Bellyfull Plants Nursery

06/19/2026

Doesn't this look like a heart-shaped window through the trees? I know we're a plant nursery, but a lot of what inspired us to do this work is from an appreciation for the natural world, being naturalists and our love for the diverse plant community that exists in this part of the southern appalachians.... especially this magical place that got hit so hard during the 2024 storm, Helene. It is awe inspiring to see it be so resilient while also transforming and evolving through just the 25+ years we have lived here.

My teenaged son and I hiked the Catawba Falls loop trail! 3.5 miles with a thirty story climb UP, UP, UP!🌄🌊 it was amazing and a great challenge that made me happy that I still am able to do it even with my limitations. We had a limited time, so we hiked at a FAST pace... I still paused to take a few photos.

We felt vertigo at the tippy top of the 600 stairs with the see-through metal grates up that high 🤪 (Pardon my son slipping the s #!+ word in the video). After that hike, I felt like I could do more than I believed before! Definitely challenging... not for the faint of heart, though the first mile and a half is not so hard.
Bring water and snacks and go early morning and avoid the weekends or holidays.💚🌿

06/18/2026

Black Cohosh, Actaea racemosa, is an understory native of the Eastern half of North America, predominantly in the southeast. This is a botanical that enchants the forest and is known as a women's herb, but not exclusively for women. 💜🌿 This plant can be right for some people, but not all. Study black cohosh! There are many uses, including leaving them be, to grow in their special place in the woods. 🌳🌳🌳💕🌳🌳🌳

06/18/2026

We loooove our community and all the positive actions everyone makes to create a more resilient place.🌄💚🌻🐝💕

06/18/2026

Barely three weeks old tomorrow! These ducklings are growing sooo fast! Brownie the hen has done such a good job. 💗💕
They came out of eggs tge size of their heads now just three weeks ago. We are going to integrate them (and Brownie) with the 5 gentle biologically related ducks in a nice green pasture soon and introduce their swimming pool soon too! Since Brownie is a chicken and not a duck, she doesn't have the oils for their feathers, and I'm not sure if she's told them not to jump in the water bowl like most Ducks do but they have not jumped in the water since the second day after they hatched and it might be because they get a little cold after getting wet. Last week they did have a number of fun days in the rain but they did well and kept warm enough on these late spring / early summer days.

06/18/2026

It may seem odd, but part of our Bellyfull business includes our plant and honey-based dark chocolates we love to make on the side!
Our organic, fair trade cacao and cocoa butter are from trusted Farms we have supported for over a dozen years. We use local honey and no sugar or dairy.
Ingredients are: cacao, cocoa butter, honey and then whatever flavor you want is made with natural, simple ingredients.
Ask us anytime about our dark chocolates 🍫💜🌻🐝✨️🌶🍃🍇🌳🤎

06/17/2026

Wooooooowy zowy!!!🌿✨️🌳🌟🍀🌻

Cultivating Tomorrow: Climate Summit at Warren Wilson College brings together farmers, scientists, artists, community organizers, neighbors, and curious people from all walks of life for two days of conversation, learning, and celebration rooted in the belief that the future of our food and our land...

06/17/2026

Goldenseal is an understory herb from Eastern North America, a beautiful forest botanical with deep, thousands of years, history. It is a cornerstone medicinal herb honored and appreciated by Indigenous Americans, like Cherokee and Iroquois, for its many uses (INCLUDING KEEPING IT IN THE GROUND AND UNTOUCHED).🌿
We grow this special plant in hopes to repopulate it on the land, and need your help doing that since it has been overharvested / poached and disrespected since the 1700's.

We want to share how important it is to protect and grow goldenseal wherever we can, and not view it only for its uses or as a commodity, but remember this special plant's place in the ecosystem! We love the magical beauty and presence of these beings as well as the medicinal qualities and encourage you to study goldenseal.

🌟All plants we have are grown from seeds that we plant, and the original seed and stock that we planted and started practicing with was from ethical growers who value goldenseal in the same ways🌿💚 We do not support wild harvesting, unless it is a plant rescue at sites where there is about to be destructive impact, like a road being constructed or foundation being built.
Wild harvesting goldenseal normally counteracts the goal to repopulate the wild. We keep the wisdom active, "Just because you can doesn't mean you should." Goldenseal is a protected plant.

06/13/2026