The most obvious is a name change. When I last communicated, it was as Sarah Erny. For very personal reasons, I chose to take my birth name Sarah Chester. Again, a story for another time. But I’m still me and ready to share a space with you again.

My 25 year long partner and husband, Keith and I recently moved to the Pacific Northwest in March 2023 after spending a decade in California. We have 5 adult children who also have their own growing families in our home state of Kentucky. 

We LOVE it up here. I have my seasons back. There is always green around us and the community is wonderful! This year I was able to start gardening again, something I have sorely missed since leaving the farm in Kentucky. It is mainly bringing in my herb sisters. While we don’t have acres, it is enough for now. 

Growing has been such a rewarding, healing adventure taking this space and bringing in so many gifts of the Earth. The joy, support and love these beauties bring will be the subject of many future emails. I have learned so much about each of these plants and I want to share these as I start writing again.

While here, we had the privilege of taking care of my 97-year-old mother in law. Mama was dealing with dementia and she moved with us to Washington. I was able to get to know her in a way I hadn’t before. Being caretakers was so very challenging – especially as you watch your loved one slip away – but I don’t think I would trade the experience for anything. We learned a lot about ourselves, each other and life itself.

Mama passed away at the end of May joining her husband, siblings, friends and my mom (they had become big friends before Mom’s passing). I hope they’re having a giant party now on the other side!

While still practicing as an integrative health care provider in Washington, I believe it is time to start sharing again what I’ve learned and am learning in the wholistic healing space.

In the last few years of extreme challenges, I have learned so much more about living wholistically/authentically and what that means in a practical sense. These days it feels like a lot of us just living in survival mode…a space that I have known for far too long.

I want to share my personal journeys with you. I see it as a reconnecting of like minds and spirits but also a way to share hope and encouragement…a sense of community.

My love of plant medicine and creativity as tools for healing have grown incredibly. I would love to tell my story of how this happened and what I’ve learned along the way…sharing tips, recipes and ideas as I write.

Bella Sage is a family affair started with the help of my oldest daughter Stephanie. She and I worked to get things going in the beginning and then were joined with our partners Keith and Ivy. 

We are still working on getting our new space up and running at the moment. We’ll keep you posted as things emerge. For now, I’ve started posting on a new Facebook page until we can get out of that space. It was just the easiest while we’re working to get going.