ABOUT US.
Native Acres was established in 2000 by Patricia Johnston and her daughter Gail. They incorporated their love of gardening and raising animals into a small family business.
This mission includes growing heirloom plants and herbs (seeds available) totally organic. As well as raising Dairy goats, sheep, rabbits, and more. The animals and garden provide for a wide assortment of hand-crafted products. The animals wool/hair is dyed with native plants and then hand spun into yarn. The herbs are used to make both body and medicinal products…all natural. Along with the flowers, vegetables and woodland plants, you will find a small Medicine Wheel Garden on the property. The bee’s provide honey and the goat’s provide milk for the most wonderful Goat Milk Soap.
On this website you will find The Sisters of the Wheel and the many festivals where they will be demonstrating spinning and dyeing wool with native plants. You will also find the many animals that live here, goat milk soap, roving, yarn and fiber , prints , Gail's books, Reiki , and of course the blog!
We can be reached at:
Native Acres
10405 Berry Brook Rd.
Modesto, Illinois 62667
nativeacres@frontier.com
217-439-7240
217-891-8023
Hope to hear from you soon!
Gail
Sadly, on March 14, 2006 Patricia passed away. Gail honors her and the ancestors by continuing the Native Acres traditions.
PATRICIA LOUISE JOHNSTON:
July 5, 1932- March 14, 2006
Our beloved mother , Patricia passed away on March 14,2006. She was at home with her children and her husband at her side. She has been a Matriarch of this family for 56 years. Our hearts are heavy with sorrow, and the void will never be filled. She was the main inspiration for Native Acres. She was proud of her heritage, being part Cherokee and part Scottish. Her lineage of her mother's side can be traced back to the MacDonald Clan from the Isle of Skye in Scotland. Her father's lineage can be linked to the Cherokee of Oklahoma. As her great grandfather married a Cherokee woman during the Oklahoma Land Rush.
Her dream was to help preserve our natural resources and to be more self sufficient. She loved to garden and preserve the harvest. She would make jellies and jams and then freeze the rest of the fruit to make cobblers and pies in the winter months. In the early years she helped her husband farm, and take care of the livestock. All the while having and tending 6 children. She raised chickens selling eggs and butchering to put meat in the freezer. She was no stranger to working in the field, running the tractors and equipment, milking the cows and scooping corn from the wagon into the hog feeders. She always fixed homemade meals. Everything the family ate came from the farm, except the staples like flour, salt, sugar, ect.. She also loved to ride horses. Her and her mare Little Jewel attended many trailrides along with the family. Back then the family belonged to Town and Country Wranglers Saddle Club. Where she held the office of secretary and treasurer for a time. (the same saddle club is still going today, Otter Creek Saddle Club)! Her children and family were the most important thing to her. She would do anything for her children. She taught them to live the old ways, to be respectful of your elders, and to work hard. Later she drove a school bus for Glenwood Schools in Chatham Illinois. And then drove for Northwestern Schools in Palmyra, Illinois. She loved driving the bus and loved the kids. She retired from Jacksonville Developmental Center, where she worked in housekeeping. She belonged to Otter Creek Saddle Club, The Midwest Soarring Foundation, Heartland Saddle Club, American Legion Women's Auxillary, Clan Donald (McDonald Clan of Scotland) and the Palmyra Baptist Church.
Not a day goes by that she isn't thought of or missed. And her family knows that the only thing she wanted was for her children to lead good lives and to be happy. She was the kind of mom that could fix anything and knew everything! She could smooth over even your toughest problems. The whole family looked up to her for guidance and advice. You know the saying they broke the mold when she was born? This saying rings true in this case! If life was a garden, hers was tended with love and devotion.
We know your wishes mom, and we hear you call to us. Your dream will be fulfilled in your children, and if we have learned our lessons well, your dream will live on in your grandchildren. We love you!
Janice, David, Bill, Gail, Melinda and Jess
