July 8, 2026

Life has a way of throwing all kinds of things at us, doesn't it? First off, there's the "normal" to-do list that's just always there. It never goes away, and for me, anyway, it's always way too full. This used to cause me to feel depressed, anxious, and honestly, like a failure.

However, I've shifted that thought. Now I look upon my massive to-do list as a blessing. How fortunate I am that I get to keep my home clean and beautiful (and that I even have a home to call home). How blessed and favored I am to have created an herbalism school that I love. How amazing it is to have met the man of my dreams and that for once in my life I am equally yoked.

Wow!

BUT...then there are the "other" things. Those things that somehow are all on top of the massive to-do list. The "stuff" that just happens. And nobody is free of these things. They happen to all of us.

Right now, I'm facing some very expensive health needs, and to be honest, I'm a little worried. We're figuring that out at the moment.

And I got an email yesterday from Oshala Farm, a family herb farm I love to support. They had a terrible fire that burned down most of their infrastructure last week. Here's a link for you to see the damage and perhaps to donate a bit, if you can, to help them out.

​Help Elise and Jeff at Oshala Farm

I know they would very much appreciate it.

The thing is, stuff happens. And nobody is immune.

Prayer helps. Journaling helps. Brain-dumping and then prioritizing helps. Community, if you have it, helps, too. Exercise even helps!

Mostly, managing our thoughts appropriately and finding the joy in the midst of it all is the best thing.

What helps you when life feels overwhelming? Hit reply and let me know.

And...if there's anything you can think of that I could share or do that might help, I'd love to know that too.

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Encouragement and Inspiration

As you know from previous emails recently, I've moved this popular section of my weekly notes to you over to a Substack site. The reason I did this was because I just tend to write SO much sometimes, and in trying to do that here in my newsletter, my notes had gotten way too long, even for me. In fact, Google even cuts them off, LOL.

If you want my real thoughts about life things besides herbs and oils, encouragement and inspiration for life, and healthy ways to manage difficult times, difficult thoughts, and how to find joy in your life again, I'm sharing my processes there.

It's only just begun, and for those who have loved my E&I notes here, I hope you'll join me over there and share your thoughts with the community, too if you like.

It's in this way, I can create what you need and want, and I can cheer you on! The site is called, "Keep Your Lamp Lit." If you subscribe, you'll get dedicated encouragement and inspiration notes in your inbox each week.

There are several notes and articles on Keep Your Lamp Lit on Substack now! If mindset work is something that speaks to you, I'd love to have you join me there, and it's free.

My latest article:

🦋 "When Your Body Remembers What Your Brain Forgot: And How the Truth Will Set You Free"​

P.S. This KYLLA site has been on my heart for a LONG time....years, in fact. I know God put it there because the nudges to just do this have been getting stronger and stronger--uncomfortably strong.

After working with herbs and essential oils for holistic health for so long, and visiting with many people and clients over the years, the truth is that our emotional and mental health must be taken into account as it 100% impacts our physical health. Most people I've worked with enjoy the process of renewing their minds, as God tells us to do. And that's what this is about.

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🌿 10 Herbs for Sleep, How They Work, and Three Herbal Blends

Here's the latest from the blog!

I'm getting ready to write the third lesson in the Sleep Course that I'm teaching inside the Confident Herbalist Tribe, and I thought I'd put a little piece of it on my website at Healing Harvest Homestead.

(Tribe members get our new courses free, and then depending on feedback, we sometimes offer these as separate courses later.)

​So, here's an article where I share ten of my favorite herbs for sleep. I'm also sharing a bit on how and why they work.

Herbs are amazing because they don't just mask a symptom and knock you out (although they can). Different sleep helping herbs work on different areas of the brain and body, and this is why herbalists must learn about the plants and how they interact with the body and mind.

PLUS I've included three different herbal tea blends (or you can tincture these, if you like). There's one for getting to sleep, one for staying asleep, and one for kids.

​Ten Favorite Herbs to Support Sleep, Plus Three Herbal Blends​

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🌼 Time Sensitive: Calendula Workshop (Free)

I love, LOVE calendula. Every year, I make fresh batches of calendula infused oil for skincare and healing salves and lotions. It's incredible.

The reason it is so amazing? It's because of the herbal constituents, like the carotenoids it contains for one, that go to work to help our skin, from dryness, to wrinkles, to being antioxidant, and so much more!

My friend, Susan Parker, author of Power of the Seed, is a lipid oils expert. She's studied carrier oils for decades and has incredible knowledge. She has recently been studying exactly what herbal constituents are best released into various carrier oils!

I know I'm geeking out about this, but most herbalists don't know what constituents actually get into the lipid oil when we infuse the herbs.

This morning, Susan is teaching a free workshop on Calendula! You can save your seat HERE, and there is a replay.

If you happen to miss the workshop and are really bummed (like I would be), then you can find out more about her new course, Herbal Actives, HERE.

​Link to join the FREE Calendula Webinar at 11:00 a.m. Pacific/2:00 p.m. Eastern

​Direct link to the Herbal Actives Course information​

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🥰 Focus Diffuser Blend

This morning, Mr. V. told me I need a focus blend bad. I had to laugh. He's right!

There's a lot going on right now! So, I'm diffusing this one, and I'm sharing because maybe it will help you, too. It will at least make your house or office smell great!

🍋 Lemon essential oil is uplifting. It's also cleansing to the air. In addition, it contains molecules that gently help your immune system---great for seasonal allergies and other health needs that require immune function.

🌿 Rosemary essential oil is the premier choice for helping with memory. It's bright and beautiful and most people adore the scent!

🪻 Lavender is the foundation. It's calming, and in the amount I used here, it is too little to cause over-relaxation. Just peace. You can substitute with sage (Salvia officinalis) if you want a power boost for the brain, though.

Ingredients:

Place these into your diffuser and enjoy!

5 drops lemon essential oil

2 drops rosemary essential oil

1 drop lavender essential oil

I hope this note finds you happy, peaceful, and well! And I hope I see you over on Keep Your Lamp Lit if that speaks to you. If not? No worries! I appreciate you being here for all the herbal and aromatic goodness and fun!

Hugs, Health, and Herbs,

Heidi

P.S. If you have a friend who might enjoy any of this, please do forward along and share!

Remember! You can still pre-order my book HERE. It's a great resource for your herbal library.