It’s tempting, I know. The packaging is beautiful, the words like “Pollinator Paradise” and “Northeast Native Blend” seem promising, and it feels like tossing a handful of seeds should result in a lush wildflower meadow. But here’s the truth: these packets…

Yes, you read that right—Weeding. Together. On purpose.

Hear me out.

Weeding is wildly therapeutic. I’m not kidding. There’s something about getting your hands in the dirt, pulling stubborn roots, and watching a messy patch transform into something open and clean—it does something to your soul. It’s one of the best mood-lifters I know. And I want to invite you to come experience it with me.

Let me tell you a story.

Back when I ran a community garden, there was one gardener…

Broody Again: Frog the Hen and Her Springtime Ritual

Every spring, like clockwork, our hen Frog goes broody. This is her third year in a row, and at this point, she’s something of a legend around here. So far, she’s hatched 36 chicks in her lifetime—yes, 36—and this season, she’s…

If you want your landscape to look like you hired a high-end designer, the clues are subtle—but unmistakable, especially to the trained eye of a garden planner, like me. The first giveaway is the…

I’m looking for recipe taste testers for a very special project I am working on! Do you want to come feast on nutrient-dense, organic, locally grown meals I’m creating over the span of this summer? I’ll be preparing lunches as part of my Lunaria Estate Lifestyle Book, and you’re invited to be part of the experience. Are you camera ready? I’d love to snap a few photos for my advertising campaign.

For me, being a foodie is…

Most backyard chickens are kept in coops or enclosed runs to protect them from predators. And for good reason—losing hens to foxes or owls is a painful reality. But over last 5 years, I’ve been raising a free-range flock on a rocky mountainside in Hinesburg, Vermont. People often chuckle when I tell them this. “You won’t have them long,” they say. But here’s the twist…

Right now, our star he, Frog, is brooding for the third Spring in a row. She’s tucked into a nest she claimed, and while…

Have you ever noticed how many sayings come from bird life?

Don’t get your feathers ruffled

Don’t count your eggs before they hatch

Dirty bird

Silly bird

Can you read my chicken scratch?

All cooped up

I mean, clearly, chickens have had a chokehold on culture longer than we realize.

Anyway—today I learned something new: the angry version of the egg song? That full-throated chicken chorus? That’s not just a post-lay celebration—it’s a defense mechanism. It’s how the girls alert each other—and me—to danger.

Right before a Zoom call this morning, I heard…

Gardening is often romanticized as a calming, grounding practice— and it is— but anyone who’s really done it also knows that it is an exercise in letting go.

I didn't expect to learn non-attachment from plants. But again and again, the garden…

When I first heard about No Mow May—I was all in. The concept is simple and well-intentioned: hold off on mowing your lawn to help pollinators emerge from the leaf litter and early spring ground cover. Sounds wonderful, right?

And in theory, it is…

Those were the words that my neighbor enthusiastically yelled to me today as she rode by on her bike. While the wind was biting and cold, I couldn’t keep myself from getting out there to do time sensitive work of…

Join the Friends of the Garden Club and unlock a world of exclusive, enriching experiences in a unique, intimate setting. As a member, you’ll enjoy valuable benefits, including hands-on workshops, serene nature outings, and special events—all designed to nourish your soul and deepen your connection with nature. Discover the magic and camaraderie in our garden sanctuary.

Garden Layout for a Purple and Gold Themed Garden Bed. Suitable for Vermont Zone 5a or 4b, using mostly Vermont natives.

The Seeds You Need to Start Indoors

If you wait until it’s warm to start certain crops, you’ll never get a harvest before the first frost sneaks back in. Tomatoes and peppers are non-negotiable for early indoor starts. Unlike fast-growing crops that can be direct sown, tomatoes and peppers need time—and in Vermont, planting them straight into the ground just isn’t an option.

That’s why I’m doing my seed shopping now.