43 The Road Was Full of Company

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View of a wooden pavilion with a mountainous landscape in the background, featuring green hills and fog. Two people are engaged in discussion at a table, while others sit on benches observing.
Picture by Brenda J. Sullivan at Wild Abundance Beginning Carpentry Workshop in North Carolina


The road was full of company. That is what I came home to tell you.

This week’s episode is about my nine-day solo road trip to the North Carolina mountains and the Wild Abundance women’s carpentry workshop — and I’m bringing the stories home with me. A bear at the threshold of a remote Virginia campsite. A cardinal singing at every window, every morning. A small brown bunny in an Appalachian garden. A circle of women under a timber-and-beam pavilion learning to use a chop saw. And one quiet plant — purple dead-nettle — walking the road alongside me.

For more information about Wild Abundance in North Carolina 

https://www.wildabundance.net/

A close-up view of various green plants and grass, with small purple flowers visible among the foliage.
Dead-Nettle
A wooden board with sketches and dimensions for construction, detailing measurements for two 36-inch pieces and one 93-inch piece of pressure-treated lumber, including a diagram of a rectangular frame with dimensions of 36 inches by 96 inches, alongside notes and specifications for assembly.
Picture by Brenda J. Sullivan – Class on building an outdoor shower
A newly constructed wooden birdhouse with a hinged top for easy access, featuring a circular entrance hole, placed on a wooden table.
Picture by Brenda J. Sullivan – my woodworking project, a birdhouse
A wooden box viewed from above, showcasing its hollow interior and grain pattern on the wood surface.
Picture by Brenda J. Sullivan inside the birdhouse
A wooden seat with a foldable backrest, positioned on its side on a workshop table.
Picture by Brenda J. Sullivan – side view of my birdhouse
A parked black SUV with its trunk open in a grassy area, surrounded by trees. There is a camping table with a stove and a small covered pile beside it.
Picture by Brenda J. Sullivan – campground in West Virginia
A scenic view of a highway winding through lush green mountains under a blue sky with clouds.
Picture by Brenda Sullivan – Highway 26 in North Carolina – elevation gains and losses over 1000 feet.

🌿 Herbs & Favorite Tools

(affiliate links — thank you for supporting this work)

Herbs featured in this Show:

1. White Dead Nettle Leaf Tea

https://amzn.to/3PO0Xyi

2. Purple Dead-Nettle (Lamium purpureum) Packet of 50 seeds

https://amzn.to/3PO0Xyi

3. Organic Herbal Oil for Skin | 2oz | Premium Organic Purple Dead Nettle Oil – Natural Face & Body Oil

https://amzn.to/4dA5Hjb

My favorite tea-making tools:

BAYKA French Press Coffee Maker, 

https://amzn.to/4r4LYNH

Cold Brew Coffee Filter for Wide Mouth Mason Jar, 

https://amzn.to/4qWQr4L

Heat-proof wide-mouth mason jars

https://amzn.to/4pNflmq

Walk the seasons with me — join my weekly newsletter at thenewenglandherbary.com.

📚Bookstore – Brenda J. Sullivan Books

https://www.brendajsullivanbooks.com

🌱 My Garden Journal – A How-To Garden Book for Kids

Because every gardener starts with a single seed — and a little curiosity.

My Garden Journal is part how-to guide, part creative keepsake, designed to help children (and their grown-ups) learn the basics of growing food and flowers while documenting their journey.

Inside you’ll find:

  • Simple planting guidance
  • Space for drawings, photos, and notes
  • Imaginative themed gardens (Harry Potter Herb Garden, Young Chef’s Garden, Monarch Butterfly Garden)

Perfect for homeschooling families, budding herbalists, and anyone who wants to grow confidence by growing plants.

✨ You’ll be amazed at how much you — and your garden — grow when you take time to journal the journey.

🌿 Work With Me

🌙 Herbal Consultations (Now Open)

Root your wellness in the wisdom of the plants — and the stars.

My one-on-one consultations offer gentle, grounded guidance rooted in traditional herbalism, vitalist principles, and (if you wish) astrology. Each session begins with listening.

👉 Learn more here:
https://mailchi.mp/351efb18cd6b/one-on-one-consultations-landing-page

☕ Buy Me a Cup of Tea

If this story brought you comfort, you can support the channel here:
https://buymeacoffee.com/thompsonstg

🎶 Music Credits

A heartfelt thank you to Alexander Nakarada for the beautiful music featured in this episode. Alexander is a gifted musician whose work I have long admired — and I am proud to support him as a Patreon member.

🎼 Song: Planning – 320bit –  September 5, 2021

🔗 https://www.serpentsoundstudios.com/

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