late july

We are here in the thick of one of the hottest summers I can remember in New York City. The world is on fire in most other ways, too. If we truly believe that something better than all of this is possible, we must find ways to take action to bring it into being, using our time and energy. Cultivating community and building power with the people immediately around us in the physical places where we live is one of the most effective ways to make change. This piece lays out a few places to start, if you are looking for inspiration. I don’t necessarily connect philosophically with every org Josh mentions, but the idea that we are needed in the communities where we live and work is absolutely crucial, and Mariame Kaba’s questions very much resonate:

1. Who’s already doing the work I want to engage in?

2. Are they organizing to really build power, and not just engage in charity?

3. Is that organizing challenging the root causes of the problems we face and building towards systemic change?

4. Which of the groups that meet these criteria do I have the capacity to join and commit to? 

This is also a good moment to re-focus on regulating your nervous system so that you can stay engaged in whatever work you need to do to this end. Get your rest, do some breathwork, keep a movement and/or stretching routine, eat nourishing foods. And remember that beauty is sustenance and can help bolster our spirits to stay the course.

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reading:

in the spirit of slow media, I’m still catching up on some things from the For The Wild archives

“Making things - a radical act?” Erin & Rose's new book sounds just right.

(+ a whole compendium of things I’ve read or are on my list to read, here, in case you are interested!)

slow observations

a fresh newsletter about nature in New York City

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listening:

to Toumani Diabaté, the Malian kora master who passed away recently

to this album by percussionist Susie Ibarra, which feels refreshing in the heat + she has a newer offering inspired by insects

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above, clockwise from top left:

{ vintage treasures in the shop }

{ studio corners }

{ my current favorite vintage tea strainer - use it with your cold-brew!}

{ assembling an order of botanical perfume samples }

above, clockwise from top left:

{ the melty magic of organic coconut, sunflower & sesame oils infused with frankincense, calendula & propolis, mingling with golden local beeswax and organic unrefined shea butter…you'll find it all in our nourishing facial balm! }

{ just poured: a batch of our bestselling simple cardamom lip balm}

{ I couldn’t resist posing our latest batch of vintage ceramic teacups with the orchid I’ve been plant-sitting for a friend }

{ a glorious new batch of our nourishing facial balm, just poured, ultra restorative after sun! }

The summer collection is here!

These seasonal limited-edition formulas are among my very favorites of the entire year. Our rose & tulsi facial tonic is the most gorgeous blend of sweet and spicy and is designed to balance & refresh skin in hot, humid conditions. The summer nourishing body oil features a silky blend of organic oils, scented gently with jasmine, pink pepper and labdanum. I’m always delighted to bring back this luxurious oil in time for steamy days. And perhaps best loved of all, our summer cold-brew tea blend with a gorgeous bao zhong oolong (traditionally cultivated without chemicals) from the beautiful heritage tea gardens of Mingjian Village, Taiwan, alongside organic tulsi (holy basil) and organic lemon balm, both grown in the Northeast and carefully dried at the peak of flavor, giving this blend a gentle herbal & citrus note, and support the calm, yet industrious energy of the season. Organic rose petals lend the tea a sweetly cooling floral character, and a light touch of bergamot adds a sunny brightness.

Also perfect for the season, our No 4 botanical perfume extrait, a fresh green scent with notes of yuzu, petitgrain sur fleurs, neroli, ylang ylang, ginger lily, fennel, orris root & galbanum

I took a quiet moment recently to infuse another jar of oil + herbs for our balancing serum. A favorite slow beauty practice. Sustainably harvested frankincense from Somaliland, organic sencha green tea from Japan, and freshly harvested organic chamomile blossoms from Pennsylvania, all mingle in a very special jojoba oil from a small family farm in Arizona. My favorite facial oil for these warm days. A few drops go just beautifully with the limited-edition rose & tulsi facial tonic or our rose geranium sur fleurs mist.

below, clockwise from top left:

{ Rudbeckia hirta in full bloom }

{ our unruly trumpet vine - Campsis radicans, beloved by hummingbirds }

{ just coming into bloom, one of my very favorites, Scutellaria incana }

{ a little coneflower meadowy magic }

{ the delicate shade-dwelling white avens or Geum canadensis }

{ and the dramatic spiky inflorescence of the Eryngium yuccafolium, finally thriving! }

Sending care to you in these times,

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