, reconnect, create more joy, and savor family life stirs deep within our essence. Join together with a group of experts from across the globe as we present to you our summer issue of The Simple Living Collection. Valued at $550, it’s just $25. What makes this collection so special: - A blueprint to a life full of lasting memories, new skills, and deeper connections. - 40+ products including e-books, tutorials, patterns, recipes, stories, and so much more! - materials for all ages - materials that can be used worldwide 7 carefully curated categories: - Create - Grow - Nourish - Raise - Wildcraft - Family - Healthy Home Our summer issue is only available through June 21st for $25! With over 55 creators sharing their tried and true skills, everything from raising monarch butterflies, to creating sun prints, to celebrating the summer solstice is packed inside. Learn how to trade seeds, make plantain salve, discover how to compost, make a floral window scenes, dye with calendula, explore creeks with kids, make summer popsicles, craft a paper kite, and so much more! Don't miss out on this incredible opportunity to slow down, savor family life, and learn new skills!
The weather has been off the rails for June in Wis The weather has been off the rails for June in Wisconsin (and much of the Midwest) this year. But even 100 F days aren't stopping us from plugging away at the swimming pond project! It's been 10 1/2 months (counting our long winter's rest), and we're in the home stretch at long last. Yesterday was hard with a pretty major setback, but today we've recovered our mojo and are installing the gravel over the drainage tile. This planting zone will soon be host to our living water filter: mainly cattails, plus a few lily pads, etc. These will allow our pond/pool to stay clear and clean without chlorine or salt. Yay! What a learning experience this has been for all of us! Especially for Sage (now almost 19) who took this on as his final unschooling/homeschooling project. We're almost there. We're almost there. We're almost there!
I spent most of the weekend painting my new old ap I spent most of the weekend painting my new old apothecary hutch a joyful blue. I found this treasure on FB marketplace for a steal, and snapped it up to fit this out-of-the-way corner of our wee little kitchen. It was cobalt blue when we brought it home, which gave me the courage to paint it another bold + unexpected color. I smile every time I look at it. 💙 I’m ahuge fan of buying used goods—for all the likely reasons. Sustainability, character, no off-gassing (from toxic glues, plastics , or fake wood), affordability, story—all of these and more put used above new every day of the week. And today, (between homeschooling and @lusa_organics work) I’ll be filling this beauty it up with dried herbs, tinctures, teas, and books. * Paint is zero VOC milk paint on the outside (my blend of blue, turquoise, and grey) and leftover wall paint in.
I spent this week working on a piece for Taproot M I spent this week working on a piece for Taproot Magazine that’s woven with memories from my earliest parenting days. It's been wild to revisit that chapter of my family's life, especially now. Because as Sage (a lifelong-homeschooler) inches toward 19 and all of his like-aged friends are graduating, we're looking at another strange transition for many unschoolers: graduation. Because for us, life has flowed seamlessly from one day into the next since his arrival earthside. We have yet to have a "first day" or "last day" of school celebration, a crossing over from elementary to middle to high school, or (in this moment) a grand ending to his schooling journey. Because here, school is life and life is school. There are no boundaries between them; no benchmarks announcing arrival at a predetermined destination. The edges are blurred, + that works for our family. Because we're always learning, + have no need to put a box around it to set it off from ordinary life. They're indistinguishable. I expect for some in a more traditional educational paradigm, that may sound sad. Like he's missed out on rites of passage that define childhood. But in my heart (and more so, his) those milestones don't hold much appeal when you're just out there living your best life. The truth is, every path is rich in its own, unique way. And as a homeschooler, he has certainly "missed out" on opportunities his friends enjoyed, but he also gained so much. His entire life has been one giant gap year, allowing him to deeply know himself, his strengths, his interests, + the places where he wants to grow. No matter what path we choose, there are losses and gains. But for us anyway, we’re not grieving the things that they missed. So for this teen, there’s no need for an end date, no desire for a "graduation" celebration. Just life, unfolding seamlessly as it has since the very start. Happy graduation to all the school kids stepping boldly into the world right now. And happy "life-continues" to kids like mine, who are steadily keeping on doing what they've always done.
In a world full of pain, injustice, and heartache, In a world full of pain, injustice, and heartache, there’s still a whole lot of magic hiding just out of sight. I don’t know who needs to see this today, but here’s a roadside pile of snuggling baby woodchucks that I happened upon last night. Each of them could have nestled in their squishy adorableness in the palm of my hand (gush). You’re welcome.
If my newest book has been financially out-of-reac If my newest book has been financially out-of-reach for your family, I’m delighted to share that it’s now available at every @fivebelow store in the US (with a limited edition cover that I adore!). What a delight to know that these projects and celebrations will be available to so many more families. If you’ve been around for a while (and if you know Five Below) you might wonder if we’re all that compatible. Because it’s, you know, a pretty mainstream toy shop. But for me, the idea of making simple, nature-based experiences available and accessible to everyone is at the very center of my heart and soul. Nature shouldn’t be for the “haves”; for only people with a big, green yard and the means (or inclination) to buy European wooden toys and plant-dyed silks. Nature play is the birthright of every human on the planet—especially kids who haven’t grown up with much privilege. As one follower put it, “Sometimes sustainable and handmade things feel out of reach to certain population groups. I live in DC and there are Five Belows close to bus routes[...]. I love that your awesome book is accessible!” ✨ #unpluggedfamilyactivitybook #unpluggedplay #childhoodunplugged @quartokids
Load More... Follow me on Instagram

About Me

Recent Posts

  • Lemon, Lavender & Yarrow Digestive Bitters Recipe
  • The Spring Simple Living Collection is here!
  • Fermented Fruit Chutney Recipe
  • The Winter Simple Living Collection
  • Rosemary & Lemon or Ginger & Cardamom Soda Syrup Recipes

Categories

DIY Herbal Remedies

Learn about foraging, herbal remedies, and making your own preparations.

Blog Archives

An honest, messy, real-life look into our world.

LüSa Organics

Discover our small-batch, organic body care. Handmade for the whole family.