Celebrating Ostara
Known to many as “Ostara”, this magical equinox has many traditions, rituals and some interesting deities. Read more in my latest blog post… |
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| What has our jewellery brand Harmonite been up to? |
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Already completed a couple of local craft fairs this month, and had some amazing feedback from customers and visitors about our pendants. Thank you, it means so much!
I typically start looking at leaf sizes at the end of March, but I noticed during a cycle ride last week that the hawthorn leaves on the sunny side of the hedge were already reaching the perfect size. So the flower press is almost full again now. |
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Hawthorn has the Celtic name Huathe, and represents the letter H in the Ogham alphabet. It has various meanings including cleansing, chastity and protection.
The young leaves are edible and make a healing tea, but the berries are great at regulating blood pressure. I make a tincture in autumn which I use as a general winter tonic to keep my heart and kidneys healthy. |
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| Trying out a pagan spring fayre a little further from home this weekend. It gives me the perfect excuse to pack the binoculars and visit the Holme Dunes Nature Reserve, which will be a new one for me. Very excited and must not forget my camera! |
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| What have I been writing? |
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Revive and Thrive
I’m still working on the cover, but I’m inching closer to publishing my next book all about regenerative gardening. What the heck is regenerative gardening you might ask – well it’s a no-dig method of gardening that gives nature a helping hand, first by making the soil healthier, then by growing plants that support each other, and then encouraging a whole host of nature’s living things to do the hard work for you, whilst you “tame it” for your own gain.
So if you look out at your garden and see a barren wasteland with the only splash of green coming from garden “weeds”, and you don’t have a huge budget to spend, or the first clue about where to start, then this book is aimed at you.
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New Manager with Imposter Syndrome?
For all those silently struggling women who don’t speak up for fear of sounding ungrateful (of which I was once one). This book unveils the untold stories of trailblazing women battling imposter syndrome. Navigate the challenges, triumph over self-doubt, and master leadership techniques, and feel empowered.
Also available on Audible.
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| What have I been influenced by lately? |
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Knepp Wildland Podcast
“Join Knepp ecologist, Penny Green, and experience some of the wildlife wonders encountered, the secrets uncovered and the remarkable people who are part of the Knepp Wildland project.”
The perfect background to pendant making.
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Stick Season by Noah Kahan
The first new album I have bought in a long while, but so glad I did. A lyrical genius and folk guitarist like no other. This is actually Noah’s third studio album, written during lockdown in 2020 which he describes as “a Love Letter to New England”, but his unique style and almost morbid resignation from modern life make me keen to check out his earlier two albums.
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Kate Humble’s Coastal Britain
After walking both the South Downs Way and the Jurassic coast in recent years, I started watching this to get some inspiration for my next walking route and got completely hooked. Covering some stunning walks and meeting some of the best of British coastal workers and residents I found the whole thing charming, educational and very relaxing.
I still haven’t decided on my next walk yet, but this has certainly given me a good list to research further.
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| One small business helping out another … |
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Moon Phase Studios
Meet Hayley, the incredible artist behind the Lunar Calendar hanging on her wall in this picture.
I bought her 13 moon, lunar journal this year and it’s simply stunning. Packed full of interesting info, prompts, quotes and space to make your own notes.
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A final word from the woodland…
The birds are busier than ever, the primroses are in full bloom and the nettle tops will soon be big enough to harvest the first crop of the season for the pasta pot. I can’t wait. So until Beltane at the start of May, I wish you all a wonderful Ostara, and fantastic season ahead. I’m off to toast hot cross buns now!
Joanne
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| If you are reading this and thinking who the hell is Joanne Hedger, then I sincerely apologize; your email address has reached my Google contacts list somewhere along the line and I have embarrassingly failed to keep in touch. For this I am very sorry and wish you all the best in life. (There is an unsubscribe link below).If, however, you wish to continue receiving Elemental newsletters, be sure to whitelist my email address or mark me as an approved sender in your email inbox. This is to ensure that you will receive all updates and announcements and not have me sent to your spam box. My email address is: joanne@elementalretail.com |
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