Sammy Finding the Harvest
Some weeks seem to gather themselves together like herbs drying from the rafters. Quietly at first, and then all at once you realise just how much has happened.
One of the highlights this week was Ask A Witch, where we welcomed some lovely new faces around the table. With Lammas just around the corner, our conversation wandered through the meaning of the first harvest, old traditions and modern celebrations. As always, it didn’t stay there for long. Before the evening was over we were comparing our favourite rocks, proudly showing off interesting bits of wood we’d rescued from woodland walks, admiring unusual stones and generally proving that witches have a remarkable ability to become excited by the very things most people would simply walk past.
We’ve also been busy in the apothecary creating a brand new bespoke herbal tea blend. One of our lovely customers asked if we could create something inspired by the warmth and comfort of the hearth, and after plenty of tasting, blending and tweaking, Hearth Tea was born. There’s something rather special about creating a blend that starts with a single conversation and ends up becoming part of someone’s daily ritual.
The weekend then brought our first visit to the Flag Fen Mind, Body & Spirit Fayre. After somehow managing to discover the one natural fault with my card reader the evening before a major event (the timing was, naturally, impeccable!), it finally persuaded me that it was time for a change. We’ve now started moving over to a new till and card payment system which works directly with our website. While there are still nearly two hundred products to check and tidy, it will eventually give us much better stock control, keep the shop and website working together far more smoothly, and leave us with more time to spend creating rather than counting.
The fayre itself was everything we’d hoped for and more. Our herbal teas proved incredibly popular, several blends sold out, and it turned into our best fayre of the year so far. Even more excitingly, one of our existing wholesale customers has now asked us to produce bespoke tea blends for their own subscription boxes alongside the candles we’ve already been creating for them. Seeing our little creations travelling further afield is always a wonderful feeling.
Lammas has quietly woven its way through everything we’ve done this week. Our Lammas Ritual Boxes have been arriving with subscribers, filled with handmade pieces created here at The Old Smithy. As the first harvest festival reminds us to pause and appreciate what has grown, it feels rather fitting that this week has brought so many reminders that patient work really does bear fruit.
Looking ahead, August is already filling with wonderful gatherings. A week on Monday, we’ll be welcoming the Rutland Morris Dancers back to The Old Smithy. If you’ve never seen Morris dancing up close, it’s a wonderful way to spend a summer evening, and we’ll have tea, coffee and plenty of cake available while you enjoy the dancing.
Then, on 12th August, we’ll be joining our friends at the Rutland Pagan Moot for their Eclipse Hobbit Party, and we can’t wait to welcome the eclipse with a proper Hobbit-style feast. There will, of course, be plenty of potatoes… and cake.
As always, thank you for supporting this little apothecary. Whether you’ve visited the shop, joined us at an event, placed an online order or simply followed along from afar, you’re helping this little dream continue to grow.
Until next week,
Blessed Lammas,
Sam
