<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?><rss xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/" xmlns:content="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/content/" xmlns:atom="http://www.w3.org/2005/Atom" version="2.0"><channel><title><![CDATA[The Rock Ballymacavany]]></title><description><![CDATA[therockballymacavany]]></description><link>https://www.therockballymacavany.ie/blog</link><generator>RSS for Node</generator><lastBuildDate>Fri, 10 Jul 2026 22:12:47 GMT</lastBuildDate><atom:link href="https://www.therockballymacavany.ie/blog-feed.xml" rel="self" type="application/rss+xml"/><item><title><![CDATA[What Does It Mean to Be a Seed Guardian?]]></title><description><![CDATA[First of all, it is a calling, not a job. It is such a privilege to get to know plants in such intricate detail. To know their seed by shape, scent and feel. To recognise their cotyledons as they first emerge from the soil, then watch their first true leaves unfold. To see them grow into their full glory, burst into flower, produce seed, and patiently watch the long process of those seeds maturing. To witness all of that lushness, vitality and beauty gradually being distilled into one small...]]></description><link>https://www.therockballymacavany.ie/post/what-does-it-mean-to-be-a-seed-guardian</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6a4e0e41702e1094e85ad38a</guid><pubDate>Mon, 29 Jun 2026 08:58:21 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/97cf05_b5b12edff34b4f2e80baaf1ea7bdb2fa~mv2.webp/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Helena Husinec</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Returning to the Long Form]]></title><description><![CDATA[I would like to start by diving into the whole concept of me, not really being pro fast-consumption information and the modern-day pressures of algorithms and all the rest of it. I've decided that I will keep creating content for Instagram as much as I can, but I will strive to provide quality over quantity from my own personal view and my own reality. I'm sure it is more meaningful for people to connect to something like that, opposed to bait hooks, highly edited content, or even artificial...]]></description><link>https://www.therockballymacavany.ie/post/returning-to-the-long-form</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6a4df41d712245376a067ec4</guid><pubDate>Mon, 22 Jun 2026 18:30:00 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/97cf05_25bf55a71eb64bbda0f7366a2902d160~mv2.jpg/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Helena Husinec</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Interview with Tristan Lienhard from AppleOak Fibreworks Ireland - mentor I have learned so much from in seed guardian training]]></title><description><![CDATA[I have had the great pleasure of learning from such a passionate seed producer and guardian as Tristan! His joy and enthusiasm about the plant kingdom were so true and radiant that it was undeniable to recognise his passion. Equally, his wife Jenny, who is a fibre-artist and revolutionary natural dye plant alchemist, transmuting plant pigments into lasting, naturally coloured garments and yarns! They are truly a power couple that I admire and get inspiration from. They run a beautiful...]]></description><link>https://www.therockballymacavany.ie/post/interview-with-tristan-lienhard-from-appleoak-fibreworks-ireland-mentor-i-have-learned-so-much-fro</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6a2efc61d1a315f32780af81</guid><pubDate>Sun, 14 Jun 2026 19:20:44 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/97cf05_40d6ec75c1114adebb60bc8b082fa6a9~mv2.webp/v1/fit/w_1000,h_829,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>The Rock Ballymacavany Team</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Seasonal Oxymel: A Wild Irish Tonic]]></title><description><![CDATA[A stroll through the land, along the hedgerows, slowly basking in and soaking up the warm rays of a balmy summer. And what a summer it has been! The warmest, sunniest, and most abundant of the thirteen successive summers I have lived here. With the Perseids shower blessing us with their presence earlier this month, the evenings are ever so slowly but noticeably closing in…that wee bit earlier each night. Rowan berries came first, followed by blackberries, and once I see those two berries upon...]]></description><link>https://www.therockballymacavany.ie/post/seasonal-oxymel-a-wild-irish-tonic</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6a2efad1d1a315f32780ace6</guid><pubDate>Sun, 14 Jun 2026 19:07:36 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/97cf05_30b1b3f808bf451ca5d3ef8433a33606~mv2.webp/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>The Rock Ballymacavany Team</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Seed-to-Skin Skincare: Slow Beauty with Herbs and Plants]]></title><description><![CDATA[Seed-to-skin skincare isn’t just a tagline, it’s a philosophy. Our botanical skincare line grows from the ground up, honoring nature’s rhythms, nurturing every plant from seed, and harvesting at the moment of peak potency. Each product is a reflection of the care, energy, and intention poured into it, creating skincare that supports both skin and soul. What Makes Our Botanical Skincare Different Our approach is rooted in harmony with the Earth. Many of our plants are grown from seed on our...]]></description><link>https://www.therockballymacavany.ie/post/seed-to-skin-skincare-slow-beauty-with-herbs-and-plants</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6a2ef8a0286a0f68ac0f2dbf</guid><pubDate>Sun, 14 Jun 2026 19:01:28 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/97cf05_c5fab620a7134d038c3907d0ae83c635~mv2.webp/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>The Rock Ballymacavany Team</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Harvesting Abundance]]></title><description><![CDATA[Autumn is slowly approaching with regular showers of rain, and wonderful rainbows arching all around us, sparking that childlike magic within. Some leaves are already gone, and a change is in the air… With that, harvest is arriving fast, and there never seem to be enough hours in the day to capture all that the land has to offer! The hedgerows are full of medicine, the fields are giving a flush of fresh greens after the hay has been cut, animals are enjoying their pasture, and the swallows...]]></description><link>https://www.therockballymacavany.ie/post/harvesting-abundance</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6a2ef5d9963b3c1436e9e06f</guid><pubDate>Sun, 14 Jun 2026 18:52:13 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/97cf05_4092816d21da43d6968b0295d9d9602d~mv2.webp/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>The Rock Ballymacavany Team</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Seeds &#38; Stuff - Interview with Paul Lyons]]></title><description><![CDATA[Paul Lyons is a grower, seed guardian and producer whose attention to minute detail and practical innovation in threshing seeds never ceases to amaze me. His sustainable and inventive approaches to seed saving and processing have been a constant source of inspiration, and what makes Paul stand out even more is his generosity. He freely shares his tricks and insights, as well as seeds he finds on his journeys, not just with me but with the wider community of growers. Paul’s path into seeds is...]]></description><link>https://www.therockballymacavany.ie/post/seeds-stuff-interview-with-paul-lyons</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6a2ef2a5d1a315f327809d96</guid><pubDate>Sun, 14 Jun 2026 18:39:28 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/97cf05_ef60e7c4573a49cca9cffccb9ed64060~mv2.webp/v1/fit/w_1000,h_768,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>The Rock Ballymacavany Team</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Autumn’s Orchard: Three Ways with Apples]]></title><description><![CDATA[The orchard is heavy again, branches bending, fruit bruising softly into the grass. So here are three simple ways to bring a little of that mythic sweetness into your kitchen this week. Apple Butter Slow, dark, and thick , the essence of autumn in a jar. You’ll need: • 1.5 kg apples (mixed windfalls are perfect) • 250 ml apple juice or cider • 150 g brown sugar (adjust to taste) • 1 tsp cinnamon, ½ tsp nutmeg, pinch of salt Method: Rough-chop apples (no need to peel), simmer with juice until...]]></description><link>https://www.therockballymacavany.ie/post/autumn-s-orchard-three-ways-with-apples</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6a2ef11c963b3c1436e9d6c2</guid><pubDate>Sun, 14 Jun 2026 18:25:49 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/97cf05_886204bb6e764cc5ba6e33000e65a94d~mv2.webp/v1/fit/w_683,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>The Rock Ballymacavany Team</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Threads of Earth and Spirit — Our Featured Artist: Jerusha Marley]]></title><description><![CDATA[A Collaboration of Earth, Art, and Soul Our work has always been rooted in connection — to land, to plants, to craft, and to the slow beauty of things made by hand. It feels only right, then, that our paths should cross with another maker who works from that same deep place of presence and meaning. We’re honoured to introduce our featured artist, Jerusha Marley — a Fashion Designer and Illustrator based on the wild North West coast of Ireland. Her work, much like our herbal practice, draws on...]]></description><link>https://www.therockballymacavany.ie/post/threads-of-earth-and-spirit-our-featured-artist-jerusha-marley</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6a2eeee8d1a315f327809571</guid><pubDate>Sun, 14 Jun 2026 18:15:45 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/97cf05_24a22651ce8442d1b73978b807dec909~mv2.webp/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>The Rock Ballymacavany Team</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Meeting the artist: Adriana Cicic]]></title><description><![CDATA[Adriana Cicic is a Donegal-based artist with roots in Croatia and Serbia. Her work has been shown internationally and she now creates from Ireland, with paintings and drawings available on Saatchi Art. By day, Adriana works in marketing and runs a wine blog exploring the meeting place of art, wine and travel, always with an eye for landscape, culture and the small details of beauty that many of us walk past. On her Instagram, @adriana_ci_art, you’ll find bright, uplifting paintings,Donegal...]]></description><link>https://www.therockballymacavany.ie/post/meeting-the-artist-adriana-cicic</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6a2eee48286a0f68ac0f191c</guid><pubDate>Sun, 14 Jun 2026 18:10:56 GMT</pubDate><dc:creator>The Rock Ballymacavany Team</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Sensitive Skin Care: A Gentle, Organic Approach That Works]]></title><description><![CDATA[What Is Sensitive Skin Care While most people can tolerate most skincare products, some of us deal with short or long-term bouts of particularly sensitive skin and must seek out options which don’t exacerbate the problem further. Natural sensitive skin care is about building routines and choosing products which nourish and soothe irritated skin, usually based on low-ingredient, chemical-free product formulas. Caring for the skin can also act as an oft-overlooked remedy for issues within the...]]></description><link>https://www.therockballymacavany.ie/post/sensitive-skin-care-a-gentle-organic-approach-that-works</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6a2eec55d1a315f32780902b</guid><pubDate>Sun, 14 Jun 2026 18:07:41 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/97cf05_5e9bb48c114c49b184cda74eb892fbdb~mv2.jpg/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>The Rock Ballymacavany Team</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Why Tallow Skincare Supports the Skin Barrier in Sensitive and Eczema-Prone Skin]]></title><description><![CDATA[Why Tallow Skincare Works for Sensitive Skin Finding skincare products that do not irritate or cause breakouts is a growing challenge for people with sensitive skin. Modern skincare products often have long ingredient lists and unnatural additives that do not support the skin barrier. As a result, many people who cannot handle these complex products feel excluded. Tallow stands out today because of its compatibility with human skin and its simplicity as a skincare ingredient. Used for...]]></description><link>https://www.therockballymacavany.ie/post/why-tallow-skincare-supports-the-skin-barrier-in-sensitive-and-eczema-prone-skin</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6a2eeb1a963b3c1436e9caec</guid><pubDate>Sun, 14 Jun 2026 17:59:46 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/97cf05_2ebf6692514a42b080ddb1e839ff5096~mv2.jpg/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>The Rock Ballymacavany Team</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Dry Lips: Causes, Treatments, and How to Restore Comfort Naturally]]></title><description><![CDATA[If you’re asking “why are my lips always dry”, even when it’s not winter time, then the cause often runs deeper than simple dehydration. For many people, chapped, cracked, or split lips persist year-round despite constant use of lip balm. In this article, we will help you understand the causes of your dry lips so we can take the first step towards choosing an effective treatment. Why Are My Lips Always Dry? Lips behave differently from the rest of your skin. They lack oil glands, which means...]]></description><link>https://www.therockballymacavany.ie/post/dry-lips-causes-treatments-and-how-to-restore-comfort-naturally</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6a2ee979d1a315f327808aa3</guid><pubDate>Sun, 14 Jun 2026 17:54:41 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/97cf05_e93b8ab77ce14fd1bea3645fabe289bd~mv2.jpg/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>The Rock Ballymacavany Team</dc:creator></item></channel></rss>