Abbey Donald (@wildwattlefolk) Issues 2, 3, 4, 5
Abbey is a writer, herbalist, doula & mother to 3 home educated wild ones living a seasonally on Wadawurrung land, Australia She holds great passion for slowing down and connecting deeply with nature, using this as the foundation for her journey in life. Previously working as a nature play facilitator in an Earth School, she believes the best place for learning to be done is barefoot & outdoors.
Alice Cantrell (@twigandmoth) Issue 1
Alice is a homeschooling mom since 1998 and has been creating art for as long as she can remember. She lives with her family on a small homestead in South Louisiana, where lots of plants and unusual critters also reside (bees, chickens, and a rabbit!) She started creating educational materials when she began to homeschool her oldest and was unable to find beautiful nature-inspired materials. Find more at www.twigandmoth.com
Allyson Speake (@tanglewoodhollow) Issues 1, 2, 3, 4, 5
Allyson Speake is a New Hampshire-based illustrator and writer who enjoys adventures in the forest with her two children. Allyson studies herbs, teaches nature classes on her small suburban homestead, and creates materials to help families connect with the natural world and slow living. She is passionate about helping families to live slowly and simply. Find more at www.tanglewoodhollow.com
Alysia Moreno (@magnolia.and.oak) Issues 4, 5
Alysia lives in a small seaside town on the Central Coast of California with her husband, 3 children, and lots of animals (dogs, chickens, tortoises, rabbit, frogs and fish). She is passionate about nature and loves sharing ways to create and heal with the Earth. Some of Alysia‘s favorite ways to connect with nature are through herbalism, natural dying, spinning and knitting wool fibers, flower arranging, and basket weaving. Alysia loves learning new skills and traditional ways of crafting and tending the Earth.
Amanda Pahls (@amandapahls) Issue 4
Amanda Pahls is a happy wife, mother, and home educator to their 4 little women ages 3-8. She is happiest spending time with her family, slowly fixing up their 1935 home with her husband, who she most commonly refers to as her boyfriend. Amanda is a trained therapist and is passionate about choosing joy, thrifting, collecting chairs, crocks, and wardrobes, and believes there is power in perspective and eating baked goods with friends.
Amanda Paul (@ajwildwayfarm) Issues 2, 3
Amanda Paul owns and operates Wild Way Farm & Apiary, a small farm focusing on biodynamic gardening, soil health, and self-reliant living in New Hampshire. Established in 2012, Amanda grows heirloom vegetables, has many perennial pollinator gardens and is developing a zone 5 fruit forest. She is an avid beekeeper and also raises chickens, ducks, geese, and goats. Wild Way Farm heirloom seeds and raw honey available locally and at: Wildwayfarm.net
Amanda Riley (@amanda.w.riley) Issues 2, 3, 5
Amanda Riley is a writer, self-taught herbalist, and farmer living in the Southern Appalachians of Western North Carolina with her husband and daughter, whom they homeschool. After tending a (sub)urban homestead in town for over a decade, last year they purchased a large piece of property and they recently made the transition to farm life and are currently living in a camper while waiting to build their new home. Aside from farming and gardening, some of her favorite things are long meandering walks in the woods, salty ocean air, the smell of horses, getting lost in a good book, strong hot tea, and train whistles. She appreciates flowers, soft cats, kindness, and a good roaring fire. You can follow her on her personal page @amanda.w.riley, or over on the farm page @sweetbranchfarmandforest.
Amber O'Neal Johnston (@heritagemomblog) Issue 4
Amber lives in Georgia nestled among pine trees, hammocks and ziplines with her husband and their four children. Her happy place is the back porch on a rainy day, preferably with a giant mug of hot tea and a good book. And although she was raised in the air conditioning, somehow the woods is where she feels most at home these days. When they have the chance, her family enjoys extended worldschooling trips to immerse themselves in other cultures. Amber enjoys sharing diverse booklists and lesson guides full of multicultural mirrors and windows at www.HeritageMom.com and @heritagemomblog.
Amy Fuss (@simplefamilylifestyle, @startcreativestudio) Issues 1, 2
Start Creative was founded on the belief that everyone has an artist inside. Sometimes we just need a little start to get our creativity flowing. Visit their blog for lots of fun and creative project ideas at www.startcreativestudio.com.
Amy Knight (@ablossominglife) Issue 1
Amy is a nutritionist turned stay-at-home, homeschooling mom to two young children. She loves all things natural, creating beautiful spaces, cooking real food, DIYing, and living on a budget. Find more about her at www.ablossominglife.com.
Angela Ferraro-Fanning (@axeandroothomestead) Issue 2
Angela built Axe & Root Homestead, a six-acre farm in central New Jersey. She started homesteading in 2012 after she suffered postpartum depression with her first child. She was unhappy in the graphic design business she had worked over a decade to build successfully and longed to be outdoors, aligning her lifestyle with the seasons and with nature. She started growing and preserving as much of her own homegrown produce as possible and quickly grew from a home garden to a farm bustling with Clydesdales, geese and ducks for eggs, an apiary with ten beehives, sheep and a small orchard. She taps her own trees for maple syrup, creates her own soap and she even added a hobby vineyard for homemade wine recently. Growing and harvesting her own garden fresh produce and developing recipes for her family that are plant-based and inspired by the seasons is one of her absolute favorite things in life. She has found so much peace and contentment by living and working alongside animals and Mother Nature. She now strives to share this passion for self-sufficient living with others through her Instagram account and online homesteading classes. Learn more at AxeAndRootHomestead.com.
Anna Hewitt (@annaghewitt) Issues 3, 4, 5
Anna Hewitt has studied art, worked on small farms, in restaurants and bakeries, and is an avid home cook and baker. Her current work is focused on how to use scraps, odds and ends, and stuff that is often thrown away to encourage creativity and connection and live a less wasteful, more abundant life. She lives with her family on a suburban homestead near the Maine coast.
Ashley Comer (@slowlivinghomestead) Issues 3, 4, 5
Ashley is a home birth mama to four littles, including twins! She spends her days raising babies & animals, and homemaking. She’s an advocate for freedom, butter, and coffee! You can find her and what she’s up to over at slowlivinghomestead.com
Ashley Key (@growingbrave) Issue 1
Ashley is a natural history illustrator and homeschool mom to four boys. Enthusiastic about the value of nature and play in education, her work is heavily influenced by the philosophies of Charlotte Mason.
Ashley Blake Lawson (@honeycombcabin) Issues 1, 4
Ashley Blake is a former first grade teacher and mama to three young children. She began her small business, Honeycomb Cabin, to combine her passions for educating and creating. Taking her eldest daughters interest in nature, she began creating materials to help her learning about what she loved. She specializes in educational printables, learning kits, and one of a kind handmade resources. Ashley currently resides just outside of Nashville, TN with her family in their log cabin.
Ashley Moore (@motherhestia) Issue 2, 3, 4, 5
Ashley is a self-proclaimed mistress of the miscellaneous who shares a 1/2 acre urban homestead in Southern California with her three children, husband, 2 sheep, 22 chickens, 2 dogs, a cat, 3 pet rats, and a whole hive of bees where she makes art, herbal medicine and lots of messes. She co-owns Women's Heritage (@womens_heritage), a business teaching herbalism, cooking, and animal husbandry through community workshops, and Heritage Goods & Supply (@heritagegoodsandsupply) - a country store in Carpinteria, CA specializing in ethically sourced and environmentally friendly products, DIY kits and other tools for the homestead. She is also joyfully employed as an early childhood teacher at The Waldorf School of Santa Barbara.
Ashley Taunton (@3littlelambshomestead) Issue 1
Ashley is a homeschooling mom on a small New England homestead. After working in the medical field for years the Lord, her passions and life events lead her on a journey of homeschooling almost 7 years ago! She has enjoyed cultivating a love of intentional and holistic learning for her children, and believes that gentle, and beautiful lessons brought forth from rich literature and hands on, life experience yields the most meaningful education.
Bailey Van Tassel (@bailey_vantassel) Issue 1
Bailey Van Tassel is a passionate gardener and home cook, working every day to make the suburbs more like the backwoods she grew up in. She cooks for her Midwestern husband and two children, sneaking garden veggies into anything and everything. Find more at www.tribevantassel.com.
Barbara Cloutier (@the_road.less_traveled) Issues 2, 3, 4
Barb is a homeschooling mama to two active and amazingly smart little boys. She is also a pediatric occupational therapist who specializes in sensory integration and feeding difficulties, and takes a holistic approach with her clients. Barb loves natural healing and makes a variety of remedies for her family and friends. She is very interested in gut health and enjoys teaching others about the gut-brain connection. Barb and her kids can often be found exploring and playing in the woods, as well as creating in the kitchen. They love slowing down with books and playing good old fashioned board games. Barb also loves yoga, gardening, and just being in nature.
Bethany Thomas (@the.song.sparrow) Issue 4
Bethany Thomas (Instagram: @the.song.sparrow; @midwestfamilyherbalist; @songsparrowphotos) is a mother, clinical herbalist, and photographer in the suburbs of Chicago. She spends most of her days homeschooling and adventuring with her three children, and occasionally writing and sharing her love of mothering, simple homemaking, herbal medicine, & photography on her personal and business blog/websites: www.thesongsparrow.com; www.midwestfamilyherbalist.com; www.songsparrowphotos.com.
Brittany Barron (@my_mothering_journey) Issues 4, 5
Brittany is an herbal and holistic nutrition student. She finds magic in the everyday raising her two young children, gardening, crafting and making lots of remedies. You can find her in the kitchen whipping up a salve or tea or at the beach with her family. Her instagram is @my_mothering_journey where she shares her journey raising her children holistically through crafting, recipes and home education.
Bona Fide Green Goods (@bonafidegreengoods) Issue 2
Bona Fide Green Goods is an earth friendly boutique in the heart of Concord, New Hampshire. Providing a little bit of everything for sustainable living. Find more at www.bonafidegreengoods.com
Cassandra M Evans (@northwoodsfolk) Issues 2, 3, 5
Sunny is a Minneapolis-residing wife, partner, and mother of 3 wild boys. In her limited spare time, she enjoys hoarding hobbies of all shaped and sizes. No skill is out of reach. She dubs herself a “serial-hobbyist,” which you will discover about her should you spend any amount of time in her presence (physical or virtual.) She is passionate about nature - both enjoying it and protecting it. And she aims to build a home for her family that is different from the mainstream. One built upon commitment, intentionality, and love. Especially love. Living a slow, simple life is the manifestation of this goal, and she is passionate about sharing this way of living with the world as it has completely transformed her life in all the best ways.
Cat Seixas (@theolivetreesandthemoon) Issue 4
Cat is a multimedia artist, Land steward, mother, gardener, maker of things, student of plants, keeper of chickens, writer and knitter living in Western Iberia.
Chenoa Pelligra (@peacewithnaturehandwork) Issues 4, 5
Chenoa Pelligra has been teaching Waldorf Handwork for 15 years. She has taught at Waldorf schools in the North East, USA, and for 7 years at a Waldorf school in Playa Del Carmen, Mexico. Currently she travels between her two home countries offering classes both online and in person. Chenoa holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Education and Fiber Arts and is also a certified Waldorf teacher. She is the mama to a beautiful 5 year-old wild child who travels with her and is her inspiration for many nature based crafts, especially those involving sticks!
Cherita Marquez (@cheritabita) Issues 3, 4, 5
Cherita is a mama to two little boys with a passion to integrate the natural inquiry and resources of mother earth into nature-based learning and play. She is also a decade-long public school science teacher to high-needs students who encourages her students to integrate and connect their classroom learning with their environmental niche. She is dedicated to ensuring that regardless of the type of schooling, children develop an abundant and reciprocal appreciation for mother earth.
Christy Rucker (@christyrucker) Issue 5
Christy Rucker is an author, hobby farmer, single mom, and home educator who lives on a small property in the north east. She spends most of her time barefoot in the yard, sipping herbal tea on her porch, or creating simple projects for her homestead. She is the author of The Simple Homeschool and is a freelance writer on the side. Her passions are simple living, peaceful living, and beautiful living.
Clarké Lunara (@waldorf_melanin_mama) Issue 5
Clarké is a birth worker, community folk herbalist, & nature-school educator living on farm land in the Shenandoah valley in intentional community. She is passionate about undisturbed birth, connection to the land and plant medicine she shares, her black and indigenous roots for ceremony, and can likely be found chasing (or being pulled by) her baby-turned-toddler! Along with her husband and sunshine, they love hiking (with hopes of backpacking again once baby-toddler is potty trained), travel, gardening, and finding things second-hand.
Colleen Codekas (@growforagecookferment) Issue 5
Colleen Codekas is passionate about healthy living through natural food and herbal medicine! She lives with her little family of three in Vermont (previously in southern Oregon), where living close to nature is easy and a way of life. In her off-time, she likes to go foraging for wild edible and medicinal plants and mushrooms, cook delicious food, make mead, grow a ridiculous amount of edible and medicinal plants, and make herbal medicine. She is the author of the traditionally published book Healing Herbal Infusions, and three ebooks: Wildcrafting Weeds, Healing Kitchen Herbs, and Simple Mead Making. She has also created an online foraging course, gather + root. Learn more at Grow Forage Cook Ferment https://www.growforagecookferment.com/
Desrae Melville (@atwinkleintheireyes) Issues 1, 2, 3
Desrae is an Australian-based homeschooling mother of three boys. She is passionate about living naturally and eating wholesome foods.
Destiny Day (@thedayhome) Issues 1, 2
Destiny is a mom of two boys and is passionate about sharing whole home health with others. She creates mini guides that help teach things like grain milling and sprouting in simple ways, with recipes and instructions that can be incorporated into homeschooling to help children learn healthy habits.
Elizabeth Martin (@as_they_grow) Issue 3
Liz lives on a half acre homestead in New England with her partner, Matt, and two daughters. She is a creator, a baker, & a speech and language pathologist with a specialty in cognitive development. On their land, they use a permaculture model and have grown over 60 types of fruits and vegetables in their garden. As a family, they value time outdoors and are avid rock climbers. Liz believes in functional project-based learning through homestead creation, and that the best way to learn is frequent exposure to nature and its wonders, paired with tons of unstructured outdoor play.
Emily Rena Elliott (@lifewiththehippie) Issues 2, 3, 4, 5
Emily Elliott is a doula, herbalist, homesteader, and blogger, but her proudest role is that of a mother to a vivacious little boy. She focuses on natural living, homemaking, and raising her little wild on her North Carolina homestead. You can find her at thehippieandthehunter.com, on Instagram (@lifewiththehippie) or over on YouTube at youtube.com/emielli. If you're interested in shopping her handcrafted herbal tea blends, syrups, and more, visit mugwortandmilkweed.com.
Emily Mitchell (@thehiddenwaylearning) Issues 1, 2
Emily was a home-educating mother of four, with a passion for capturing a natural childhood and an authentic motherhood through word and photography. Her aesthetic embodied a stylized-whimsy paired with an educational-enchantment. Her desire was to inspire and encourage the elevation of memories to storybook status through slow living rooted deeply in the seasons. She sadly passed away in December 2020 and will be forever missed by the collective. You can now join her husband at The Hidden Way Learning as he continues her important work in seeking out the magical moments hidden in the folds of an every day, wild and free experience.
Farai Harreld (@thehillbillyafrican) Issues 2, 3, 4
Farai is a writer, herbalist, mother, and birth worker living and loving on Kaw and Osage unceded land in Kansas. Farai is a Zimbabwe-born, Botswana-bred earthling with a penchant for all things herbal, natural and eco-friendly. She is a multi-passionate creative who enjoys sharing about topics ranging from plants, motherhood, food, sustainability, fashion, gardening and much more. Find her at faraiharreld.com
Franziska Shelton (@my_seasonal_treasury) Issues 3, 4, 5
Growing up in the foothills of the Bavarian Alps, former public school teacher, Franziska Shelton, has been exposed to a Rudolf Steiner inspired pedagogy from an early age on. Some of her most vivid childhood memories include foraging for berries, herbs and mushrooms, acting out fairytales amongst the ruins of medieval castles, and spending many cold winter days crafting by the fireplace. Based on her upbringing and education, Franziska has always believed that establishing a healthy and holistic home environment is critical in allowing children to freely explore the world around them. In accordance with her passion for a Waldorf inspired education, Franziska is a credentialed secondary science teacher and holds a Masters of Education degree from the University of California, Santa Barbara. She is also a mother to two wonderful children, an artist, and a wife to her loving husband, Matt (@waldorfdads). In response to the COVID-19 outbreak, Franziska decided to start a life style blog (www.duftdesregens.com) as well as an associated Instagram account (@my_seasonal_treasury) to share her passion for holistic learning with other like-minded women. Her hope is to inspire other women and mothers by providing positive outlets as well as wholesome recipes that will make staying at home a more manageable task.
Ginny Yurich (@1000hoursoutside) Issues 1, 2, 3, 4, 5
Ginny Yurich is a Michigan-based homeschool mother of five, author, speaker, new farmer, and founder of 1000 Hours Outside. 1000 Hours Outside is a global movement designed for any age child (or adult) and for any environment, encouraging everyone to spend more time outdoors. Join the journey and watch how your life can transform. Nature immersion holds tremendous power for each and every person at any age or stage.
Harmonie O'Loughlin (@florasfeastbotanicals) Issues 4, 5
Harmonie is the mama maker of Flora's Feast Botanicals, an herbal skin care line focusing on postpartum, baby care, facial care, women's self care and wellbeing. After a 15 year career in organic food, she is now at home nurturing her daughter and business. Spring through fall, you can find her in the garden growing herbs that she steeps in organic mediums to create her products. A foodie at heart, she loves to create recipes incorporating herbs. She lives on a homestead in a small town in Western Massachusetts with her toddler, husband, cat and dog. Follow along at @florasfeastbotanicals or at www.florasfeast.com for herbal education, medicinal herb gardening and how she incorporates herbs in her life.
Heather Turner (@homespun_mom) Issues 4, 5
Heather has an intense passion for all things old fashioned and likes to think of herself as a Jill of all trades. She enjoys learning new skills, gardening, and making memories with her children. She is a trained dental assistant, decided one day to take a sharp right turn and be her own boss. Heather is a self-taught portrait photographer and an Etsy shop owner. Her Etsy shop is called Parties & Pixels and is a magical place where she sells party decorations. Now, she spends her free time nurturing her children, learning old fashioned living, and applying her new skills in a modern home. Not everything old fashioned works in 2021, so making everything fit to her family's needs is what it’s all about! She looks forward to sharing more knowledge and skills with all of you in the future.
Jacki Campbell (@rather_be_home) Issue 5
As an educator of 15 years, Jacki Campbell now loves being a homeschooling mama to her two little ones while cultivating a homestead worthy of the short years. Jacki is a Zone 9B gardener with an acre on the central coast of California with growing garden expansions and other homesteading experiments. Jacki found her home in slow living after a four year battle against Lyme Disease and coinfections which transformed her perspectives, priorities, and purpose. Her blog exploring homesteading, homeschooling, and home health will be launching in the coming months at RatherHome.com.
Jennifer Riddle (@RiddleHomestead) Issue 5
Jennifer Riddle lives with her husband and 4 (almost 5!) kids on a small homestead in Central Indiana. She is passionate about homeschooling, homemaking, simple living, small scale homesteading, homebirth and birthwork, and gentle parenting.
Jess Jarrin (@jleejarrin) Issue 5
Jess is a Waldorf homeschooling mama flowing with the energetic cycle of the seasons. She’s a maker-of-things at Tiny Acorn Atelier and is passionate about connecting through story and honoring the magic of childhood. She adores books, the moon, and a big ol’ pot of soup simmering on the stove. Follow along at: https://www.instagram.com/jleejarrin/ https://www.etsy.com/shop/tinyacornatelier https://charmedbythesea.com/
Jessica Bentson (@jessicajoy.art.craft) Issue 4
Jessica is the creator of Toymaking Magic, a monthly membership for Waldorf-inspired toy making tutorials. She takes pride in creating detailed, lengthy video tutorials that show every step so that even beginners can craft along confidently! She loves to be constantly learning new crafts and skills and creating a handmade home. You can learn more about her toy making video tutorials at www.mamatellmeastory.com
Jessica Richardson (@jessnicolehandmade) Issues 1, 2, 3, 4
Jessica is a lifelong craft artist with an affinity for adding beauty to ordinary things. She was taught to work with her hands at a young age by her great-grandmother, which sparked a love of crafting that has only grown through the years. Through her handmade creations, patterns and tutorials, she strives to help others create a more beautiful handmade life for themselves and their families. Find more at www.jessnicolehandmade.com.
Jessie Lehson (@wineberrryadventurescouts) Issue 5
Jessie Lehson is the Executive Director and Founder of Watershed Public Charter School, a public school that uses the environment and the arts as a tool to connect and deepen student understanding. She co-authored the Watershed curriculum (among others.) Ms. Lehson was a professor of sculpture for 12 years and is a practicing environmental artist. Lehson previously served as the Executive Director of Friends of Great Kids Farm, a working farm and environmental education campus owned by Baltimore City Public Schools. Lehson is an avid cook, maker, chicken keeper, master gardener and permaculture designer. She is also the mother of two little boys who love to play outside.
Joey Hodlmair (@destinationmommy) Issue 5
Joey is a former public school teacher, now stay at home barefoot gardening mama of one. You can follow Joey @Destinationmommy as she shares all things life. The heart of her page-her shift from the hustle to a more organic and present lifestyle.
Josie Hamor (@onwillowsbend) Issues 1, 2, 3, 4, 5
Josie is a Tasmania-based wife and mother of five girls aged 2 through 11 years. She is passionate about Waldorf Education and Forest School inspired learning. Her family spends most of their free time hiking and camping, exploring every corner of the space they feel lucky to call home.
Julia Linsteadt (@julia.linsteadt) Issues 4, 5
Julia Linsteadt is an arts educator, mother of two, co-owner of the subscription box company KidArtLit, and a lover of the outdoors who inspires families to connect through making, reading, and gardening. She is an avid tea-drinker, hobby farmer, herbalist apprentice, and bookworm. She lives in the Sierra Foothills of Northern California with her family, two dogs, five ducks, five geese, two goats, and too many chickens to count.
Kaela Anderson (@my1200sqft_life) Issue 5
Kaela is an Indiana based Waldorf and forest homeschooler to her 3 children. She has twins that are on the spectrum and she loves finding ways to mix nature schooling with their sensory needs. She is an herbalist who focuses her practice on flower essences, old folk remedies, and food as medicine. Kaela runs a suburban homestead where she is passionate about inspiring people to grow food instead of lawns and providing her community with fresh produce and natural remedies. Her passion is hiking but baking is close behind. If she’s not tending her chickens, knitting, or in the garden, she is busy fostering a sense of slow, seasonal living and a deep love of Mother Earth in her children.
Karina Beck (@theeclecticdomestic) Issues 3, 5
Karina epitomizes the self-coined title of The Eclectic Domestic and enjoys exploring every area of the term and then some. She has been married to her elementary crush (Adam) for 16+ years and they enjoy the adventures of living life and home educating their four children in middle Tennessee. Karina grew up in rural northern Indiana under the home tutelage of an artistic mother who was ( and still is) an amazing homemaker. Under her mother's guidance she learned how to run a home, grow a garden and preserve the harvest, herbal medicine, sewing, art, to be an entrepreneur and much more. Today she continues to pass down these essential life skills to her children and to anyone interested in learning via workshops, one-on-one sessions, and through hands-on experience. To her, the best classrooms are those without the confines of four walls. She is passionate about children's and women's health and is slowly pursuing becoming an herbalist and holistic nutritionalist.
Kate Duncan (@nurseryrhymeville) Issues 3, 4
Kate is a homeschool mother of five children, ranging in age from 4-16. When she isn't out gathering wild edibles in the woods and along the hedgerows, she is to be found hovering over the range cooker, concocting seasonal recipes from her foraged finds, or reading aloud to her children. There isn't much she enjoys more than a good book in the outdoors, with Spring's sweet fragrances carried on the air. You can see for yourselves the extent of the influence that both nature and literature have on her homeschool over at @nurseryrhymeville
Kathleen Henderson (@rootsandbootshome) Issues 2, 3
Kathleen is the natural living mentor behind the Roots & Boots blog (www.rootsandboots.com) and YouTube channel and the creator of the brand new Unprocessed Pantry and Real Food Family Meal Plan. Kathleen lives with her husband and three boys on a family farm in Virginia, and she's on a mission to help families see the joy in growing and preparing real food and to find time to gather around the table together.
Kathie N. Lapcevic (@homespunseasonalliving) Issue 2, 3, 4, 5
Kathie is a blogger and teacher living in northwest Montana. She embraces a simple and seasonal life and is often found either making a mess in the garden or in the kitchen. You can find her blog at Homespun Seasonal Living (https://homespunseasonalliving.com)
Katie Munn (@theoutdoorhomeschool) Issue 3, 4
Katie is a first year homeschooling mom to two boys, ages 5 and 3. She has a dedicated space for an outdoor classroom in New Brunswick, Canada where playing, exploring, and learning all take place simultaneously. You can follow her outdoor homeschooling journey on Instagram @theoutdoorhomeschool and can sign up for The Outdoor Homeschool Magazine© (a free, monthly resource) at www.theoutdoorhomeschool.com
Kearsley T Schweller (@kearsleys.kitchen) Issues 2, 3
Kearsley is a community herbalist, poetic writer, & kitchen witch rooted in the Kickapoo territory of Illinois. She draws inspiration for her writings from her studies in traditional foods, bio- regional herbalism, ethical wildcrafting, witchcraft, & Ayurveda. Kearsley spends most of her time in the kitchen mixing herbal honeys and spices into delicious dinners or staring up at sycamore trees in wonder. Find her wildcrafted medicines, hand woven journals, & recipe guidebooks on her Etsy shop www.etsy.com/shop/mamabearmedicines.
Krista Lii (@kristalii) Issue 5
Krista Lii is an unschooling, nature-loving mother of four wildlings living in Ontario, Canada. She’s also a professional photographer with an emphasis on outdoor lifestyle. She loves exploring the local forests with her children, and she is passionate about getting out into nature every day, no matter the weather. Her family adventures are shared on Instagram. She writes a blog about her homeschooling and nature exploration, which you can read over at www.ourwildness.com
Kristine Brown (@herbalrootszine) Issues 1, 2, 3, 4, 5
Kristine Brown, RH(AHG) is a practicing traditional community herbalist and mother of four children and two stepchildren, two of whom she homeschooled for 11 years. She has taught classes for homeschooled children locally and coordinated numerous herbal kids’ camps both locally and nationally. She also assists Leslie Alexander, Ph.D., RH (AHG) with the American Herbalist Guild Symposium’s Herbal Activity Hub. She is the writer and illustrator of the online children’s publication Herbal Roots zine, which has been published since 2009 and the creator of several online courses that teach children about botany, drawing, and herbs. She is also the author of Herbalism at Home and The Homesteader’s Guide to Growing Herbs. Teaching others about plants and sharing her knowledge with children—our future—is her passion. Kristine lives on a homestead with her partner, their two youngest children, plus a variety of cats, dogs, chickens, and goats. You can find more at www.herbalrootszine.com.
Lacy Arrowsmith (@lacy.arrowsmith) Issue 4
Lacy is a photographer and homeschooling mother of 3 living on a small island in the Pacific Northwest. She’s passionate about slow living, Waldorf inspired learning and respectful parenting. Her family loves spending their days gardening, crafting, baking, sailing and exploring their island home.
Lauren Madden (@lala_earth) Issues 2, 3, 4
Lauren is the face and maker behind Lala Earth. She is passionate about creating wild herbal tonics & nourishing skin care products that can seamlessly integrate into a healthy lifestyle. She only creates and sells products she uses herself, and is constantly inspired by the plants that grow around her in Southern Vermont. She harvests herbs fresh when they are at their peak, and processes them in a way that preserves their vitality, nutrition & magic.
Lauren Marks (@LittleHouseontheDesert) Issue 4
Lauren is an educator, farmer, artist and ecologist that is passionate about connecting with and working alongside nature to improve natural habitat while simultaneously cultivating food and craft locally on a small scale. She is committed to spreading education and inspiration to others looking to make a difference through micro-homesteading.
Leah Damon (@leahdamon) Issues 2, 3, 4, 5
Leah is an Art Teacher-turned-homeschool mom who is passionate about nurturing a peaceful home rhythm and a creative learning environment for her three young boys. She grew up a missionary kid in the wilds of West Africa, and now strives to inspire and encourage other families to create for their children an artistic and nature-rich environment full of wonder, warmth, adventure and curiosity! Leah contributes craft tutorials for the Wild+Free homeschool community’s monthly content bundle and makes a hobby of mentoring other families who are looking for resources or pursuing creative freedom in their unique homeschool journeys.
Lindsey Wondolleck (@lindseywondo) Issues 4, 5
Lindsey lives on a little over an acre in the Pacific Northwest with her husband and two children. They previously lived in Northern California and decided to embark on a new journey by moving to the evergreen state of Washington. Lindsey is a small business owner, has a degree in nutrition & dietetics and is currently a full-time mother. She loves to make beeswax candles, cook from scratch, garden and is currently learning how to bake sourdough bread.
Lisa Bass (@farmhouseonboone) Issue 1
Lisa is the author of the blog, farmhouseonboone.com, where she shares her love for creating from-scratch recipes, natural living, and creating a handmade home.
Maggie Doten (@poppenhuis.mi) Issue 3
Maggie is a Michigan-based homeschooling mama, handwork teacher, and founder of Poppenhuis, where she writes patterns and tutorials for Waldorf dolls. Her passion for handwork and fiber arts was instilled in her at a young age when her grandmother taught her to knit and crochet. She has since always had a project in hand. Maggie also enjoys spending time in nature, celebrating the seasons, and creating a homemade simple life for her family.
Mari Johnson (@bellamartinelli) Issues 4, 5
Mari enjoys slow living with her family in the Midwest, as an escape from a busy career. She aims to teach her daughter about nature and respecting her fellow beings. During her free time Mari can be found with her daughter outdoors, in the garden or laying in the hammock reading and talking about life. Mari spends her “me time” doing yoga or at Orange Theory. One day Mari hopes to have a suburban homestead with chickens. Until then, Mari strives to live beautifully and inspire others to live their best lives.
Mari Stuart (@makegathergrow) Issue 4
Mari Stuart is an edible landscape designer, carbon farm planner, and freelance writer. Originally from Finland, she has put down roots in Asheville, NC, where she stewards a third-acre urban homestead with her husband and daughter. Mari’s passion for understanding where things come from and how they are made led her to learn to make all kinds of things from scratch – a journey she documents at makegathergrow.com. Besides gardening and foraging, the crafts she most fell for are cheese-making, natural dyeing, wool spinning, and (most recently) basket-weaving. In her work life, Mari is co-founder and project designer at Carbon Harvest, a regional regenerative farm-based carbon offset initiative.
Marna Widom (@twelvelittletales) Issues 1, 2, 3, 4, 5
Marna Widom is an artist, storyteller and treasure maker. Parents, caregivers and teachers use Twelve Little Tales storytelling tools to make up stories for young children. Older children in homeschool and in-school settings use the story starters for creative writing experiences. Seasonal and whimsical, focusing on simple pleasures, nature and a little bit of magic... these stories will start you off on many an adventure! Find more at www.twelvelittletales.com.
Matthew Shelton (@waldorfdads) Issues 4, 5
Matt Shelton, @waldorfdads, is 31 and is currently based both out of Santa Barbara, California, and Landsberg, Germany. Matt has a 16 month old daughter, Emma, and a 4 month old son, Lucas. Raised on 12 largely undeveloped acres in Montecito, California, Matt spent most of his own childhood exploring the outdoors, woodworking, and mountain biking. He has worked as a professional welder and has developed a passion for preparing foods over an open flame or in a cast iron skillet. When his daughter Emma was born, Matt's German wife (@my_seasonal_treasury), also a contributor to the Simple Living Collective, introduced him to Rudolf Steiner and together they incorporated aspects of Waldorf inspired learning into their home. Matt's family loves celebrating the seasons by engaging in outdoor activities, establishing seasonal traditions, and doing lots of family-friendly projects and crafts. Matt recently created an online platform for other 'Waldorf Dads' and himself to have a place to exchange ideas, learn from each other, and support their wonderful wives.
Melina Caron (@@thesustainableseed) Issue 4
New Hampshire based fiber artist, Melina Caron, explores plant color through foraging and re-purposing food waste to create one of a kind textiles.
Michelle Chapin (@michellechapin) Issue 1
Michelle is a mother of five living on a small farm in Ohio, where she enjoys learning about herbs and their uses, creating handwork projects, thrifting for treasures, caring for her many farm animals, and teaching both homeschool and adult classes at the Humble Co-op Community Center.
Millie Hernandez (@forest.roads) Issue 5
Artist, photographer and avid crafter Millie Hernández spends her days creating earthy things with her daughter and driving her husband crazy with all the rocks, twigs and pinecones lying around the house. She also creates paintings as an ode to nature and small moments that matter most: www.forestroadsart.etsy.com
Molly Pratt (@mrsmollyp) Issues 3, 4
Molly began needle felting crowns for her daughters. This has turned into a wonderful opportunity to create custom needle felted crowns and flower fairies. When she’s not needle felting, Molly is an avid reader, hiker, and homeschooling mama of two little girls.
Naomi Noyes (@ninos.and.nature) Issues 2, 3, 4, 5
Naomi is a Spanish teacher, twin mom, outdoor educator, and play-based learning advocate. After spending almost a decade teaching in classrooms throughout the United States, she decided to follow her dreams and take her teaching outside. When she started to teach her own children Spanish at home, Naomi realized just how few Spanish resources there were that weren’t screen based! She created Con mi Familia and Spanish in the Wild to help families realize that Spanish doesn’t need to just live on a screen for 30 minutes a week, or on a worksheet. You can bring it into everything that you do with your children at home, and (best of all) you can take it outside with you!
Nichole Holze (@coleyraeh) Issue 3
Nichole is mama to two incredible adventurers, an older boy and a younger girl, and they are on their sixth year of homeschooling. She has been married to her best friend for thirteen years and they share a mutual love for the outdoors. An Iowan native now living in the south, she is happy to claim Arkansas as home. She is a wanderlust (and coffee) fueled, fearless, road tripper who has been known to take off for epic adventures at a moment's notice. Hiking and camping (of the backpacking variety) and crystal digging are a few of their favorite family activities. When she isn't out adventuring, you can find her in the garden, obsessing over whatever is blooming. Nichole believes in lifelong learning and choosing to see the wonder, wherever she wanders.
Nicole Spring (@frontierdreams) Issues 2, 3, 4, 5
Nicole is a Waldorf homeschooling, homemaking, blessed Mama raising her own Pevensie tribe on her homestead amongst the Amish. She enjoys the homemade simple life and creating any way she can.
Nicolette Sowder (@awilderchild) Issues 1, 2, 3, 4, 5
Nicolette Sowder is the founder of Wilder Child and Wildschooling, representing one of the largest global, online communities of nature-connected parents and educators. Her experience as a teacher in a traditional classroom strengthened her resolve to help design nature-bonded, visceral learning experiences outside of those four walls. She is committed to furthering the outdoor education movement through her work as an educator at Strong Roots Natural Learning Community and advisory council of the Americal Forest Kindergarten Association. She finds her center, inspiration and a lot of eggs on her 60 acre farmstead in Michigan where she Wildschools her two daughters.
Paige Sander (@farmhousevernacular) Issues 2, 3
Paige Sander is the vlogger and creative direction behind the Farmhouse Vernacular Instagram Page and YouTube channel. She and her husband have spent the last three years renovating their 1905 farmhouse and trying to restore it back to what it originally was. Paige loves finding creative ways to bring history alive and make it relevant to everyday life.
Rachel Jepson Wolf (@lusa_mama) Issues 1, 2, 3, 4
Rachel Jepson Wolf is the owner and founder of LüSa Organics (lusaorganics.com), a body care company specializing in herbal balms, soaps, and baby care. Rachel and her husband Pete, homeschool their two kids in rural southwestern Wisconsin. Rachel is the author of two books: Herbal Adventures, a wildcrafting book for kids and their families, and The Unplugged Family Activity Book a treasure trove of screen-free fun.
Rachel Tidd (@wildmathcurriulum) Issue 3
Rachel Tidd is the author of the Wild Math Curriculum and is passionate about integrating the outdoors and natural materials in education. She is the mother of two adventurous boys who love exploring the streams and forests near their home in Ithaca, NY. She became interested in teaching and learning outside after watching her children thrive in an outdoor forest preschool. Prior to creating Wild Math Curriculum, Rachel obtained extensive teaching experience in elementary education, special education, and as a homeschool parent. You can find her at wildmathcurriculum.com and on Instagram and Facebook @wildmathcurriculum.
Robin Schudy (@edgewoodfarmhouse) Issue 1
Robin shares her love of gardening, cooking, creating, and homemaking from her home and art studio, Edgewood Farmhouse. You can find more of her work at www.edgewoodfarmhouse.com.
Roxanne Ahern (@happyholistichomestead) Issues 1, 2, 3, 4
Roxanne Ahern is a certified permaculture designer, holistic nutritionist, and homeschool mom. She grows food and raises livestock on a 44 acre homestead in the Southeast with her family of six. Find more at www.happyholistichomestead.com.
Ruby Henry (@studiolittlehen) Issue 5
Ruby Henry is an artist and Educator based in the Pioneer Valley of New England. Studio Little Hen is her passion project, a way to combine her love of crafting, gardening, and community building. Visit our website to find more virtual resources and in-person offerings.
Sarah McCarty (@runwild.mychild) Issue 3, 4
Sara McCarty is the Founder of Run Wild My Child (runwildmychild.com), a resource website, online community and podcast all about getting kids off screens and outside, one adventure at a time. She’s a mom of 3, wife, and a corporate securities lawyer. She grew up in the country, but now lives in St. Louis and is determined to raise her city kids to be as wild and feral as possible. You can usually find her family exploring a creek, fly fishing, hiking, duck hunting, camping, canoeing, biking, or geocaching. She’s passionate about reading, photography, plants, coffee, cooking, and key lime pie.
Sarah Starrs (@sarahstarrs_) Issue 4
Sarah Starrs is a home educating mama and small business owner who is passionate about low impact living, peaceful parenting, justice, and menstrual cycle awareness. Her work helps parents to tune into their natural rhythms and cycles to live with more ease, flow, contentment, and fulfilment. You can find her writing at sarahstarrs.com.
Samantha McKeown (@happyhedgehogpost) Issues 1, 2, 3, 4, 5
Samantha McKeown is an artist, teacher, life coach, and homeschooling mom of 3. As the founder of Happy Hedgehog Post (www.happyhedgehogpost.com), she is passionate about helping families connect and make magical memories through crafting together. She teaches handwork classes and recently created an online membership program featuring a new project every month. When she isn't creating or homeschooling, she is helping people on their personal development journey through her life coach practice, Happiness Squared Coaching (@happiness2coaching). In her off time she enjoys reading, running 5Ks, painting, and board games. Samantha lives in upstate New York with her husband, 3 boys, and pet frog.
SarahRuth Owens (@mountainpaz) Issue 1
SarahRuth is a homeschooling mother of three boys. She was raised in cities across the East coast, but now resides in the Appalachian Mountains of Georgia where her husband grew up. Passionate about inspiring others to shift from the status quo of Western indoor life, she has launched local Forest School programs for families. She believes outside time as a family is vital to a joy-filled life. She collects books, stray children, and as much coffee as her body will permit. When not foraging, chasing waterfalls, or camping with her crew, you can find SarahRuth teaching ESL online, writing for Run Wild My Child and The Peaceful Press.
Sara Syrett (@twelveonmain) Issue 1
Sara lives in a small town in Utah with her husband and 4 children. Originally raised in the big city, she has embraced the slow pace, the wide open spaces, and the opportunity to grow, cultivate, build, and learn everything she can to help her family be more sustainable while enjoying their life on their small farm. With goats, chickens, and a full time garden, each day brings more adventures and every adventure brings her closer to reaching those goals of providing for her family. You can see her adventures on her blog at www.twelveonmain.com, where the build, design, grow, and take on just about any project or challenge.
Sarita Harbour (@anoffgridlife) Issues 1, 2, 3
Sarita Harbour is the owner and founder of An Off Grid Life. A former banker from the Toronto area, she now lives with her family in an off grid home in Canada's subarctic Northwest Territories. Her days are filled with homesteading, homeschooling, gardening, cooking and learning how to be more self-reliant.
Shanda Jacobs (@littlehousebecameahome) Issue 1
Shanda is a wife and mother, who just recently welcomed her fourth child. She hails from the Mitten State, but you would think she was from the south based upon her affinity for fried chicken, corn bread, and sweet tea. She is passionate about spending time in nature, homeschooling, and of course... dark chocolate!
Shauna van de Pol (@the_wild_nook) Issues 2, 3, 4, 5
Shauna is a Communications Graduate, Certified Essential Oil Specialist and homeschooling mamma of 2 girls. In her spare time you will find her cooking from scratch, creating natural personal care and cleaning products or curled up with a good book. She enjoys educating on health and wellness and encouraging people to slow down and embrace simplicity.
Sophie Noix (@goldnuss) Issue 4
Sophie is a trained architect, photographer and designer, living in northern Germany with her husband, 2 cats and 2 little wild boys. She loves all things you can make with your hands, especially those that will connect you with and your family with natures beauty and seasonal living. The tiny only shop for handknitted babybonnets and knitting patterns she runs over at www.goldnuss.design gives her the perfect excuse to knit way too much and live her lifelong passion for plants, wool and botanical dye experiments.
Stephanie Hathaway (@stephhathawaydesigns) Issue 1
Stephanie is a Kansas City-based artist and homeschool mother that creates educational materials and unit studies inspired by nature, art, and science. She is a strong believer in following a child's lead, which has led to many unique resources stemming from her own children's interests.
Tabitha Paul (@gathering.wildflowers) Issue 5
Tabitha is a home birthing, homeschooling, and homemaking mama living in Canada with her husband and two sweet boys. She enjoys celebrating the seasons, finding the magic in the simple things, and creating a cozy homemade life for her and her family. They love to spend their days baking, gardening, reading, creating, being in nature, and going on little adventures together. Tabitha is passionate about peaceful parenting, natural learning, and living slowly and intentionally. She strives to cultivate a gentle homeschooling environment for her little ones that is full of connection, curiosity, and enchantment. You can follow her journey on Instagram (@gathering.wildflowers) where she shares her favourite resources, recipes, and nature-inspired activities.
Tammy Duncan (@colonialfarmstead) Issue 1
Tammy is a Nashville-based wife and mother living in a 1980's colonial that is gradually being turned into her dream 1700's colonial. She loves reminiscing about how things were slow and simple in the past and tries to implement many of those skills in her own home. Hanging clothes on the line, washing dishes by hand, making laundry soap by hand, and creating a home apothecary are a few of the things you might find her doing in her home. You can find more of her work at www.colonialfarmstead.com
Tara Philipp (@shesrootedhome) Issues 1, 2
Tara is a mother of 3, homestead enthusiast, plant lover, and crochet addict. She blogs and shares more about her family as they root themselves in a simpler way of life at www.shesrootedhome.com.
Tara Rondinelli (@littlepinelearners) Issues 3, 4, 5
Tara Rondinelli is a Wisconsin-based early childhood educator and nature schooling momma of two wild boys. She is a blogger and creator of nature inspired printables and crafts for classroom, homeschool, and outdoor educators. See hundreds of simple and beautiful nature ideas at littlepinelearners.com.
Tess Czulinski (@naturally_tess_) Issues 4, 5
Tess and her family of four - plus three chickens and one dog - live a low waste lifestyle in the Appalachian mountains of East Tennessee. She shares tips on homesteading in small spaces, bulk shopping, cooking with cast iron and sourdough and green parenting topics such as cloth diapering and home birth on her YouTube channel at youtube.com/naturallytess and Instagram at instagram.com/naturally_tess_.
Tijana Lukovic (@tijanadraws) Issues 3, 4
Tijana lives with her husband and daughter in the small medieval city of Ghent in Belgium. Her paintings and illustrations are inspired by a magical and in some cases even metaphysical realm, and contain traces of folklore, fairy tale, mythology and love for nature woven into everyday life of a mother, book lover or a day dreamer. Celebration of nature and motherhood is often one and the same, intertwined in one moment captured on the painting. She tries to share her observations of the ever-changing seasons and her will to be more in tune with nature and wheel of the year.
Whitney Bangel (@hollowandhoot) Issue 5
Whitney is a homeschooling mom of two wild little boys. She loves nature and exploring the outdoors with her family, finding interesting facts about the world around us to make into educational printables and fun activities.