All about herbs
One Plant, Many Possibilities
At Heart of Rock Farm, we believe plants rarely fit into just one box. A single herb or flower might flavor a meal, soothe the body, support a ritual, scent a salve, inspire art, or steep into a comforting or uplifting cup of tea. These Use Categories are simply lenses—ways of exploring how people have traditionally worked with plants and how they might fit into everyday life today. As we continue learning what grows best on our land, you’ll see many of the same plants appear in more than one place, each time telling a slightly different story.
Culinary Use
Herbs have always been rooted in the kitchen, where flavor, nourishment, and seasonality meet. Culinary herbs and flowers can elevate simple meals, preserve harvests, and reconnect us with the rhythms of growing and cooking food close to home. In this category, we explore plants grown for their taste, aroma, and versatility—whether fresh, dried, or preserved—celebrating the joy of cooking with ingredients that begin just outside the door.
Medicinal Use
For centuries, herbs have been used to support the body and promote balance, long before modern medicine existed. Our medicinal category focuses on plants traditionally valued for their wellness-supporting properties and everyday home herbalism. This is a space for learning, curiosity, and respect for the long lineage of plant-based knowledge, approached thoughtfully and with care rather than quick claims or cures.
(More about Herbal Preparations)
Metaphysical / Spiritual Use
Plants have long played a role in ritual, symbolism, and spiritual practice across cultures. In this category, we honor herbs, flowers and trees used for intention-setting, seasonal rituals, energy work, remembrance, space cleansing, and personal meaning. Whether tied to folklore, tradition, or personal reflection, these plants invite connection—both to the land and to something deeper and less-easily named.
Cosmetic Use
Before commercial skincare existed, people relied on plants for beauty, hygiene, and self-care. Herbs and flowers can bring gentle fragrance, color and nourishment to soaps, salves, oils, and other body-care creations. This category highlights plants traditionally used in cosmetic and topical applications, blending practicality with a sense of ritual and care for the body. (More about Herbal Preparations)
Artistic / Crafting Use
Plants have always inspired creativity. From natural dyes and pressed flowers to wreaths, bundles, and handmade décor, herbs and flowers offer texture, color, and story. This category celebrates the artistic side of farming—the ways plants can be used to create beauty, mark seasons, and craft meaningful, hands-on objects that carry the spirit of the land into everyday life.
Herbal Teas
Herbal teas are one of the simplest and most intimate ways to work with plants. A cup of tea can be grounding, comforting, invigorating, or reflective, depending on the blend and the moment. This category focuses on herbs traditionally enjoyed as infusions or decoctions, inviting slow moments, warm mugs, and a deeper relationship with the plants we grow.