🌾 A Time to Pause, Reflect and Give Thanks

As we approach Lammas on the 1st of August, we take a moment at The Dispensary to reflect on this traditional festival of first harvests—a time for gratitude, for acknowledging the turning of the seasons, and for celebrating the fruits of the earth.

Lammas invites us to reconnect with cycles of growth, nourishment and community. These rhythms shape much of what we do here at The Dispensary, where our focus is on natural health, environmental responsibility and meaningful connection to place.

🍞 A Season of Gathering

Lammas quite literally means "loaf-mass", marking the time when the first grain is harvested and bread is baked—a symbol of both sustenance and shared labour. In our little corner of Whitby, we’re reminded daily of the value of these simple, essential things.

Each week, we’re lucky to receive freshly baked sourdough loaves baked with organic flour from a local bakery. Not just food, but a gesture of care, rooted in traditional methods and thoughtful sourcing. Small things like this keep us grounded in the season.

🌿 Living Our Values

At The Dispensary, we try to act in line with what we believe—respect for nature, compassion for animals, and responsibility toward each other and the environment.

That means:

• Choosing local and organic wherever possible
• We stock vegetarian, vegan and ethically produced goods
• Supporting natural health approaches, from good food, to herbal remedies & skincare
• Making space for refillable, low-impact household essentials to reduce waste
• Creating a welcoming environment where these ideas can be explored, shared and lived

Many of the things we offer—whether health supplements, eco-friendly refills, or handmade gifts—are part of a larger conversation about how to live more gently and with greater awareness.

🐑 Compassion Beyond the Shelves

We also support organisations working for the wellbeing of animals and the natural world. Groups like Compassion in World Farming  www.ciwf.org , Crustacean Compassion  www.crustaceancompassion.org , and The Sheep Sanctuary www.sheepsanctuary.com  share our belief that the way we treat animals reflects the kind of society we wish to build.

These causes remind us that harvest is not just about taking—but about giving back.

🎨 A Sense of Place

The Dispensary is as much a community space as it is a shop. Over the years, we’ve welcomed local makers, writers, and health practitioners into the fold. Through this shared space, we hope to celebrate the creativity, wisdom and resilience found in our local community.

At Lammas, we’re especially reminded of the value of what’s produced locally—by hand, with care.

🌾 A Time to Honour the Cycle

Lammas encourages us to slow down and recognise that all growth—physical, emotional, communal—takes time and tending. Whether you're baking bread, caring for your health, planting for the next season or simply pausing for breath, this is a time for appreciation and renewal.

If you're passing by Skinner Street, do pop in. Whether to pick up a refill, find something nourishing, or just have a quiet conversation—we’re here.

From all of us at The Dispensary:
Happy Lammas. May this season bring you peace, nourishment, and a deepening connection to what matters.

Many thanks to Paz Arando for the beautiful photo.