January 6th marks the beginning of Epiphany, a period of several weeks in the Christian liturgical year between Christmas and Lent. This season of Epiphany calls us to be Wise Men and Women, to search out the Holy and appear before it with praise and gratitude. The story tells us it requires a long journey, a journey that will, in the end, bring us face to face with the truth.
48-Hour Holiday Popup
This pop-up has now closed. Sign up for our newsletter to be notified of the next Lady Farmer Marketplace event! Hand-made, small-batch, sustainable items made ethically in America. Our main objective from the beginning of this journey with Lady Farmer was to find...
Slowing Down for the Holidays
How many times in the past have we all heard and said that the holidays are “so busy,” that December is “so crazy,” or talked about the “Christmas rush?” It seems to be a foregone conclusion that there’s never enough time to do all of the things we want to do and that...
The Value of Mending
“We’re forced to slow down, and begin to understand the amount of work and care that goes into the creation of clothes. This understanding causes us to value clothing, and the more we value clothing, the less we’ll waste it.” - Lily Fulop Probably the most accessible...
Myth Busting: “I Don’t Have Time For Slow Living”
Welcome to the first in a new series on the blog, where we dive into some common misconceptions about what it is to live more slowly and sustainably. We’re here to clear things up a bit, and to show you how a more sustainable lifestyle is achievable for everyone, no...
Make Your Next Picnic Zero-Waste and Plastic-Free
It’s finally summer, which means we’re gearing up for a lot more time spent out in the sun—or better yet, a perfect spot in the shade! You might not be able to gather with friends at your favorite local eatery right now, but you can certainly prepare your own food and...
Why These Sustainable Wool Dryer Balls Are Better
When contemplating sustainable laundry, hand washing and line drying might be ideal. But we don’t have to go that far if we’re not inclined—do we?
Swarm Season!
I was doing some things outside the barn the other day when I heard a very loud humming sound, and looked up to see a dark mass hovering over our bee hive boxes. I’d seen this before and knew what to do. Quick action was needed. Luckily I had my phone with me. “Joe,...
Venturing Into the World of Indigo
This time last year we were honored to welcome Graham Keegan (@yesgraham) and his crew to our farm as they made their way from Los Angeles to Vermont, educating communities along their route about the magic of the indigo plant. As the DC area stop on the 2019 Indigo...
May Book Club Goes Wild!
As we make our way through the many changes wrought by this journey through the global pandemic, do you find yourself drawn to the idea of wilderness? When we begin to recognize a desire for a more slow living lifestyle, there comes a glimmer of awakening from the...
Good “Slow Living” Reads for 2020
Join us for the Slow Living Book Club, a monthly “get together” to discuss books that relate (however loosely) to our favorite topic, and one that’s gaining more relevance every day.
Quilting: How Our Great Grandmothers Dealt with FOMO
We all know what a quilt is – or we at least have some idea. To some people a quilt is just a kind of blanket that old people have, to some, quilts are a Pinterest inspired wedding decor, and to others, quilts are a a physical manifestation of excited energy that had nowhere else to go.
How to Dye Eggs Naturally for Easter
The tradition of dyeing Easter eggs goes way back, most likely even before Easter itself, to pagan times when spring celebrations included decorating eggs as a symbol of rebirth. For me personally, the ritual goes back to the sixties, a kitchen table covered with...
Slow Living Challenge – Week #5 – Nature
It's a widely accepted and well studied notion that our modern way of life has created a disconnect between humans and the natural world, and this affects our health and well-being. Our direct interaction with the sun and wind, the weather, the seasonal shifts, water...
Slow Living Challenge – Week #4 – Time
Today marks the return of Daylight Savings Time for much of the country, and the whole thing about losing an hour and gaining it back in the fall. Isn't it odd how whatever time the clock says, is only what everyone has agreed it's going to be? Let's talk about time....
Slow Living Challenge – Week #3 – Slow Spaces
How can we cultivate surroundings that deeply nurture our health and well-being? At Lady Farmer, we talk a lot about how as a culture and as humans, we've lost so much of our connection to the sources of our daily needs - our food, our clothing, our shelters and tools...
Slow Living Challenge – Week #2 – Slow Food
This week, we're talking about food, but not just any food. We're taking a look at real food, what it is, and why it's important and how you can bring more of it into your life. So what what is slow food to you? Does that mean a home cooked meal? Hand grown veggies? A...
Slow Living Challenge – Week #1 – Slow Fashion
The apparel industry is a leading source of pollution on the planet. Staggering amounts of water are used to make a single t-shirt that’s flown all over the globe for different stages of production before hitting some chain retail shelf for a few dollars. Hands that...
Sowing Seeds of Slow Living – Join our 2020 Challenge!
Sowing seeds of slow living is our mantra at Lady Farmer. Simplifying our belongings, prioritizing good choices in food and clothing, and choosing sustainable habits have a positive impact on ourselves, our community and our planet. In 2019, the Lady Farmer community...
Sustainable Holiday Gift Wrapping and Decorating Ideas
Are you looking for simple ways to cultivate more sustainable holiday traditions? Rethinking our decorations, tree trimming and gift wrapping is a good place to start. Traditional holiday ornaments, gift wrapping paper, tape, ribbons and trimmings often contain...
Looking Back at The Lady Farmer Slow Living Retreat 2019
What happens when you put dozens of fun and smart sustainably-minded women together in a beautiful setting for two days, with wonderful food and wine and amazing workshops? In a word: magic! And magic is indeed what happened on November 15th-17th, when we had the...
Sustainable Lifestyle Skills: Mending Basics
A big part of leading a sustainable lifestyle is knowing that there are alternatives to buying more things, especially when it comes to our clothes. We already know not to buy fast and cheaply produced fashion, and fortunately there are more brands out there now who...
Why We Partner With Local Small Businesses: Meet Our Retreat Sponsors
The fall is a magical time for us here at Lady Farmer. And no, it's not just because we get to cozy up with our dogs by the fire or watch the crisp sunrises through the yellowing leaves of the black walnut tree out back (although that's pretty great).... One of the...
Sustainable Living: A Primer on Clean Beauty
In terms of creating a more sustainable lifestyle, what does the term “clean beauty” encompass? As Lady Farmers, we like to think about the health of the planet and the people when considering the things we use every day. Is the product made with naturally derived...
Slow Food Series: Sourdough Bread
What is a slow food practice that you can start right now, with things you already have in your kitchen? Sourdough baking! Sourdough bread is made from fermented dough. The level of fermentation can vary. Basically, the dough that's used in sourdough bread is a mix...
Sustainable Living; Nature Heals
We’ve banned plastic straws, bought our reusable water bottles, and become expert thrift shoppers. We’ve learned that small changes in our lifestyle can have mighty impacts on the environment. But did you know that contributing to the health of the planet will not...
Sustainable Clothing: All About Dyes
Walk into any clothing store these days and look around. Garments are available in a vast array of colors, from black, white and neutral tones all the way to neon brights in any hue and everything in between. To the modern day consumer, it's perfectly normal and...
Sustainable Lifestyle: 3 Easy Practices for Managing Stress On-the-Spot
A sustainable lifestyle is more than just integrating slow fashion and zero waste practices into your routine. Just as our material resources need to be managed in a way that allows us the joy of slow living, our inner resources, such as our mental and emotional...
Five Easy Plants to Grow for Delicious, Healthy Summer Drinks
Nothing says summertime like having a cool drink in the shade. We enjoy a lot of iced drinks here on the farm, especially when the chores keep us outside on hot days. Despite the hundreds of beverage choices on the market, however, there are several reasons we choose...
Sustainable Travel: Real Food on the Road
Making sustainable food choices on a road trip can be a challenge, especially if you really care about sourcing and quality. Options are usually limited to fast food and packaged, shelf stable snacks at gas stations, not even close to the guidelines we like to follow...