A detailed illustration of a bumblebee with yellow and black stripes on its fuzzy body, transparent wings with intricate vein patterns, and black legs.

WELCOME TO FINCH & FEN

There is a quiet kind of happiness found in paying attention.

It lives in the first elderflowers of June, the smell of bread cooling on the counter, the return of the red winged blackbirds - heralding the spring, herbs drying in the apothecary, and small practices that mark the turning of the seasons.

An open journal decorated with botanical illustrations and handwritten quotes, featuring pressed flowers and leaves attached to the pages.
A watercolor painting of a rustic cottage with a tiled roof, surrounded by trees and blooming pink flowers. Two children are playing in a grassy field dotted with yellow and purple flowers in the foreground.

The Cottage Year isn’t about owning a cottage. It’s about learning to belong more deeply to the place you already call home.

For years I have tried to keep my interests in separate compartments. Eventually I realized they had never been separate at all. Herbalism, gardening, following the rhythms of nature, collecting vintage home goods, heck - even my day job working for a conservation organization! are all connected. At least to me. It’s all a way of paying attention and of seeing the interconnected web of life.

The Cottage Year grew from that realization. Not as another productivity system or a list of things to buy or to idealize a past that was never that great to begin with. But instead it became a year long ritual of living with greater intention and care.

The Story Behind The Cottage Year

What You’ll Find Here

A botanical illustration of a branch with berries and leaves.
A black and white drawing of a jar filled with garlic cloves, with sprigs of herbs and slices of vegetables.

herbalism

A painting of potted and basket-grown flowers against a stone wall.

kitchen

garden

Illustration of a cozy, vintage-style house with a garden full of pink and white flowers, a white picket fence, and a gray metal roof.
Open notebook with watercolor-style illustration of lavender sprig inside.

home

journal

A textured, grayish crescent moon with a dark background.

ritual

A colorful sketch of a bouquet of yellow flowers tied with a blue ribbon.

An Invitation…

Whether you’re growing herbs on an apartment balcony, restoring a century-old farmhouse, living in the suburbs, or dreaming of one day having your own cottage, you’re welcome here.

The Cottage Year isn’t really about cottages, it’s about cultivating a way of living that feels rooted, observant, generous, and deeply connected to the place you call home.

Pull up a chair. Put the kettle on. Let’s spend the year together.

Hand picked herbs, teas, apothecary staples, vintage finds, and seasonal goods to support your slow and intentional life.

The Finch & Fen Shop

Explore the Shop
A hand holding a bouquet of yellow and purple wildflowers outdoors near trees with a grassy background.

herbal goods

Several small glass bottles with cork stoppers and labels, placed on a wooden surface, with a blurred background.

apothecary

A window with mesh screens, a vinyl record player on a table, and a red box or book underneath, in a cozy indoor space.

vintage finds

Close-up of a journal with botanical illustrations, handwritten notes, and decorative paper tape on pages with a soft background.

printable