 Lisa Kovatch of Simply on Union has supported our A.T. Festival as a vendor from the start, and she returns this year with her ever-popular Chestnut's Beeswax Food Wraps—plus more! Her eco-minded wares are a perfect reflection of the festival's mission of environmental protection. Here's a guest blog from Lisa: As a child, I lived in Kenya, where vibrant hues and bold patterns dominate textiles and where the landscape we explored on family camping safaris was vast and untamed. Creativity and resourcefulness abounded, and remain traits I value to this day. I use traditional methods to make useful, eco-friendly products with a whimsical, modern twist. When I learned that microplastics are in our waterways and even in the food we are consuming, I was motivated to reduce the use of plastics in our household. My CHESTNUT'S line of reusable Beeswax Food Wraps, a compostable alternative to single-use plastic wrap, has grown to include small-batch, plant-based soap for the kitchen and bath, natural lip balms, and shampoo bars. I love the alchemy of making cold-process soap and blending essential oils to scent my products, which delight the senses while being kind to the environment and our skin. All my packaging is compostable and/or recyclable. I enjoy helping others achieve a zero-waste lifestyle that is both stylish and fun! My little studio is tucked into the rolling Blue Ridge foothills near the Shenandoah River in lovely and historic Bolivar, West Virginia. I feel fortunate that there are so many wonderful local trails that I can easily access from my front door, including the Appalachian Trail, and that I am able to watch the seasons unfold in the hills around me. As an A.T. "dreamer" myself, I love looking out my studio window and seeing the thru-hikers walk by on their way north in the summer. I keep my yard kind of wild and it's not uncommon for hikers to remark that they like the "toilet paper" I have growing—mullein plants!
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 Yellow House Natives joins the festival again this year, selling native plants that please our pollinators and take care of our critters. We asked Owner Wendy Dorsey to tell us a little about what got her into the native plant business.
What inspired Yellow House Natives? I was dividing flowers at our house one day when my husband came over to where I was digging. I remember I looked up at him and said, "I should be growing native perennials." It had just popped into my head. I had always loved growing things and had lately read a lot of articles about the importance of native plants. My husband said, "You should." Then I thought, "Oh, shoot." (Except it wasn't "shoot.") I recognized this as a moment when I could rise and take the challenge, or treat it like it was just a passing whim. It was scary to think about as I knew it was going to mean a lot of work. How does this business fit with your family's history of conservation? My husband and I care deeply about nature and preserving open and undeveloped spaces. He is a third generation family farmer in Clarke County, and we have put our two farms into conservation easement. We taught our children to be comfortable and respectful in natural places by going into the woods and around wetlands to look for wildlife. Our son graduated college this past spring and decided to come home and help work the farm. Working with farm services and NRCS, we have established field borders of native flowers and warm season grasses for quail and other wildlife and allow cover growth along the creek and on rock breaks. Most recently, our son improved a wetland area to create a better habitat for waterfowl. How long has Yellow House been in business? I officially opened in 2021, but I refer to this as my soft opening. I didn't advertise much, and I didn't participate in any garden fairs or plant sales off the farm. My learning curve was steep and I wanted to be a bit more confident. In 2022, I did more marketing and started participating in events. Last year, I added even more events to my schedule—including the A.T. Festival. 2024 will be my third full year in business, and my schedule is busy. But don't let that stop you from coming to visit my nursery, as I love being able to show people my entire selection. Do you have any specialties? Not really, other than the fact that I love to learn about native plants and the ecosystem and continue to do so every day. I'm happy to share what I know. Any advice for people getting started with natives? Yes! Go for it! Don't get overwhelmed thinking you have to begin with a huge project. Begin by adding one native plant. Every effort, no matter how small, makes a difference. What can people expect to find at your A.T. Festival sale? I will be bringing native perennials, ferns and grasses. This year I've expanded my tree and shrub offerings, so I'll have some of those as well. |
This page features artwork by Mike Wurman, an artist invited to participate in this year's Art of the Trail show.
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