Melanie Holsti is an avid tea enthusiast, amateur photographer, gardener, author and small business owner. Her background includes hospitality, retail, livestock farming, writing and gardening. She has experienced both the joys and trials of gardening and homesteading in South Dakota, Missouri and Tennessee. In 2018, Melanie and her family worked together to restore a 1917 Craftsman bungalow where they later opened the Ironstone Cottage Tea Room. Melanie, her husband and daughters built the Federal-style home on their small farm in Tennessee where they currently live with a flock of barn cats, chickens and ducks. When it's not gardening season, she enjoys watching professional hockey, writing books and tasting new teas. 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. When she's not tending to the garden or caring for her animals, Melanie finds joy in writing books, sampling new and exotic teas, and cheering on her favorite professional hockey team. No matter the season, she's always pursuing her interests and creating a life filled with warmth and, of course, plenty of tea.