Local Business Focus - Tea Isnt Just for Sipping Ask Middleburghs Moon Leaf Magic

MIDDLEBURGH —Tired of chamomile? Shopping for a new blend of tea at your local supermarket? Why not visit Moon & Leaf Magic on-line an apothecary shop founded in 2021 by Davy and Tracy Russell of Middleburgh.

Moon & Leaf Magic offers an artful blend of herbal teas and teaware, specializing in a selection of quality loose-leaf teas and small-batch herbal products to help tea lovers—and others!) weave the energy of the Moon & Earth to promote physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual resilience and well-being. 

The Russells don’t have a bricks and mortar Main Street shop although there may be one in their future, but they have a thriving online business offering a rich line of oils, salves, teas and talismans, and their teas are also available at The Apothecary of Curiosities Shoppe in Esperance.

After spending more than a decade writing blogs, sharing newsletters, and drafting web copy and other content across social media platforms like Facebook and Instagram, mainly in the holistic wellness and spirituality fields, the Russells both felt a “pull” to spend less time in front of a computer and more time as part of a community, and to work with their hands.

“We initially launched as an online apothecary for our existing followers on our website and social media accounts,” said Davy Russell, “but decided to create a local business and serve our neighbors by offering our products at local fairs and festivals.

“Moon & Leaf represents our approach to spirituality, working with the phases of the moon and the healing power of plants,” Russell explained “We are not just a tea brand, or makers of herbal products,” he continued. “We don't just make delicious teas that enhance your health, we craft magickal potions from herbs chosen with intention.  We don't just make salves that hydrate your skin.  We make magickal salves that hydrate your skin AND balance your energy or bolster your intentions.

Those “intentional herbs” are lovingly grown by the Russells.

“We grow,  harvest, and use the calendula, rosemary, sage, plantain, lavender, comfrey, mugwort, and chamomile from our garden and yard in our salves, oils, dream pillows, and other apothecary products that we make,” said Davy.

All of the Russells’ products are “crafted in ritual.”

“With the teas, we do a combination of crafting our own blends and packaging some of our favorite tea blends that we bulk purchase wholesale,” he said.

Davy Russell goes on to explain, “When you create anything, whether it's a tea blend, a salve, or your lunch, the energy, thoughts, and emotions you experience during the process of creation work their way into what you create.  So, it is vitally important, when Tracy and I create products for customers, that we do so with good, clear, and pure energy.  That often means that we sage our space before we work, and play music, and oftentimes our product crafting takes place during a particular moon phase/moon sign that we feel is best aligned to the intention behind the product we create.”

When not engaged in their on-line business, the Russells are both self-employed content and social media managers, working with a variety of clients managing the day-to-day, technical and strategic aspects of running an online business. The couple moved from North Colonie to Middleburgh in June 2023. Both grew up in Vermont, but have lived in upstate New York since 2014.

“We love living in the Schoharie Valley,” said Davy. “You can check us out at our booth at the Gilboa Fair on Sept. 15. We’re excited to be first time vendors.”

After being in the e-commerce world for over a decade, the Russells admit that it’s “wonderful” to see and talk to people in real life and see them react to and benefit from their teas and apothecary products. 

“It's an amazing feeling to welcome returning customers to our booth, or to have someone try our Ache & Pain Salve, walk away from our booth to shop elsewhere, and then come back 20 minutes later to buy a tin of it because their pain is gone,” Davy said.

Are either of the Russells steeped in the Art of Tasseography or reading tea leaves?

“I have dabbled in tea leaf reading for myself,” Davy admits, “but I’ve never read for others.  While I am highly intuitive, I don't consider myself a "reader" or psychic in that I would read for others.”

However, good sport that he is, Davy Russell will do a live demonstration on "How to Read Tea Leaves” at the Gilboa Fair on Sept. 15.

“Be sure and visit the Gilboa Museum & Juried History Center’s new exhibits while you’re at the Fair,” he recommends. “We’ve been there and it’s great! And don’t forget to come by our booth and say hi.”