Some of us inherited the apron and the herb bundle. Some of us inherited three thousand miles and a grandmother who was at war with the dandelion. This week, in the deep hearth of Cancer season, we sit with the long thread — the women whose hands came before ours, and the strange and sideways ways the green world gets handed down. I'll tell you about my grandmother, who fled a northern Michigan farm and never looked back, who tended two rose bushes and a few tomatoes in a patch of ground the size of a doorway as though they were the only things that mattered — and who once made my grandfather pull the Ford LTD over on a hot summer afternoon so she could give a landscaper a piece of her mind about the dandelions in a lawn. She saw the devil in that plant. I see an old friend. And I'll tell you about Evelyn, who was not my blood but who was, in every way that mattered, the woman who handed me the green world. She had twelve acres in New Hampshire, decades of White Mountain trails in her legs, and she could name every plant along a dirt road — common name and Latin both — and tell you which were medicine and which were simply worth stopping for. Between the two of them, I got my whole inheritance. We'll wander through the herbs that lived beside our grandmothers' hearths whether they called them medicine or not — mint and parsley, sage and thyme and rosemary, and the wild ones at the edge of the tended world: yarrow, plantain, chamomile, and the most generous weed there is. Because here is what I've come to believe: your grandmother did not have to believe in herbalism for the knowing to pass through her. It came down in the soup pot. It came down in here, drink this, you'll feel better. And if you've ever felt you missed the handing-down — that you came to all of this alone, with no one to teach you — I want you to hear this one from someone who came to it late, and sideways, and found the thread waiting anyway. Put the kettle on. Come sit. A gentle wondering to carry with you this week: Who handed you the green world? Was it a grandmother by blood, or one by grace — or did it come to you sideways, through absence, through refusal, through one plant somebody couldn't stand? Even one name is enough. The quieter, more personal writing lives in the Friday letter. ✍️ Join my Newsletter! Each Friday, a letter arrives from the garden — seasonal stories, herbal wisdom, and the quiet rhythms of the Celtic year. You'll be the first to hear about new offerings, upcoming classes, and hands-on workshops. And every month, subscribers get the topic and the link for our free Zoom circle, where we gather to learn and linger together. It's a slow, unhurried corner of the internet. Come as you are. https://thenewenglandherbary.com/join/ 🌿 Herbs & Favorite Tools (affiliate links — thank you for supporting this work) Herbs featured in this Show: 1. Dandelion Leaves https://amzn.to/4vRxWSa 2. Rosemary leaves https://amzn.to/4fbp9U3 3. Peppermint Leaves https://amzn.to/4aPp1bw My favorite tea-making tools: BAYKA French Press Coffee Maker, https://amzn.to/4r4LYNH Cold Brew Coffee Filter for Wide Mouth Mason Jar, https://amzn.to/4qWQr4L Heat-proof wide-mouth mason jars https://amzn.to/4pNflmq 📚Bookstore - Brenda J. Sullivan Books https://www.brendajsullivanbooks.com/ 🌱 My Garden Journal – A How-To Garden Book for Kids Because every gardener starts with a single seed — and a little curiosity. My Garden Journal is part how-to guide, part creative keepsake, designed to help children (and their grown-ups) learn the basics of growing food and flowers while documenting their journey. Inside you'll find: Simple planting guidance Space for drawings, photos, and notes Imaginative themed gardens (Harry Potter Herb Garden, Young Chef's Garden, Monarch Butterfly Garden) Perfect for homeschooling families, budding herbalists, and anyone who wants to grow confidence by growing plants. ✨ You'll be amazed at how much you — and your garden — grow when you take time to journal the journey. 🌿 Work With Me 🌙 Herbal Consultations (Now Open) Root your wellness in the wisdom of the plants — and the stars. My one-on-one consultations offer gentle, grounded guidance rooted in traditional herbalism, vitalist principles, and (if you wish) astrology. Each session begins with listening. 👉 Learn more here: https://mailchi.mp/351efb18cd6b/one-on-one-consultations-landing-page ☕ Buy Me a Cup of Tea If this story brought you comfort, you can support the channel here: https://buymeacoffee.com/thompsonstg 🎶 Music Credits A heartfelt thank you to Alexander Nakarada for the music featured in this story. I am a Patreon supporter of Alexander's work. 🎼 Song: Planning - 320bit - September 5, 2021 🔗 https://www.serpentsoundstudios.com/ 🌿 Stay Connected Website: https://thenewenglandherbary.com/ Youtube: https://youtube.com/@thenewenglandherbary?si=f7_MB0XEz0vn0Xr Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thenewenglandherbary/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61578148227744 The New England Herbary is a project of Thompson Street Farm LLC. https://thompsonstreetfarm.com/
