Have you thought about what fruit you want to reap in the coming year? As a gardener, you quickly learn that whatever seeds you sow determine what fruit you’re going to get to eat. A lot of work and effort goes into making sure you enjoy that fruit, but you’re not going to reap squash…
People often ask what we do at Spirit Tree Farms. While we love planting native plants and pollinator-friendly wildflowers, growing a garden, exploring the medicinal properties of native plants, cooking what grows, and using what comes from the land, we are really driven by three core guiding principles or philosophies. In this video we talk…
What is late blooming thoroughwart? What are the medicinal properties of late blooming thoroughwart? And how can you preserve it to use in infusions to assist with fevers and colds? Late blooming thoroughwart (aka late boneset) is a flowering plant in the aster family which is native to North America. It was known as a…
Our “spirit tree” at Spirit Tree Farms, a pre-Civil War oak that we fondly refer to as “The Old Woman of the Woods,” has produced chicken of the woods mushroom at the end of July 2022 and 2023. This year’s harvest was especially prolific. We harvested the pieces with a knife and then brought it…
Have you ever wondered why you can be stressed, go for a walk in nature, and feel so much better afterward? You’re calmer, more serene, more at ease? That’s because the earth literally syncs up your heart to a more peaceful state. HeartMath Institute is doing cutting edge research which explains why we feel peaceful,…
Are you dealing with creator’s block? Feeling a little uninspired? Whether you’re stuck for something to write, paint, draw, or you need a creative solution to your challenges, nature can hold your answers. Since the beginning of time, nature has been a boundless source of inspiration. Early men and women drew animals and their daily…
Incorporating native plants into your meals can have numerous benefits for your overall wellness. Native plants are those that have naturally evolved and adapted to local environmental conditions, making them well-suited to the specific soil, climate, and other factors in their native habitats. Here are a few ways that incorporating native plants into your diet…
In today’s fast-paced and constantly connected world, many of us find ourselves feeling overwhelmed and stressed out. However, one simple way to combat these negative feelings is by spending time in nature and observing the natural world around us. In this blog post, we will explore the many benefits that nature observation can have on…
A portion of our property has had monocrops (sod and corn) on it for a decade. A local sod farmer has used herbicides on our property for many years to kill off winter wheat and planted corn in the summers. Starting last year, we took back this portion of our property and are hoping to…
It’s funny — when Dave mentions forest bathing, people look at him a little funny. I think they think he’s talking about something like skinny dipping. Um… no… 🙂 Forest bathing, also known as Shinrin-yoku, is a Japanese practice that involves immersing oneself in nature and connecting with it using all five senses. It is…
