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Summer 1-Housekeeping 0.

July 2, 2010March 17, 201824 Comments

Who was I kidding? The chores didn't stand a chance.

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After searching for years, we found a farm this we

After searching for years, we found a farm this week that spoke to all of our visions & dreams for our business, @lusa_organics. A place where we could settle in, grow, & lean into our dreams. Rolling lavender & calendula fields, community medicine-making, herbal retreats, & more...

We did impossible math to stretch our budget to the limit, then stretched even more. What we put on the table was a huge leap of faith–way out of our comfort zone. The fear brought me to tears. But we closed our eyes, held our breath, & jumped, hoping the net would appear.

We threw in everything we had and then some, but it wasn't enough. Another offer was accepted last night, & the dream vaporized as quickly as it had come.

We slept long & woke with our heads full of what might have been. Then we picked up our hammers and shovels & got back to work.

Because no, there won't be a retreat house & BNB just over the next ridge. No to that gorgeous production space with windows looking over the mist-shrouded valley. No fields of flowers for hydrosols & infusions. At least not quite yet.

But truly, it's really okay. I mean that. Because we have so very much already. Like this scrappy little farmhouse, messy & half-remodeled & loved, with exposed possibilities alongside the exposed lath. We have weeds to pull in this garden before planting seeds in another.

And maybe there's space here for some plant walks & community building. Because those don't require a picture-perfect fairytale farm–only our love for connection & people, planet & plants.

As this dream slipped away, I was surprised to feel acceptance & relief mingling with my grief. Sometimes when we take the risk & dream the gigantic dream, everything falls into place like a storybook. But other times it doesn't & it falls apart instead. And maybe I'm just a little too Pollyanna, but I think that's just as valuable in the end.

Because today we're appreciating every scrap of what we have, however imperfect. We're grateful for less debt & more time to focus on our current projects & priorities, and for dreaming this dream, however briefly.

It will lead us forward still, as we search for what lies just beyond the next bend.

So much love and meaningful conversation on my las

So much love and meaningful conversation on my last post! Thank you, friends. This mama’s heart is full.

For those who missed it, there’s a new blog post up with my reflections on 18 years of #homeschooling. Pop to my wall to read an excerpt on my last post, or head to the blog to read the full version!

We raised two kids & never sent them to school. W

We raised two kids & never sent them to school.

We denied them the childhood rites of passage of busses & lunch boxes; class bells & recess; homework, tests, & graduation.

I worried: what if we got the whole thing wrong? What if there’s a reason the path through childhood almost always begins & ends with school?

Because when you stay inside the lines & live life by the rules, if everything goes sideways at least you did what you told.

But when you go rogue & chart your own course? If your child struggles & falls then the whole unbearable burden hangs on you.

We did it anyway.

Straight out of the gate we charted our own course. No school, & hardly any “school at home” either. Just two kids raised wild & true & free.

A forge, a garden, & some unreasonably long road trips. A flock of sheep, a library card, & more art & craft supplies than we could jam into the cabinet.

We had math that looked like baking, history that looked like mythology, politics that looked like protests, biology that looked like foraging.

And honestly, we had so. much. fun.

My kids & I connected–deeper than my wildest dreams.

They had the space to grow up as slowly as they needed to while we chased fireflies, slept in the yard, spent our days following the luminous threads of their insatiable curiosity.

Our life was built brick by brick of their wonder, curiosity, creations, & dreams.

We healed what was broken, & learned side by side. Day after day, year after year.

A friend who worked with children once said to me, “Well, you know that your kids are exceptional. They’re not like ordinary kids.”

And I told him this: “No, my kids aren’t like other kids, but they’re also not exceptional. They’re simply normal kids who never had to fit into a mold that didn’t suit them. They’re just kids, unbroken, who never stopped following their questions & chasing their dreams.”

And I believe that. Ordinary kids are exceptional if we just let them be who they are, & live their beautiful lives.

And suddenly here we are, all these years later. They’re 14 & almost 19 now. Was it really worth it? Do we have regrets? (Read more through the link.)

MULLEIN LEAF TEA FOR LUNGS I've seen more mullein

MULLEIN LEAF TEA FOR LUNGS
I've seen more mullein this year than ever before, & the timing couldn't be better. This common weed of dry, sandy, disturbed areas supports healthy lungs–something we can all use now. Mullein is abundant, easy to identify, & gentle. So it's a great herb for those exploring herbalism for the very first time! Now more than ever, this is an herb our bodies need.

When we're inhaling smoke and other irritants (hello, wildfires) or even experiencing mild asthma symptoms, mullein goes to work to help us breathe easy again. Even here in Wisconsin, far from the ravaging fires out west and in Canada, the haze in the air is evident. And I'm deeply called to brew this herb to nourish my family and myself.

While I pause before I suggest we take more from the earth, I believe that when we connect with the plants & the planet, we can help to heal our relationship to the Earth and begin the work of restoring the health of the planet. As long as there's reciprocity, the plants are here–just waiting for us to lean in and listen.

In my first book, Herbal Adventures, I give loads of mullein plant ID tips so you can confidently forage your own (mullein≠lamb's ear)! I also share several recipes for a mullein cough syrup, steam, cold season tea blend. But even a simple mullein leaf tea is soothing for smoke-weary lungs. And making your own couldn't be easier.

🌿 MULLEIN TEA FOR LUNG CARE: Steep 1 tbsp dried or fresh mullein leaf in 1 cup of just-boiled water. Cover and steep for 10 minutes or longer (up to overnight). Strain and drink daily as desired.

If you forage your own mullein, do so responsibly–both for your safety & as a respectful forager & steward. Even abundant herbs must be harvested with reverence, thoughtfulness, care, and permission. Mullein is easy to harvest–simply tease a leaf or two from each plant, leaving it in the ground to continue to grow.

Foraging safety tips: Never harvest near roadsides or industrial areas. Mullein is a wonder at pulling heavy metals from the ground. While that's good for the earth, we don't want it in our tea. Harvest from out-of-the-way places only. Avoid areas that have been sprayed with chemicals.

At 48, I'm thinking about life the transitions we

At 48, I'm thinking about life the transitions we walk through as we grow from child to elder; birth to death. "Middle age" has me reflecting on what's passed, what is, and what has yet to come. And on what matters most in the end. The archetypes of maiden, mother, crone are my companions as I journey from youth to age.

These three selves have cohabited my soul since the start. Ever present, their struggles & strengths have defined me as I slowly learn what it feels like to honor my truths.

Maiden. Knowing my truth but leading more with fear than authenticity. I believed others when they told me I was wrong & I groped for solid ground. Wrestling fear & self-doubt; I danced with uncertainty & worry.

Mother. A primal roar brought her forth from the watery darkness. A crack! and everything changed. I knew myself so suddenly then that it took my breath away. And just as suddenly, I cared not when others told me I was wrong. I search for solid ground with fierce determination (knowing it was there, rather than hoping for something I didn't believe in), and found it at last. I embraced the uncertainty & vulnerability of motherhood. After losing myself here, I found myself for the very first time.

Crone. Around the next bend I see her taking shape. Grey hair dancing wild in the wind, kind eyes sparkling, & a fierceness she won't hide. She is earth & air, water & fire, braided together in a shining plait. She feels safe in the world for the very first time.

Crone exists not to please but to be true. Not to contort herself for others, but to deeply know herself. She knows that she (not maiden or even mother) was the dream all along. The dream of self-knowing & authenticity.

She watches & listens, hearing what is said and what is not said by people & plants & the Earth. In her basket are herbs, fruit, & flowers, harvested with care. Just enough–always enough–and never too much. Because she’s grown wiser, slower, more mindful.

She slips her hand into her pocket, & draws forth the seeds she plants each day. Seeds tucked into the Earth with thanks & love for the many harvests that have come before, & the few that are still to follow.

I embrace her. As I become her.

Last spring we discovered that Nellie the Vintage

Last spring we discovered that Nellie the Vintage Camper had sprung two serious leaks over winter, and was damaged to the point of being unusable. The roof sealant we used failed spectacularly and left us with a sagging ceiling and a shower corner that was falling in (cure tears).

Since we were locked down for COVID, Sage suggested we tear into it and fix it ourselves–just the kids and me. And... we did it! Today's remodel update is: it’s fabulous.

There's still more to do, but we're nearly there.

✔️damaged wall + ceiling boards replaced
✔️roof resealed
✔️old light fixtures replaced with LEDs
✔️beadboard over the gross ‘90’s wallpaper
✔️everything painted
✔️handmade linen curtains installed
✔️vintage maps of our family's favorite US road trip destinations decoupaged in the kitchen
✔️stainless bathroom sink replaced yellowed, cracked plastic one

I’m so jazzed.

Deeply grateful for this dream. Plans are gellin

Deeply grateful for this dream.

Plans are gelling for an unforgettable summer adventure in 2022. I can hardly wait. Email me and ask to be added to my mailing list to get all the delicious details! (Retreat@lusaorganics.com)

#irelandherbalretreat2022

After six months of dreaming and inching my way to

After six months of dreaming and inching my way toward transforming this fantasy into reality, I'm 96.24% sure that the Ireland Herbal Retreat is going to happen. My sights are set on the summer of 2022. Pinch. Me. 🌈 ✨

So my question today is this: who wants to come and play with me in Ireland? It's a once-in-a-lifetime adventure! And I can hardly wait. 🍀

Drop a note below of three things you'd love to see or do in Ireland on a life-changing retreat. Then if you are dreaming of making this 11 day/10-night journey with me through the heart and soul of Ireland, playing with plants, exploring deep history, wandering ancient groves, connecting with kindred souls, and rediscovering all that makes you feel alive, then drop an email right this minute to my Herbal Retreat mailbox (retreat@lusaorganics.com) and ask me to add you to my retreat email list.

By adding your name, you'll be among the first to know as things begin taking shape and registration opens (which I suspect will be SOON). There will be just two dozen spaces available, and I expect they’ll fill fast.

I can hardly wait.

#irelandherbalretreat2022

After six months of dreaming and inching my way to

After six months of dreaming and inching my way toward transforming this fantasy into reality, I'm 96.24% sure that the Ireland Herbal Retreat is going to happen. My sights are set on the summer of 2022. Pinch. Me. 🌈 ✨

So my question today is this: who wants to come and play with me in Ireland? It's a once-in-a-lifetime adventure! And I can hardly wait. 🍀

If you are dreaming of making this 11 day/10-night journey with me through the heart and soul of Ireland, playing with plants, exploring deep history, wandering ancient groves, connecting with kindred souls, and rediscovering all that makes you feel alive, then drop an email right this minute to my Herbal Retreat mailbox (retreat@lusaorganics.com) and ask me to add you to my retreat email list. You'll be the first to hear as things begin taking shape and registration opens (which I suspect will be SOON). There will be just two dozen spaces available, and I expect they’ll fill fast. I can hardly wait.

#irelandherbalretreat2022

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We went rogue and didn’t school our kids. Here’s how it turned out.
Mullein Tea for Lung Care
Lemon, Lavender & Yarrow Digestive Bitters Recipe
The Spring Simple Living Collection is here!
Fermented Fruit Chutney Recipe

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