Natural Home & Health Product Recommendations
“The art of healing comes from nature, not from the physician. Therefore the physician must st…
Welcome to Garden Variety Blog
Stories of People & Plants
Ancestral research
French Huguenot Lore
If you’re looking for the tea about what’s been going on in France (and the neo-crusader empire) for the last thousand years, you’re in the right place.
New on Etsy: Keep Your Head on a Swivel Merch
Join the Garden Variety Gang with a new embroidered hoodie, cropped hoodie, beanie or hat! Designed by yours truly.
Natural Solutions to Man-Made Problems
Did you know sunflowers clean the soil of heavy metals and radiation? Neither did I until 2008 when my hometown became the site of the world’s largest coal ash spill. That’s when I set out to discover natural, science-backed, sustainable & scalable solutions to human-manufactured disasters, whether they be environmental, biological, psychological, or social. Join me on my journey to reclaim wellness through nature.
Home & Garden
Detoxing your home will change your life. Let me help you cultivate a home & garden where you can start vibing & thriving.
Mind & Body
Rather than reaching for toxic synthetic substances, lean in to nontoxic plant-based solutions to get your mind & body right.
Social & Community
Community wellness is the final frontier. Patterns in nature can inform us on how to heal familial & social division to reconnect.
Want to get a pair of the iconic orange glasses?
Be my twin! Blue-light blocking glasses like the amber aviators that I wear mimic natural sunrise and sunset hues and help prevent migraines, improve sleep, and reduce eyestrain. If you have to work in front of a computer like I and so many other writers do, get you a pair.
new book on Men’s mental health
Nontoxic Masculinity: A Celebration of Good Men
Toxic masculinity is a real problem for women, children, and other men. But men are not toxic by nature, and this shouldn’t be a controversial statement. This book flips the critical popular narrative and shines a much needed light on healthy, nontoxic, divine masculinity in order to motivate and encourage men and boys to become their best selves and feel pride in their strengths, using examples from Jesus of Nazareth to Sitting Bull, Steve Irwin, Fred Rogers and more.
“I bought your book for myself, but now I’m going to buy my son a copy. Thank you so much for this. This is the vibe we need.”
Justin R.
Testimonials
Audience feedback
Chapter 7 of your book hit me so hard. I wish I had read it years ago before my kids were born so I could have been a better dad.
DANIEL B.
Your book is a masterpiece! I couldn’t put it down! It’s so great for boy-moms and for any woman who wants to better understand men.
KATIE W.
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About
I Dig Up the Dirt So You Don’t Have To
Part gardener, part storyteller, part nerd, & part menace – that’s me, Jessica Chasteen, but my friends call me “Garden Variety Jess.” As the name suggests, this project is a variety show where we discuss topics that range from home and garden to psychology and biology, from spirituality and parenting to history, politics, plant medicines and more, with the purpose of inspiring you toward health and happiness, while having some good old fashioned fun along the way.
Latest Posts
Uncategorized
Gardening
Garden Center: All My Favorite Gardening Supplies & Resources
“The garden suggests there might be a place where we can meet nature halfway.” -Michael Pollan Intro…
Goodness
Montessori-Inspired Gift Ideas for All Ages
“Play is the work of the child.” – Maria Montessori Introduction Disclaimer: This post contain…
Love
BTS: Nontoxic Men’s Group Workbook
Behind the Scenes! If you’ve been around here for a while, you know I usually talk about gardening a…
Gardening
Gardening for a Burnt-Out Nervous System
Introduction When people see garden photos, they usually say, “That looks so peaceful.”What they don…
Gentleness
My Must-Haves for Migraine Relief
Introduction As an opiate-averse open-heart surgery survivor with a brain that loves to throw migrai…
Garden Variety Mission
Sowing the Seeds of the Fruits of the Spirit
Love
Love and connection are at the heart of a healthy, happy life. Let go of fear and step fully into love.
Joy
Laughter is truly the best medicine. Release expectations and disappointment and have a good guffaw.
Peace
Peacemaking isn’t people-pleasing nor staying quiet in conflict. True peace restores wholeness from brokenness.
Patience
Being in a hurry all the time is a sure way to have high blood pressure. Choose instead to be patient.
Kindness
Anytime you perform an act of kindness, no matter how small, you are enriching your own soul.
Goodness
Too often we conflate goodness with sweetness. True goodness sustains and protects life from harm.
Faithfulness
Having faith is the foundation of building wealth. Without trust and trustworthiness there would be no economy.
Gentleness
Being gentle with yourself is just as important as being gentle with others, maybe even more important.
Self-Control
Either master your habits, or they will master you. Self-control sets you free from self-destruction.