There was a time when nearly every household had a jar of rendered tallow tucked away in the kitchen or pantry. Long before shelves were lined with lotions, creams, and specialty skincare products, our grandparents and great-grandparents relied on simple ingredients from the farm to care for their families. One of those ingredients was tallow. Found in both the kitchen and the medicine cabinet, tallow was valued for its versatility and practicality, serving as a cooking fat, soap ingredient, candle fuel, and skin moisturizer.

While garden centers are filled with exotic flowers from around the world, some of the most beautiful, resilient, and beneficial plants are already native to Missouri. These wildflowers evolved alongside our local bees, butterflies, birds, and wildlife, making them an important part of the ecosystem. As an added bonus, many native plants require less water, fewer fertilizers, and less maintenance once established.