Wren & Willow

Wren & Willow Single mom fueled by caffeine and auDHD. Making homemade sh*t one Dr. Pepper at a time and trying not to lose my mind.
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Let's talk about using your herbal harvest! 🌱 Teas: Infusions and decoctions - And infusion is where hot water is poured...
09/15/2026

Let's talk about using your herbal harvest! 🌱

Teas: Infusions and decoctions -

And infusion is where hot water is poured over the herb and left to steep for several minutes. This is the usual method for leaves and flowers.

A decoction is where the herb is simmered or boiled in water for some time. This is used for roots and bark.

Both can be used as mouthwashes, gargles, eyebaths, fomentations and douches.

Tinctures -

Can refer to any liquid extract of a plant but is usually meant as an alcohol or water extract. Many plant constituents dissolve more easily in a mixture of alcohol and water than in pure water.

The fact that alcohol acts a preservative allowing the extract to be kept for years is an added bonus. 😉

Herbal honeys -

Honey has natural antibiotic and antiseptic properties, so it makes an excellent vehicle for medicines to fight infection. Can be applied topically to wounds and burns and can help prevent hay fever attacks.

Honey is particularly suited to medicines for the throat and respiratory system as it is soothing and also clears congestion.

Infused oils -

Oil is mostly used to extract plants for external use on the skin but can be taken internally. They can be used in salad dressings and in cooking.

These should not be confused with essential oils, as essential oils are aromatic oils isolated by distilling the plant material.

There are several ways to use plants for healing and these are just a few of the most common ways!

Source: Seal, Matthew & Bruton-Seal, Julie, Backyard Medicine Harvest and Make Your Own Herbal Remedies, 2009.

Little funny to start the week! Let's kick Monday's ass! (Fair warning, I cuss a lil bit 😉).
09/14/2026

Little funny to start the week!

Let's kick Monday's ass! (Fair warning, I cuss a lil bit 😉).

09/13/2026

I'm going to have to figure out how to get 534 names into something for a drawing!!

I'll be giving away a spa package with a lavender vanilla sugar scrub, a lavender vanilla lotion bar, a bar of Sunset Goat's Milk Soap, and a loofah!

Thank you all for joining me here in my little corner of the book of faces.

There will be recipes, essential oil education, plant education, some videos, and some memes! I'm trying to build a community here! If you have recipes you'd like to post, message me and I will gladly share them, along with anything else! Welcome! 💚🧡

🌿 A little reminder about the dream behind Wren & Willow 🌿I’ve had a few people ask lately, “So what happened to the sto...
09/13/2026

🌿 A little reminder about the dream behind Wren & Willow 🌿

I’ve had a few people ask lately, “So what happened to the store?" and I think it’s time for a little reminder that Wren & Willow is still very much a work in progress.

Yes, I had a small physical storefront for a while. I learned a LOT from that experience. One of the biggest things I learned was that the space itself wasn’t the right fit for the bigger vision I have for Wren & Willow. It was a very small room, and it wasn’t climate controlled, which made it impractical for bringing in other local makers, farmers, and vendors and creating the kind of year-round space I ultimately want.

But the dream didn’t go away. ❤️

In fact, that was part of the vision from the beginning.

When Wren & Willow was featured in the Jewell County Record, I talked about wanting to create a place where local craftspeople could sell what they make, and where our community could have a place to learn, create, share, and support one another.

That is still the goal.

I’m working toward a space where Wren & Willow can be more than just my products on a shelf. I want it to be a place where local makers, growers, creators, and small businesses have an opportunity to be part of something bigger. A place where you can shop local, learn a skill, discover something handmade, and know that your money is staying within our community.

It’s taking longer than I hoped. Funding a dream like this isn’t easy, especially when you’re building it from the ground up. But slow progress is still progress. I also have a lot going on in my personal life right now and I'm trying to work around that as well. 🫠

So if you’ve wondered whether I gave up…
I absolutely did not. 🌿

I’m still working.
I’m still building.

And I’m still working toward the original vision I had for Wren & Willow from the beginning.

Thank you to everyone who has supported me, bought something, shared a post, told a friend, or simply encouraged me along the way.

This little business has a much bigger dream behind it. And I’m not done yet. 🤎

— Nina

09/12/2026

Call it a comfort breakfast I guess. I love it. ❤️💞❤️

🌿Safe foraging tips!🌿Foraging can be a wonderful way to connect with the land, but where you harvest matters just as muc...
09/12/2026

🌿Safe foraging tips!🌿

Foraging can be a wonderful way to connect with the land, but where you harvest matters just as much as knowing what you're harvesting.

Before you fill your basket, keep a few things in mind:

🚗 Stay well away from roadsides.

Plants growing along busy roads can be exposed to vehicle exhaust, road dust, oil, and other contaminants. Don't assume a plant is safe simply because it looks healthy. Give roadsides a wide berth...at least 50–100 feet away from busy roadways is a good rule of thumb, and farther is better.

🌾 Know whether the area has been sprayed.

Avoid harvesting from places that may have been treated with herbicides, pesticides, fertilizers, or other chemicals. This includes roadsides, drainage ditches, utility corridors, parks, and fields unless you know how the land is managed.

🐮 Think about what else uses the land.

Areas frequented by dogs, livestock, or wildlife can have contamination from waste or other sources. A beautiful patch doesn't necessarily mean it's a good harvesting spot.

☠️ Never harvest what you can't positively identify.

This is especially important. Please know what you are harvesting. Some edible plants have dangerous lookalikes. If you're not 100% certain what you've found, leave it where it is.

🌱 Harvest sustainably.

Take only what you need. Don't strip an entire patch, and be especially mindful of plants that are slow-growing, uncommon, or growing in small populations. Leave enough for others, the birds, the bees, and the plant itself.

🗺️ Know the rules.

Make sure you have permission to forage on private land, and check local regulations before harvesting on public land.

And perhaps most importantly:

Don't just ask, “Can I eat or use this plant?” Ask, “Is this plant clean enough and safe enough to use?”

The land gives us an incredible amount, but responsible foraging means taking care of the land right back. 🌾💚

Have you heard about grounding? 🌿 (No, I'm not talking about the punishment our parents gave us 😂)Grounding, also called...
09/10/2026

Have you heard about grounding? 🌿 (No, I'm not talking about the punishment our parents gave us 😂)

Grounding, also called earthing, is the practice of making direct skin contact with the surface of the Earth. Something as simple as standing or walking barefoot on grass, soil, sand, or another natural surface.

But why do people do it?

Research into grounding has found some interesting physiological effects. Studies have reported changes related to the body's inflammatory response, including changes in certain white blood cells and inflammatory markers. Research has also explored possible effects on pain, stress, sleep, wound healing, and circulation.

One proposed explanation is that direct contact with the Earth allows electrons from the Earth's surface to interact with the body. Researchers have hypothesized that these electrons may influence oxidative processes involved in inflammation. This is an area that is still being studied, and more robust research is needed to understand exactly how grounding may affect the body.

Another small study found that two hours of grounding changed the electrical charge of red blood cells and reduced their tendency to clump together. While interesting, this was a very small study of just 10 healthy adults, so it shouldn't be interpreted as proof that grounding prevents or treats cardiovascular disease.

The beautiful part is that grounding doesn't have to be complicated.

Take off your shoes. Step outside. Put your feet on the earth. Sit in the grass. Walk barefoot through your garden. And give yourself a few quiet minutes to simply be present.

Sometimes the oldest practices are worth taking another look at. 🌱 (Btw....this is the only free foot pic y'all getting from me 🤣🤣) Have you ever tried grounding?

https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4378297/

09/10/2026

Holy mackerel!

Y'all really came through! I was just hoping to hit 500 again and now we're at 516!? *happy dance*

Now to pick a giveaway prize!!

What sounds better?? A spa package with a sugar scrub, a lotion bar, and a loofah, a sourdough kit, or a gift card!? Or should I let the winner decide?

Also....WELCOME NEW FOLLOWERS!! THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE!! 🥰🥰

09/09/2026

Well that was short-lived. Had to clean a little house.

Anyone wanna invite 5 friends so we can get back to that 500? 😁

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Mankato, KS
66956

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+17853743072

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