the maker's tale: a story of two worlds

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Hello!

My fiber studio and herbal apothecary live at Wool & Weeds Wildfarm, housed within a vintage farmhouse where the rhythm of my life is set by a beloved menagerie. My "co-workers" include Blodwyn, our vigilant guard Suri llama; seven spirited Pygora goats—Mwsogl, Dant y Llew, Blaguryn, Mr. Peppercorn, Hazel, Poppy, and Hawthorne; Pierre the pig; and Willoughby the pony.

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I have walked the path of Western folk herbalism for over 25 years. My love affair with wool began a decade ago when our llama and goats first arrived, and since then, my work has become a bridge between the botanical and the woolen. From the copper kettles where I simmer plant dyes to the spinning wheel where I conjure textured art yarns, everything here is processed artfully by hand. I create to explore the "slow ways" and the value of natural materials. 

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ANCESTRAL THREADS

Though my boots are firmly planted in the soil of the Pacific Northwest, my hands follow a map drawn by my ancestors. I am a student of the folk traditions that traveled here from Wales, Scotland, and Norway.

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At Wool & Weeds Wildfarm, I attempt to honor that lineage in my small way—naming my goats in the old Welsh tongue and practicing the heritage crafts of the North Atlantic. For me, this work is a way of staying connected to the "slow ways" of the generations who came before me. Everything I create is a tribute to that legacy.

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SMALL BATCHES. SEASONAL TREASURES.

Because I work in rhythm with the seasons, my offerings are naturally limited. Every herbal preparation, hand-spun yarn, and artisan batt is a one-of-a-kind creation. I operate on a "Seasonal Release" schedule, spending quiet weeks tucked away in the studio and apothecary to hand-craft a cohesive collection.

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Once the harvest is ready, The Mercantile gates open until the shelves are bare. The best way to secure a piece is to join The Wildfarm Circle below. You will receive a digital tiding with our next collection release date before the doors open to the public.

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THE TWO WORLDS

My mornings are spent as the founder and director of a local Montessori & Reggio Emilia preschool. It is a world rooted in the same "slow craft" philosophy as the farm—where we value natural materials, the beauty of the environment, and the rhythm of meaningful work and most importantly, play!

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Once the children head home, the light shifts, and I trade the classroom for the quiet of the Wool Shed & Apothecary. Whether I am guiding children or simmering a dye pot of forest lichen, my life is dedicated to the belief that the things we make—and the way we learn—should be exploratory & fun.

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Thank you for being part of this story.

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~ Valerie
Keeper of the Wildfarm