Nancy, Michael & Gracie Phillips

Nancy, Michael and Gracie Phillips (photo: Frank Siteman)

Our family farm is nestled in a picturesque valley surrounded by mountains and a babbling brook. The bountiful gardens, organic orchard, meadows and woods provide us with a deep sense of peace and well being. We grow much of our own food, make our own medicines and strive to live in harmony with all beings. We feel blessed to live here and share this peaceful spot.

Join us for an opportunity to connect with the earth and learn what we consider basic life skills. We delight in teaching others how to grow, harvest and prepare food and medicine ... our way of practicing health care is often one and the same. Working with the plants connects us to the heart and soul of the earth and nourishes our bond with creation and the Creator.

Herbal medicine has always been the medicine of the people. This ancient and ever-evolving science and art is just as valuable and relevant today. A home herbalist in every family and a village herbalist in every community would be ideal. Our tradition shares resources, skills, information and natural remedies to help people feel better. Empowering people to nurture and take charge of their own health is deeply satisfying for all.

Avena

We should have known when this golden retriever pup joined our family that there'd be trouble up ahead. Avena got her name at the height of the healing harvest when we spend day after day picking milky oats (Avena sativa). Our faithful companion now takes charge of planning the day's hikes and ball play. This is a dog who's mastered the priorities in life!

Sassy

"Sassafras, Sassafras, we have a cow named Sassafras" goes the refrain of one of Gracie's songs about our adventures with a family cow. Our inspiration lies in a desire to drink Real Milk and be involved in the full cycles of life. There's something very right about lush pastures on a farm and scything green grass for nutritious hay to feed in winter. A healthy cow and family well-being go hand in hand. Add a touch of spunk, and that's our Sassy!

Looking for an Orchard Mentor?
Want some guidance in the Art of Being Well?

Both Nancy and Michael can be called upon to share their respective knowledge in one-on-one consultations. Nancy thoroughly enjoys spending focused time with people to hear their health concerns and recommend alternative therapies. Sometimes it takes a Wellness Consultation with a knowledgeable herbalist to better be able to look at one's life as a whole. Michael meanwhile has a good ol' time teaching folks about apple growing from a holistic perspective. Homesteaders and small farmers alike can benefit from having a Grower Consultation when this apple guy offers specific advice tailored to localized challenges.

In the Spotlight

The good work that we've been blessed to share here at Heartsong Farm gets an occasional burst of attention. We'll keep you posted on our Press page about recent interviews and other goings-on that have touched our lives. What's most fun about these sorts of things is the serendipitous networking with other like-minded souls that inevitably follows.

Out and About

Meeting you here has been much too one-sided, you know. Perhaps our chance to meet will be when we leave the farm to present at assorted herbal and farm conferences across the country. Check Events to see our schedule, then do drop by and share a smile, okay?

Farm Apprentices

Each growing season we delight in welcoming two apprentices to our farm to learn more about healing herbs and the homesteading life. These are live-in positions with a full heaping of harvesting and medicine-making responsibilities. We offer room and board in return, plus a spot in our full line-up of classes. Apprentices very much become part of our family, sharing meals with us and often weekend hikes and canoe outings. If you're interested in one of these positions, please contact Nancy for an application form and to further discuss how we can mutually help one another.

Lost Nation Builders

Off the farm, Michael Phillips works hard at designing and building eco-savvy homes and historical renovations as part of a craftsman collaborative in northern New Hampshire and northeastern Vermont. Swinging a hammer to earn a day's pay fits into the seasonal patterns of working with the healing plants and apple trees. Michael and company come highly recommended to anyone with a desire for a home that suits the North Country landscape, places energy efficiency as a top priority, and appreciates fine craftsmanship.