Because I don’t like to make things easy for myself—and because my neuro-spicy brain thrives on novelty—I’ve been doing more than just launching Hen’s Tooth Shop in the latter stages of 2025. At the same time, I’ve been taking part in Avon Wildlife Trust’s Grow Leader course: ten weeks at Grow Wilder, planting seeds of community, horticulture, and business.
It’s been muddy, magical, and mind-expanding.
Grow Wilder is a place where nettles are nurtured, compost is celebrated, and the wild edges are welcomed. It’s also a place where people gather—weekly, gently, and with purpose—to learn how to grow not just plants, but projects.
The Grow Leader course is part horticulture, part enterprise, part community-building. And for me, it’s been a grounding counterpoint to the whirlwind of launching Hen’s Tooth.
🌾 Learning to Grow in More Ways Than One
Each week at Grow Wilder brought a new rhythm: sowing seeds, harvesting sea buckthorn, mapping out business plans, and sharing stories over tea. I learned how to collect seeds and how to pitch a project.
I learned that tomatoes can be perineal under the right conditions (mind blown) and that community composting can soothe the soul.
I also learned that growth—whether botanical or entrepreneurial—is rarely linear.
It’s seasonal, cyclical, and deeply relational.
This mirrors how I’ve come to think about Hen’s Tooth.
It’s not just a shop. It’s a slow-growing ecosystem of handmade goods, upcycled treasures, and nature-inspired rituals.
🛍️ From Field to Shelf: Products That Echo the Course
Many of the items in the collections feel like quiet companions to the Grow Leader experience. Here are a few that resonate most:
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Clear View Window Bird Feeder – A reminder to pause and observe. This feeder invites stillness and connection with the everyday wild.
- Coconut shell bowl - Something so simple as the husk of a coconut can be transformed into something so useful.
- Hand carved Pestle and Mortar - For processing freshly picked herbs and grinding up dried spices into sauce bases
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Botanical Craft Stamping Set – Herbarium Specimens – Perfect for journaling plant discoveries or decorating seed envelopes.
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EcoLoft Loofah Dish Cloths – Set of 6 – Practical, compostable, and tactile. These cloths can be found in a community kitchen after a shared harvest lunch.
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Clay and Timber Jar – Ideal for storing dried herbs, seeds, or snippets of inspiration.
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Fairies of the Meadow – Collectable Vases – Whimsical and wild, like the unexpected beauty of a self-seeded bloom in a forgotten corner of the garden.
🧠 Neurodivergence, Novelty, and Nature
One of the most affirming parts of the Grow Leader course was how it embraced different ways of thinking and learning.
There was space for neurodivergent minds to thrive—whether through hands-on tasks, visual mapping, or sensory immersion.
We were encouraged to journal throughout the experience and the Keepsake Folio was perfect for this.
For me, novelty is nourishment. I need new textures, new ideas, new ways to connect. That’s why Hen’s Tooth is always evolving. It’s why I love crafting seasonal collections and why I’m drawn to items like the Botanical Nest Platter
🔥 Seasonal Living, Seasonal Selling
The Grow Leader course also deepened my appreciation for seasonal rhythms.
We planted in autumn, knowing the harvest would come later.
We talked about winter dormancy and spring emergence.
We learned to trust the timing.
This has shaped how I approach Hen’s Tooth.
I’m not chasing trends—I’m curating moments. The Driftwoven: Tasseled Cotton Throw – Hen's Tooth isn’t just a product; it’s a winter ritual. The Cosy Comfort Mug isn’t just a vessel; it’s a pause button.
As I have transitioned from the Smoke & Cinnamon collection to Stockings & Snowflakes for Christmas, I’m thinking about what the season asks of us. Slowness. Reflection. Warmth. And maybe a little whimsy.
🌻 What’s Next?
The Grow Leader course may be over, but its lessons linger. I’m dreaming of pop-up events, collaborative workshops, and community gifting circles. I’m thinking about how to make Hen’s Tooth not just a shop, but a shared space for creativity and care.
I’m also thinking about how to keep growing—without rushing. How to bring more of my experience at my Hen's Tooth allotment into the shop.
✨ Final Thoughts
Launching a shop and taking a course at the same time wasn’t easy. But it was exactly what I needed.
It reminded me that business can be botanical, that creativity can be communal, and that growth—real growth—is always seasonal.
So here’s to the seeds we’ve sown. To the compost we’ve tended. To the mugs we’ve filled and the blankets we’ve wrapped around our shoulders. Here’s to small communities, wild ideas, and the gentle power of doing things differently.