The Farm
As most of you know and some are discovering, I, Jo-Anna, Owner/Stylist/Herbalist of Flipp am also the Herbalist in residence at Shewatuck Farm in Exeter R.I.
Shewatuck is a 91 acre Farm Incubator which in essence means they provide education and skills to food producing farmers and food processor entrepreneurs so that they may become economically and environmentally self-sufficient. This also includes myself, being the farmer for the medicinal Herb gardens which will be used to educate folks through various workshops and classes I will hold, and also gives me the opportunity to grow the plants that will be used for a variety of services and products in our Apothecary at the salon. Everything from tea blends, to extracts used in treatments for the scalp, skin and hair, to the ingredients that go into the formulations for my line Botanic providence.
As part of an expansion in what our Apothecary offers there will also be plant/ potted herb sales, and a CSA share pickup at Flipp for anyone interested in the PVD area.
As an Herbalist, it has been a great honor to actually start these wonderful allies from seed, work with them in the nursery, size up the baby plants, and eventually plant them into the Earth. Getting to know the plants from all of their “elemental” , “energetic” and physical/chemical attributes and qualities. We are a Biodynamic farm, have a Mushroom grove and an Apiary. Each of the Farmers involved brings a unique experience to the collective, and together we are creating some wonderful things.
It’s excruciatingly hard work at times, but so incredibly rewarding to have the opportunity to learn and observe the cycles and various ecosystems as they unfold in every little microcosm of cultivating life in the plant kingdom, and learn what it means to truly be a good steward to our Mother Earth.
As this journey unfolds, I am eager to share and take you along, whether it be through updates in newsletters, blog posts here, farm tours and more. Each Season has it’s magic, energy, and color in those fields, in the greenhouse and plant nursery. Each Season has it’s harvest and with it the wonderful opportunities to learn and become akin to the gifts our Mother Earth provides for us.
Please check out our quick video tour of the farm, below.
