Author Archives: Steph VonAhnen, LRMT, CLC

There’s something about a garden that holds space for all of it, joy, growth, failure, and yes… loss. You don’t have to explain yourself to the dirt.  You can plant seeds with tears in your eyes and still get tomatoes by summer.  You can bury something in grief and find something new growing beside itContinue reading “Love, Loss, and the Garden: Grief with Dirt Under Your Nails”

There’s a shift that happens, not all at once, and not always gently.  One day you’re bouncing out of bed with the energy of a spring chicken, and the next, you’re standing in the kitchen wondering why your pants don’t fit, your patience is thin, and you could cry over a dropped spoon. Welcome toContinue reading “Seasons Change: What the Garden Teaches Us About Aging, Hormones, and Growing Into Ourselves”

Some days, life feels like pulling a cart full of Sweet Annie, barefoot, in the rain, while a chicken watches and judges.  We all hit those points where we question whether it’s worth it, whether we’re really cut out for this calling, this dream, this work that demands so much and gives back in whispers.Continue reading “Keep Going: Wisdom for the Wild Ride”

The wind howled through the night, rattling windows and bending trees like they were made of paper.  Rain came down in sheets, soaking the ground, turning dirt to mud, and tossing loose things around like a child throwing a tantrum!  By morning, the yard looked like a battlefield, branches down, debris scattered, puddles pooling inContinue reading “Standing Strong in the Storm: Lessons from a Little Yard Sign”

Nature is full of look-alikes.  Some plants stand side by side in the wild, growing from the same soil, soaking in the same sun, sharing similar leaves, flowers, and berries.  Yet, one might heal while the other harms. Take Belladonna and Black Nightshade, two plants that, at first glance, could fool even an experienced forager. Continue reading “Not Everything That Looks the Same Is Safe: Life Lessons from Belladonna and Black Nightshade”

Winter has a way of settling in and making itself at home.  It sneaks into the cracks, piles up in the corners, and leaves behind a mess that no one asked for.  By the time the snow finally melts and the air starts smelling like something other than frozen regret, the porch, the eyes toContinue reading “Sweeping Away Winter: Cleaning Off the Porch and Making Way for Spring”

Have you ever seen a wet hen?  I mean really seen one?  Not just a few raindrops on a feathered back, a full-on, drenched, squawking, storm-weathered bird?  It’s a sight!  Feathers ruffled, attitude on full display, strutting around like the whole world owes her an apology. And if we’re being honest, sometimes life makes usContinue reading “Life Is Sometimes Like a Wet Hen: Flustered, Feisty, Full of Purpose”

Starting a business is one of the most exhilarating and terrifying things you can do. It’s standing at the edge of something unknown, taking a deep breath, and jumping in; hoping your wings catch the air before you hit the ground.  It’s a mix of excitement, fear, and the constant battle between “This is aContinue reading “Starting a Business: The Fear, the Leap, and the Reward”