Melanie Holsti is an avid tea lover with a deep appreciation for the simple joys of life. Whether she's sipping a cup of Scottish Breakfast tea, capturing the perfect shot with her camera, or getting her hands dirty in the garden, she embraces each moment with enthusiasm. As an author and small business owner, she pours her focus and creativity into everything she does. Her background is as varied as her interests-she's worked in hospitality, retail, livestock farming, writing, and, of course, gardening. Over the years, she has experienced the triumphs and challenges that come with growing food and homesteading in diverse climates, from the harsh prairie of South Dakota to the woods and mountains of Missouri and Tennessee. In 2018, Melanie and her family took on an exciting project-restoring a charming 1917 Craftsman bungalow. With a lot of hard work and a shared vision, they transformed it into the Ironstone Cottage Tea Room, where guests could gather and enjoy a hot cup of tea or lunch with friends in a cozy, welcoming atmosphere. These days, Melanie, her husband, and their daughters reside on a small farm in Tennessee, living in a beautiful Federal-style home they built together.

Their homestead is shared with an assortment of animals, including a peculiar flock of barn cats, free-ranging chickens, and noisy ducks.