About Us

Nelson's Herb Shop

Nelson’s Herbs, 65391 Dailey Rd. Edwardsburg, MI

269-663-8164.  Hours: 10am to 5pm Tuesday through Sunday, Closed Mondays.

This all started in 1989 when I found an old farm and 20 acres to buy in Edwardsburg, Michigan.  By old I mean the house was built around 1846 and badly needed updating, a real fixer upper.  This fixing upping is still continuing today as the enclosed porch that was probably added in the 1927 is being deconstructed as I write.  Of course I didn’t see what was, but what could be.  I had an interest in herbs that had been cultivated by an 80 year old herbalist in Niles, Mi. and herbs became my passion.  As time went on my little herbal hobby gained momentum and now it’s a hobby run amuck, thus Nelsons Herbs was born.
We have two large Greenhouses, about an acre of public Gardens and ponds, and a 1500 sq. ft. gift shop. The Gift Shop includes a tea room for my customers where I conduct herbal and gardening classes or where they can just sit and have a cup of tea.  Garden clubs and other groups have been using the tea room for meetings and a group of 2nd graders even came out to visit the greenhouse and learn about Rosemary.  The gardens are a place to relax and wander.  There is a 60 ft. Labyrinth in the back that is hedged with about 560 Lavender plants, a medicine wheel garden and many of the 300+ herbs that we produce for sale in the greenhouse are on display.  My newest garden addiction is Fairy Gardens.  Beside herb plants we also have ornamental grasses, hostas, hardy ferns, sun and shade perennials, flowering bushes and a few trees.
We don’t use pesticides.  We rely on beneficial insects to keep the bad bugs at bay and enrich the ground with compost.
In the shop there is more that 100 varieties of bulk herbs for sale along with organic-fair trade tea and coffee.  Also to be found are books, candles, cards, bath and body items, and food products. One the local front there are handmade soap, honey and maple syrup, jams, salsas, seasonings, crocheted hats, and so much more.
As for me personally, I’m somewhat older than I feel most of the time and younger than I feel the rest.  Although I’m technologically challenged I still embrace new technology and love gadgets.  My husband of 35 years and I are both self-employed and both have our businesses on the farm.  We have 2 sons in there 30’s and they are both great in their own right.  My free time is somewhat taken up helping my eighty something mother who, though her body isn’t what it used to be, has a very kind heart and gentle soul.  I also have 3 Black Labs, 4 Cats, and 2 Horses that seem to think that they are also Dogs because I don’t ride any more and all they have to do is eat and produce manure for my gardens.
I enjoy music of all kinds and since the invention of the I Pod I can listen to all kinds of music depending on my mood.  I’m especially fond of a singer that grew up around here, Carrie Newcomer.  I read a lot.  A couple of my favorite writers are Barbara Kingsolver and Susan Wittig Albert, but I like both fiction and non fiction.  I’m into anything that can keep my brain from getting bored.  I enjoy writing.  I write an article call “The Salt of the Earth” for a local magazine every month.  This has been going on for three and a half years, but I still get excited when I start the next article.
I bought a kayak a couple months ago and revel in the peace I find on the water.  This is one of the places I can say hello to myself and get to know me again.
Now you know just about as much about me as I do.  Things, and life, are always changing.  There is always a new adventure to explore, lots of gardens to weed, and new friends that I haven’t met yet.  So on with LIFE!