Nestled in the heart of Robeson County, Happy Place Farm is home to one of the largest naturalized stands of Great Mullein (Verbascum thapsus) in the Southeastern United States. With thousands of plants stretching across open pasture and woodland edges, this land serves as a living laboratory for The Eighth Leaf Project’s research into mullein’s medicinal, environmental, and agronomic potential.

Here, you’ll find photos and videos documenting every stage of the mullein life cycle — from fuzzy seedlings to towering bloom spikes and golden seed harvests. Our work blends traditional plant wisdom with cutting-edge science to explore mullein’s uses in respiratory health, wound care, soil remediation, and natural dye production.

Step into the field with us — where healing, history, and hope are rooted in the soil.

This wide view captures the vibrant expanse of Great Mullein plants (Verbascum thapsus) in peak bloom across the Happy Place Farm pasture. During this stage, the soft yellow flowers are carefully hand-harvested each morning to preserve their medicinal potency. The flowers are then gently dried in food-safe dehydrators and vacuum sealed in sterile, airtight bags to maintain freshness and protect their healing compounds for future research and clinical applications.

A detailed view of the bright yellow blossoms that crown each towering mullein stalk. These delicate flowers bloom in vertical succession and are rich in flavonoids, iridoid glycosides, and mucilage — compounds known for their anti-inflammatory and respiratory-support properties. In addition to their medicinal value, the vibrant petals are also being studied for use as a natural yellow dye, offering a chemical-free alternative for textiles, paper, and food-safe coloring. This photo highlights the intricate beauty and multifaceted utility of this ancient plant.

Happy Place Farms

This overhead image captures Happy Place Farm at the time of purchase — a sprawling 73-acre property of mixed pasture, woodland, and pond habitat in rural Robeson County, North Carolina. At the time of this photo, the land was largely untouched, offering a blank canvas for regenerative agriculture, botanical research, and pollinator conservation.

Proposed Plans:
This farm now serves as the home base of The Eighth Leaf Project. Planned developments include:

• A Mullein Research Center for drying, storing, and analyzing plant materials

• A processing barn and office on the 1-acre utility-equipped lot at 1775 McCrimmon Drive

• Expansion of Mullein pastures for seed and flower harvesting

• Beekeeping stations to study native pollinators and medicinal honey

• Soil remediation plots for testing the uptake of toxins and heavy metals by native plants

• Educational areas for school tours, research interns, and agritourism visitors

This photo marks the beginning of a mission to restore the bond between people and plants — one rooted in science, sustainability, and Southern soil.

This photo shows a thriving stand of cattails (Typha species) growing along the shallow edges of Happy Place Pond, with a peaceful line of geese swimming in the background. Beyond their beauty, these plants serve a powerful environmental role.

Cattails are widely recognized for their phytoremediation potential — the ability to draw pollutants, heavy metals, and excess nutrients out of soil and water. Their dense root systems act like living sponges, filtering runoff before it can spread contamination or disrupt pond life.

At Happy Place Farm, we are closely monitoring the natural function of cattails in our ecosystem. Their presence may offer valuable insights for other farms facing runoff or soil health concerns.

🔬 Interested in Research Collaboration?
The Eighth Leaf Project welcomes researchers, students, and environmental partners to help us explore the phytoremediation potential of cattails and other native wetland plants. We’re especially eager to learn how these plants could contribute to water purification strategies across farms in North Carolina and beyond.

🌿 Cattails at Happy Place Pond

Natural Filters for a Healthier Ecosystem