The Earth is Not Behind, and Neither Are You.
Earth Day Reflections from the Garden
This afternoon, I wandered through the garden in the golden hush of spring sunshine. The kind that warms your skin and makes everything feel tender and just beginning. I had been feeling behind—on planting, on growing, on all the invisible tasks that make up a season on a small farm. The to-do list in my mind was longer than the day.
But as I stepped out into the garden, I noticed something else:
The nettles are just starting to stretch.
St. John’s wort is waking up slowly, quietly.
The violets have arrived, whispering in the shady edges.
Even the rhubarb is still curled in on itself, waiting.
In that moment, I realized the earth is not behind.
It is simply moving at its own pace.
And it is my own impatience, not the land, that makes me feel rushed.
We talk a lot in the herbal world about aligning with the rhythms of nature. It sounds beautiful, but it is also hard. The world we live in demands urgency, production, results. Nature, on the other hand, offers us slowness. Intention. A pace that asks us to notice instead of control.
And so, this Earth Day, I am taking a breath.
Not to do more, but to trust more.
To remember that the nettle knows when to grow.
That the violet blooms in its own time.
That the earth leads—and I am here to follow.
These early spring plants are more than just the first signs of life on the farm—they are the beginning of our offerings for the season ahead. The nettle will find its way into nourishing teas. The St. John’s wort, once it soaks up the summer sun, will infuse oils that calm the body and spirit. The violets bring their gentle touch to facial care, while rhubarb marks conserved energy turning once again toward abundance.
At Half Wild Arts, everything we make begins here—with the land, the plants, and the rhythm of the seasons. Our skincare and saining sprays are handcrafted in small batches using herbs we grow with care, right here on our New Hampshire farm. Products like our Facial Set (with Rosewater Mist and Facial Serum), or our Mugwort Sain begin in moments just like this—quiet, connected, and in rhythm with the natural world.
This work is not about rushing to harvest or meeting a sales deadline. It is about honoring the slow beauty of the earth. The kind of beauty that cannot be rushed. The kind of beauty that begins underground, in roots and stillness and the patient push toward light.
As you move through this season, I invite you to walk with the land. Let the earth lead you. Trust its timing. And let your care—of self, of others, of the planet—begin not in urgency, but in reverence.
Happy Earth Day.
With love from the garden,
Ruth Ann 💜
Everything’s Coming Up!
This is the time of year when I go from feeling so far ahead to panicking that I’m too far behind. The hot days last week invited all the plants to start growing at once, and now the trees are flowering, the weeds are encroaching on the beds, and I’m looking at the first harvests of forsythia and violet starting soon.
It’s April, Fools!!
I felt the sun on my face and the sweat on my back today. The green things are greening, and the crows are hanging out sunning themselves in the trees while watching me work.
I felt the sun of my face and the sweat on my back today. The green things are greening, and the crows are hanging out sunning themselves in the trees while watching me work. Here are a few pics of what’s growing today.
Happy April, fools!!
The garlic is shooting up from under their heavy leaf blanket.
Motherwort emerging below last year's stems.
Salad burnet is ready to eat before any other greens in the garden. It adds a cucumber flavor to salads long before the cucumbers have even sprouted.
Chives!!!
Dallies are popping up everywhere.
This will be the third season for the new nettle patch, and they are going strong! I make these into a strong infusion and take it like a multivitamin because nettles are so nutritious.
Don’t be afraid to touch the nettles. They only sting if you move too fast and brush the leaves backwards. If you touch them from the ground up / stem out, the stinging hairs won’t sting. And even if they do, the stings are great for arthritis!
Purple asters
White campion — one of the only plants that I can’t find a positive thing to say about. It’s hearty, I guess? Hard to pull up.
Clover using the extra heat from growing under a brick to green up early. Micro climates can be very, very micro!
Ground Ivy doing the same — finding protection and warmth near the foundation of the sheltered side of the house. This is an invasive weed that I am constantly ripping out, but I do love and appreciate its fortitude.
St. John’s wort
Mouse-eared chickweed. Sadly, not a delicious edible like its cousin. This one will be pulled up at weeding time. I am seeding regular chickweed around, which will hopefully take over instead.
Not long now until the paper whites are blooming!!
Snow drops under the leaves.
Uncovered a bit — look at that bright green growth!
Snowdrops freed from the leaves and ready to delight until the other flowers start growing.
Natural Protection for the Outdoors
Herbal Bug Spray is a refreshing, herb-infused mist designed to keep your comfortable during your time outdoors. Made with thyme and other herbs grown on our farm, this formula is thoughtfully crafted to help you enjoy nature without unwatned distractions. Light and easy to apply, it is perfect for hikes, picnics, or any adventure under the open sky.
Best For: Outdoor Adventures, Hiking, Gardening, Camping
Not for use on pets.
This 56 mL bottle comes with a treatment pump that can be refilled twice with our Herbal Bug Spray Refill.
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