Welcome to 9 Maples

I’ve always believed that the best things in life come from simple, honest beginnings. For me, that means fresh ingredients, family meals, and the satisfaction of making something with your own hands. Growing up in the 80's and 90's, things were convenient, fast and unhealthy. I felt like I have spent so many years of my young-adult and adult life trying to "undo" the bad habits we thought were healthy.

As a full-time working mom of 3 children (a teenager, a pre-teen and a toddler), our lives are busy, messy and chaotic at times. I wanted to be able to cherish the small moments together, the rides to lacrosse practice, a family dinner or packing lunches in the morning - without the stress of

reading ingredient labels on a quick snack or throwing together a quick dinner last minute. I slowly shifted to pantry staples made of whole food ingredients and a complete weekly meal plan that was simple enough to prepare on a Sunday evening.

Raising teenage girls is not for the weak. The obsession with Sephora products and fragrances was taking over. Add to the mix, a toddler with an allergy, making his skin breakout from latex, rubber and silicone. We found a lot of over-the-counter topicals contain ingredients we weren't able to use. I am forever grateful to the local organic beef farmer who mentioned tallow as an alternative. Taking a deep dive into the research behind it, a freezer full of suet and many, many hours of rendering (*read "weeping over the stove wondering what I got myself into"), I fell in love with the process. The calmness of creating something to soothe, something to relax.

At 9 Maples, we’re more than just a homestead. We’re a place where you can find inspiration to live a simple, natural life in the midst of your daily chaos, recipes and meal plans, and our specialty—tallow-based skincare products. Everything we make is crafted with care and intention: using quality ingredients, honoring traditional practices, and sharing the results with our community.

This blog is my way of opening the doors of our farm and kitchen to you. Here, you’ll find:

• Recipes that are easy, approachable, and family-friendly, including one-pot meals that make weeknight dinners a little less hectic.

• Tips for living simply in a busy life, small moments where we find peace.

• Skincare insights using natural, wholesome ingredients.

• Stories and inspiration from seasonal life at the homestead.

My hope is that this space feels like sitting at our family table. A place where you can get ideas, feel inspired, and maybe even learn a little secret or two about cooking and caring naturally for yourself and your family.

I’d love for you to take a seat at our table. Try a recipe, explore a tallow tip, or simply enjoy a story from the season. And if you’re feeling inspired, share your own family favorite with us—I’d love to hear it.

Welcome to 9 Maples Farm Market. I can’t wait to share this journey with you.