Katy Rose Collection: Art, Words
Introducing Knepp Estates
Over the next few weeks, I’m giving you a peek inside my mind as I wrote my new children’s book, Miss Prim Goes Wild.
Over the next few weeks, I’m giving you a peek inside my mind as I wrote my new children’s book, Miss Prim Goes Wild. I’m gathering all the significant sources of inspiration and experience that influenced the creation of this book, plus some ideas and projects and beauty we can all dive into. I’ll zoom in on one area each week as I countdown to the book’s launch in March. This is my brain spread out on a big board!
Today I want to tell you about Knepp Estate in West Sussex, England.
I first happened upon Knepp Estate’s owner, Isabella Tree, in a Desert Island Discs interview while out for a morning walk about six years ago. Before I reached home I was already looking at plants and birds and little yard mushrooms in a whole new light. As someone deeply inspired by the wonder of nature, my interest was piqued by her hopeful message. She was working to preserve the natural world and seeing remarkable success, using methods I could wrap my mind around. I ordered her book immediately and soared through it over the next few weeks.
Knepp Estate is 3,500 acres of land with a deeply rooted place in history, dating back to the 12th century. About 25 years ago the owners, Charlie and Isabella, had to make changes to their farming methods in order to keep things financially afloat. The more research they did, the more they felt compelled to take a drastic approach and begin to let the land grow wild.
This came with a host of challenges and critics, but the results from a conservation standpoint have been astounding, and globally recognized.
I loved reading about Painted Lady butterflies finally finding a safe place to land as they flew from Morocco. I was fascinated by the pigs rooting in the soil, creating unsightly holes, only to find they were bringing life back to the packed clay soil. And how delightful to learn the little tree babies were naturally protected from animals by the thorny scrub which is typically pulled up, enabling a host of new trees to regenerate quickly. Chapter after chapter recounted hopeful stories of flourishing.
Castle print-out from Knepp source
One aim in raising our own children has been to instill in them a love for nature, pointing them to the Creator in all the little hints of His handiwork and design. Considering a variety of approaches to steward the natural world, in all the little ways we can, feels like an intuitive response as a Christ-follower.
There is so much to learn about the creative work happening at Knepp. If you’re interested, here are some places to get started:
Listen to the 2019 interview: Desert Island Discs interview, BBC
Get the Book: Wilding, by Isabella Tree
Learn more about Knepp Estate
Castle print-out from Knepp source
Pre-Order from your favorite bookshop HERE!
A whimsical picture book that follows strict Miss Prim as she learns how nature's wild ways can heal both her yard and her heart--and teaches children how to watch the wild grow in their backyards!
It’s About to Get Wild!
Did you get your end-of-year photo recap on your phone?
Mine popped up the other day and said, “Your picture vibe for 2024 was Outside with Your People!” Then it magically created a slideshow of us doing all the outdoor things together.
And really, a version of this slideshow could have been created every year for the last 15 years because being outside with my children has been one of the most wonderful parenting hacks and greatest joys.
An older mom told me when I had four tiny ones, “If it feels like the walls are closing in on you, get rid of the walls.” So we went outside. And the more we did, the more we got to know it. Children are natural-born explorers and with every tiny discovery there came new questions.
We searched and googled and looked in books to find answers.
We drew and painted and excavated.
We walked our neighborhood, hiked trails, and sought out every park. Though what we did most was simply go out into our own yard.
And these are the roots of my new picture book, Miss Prim Goes Wild!
It has been a joy to work on this story. These lighthearted, alliterative tales with lively illustrations are the kind my children have loved over the years. Talented illustrator, @thai.phuong.artwork, brought the story to life with gorgeous and thoughtful pictures. I hope the children in your life love it, too!
More fun things to share soon, but for now, I hope you consider grabbing a copy and getting ready to go WILD!
How To Be A Neighbor
One cold NYC night near Christmas, my husband and I ran down the steps of the subway station, headed to our apartment. As is usually the case in stations, a man stood at the bottom of the steps, mumbling something to each person who hurried past.
One after another, our stream of people passed by him because the train was pulling up and we had important places to be.
After I’d passed, I heard him behind me saying, "Oh, thank you, sir. Thank you so much!”
I peeked back and saw him leaning in close to another person like they were working on something.
“I can’t do it on my own,” he was saying.
It was clear to see then, once I actually paused to look, that the man had only one working arm and he was trying to find someone who would help him zip up his coat.
So the other person (my husband) fumbled with the zipper, pulled it up to the man’s chin, and the night felt a little less cold.
And when I think about beauty in the world, it’s these kinds of moments that come to mind. Sometimes we’re recipients, asking for help, and sometimes we have the chance to respond with kindness. Either way, we’re changed.
Jesus came as a light in the darkness and we all just have these little chances to carry His light.
I’ve been reading the book of Luke this month and I was struck in the Parable for the Good Samaritan. The lawyer means to test Jesus by asking, “Well, who is my neighbor?” after Jesus has told him to love his neighbor.
Jesus tells the story of the Good Samaritan and then in Luke 10:36 asks, “Which of these three, do you think, proved to be a neighbor to the man who fell among robbers?”
The responsibility is on us to be the neighbor, not to determine who is our neighbor.
May our Christmases be full of true beauty and light given.