The Story Behind Meadowlark Made: How Faith and Family Shaped a Prairie Apothecary
I’ve been drawn to natural skincare and wellness for over twelve years. Long before I ever dreamed of creating a skincare line, I worked as a holistic esthetician and massage therapist, learning how deeply connected our skin is to the body, the land, and the care we give ourselves.
When I became pregnant, everything changed. Suddenly I wasn’t just caring for one body—I was caring for two. And so I started reading ingredient lists differently. I discovered that many products, even those lining the “natural” shelves, were little more than clever green-wash: fragrance listed beside essential oils, fillers sneaked into “clean” formulas, claims like “98% naturally derived” that still hid mystery ingredients.
That reality lit a fire under me. I didn’t want to trust what a label said—I wanted to know what was going on my skin, and what was going on my child’s.
So I turned to my mom. She’d been quietly experimenting on our family farm with small batches of rendered tallow and herb infusions, honoring the old ways of care generations passed down. Together, we created a simple moisturizer just for my son—one where we knew exactly where each ingredient came from, why it was there, and how it would nurture skin, not just fill space.
It felt like the perfect match: my knowledge of holistic esthetics, her love for ancestral remedies, our family farm in Iowa, and a shared faith that beauty and care come from a larger story.
Friends and family began asking for jars. Then other friends. Then local markets wanted to carry them. What started as a quiet collaboration became a little table at the farmers market, then a small business—and today, Meadowlark Made is a prairie apothecary built on faith, heritage, and the land.
From Kitchen Counter to Farmers Market
We launched our first batches with no expectations—only intention. And they sold out.
People resonated with the “why” behind the products: pasture-raised tallow from our own Kunekune pigs, herbs grown or wild-foraged with care, formulas crafted for nourishment rather than trends. Over the past five years, we’ve refined our craft, deepened our values, and partnered with retailers across Iowa and beyond. We’ve offered wholesale for nearly three years now—and yet, in many ways, we’re just getting started.
A fuller skincare line designed to complement our facial balms is on the horizon. But the heart of this work remains unchanged. We’re not here to chase the next big thing—we’re here to honor what God already created.
Because what modern skincare tries to replicate, nature has already perfected.
Faith in Creation
Here’s one truth we believe: what modern skincare tries to duplicate, God already designed. The herbs, the animal fats, the land—they were made with purpose. Our mission has always been to bring people back to the simplicity and wisdom of that design.
Each batch we pour is threaded with faith: tallow from our pasture-raised Kunekune pigs, herbs we harvest with care, oils selected for nourishment rather than hype. (See our educational posts The Quiet Work of Calendula and When Wildflowers Became Weeds for more on our herbal side.)
More than skincare, this is faith-filled stewardship: we hope our work not only cares for your skin, but points hearts back to the beauty of creation.
Sustainability & Stewardship
Sustainability for us isn’t a marketing buzzword—it’s a form of worship. We believe what’s grown right beneath our feet deserves honor and purpose. That’s why we choose native and locally-grown herbs whenever possible. Research shows we don’t need to import exotic botanicals to get powerful results—so we lean into what the prairie already offers.
When we wild-forage, when we choose packaging, when we design formulas, we’re mindful of keeping our carbon footprint low and our land healthier than before. We use recycled materials, run our farm with regenerative practices, and honor the animal through a true nose-to-tail approach. Every step reflects care for the soil, the pasture, the pig, the plant, and your skin.
Our Trace-able Ingredients: How We Source, Wild-Forage, and Reduce Footprint
Kunekune Pork Tallow: A Heritage Ingredient with Modern Skincare Benefits
Why “Meadowlark”
The name comes from a memory.
My mom, as a child, lying in bed at her grandparents’ farmhouse, listening to the call of meadowlarks drifting across the fields. That very same farm is where her and my dad live and steward today.
The meadowlark felt like the perfect emblem for this work—rooted, resilient, hopeful. A reminder to stay grounded, to sing even in changing seasons, and to trust the slow rhythms of the land.
As our apothecary grew, our name evolved too. What began as Meadowlark Apothecary became Meadowlark Made—a name that reflects both our roots and our hands. These products are made, not manufactured. Crafted with care, not rushed. Shaped by faith, family, and the prairie itself.
