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tend to the land // tend to one another

herbal consults

micro-batch apothecary

herbs for the herbalist

native & hard to find perennials

fresh & dried flowers

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tend to the land // tend to one another

herbal consults

micro-batch apothecary

herbs for the herbalist

native & hard to find perennials

fresh & dried flowers

Shop Now

About Us

Tending // The Work of the Hands

*Tending* is my love language, expressed via intentional, regenerative gardening, small-batch herbal products, community herbalism, midwifery, outdoor living and land-based recreation, and supporting families in their pursuit of down-to-earth wellbeing. May we each have the freedom to pursue the tending of traditions specifically enriching to our families and communities, the lifeways that have sustained us for generations, and to have the creativity and courage to grow and build new traditions that serve as vital, living prayers sent out to our future kin, and the land that sustains us all. Read more about these ideas below.

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Emma Ricci: Mother, Herbalist, Farmer, Woodswoman

Tending // The Work of the Hands

I am commited to the tending of traditions I have learned as valuable, such as: land-based ways of life, taking care of whatever patch of ground we happen to be living upon, leaving things better than how we found them, making do with what we have, investment in community and village mindset, gardening as creative and spiritual expression, feeding people as an act of love, trusting nature, loving plants, grandmother wisdom through the ages, birth as ceremony, children as inestimably valuable and enriching, and the concept of home. Read more about my education, training and experience below.

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Offerings

Tending // The Work of the Hands

Offerings

I currently offer herbal education and consultation services; support and mentoring throughout the childbearing year; herbal products, with a specific focus on women's and children's health, including custom formulation; bulk fresh and dried organic herbs for the herbalist, grown on my family's farm; medicinal & native plants & nursery stock, fresh and dried flower arrangements, and the occasional plant walk & workshop. I do not offer midwifery services at this time, although I continue to serve women and families through my consulting and mentoring work, pregnancy and postpartum care packages, and- of course, herbal support specific to motherhood. Visit the shop page for current products and packages, or click to schedule a consultation with me, below.

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Learn more

Tend / Tender / Tending

What does it mean to tend? "to incline, to move in a certain direction," early 14c., from Old French tendre "stretch out, hold forth, hand over, offer" (11c.), from Latin tendere "to stretch, extend; aim, direct; direct oneself, hold a course" to pay attention : apply oneself to act as an attendant : SERVE , to apply oneself to the care of : watch over to have or take charge of as a caretaker , to cultivate, foster. I like to think of tending as a tradition- for example, gardening as a tending tradition , or homemaking. A tending tradition as in, the acts of caregiving, child-raising, cooking for others, caring for the land, a cool hand upon a fevered brow, a gentle and reassuring presence supporting a mother through labor, an herbal tea blend made just for you, the intention and thought that goes into the act of taking care.

Tender-Meaning "kind, affectionate, loving" first recorded early 14c."Gentle, sensitive, vulnerable, needing extra care, requiring careful handling" And also, the one who tends, "person who tends another," late 15c. from Latin tendere "to stretch, extend". So many etymologies to explore when we dig into the idea of tending, being tender, the ways we tend to our bodies, our homes, our loved ones, families, the land.....

What's in my basket?

I have long thought of my work and the many skills and tools I have, my experience and years of observation, learning and doing, like a full basket- a "vessel.... flexible... interwoven in a great variety of forms, and used for many purposes -early 13c., from Anglo-French bascat; a word of obscure origin despite much speculation." (from the online Etymology Dictionary) So, what are my interwoven forms, where and how did I learn my many purposes? What do I carry in my proverbial basket?

I have had the good luck and great honor to learn from and work with many amazing midwifery and herbal teachers over the last 20 years, including long term apprenticeships, advanced clinical practicums, many workshops, conferences, and continuing education classes. My midwifery education began as a child, watching my mother serve the rural communities of northern Vermont and New Hampshire where she had a busy homebirth midwifery practice. I took a detour from midwifery to study forestry and fight wildfires in Montana for a few years, but soon returned to the work of the hands that has always called to me. I apprenticed with several amazing midwives in the Finger Lakes and Western regions of NY state, while I had 3 children of my own and managed our family farm. I am forever indebted to my first formal midwifery mentors, Meg Grindrod, Sarah Maylin, and Charity Catlin; and the many others who have helped midwife me through the years, including Beth Ann Moonstone, Belinda Lashea, Heather Grissom, Rose Watson-Ormond, and Nancy Harman.I have attended hundreds of births and completed thousands of hours of clinical training, encompassing all aspects of women's health, the childbearing year in particular. I have extensive hands-on clinical experience caring for women and families.

I have been a student of the land and human connection since childhood. The foundation of my education and work as an herbalist has been my own personal relationship with and commitment to the the Land. I do not joke when I say the Land has saved my life, more than once. When I had no mother, the Land was there to mother me. When I have had no solid home, the Land has been my home. When I have lost my way, the Land has shown me the right next path.

I have formal education in botany, forestry, including dendrology, natural resource management, environmental education and sustainable agriculture. I began my herbal education with Nancy Phillips and Rosemary Gladstar, and have completed the Advanced Clinical Practicum Series which was directed by Rosemary at Sage Mountain for many years, as well as Aviva Romm's Herbal Medicine for Women program. Much gratitude to the following teachers, who have shaped me into the herbalist I am today: Andrea & Matthias Reisen, Deb Soule, Matthew Wood, Nancy and Michael Phillips, Rosemary Gladstar, Kate Gilday, and Aviva Romm, and the many teachers I learned from over the 10 continuous years I attended the N.E. Women's Herbal Conference. I continue to attend plant walks, botany intensives and am now largely self-taught, in regards to advanced botany and native plant studies. You will never find me without my trusty Newcomb's Guide! To be sure, however, the plants and land themselves have taught me more than any book or class, as well as the hundreds of women, babies and families I have been honored to care for in my midwifery work over the years.

I have been a vegetable, livestock, flower and herb farmer, in one way or another, nearly all of my life- having been lucky to have grown up with large gardens, dairy goats, cows, chickens, etc; and having worked on many organic farms over the years (including managing and owning a couple, too). Many years of the direct work of growing the plants I depend on most in my herbal practice, have taught me so much about each plant, their personality, their properties, and so many healing attributes we don't read about in books. Tending gardens is one of my greatest joys.

tend to the land // tend to one another

tend to the land // tend to one another

SHOP UPDate! mostproducts shown as "sold out" will be restocked in early February

Featured Products

About Us

Tending // The Work of the Hands

Tending // The Work of the Hands

Tending // The Work of the Hands

Emma Ricci: Mother, Herbalist, Farmer, Woodswoman

Tending // The Work of the Hands

Tending // The Work of the Hands

Offerings

Tending // The Work of the Hands

Offerings

Learn more

Tend / Tender / Tending

What's in my basket?

Contact Us

Tend Gardens

Hours

Drop us a line!

Subscribe

tend to the land // tend to one another

tend to the land // tend to one another

SHOP UPDate! *most*products shown as "sold out" will be restocked in early February

Featured Products

About Us

Tending // The Work of the Hands

Tending // The Work of the Hands

Tending // The Work of the Hands

Emma Ricci: Mother, Herbalist, Farmer, Woodswoman

Tending // The Work of the Hands

Tending // The Work of the Hands

Offerings

Tending // The Work of the Hands

Offerings

Learn more

Tend / Tender / Tending

What's in my basket?

Instagram

Contact Us

Tend Gardens

Hours

Drop us a line!

Subscribe

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SHOP UPDate! mostproducts shown as "sold out" will be restocked in early February