Our Legacy

Hardy’s House of Herbs is not just a brand; it is a living testament to the enduring power of women who have cultivated the earth’s gifts for generations. I am Joanna Hardy, a lifelong herbalist, carrying the name of my great-grandmother and the wisdom of the women who came before me: my mother, Jean; grandmother, Annie; great-grandmother, Johanna; and great-great-grandmother, Sophie. Their wisdom lives in me. Our story is one of resilience, connection, and the timeless healing of herbs.

 

It begins with Sophie in rural Germany. I can only imagine her garden was a sanctuary of sage, chamomile, and lavender. Her hands worked diligently, crafting remedies that mended her community’s body and soul. Her love of flowers and nature was passed on to her daughter, Johanna. When Sophie’s family sailed for America, she chose to stay, rooted to her soil, but Johanna carried her spirit and knowledge across the ocean.

 

My great-grandmother Johanna, my namesake, wove Sophie’s teachings into a new world. In the 1920s, her humble American garden must have burst with rosemary and mint. Her neighbors were surely drawn to her quiet strength and boundless love for plants. Her daughter-in-law, Annie, who grew up in the rugged Upper Peninsula of northern Michigan, crafted folk remedies for her family out of sheer necessity. In the 1940s, she grew gardens and handcrafted remedies, passing her knowledge to her daughter.

 

My mother, Jean, was a visionary, blending tradition with relentless curiosity. In my hometown, she was known as “The Herb Lady,” and many locals relied on her knowledge of herbal remedies. In the 1970s, she transformed our sunlit kitchen into a haven of discovery, where I learned to dry herbs and brew tinctures by her side. “Joanna,” she’d whisper, “every plant has a purpose.” Her warmth and passion are the heartbeat of every herbal preparation I create.

 

Today, Hardy’s House of Herbs is my way of honoring their memory by continuing to share their knowledge of folk healing. It is my legacy to my three daughters and my grandchildren. Each lavender calm tincture and healing skin salve is handcrafted with reverence, using sustainable practices to cherish the earth that has cradled our family for generations. We are a thread of women, woven through time, offering you the transformative power of herbs to heal, uplift, and inspire.

 

Join us in this journey. Let the herbs speak to you, as they have spoken to us, and discover the beauty of healing rooted in love.