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.

As we put away the holidays and look forward to the prospect of a new year, I’ve been thinking a lot about the kind of life I want to lead—one rooted in gratitude, simple joys, and being just a little better every day than I was the day before. Maybe it’s the quiet of winter, or maybe it’s the way the world softens under a layer of frost, but something about this season always nudges me to reflect more deeply.

One thing that keeps rising to the surface is a pull to give back in meaningful ways. Not just during the holidays when giving is on everyone’s mind, but all year long—month after month, moment after moment. I want generosity woven into the rhythm of my everyday life, just like kneading dough or pouring a new batch of soap.