Gardening & Native Plants
I love gardening as well as identifying and learning to use native trees, plants and herbs. My husband Dave and I have a small family farm we call Spirit Tree Farms where we are working to identify and use the many native plants, trees, and herbs that grow here. We believe as we heal the land, we heal ourselves. I’ll be documenting what we learn and create here.
- Foraging Faithfully: Discovering the Provision Already Growing
As the wildflower field revealed itself, my curiosity deepened. What had emerged wasn’t just beautiful—it was abundant. And not only in color, but in purpose. I began to wonder what else the land was offering that we hadn’t yet learned how to see. That question became an invitation. I started researching the native plants growing… - What We Thought We Were Building—and What the Land Had in MindWhen my husband and I first married, we carried a clear vision onto the land. We imagined writing retreats. Creativity retreats. A place where ideas could breathe and people could rest and rejuvenate. The property already existed—purchased years earlier—but the house had been sitting empty, waiting patiently for attention. Before anything beautiful could grow, the…
- From Paintbrush to Pen: Generations of CreationAs my mother gathered up her paint palette and brushes, the familiar scent of oils and turpentine hung in the air. I admired her handiwork—a meadow full of flowers on a canvas that seemed monstrous to me as a six-year-old. Mama screwed the lid on a tube of earthy golden-yellow paint, set it down, and…
- When the Invasive Becomes Sacred: Lessons from the Scottish ThistleI have continually been praying about how to best prepare for the days ahead. When I lie down to sleep I ask for dreams to guide me. Last night I dreamed of bull thistle. We have them in our field and they are considered invasive here in NW Georgia. They’re native to Scotland. In the…
- The Benefits of Purslane for Heart HealthImagine finding a powerful heart health ally growing right in your backyard. Purslane, often dismissed as a common weed, is rich in omega-3 fatty acids and natural salts, making it a surprising yet effective addition to a heart-healthy diet. Purslane’s Nutrient Power: In this video, I share my personal experience with purslane, highlighting its unique…
- Embracing Serenity: Finding Joy Amid Life’s ChaosMy husband and I have a lot on our plates. We have elderly fathers in their 90s who are not in the best of health, and we have numerous repairs and upgrades planned for our house and property in the coming months. On top of that, my father will be moving in with us full-time….
- Interview with American BurnweedAmerican Burnweed meaning, symbolism and uses. What can we learn from this prolific plant about confidence, creativity and sharing our messages? Find out in my interview with American Burnweed.
- Reality Check: Don’t Compare Your Worst with Someone Else’s Online BestReal life isn’t what people portray on social media. It’s great to look for the good, but we also need to avoid comparing our worst with someone else’s best. People tend to show only the good when they’re showcasing their homes, their lives, their property, or their projects online. But real life is messy. Things…
- It’s a Partnership: Learning from the Earth and Nature Through the SpiritThe earth isn’t something beneath us to be fixed. It’s our partner in healing. Together with the earth and our Creator we can heal ourselves and nature. My husband, Dave, and I had the opportunity to present about how we partner with and learn from nature as part of the “In the Company of Stewards”…
- Simplify Your Life & Make Room for PeaceThe parable of the Chinese privet illustrates how to simplify your life so you have more room for peace, love, joy, wonder and fulfillment. Are you often overwhelmed by everything on your plate? Are you dealing with financial, relationship, or health challenges that are stealing your peace? Does the world’s drama stress you out? Many…
- Native Wildflower TreasuresIn the past, I have not been a fan of letting grasses grow. I’ve been partial to a well-mowed field, but this year we’ve let our field grow a bit. The cool thing about letting things grow is you discover that you have treasures you never knew you had. To help the pollinator population, we…
- God and His PollinatorsThis morning I took some extra time in nature to learn about our nature as human beings. My husband came in from working outside early this morning and suggested I go down to the cedar circle because there were lots of flowers in bloom and the temperature was a cool 79 degrees F. In the…
- Garden Fresh Tomato Basil Soup RecipeThere’s nothing like homemade tomato basil soup with grilled cheese sandwiches! Make that tomato basil soup with fresh tomatoes and basil from the garden, and it’s amazing! Growing Tomatoes This year, we have the best tomato crop I’ve ever had. We got our tomato plants from various locations – many of them came from our…
- From Field Wheat to Banana Bread with Our GranddaughterMy 4-year-old granddaughter and I threshed and winnowed wheat from our field together. We took the wheat from the spike all the way to banana bread. She was completely fascinated by the process.
- How to Hand-Harvest and Hand-Process Winter WheatMy June experiment has been hand-harvesting and hand-processing winter wheat. The biggest lesson I learned is to make sure the wheat is dry. This video illustrates the process I used to hand-process winter wheat.
