OUR STORY
A lifelong dream. A little serendipity. A whole lot of magic.
The story of how we found our little corner of the world and what we hope to grow here.
The beginning
I have always wanted to grow up on a farm.
I’ve dreamed my entire life of living somewhere surrounded by animals, towering trees, gardens, and a little bit of wild magic. A place to get my hands dirty, care for the land, and share its beauty with people drawn to nature, connection, and healing.
John and I spent more than a decade searching for our little piece of paradise.
And then along came Bosky Dell.
From the moment I stepped onto the property, I was completely enchanted. The trees, the winding paths, the gardens, the cottage. It felt like stumbling into a secret little world. I could already see animals roaming, friends gathering, and a community growing around a shared love of the land.
There was just one tiny problem. It was way out of our budget!
But we took a chance. We offered what we could and wrote a letter to the owners sharing our dream for the land and our promise to care for it.
They said yes. Before the house ever had an open house.
After decades of dreaming and years of searching, we’d found our sanctuary. And knowing the previous owners had lovingly tended this land for more than 40 years made it feel even more special, like we were being handed the next chapter of a beautiful story.
We moved in during the summer of 2026, bursting with ideas, the deepest gratitude, and probably a wildly unrealistic number of projects.
Perhaps the most beautiful thing about finding this sanctuary is knowing it was never meant to be kept to ourselves.
A Name Rediscovered | 1927
We didn't name this place. We discovered its name.
As if finding Bosky Dell wasn't magical enough, we stumbled upon something extraordinary while exploring the property's history.
An original plat map from June 1927 revealed that nearly a century ago, this little stretch of land was known as Bosky Dell, alongside neighboring parcels called Mossy Brae, Hill of Home, and Sunny Slope.
Bosky means wooded and leafy. A dell is a small, sheltered valley.
Could there possibly be a more fitting name for our little sanctuary beneath the cedars?
It felt as though the name captured not only what this land already was, but everything we'd dreamed it could become.
Some places just seem to know who they are before we do.
Honoring What Came Before
The story of this land did not begin in 1927.
Long before Bosky Dell appeared on a map, Indigenous peoples lived in relationship with the rivers, forests, and valleys of this region. Their histories, cultures, and connections to this land continue today.
I've begun connecting with Indigenous historians, reading books like Tribal Histories of the Willamette Valley by Dr. David G. Lewis, and reaching out to the Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde's Natural Resources Department and Tribal Native Plant Materials Program to learn more about the land and its native plants.
If you know of Indigenous historians, Tribal educators, cultural organizations, or other resources that could help deepen our understanding, I'd genuinely love to hear from you.
We are only one chapter in this land's much longer story. My hope is to make ours one of respect, reciprocity, and care.
The Cottage | 1967
Margaret built a little cottage in the woods. Her magic lives on.
In 1967, a woman named Margaret built herself a charming little cottage tucked among the trees, where she lived independently.
Nearly 60 years later, it's still one of the most enchanting places on the property. The original fireplace, the windows, the cozy corners. It feels as though the walls have stories to tell.
We're preserving the character that makes it so special while lovingly imagining its next chapter.
Today, Margaret's cottage is becoming home to Root to Ritual, drying herbs, botanical creations, and intimate gatherings filled with creativity, connection, and a little everyday magic.
There's something beautiful about a place built by an independent woman continuing to nurture the creativity and connection of generations to come.
From the Garden, with Intention
Root to Ritual
A little reminder that magic often lives in the most ordinary moments.
Root is our connection to the land, the seasons, our history, and one another.
Ritual is the intention we bring to everyday life. A cup of garden-grown tea, freshly pressed flowers, a candle lit with purpose, or a quiet moment beneath the cedars.
Root to Ritual is our emerging botanical apothecary, where the gifts of the garden become small-batch creations made by hand, with care and curiosity. Botanical oils, herbal blends, hydrosols, salves, and seasonal treasures—each one inspired by nature and created to make everyday moments feel a little more meaningful. Because the ordinary can be extraordinary when we take the time to notice.
Our Approach to Stewardship
The land gives so much.
We're learning to give back.
We're learning that caring for this land means slowing down, paying attention, and finding purpose in what's already here.
Fallen branches become mulch for the gardens. Trees that need to come down find new life as handmade flower presses and other creations. Chickens are already part of our little ecosystem, with goats and miniature donkeys hopefully joining the family soon.
We’re not trying to transform Bosky Dell into something it isn’t.
We’re learning about the native plants, trees, wildlife, and soil that make this place so special, and choosing what we introduce with intention. We favor plants that nourish pollinators, support biodiversity, and thrive in our climate, along with locally grown herbs and flowers raised without synthetic pesticides.
Not everything needs to be changed, improved, or given a purpose. Sometimes the most meaningful thing we can do is simply leave something as it is. We’re learning how to help it thrive while allowing it to remain beautifully, wonderfully itself.
What Comes Next
A century of history. A new chapter of possibility.
In 2027, we'll celebrate 100 years since the name Bosky Dell first appeared on a map. And while we're still discovering the stories of its past, we can't help but dream about what its future might hold.
I imagine gardeners, herbalists, artists, healers, makers, teachers, cooks, and curious souls gathering here. Sharing their gifts, learning from one another, celebrating the seasons, and finding connection with the land and each other.
We don't have it all figured out. And that's part of the magic.
Because the most beautiful things often grow when we bring our gifts together and leave room for possibility.
You don't have to be a healer, herbalist, or artist to belong at Bosky Dell. If you love nature, have a story to share, want to learn, or simply enjoy connecting with others, you have just as much to contribute.
Have something you'd love to share? A story, a skill, a little magic of your own? We'd love to hear from you!