My name is Willamina and I have been a nature nut for, well, as long as I’ve been mobile. My greatest memories all involve the great outdoors and the plants and animals that I’ve encountered in both my own backyard and across the globe. I have an enduring love for the shaded forests of New Hampshire, but also appreciate the beauty of a midwest prairie and the mountains of Peru. The Negev desert still resonates deep within my soul, as do the magnificent stone runs of the Falkland Islands. Our natural world has so much to offer us and I hope you’ll consider joining me for a class or two as I share my joy of herbs, ecology, gardening and sustainable practices.
The Magpie’s Apprentice began as a Master’s Project back in 2015 when a position at an environmental education center just didn’t fit into my geographical desires. Unwilling to part from the beauty of New Hampshire but equally as resistant to change career goals, my small business was conceptualized and took root here in Rockingham County.
Offering small-group classes on various nature-based subjects as well as curriculum design and development, The Magpie’s Apprentice is based out of quintessential Chester, NH.
I am so blessed to do what I love while interacting with some truly amazing individuals who are interested in growing their own medicine and taking back their health; people who are excited to convert ‘trash’ materials into unique planters and garden accessories through upcycling; and busy families who want to grow their own backyard meals but haven’t the time to get started. I am always eager to speak at libraries and garden clubs, but have been more recently featured at NH Herb & Garden Day, NH’s Northeast Organic Farming Association, and Strawbery Banke Museum.
Want a veggie garden but don’t have the time to get it started? Eager to grow your own herbal allies but not sure where to begin or what to grow? Coupling my experience as a homesteader and herbalist with my knowledge as a UNH Extension Master Gardener, I am confident I can create something both beautiful and bountiful for your home garden.
From field to fork is a theory I lean heavily on for my personal health and commitment to sustainability; I would be honored to help you start growing both your own food and medicine also. My designs cater to your personal wishes and work around the pre-existing layout of your property. I am happy to simply consult or commission a design, but happier still to both design and install.
Installs can be as simple as a constructed bed to as thorough as bed, fabric, soil, plants, trellises, and irrigation. Depending on your location, maintenance services are also available upon request.