I’m a homesteader, seed keeper, gardener, and lifelong student of the natural world. I believe the garden is one of our greatest teachers—not just because it feeds us, but because it quietly reminds us how to slow down, pay attention, and participate in something much larger than ourselves.

My journey into homesteading began in 2017 when I apprenticed at Camp Joy Gardens. It was there that I discovered flowers are more than something beautiful to grow—they’re gentle teachers, inviting us to slow down, pay attention, and find joy in the smallest moments. Camp Joy is known for its annual wreath sale, and I delighted in experiencing the entire process, from sowing tiny seeds to harvesting, drying, and weaving plants into wreaths. Watching the seasons transform into something beautiful and lasting awakened something in me. It fed my creative spirit and deepened my connection to the natural world in ways I still carry with me today.

When Noel and I began building our own homestead, I wanted to recreate that experience for others because I knew, deep in my bones, that this is how we’re meant to live—connected to the seasons, creating with our hands, and finding joy in tending the earth. That vision eventually became Homestead Culture.  Today, many of the flowers I grow have their roots at Camp Joy. It feels like coming full circle—stewarding seeds that connect past and present while helping to carry forward the memories, stories, and traditions they hold.

I’ve also had the privilege of guiding others toward a deeper relationship with the natural world through wreath-making and seed-saving workshops at women’s gatherings and our local library. Whether I’m saving seeds, arranging blooms, or simply wandering the garden, I’m continually reminded that tending plants is an act of reciprocity. The more we care for the earth, the more it nourishes us.

Through Homestead Culture, I share practical skills to help others grow beauty, save seeds, and cultivate more joy in our lives. More than anything, I hope to inspire a deeper relationship with the living world—one rooted in curiosity, gratitude, creativity, and the belief that even the smallest garden can nourish both people and place.