This October marks a meaningful milestone for HMN, as we reflect on 21 years of creating community and providing support for families who embrace a different path. For more than two decades, we’ve walked alongside parents as they navigate choices that align with their values, offering education and connection in the spirit of holistic living.

While many things have changed, one thing remains constant: the transformative power of community. Families often come to HMN feeling overwhelmed or set apart by their choices. Yet, within our chapters, they find understanding, belonging, and the confidence to continue their unique journeys. As The Sacred Space of Motherhood reminds us, parenthood is often a deeply personal and sometimes isolating experience, but community can nurture and support us through it.

Our chapters create inclusive spaces where everyone feels open to share, ask questions, and grow together. Through resources like Nurturing Community: 11 Books to Inspire You and stories from families across the country, we celebrate the ways HMN has helped parents build intentional, supportive networks. Whether it’s finding connection during moments of isolation, as shared in Today I Feel Lonely, or exploring the Health Benefits of Community, we continue to recognize the powerful role connection plays in our well-being.

Watch this video from way back in 2006, where members from our first chapters reflect on what HMN membership has meant to them. Their experiences highlight how, even after all these years, the heart of our mission holds true: to transform overwhelm into empowerment and difference into belonging.

We encourage you to join us this month in reflecting on how far we’ve come and how, together, we have created a space where families thrive. In these moments, we are reminded that thriving isn’t just an individual experience but one that flourishes in the presence of a caring, intentional community—as captured beautifully in Thriving in Community.



Thank you for being part of this journey and for continuing to inspire connection, understanding, and growth within your own families and beyond.

The 16th Annual HMN Online Auction kicks off this coming Sunday, October 20th! The auction will run for one week, from Sunday, 10/20 at 8pm ET through Sunday, 10/27 on eBay.

Mark your calendar for GREAT deals from a wide variety of companies. We have over 130 listings, with bids starting at 50% off retail value, and so many different items for yourself, your kids, friends, family, and pets, including organic clothing, food, cleaning products, skin care, vitamins, homeopathic remedies, toys, and more. You can even get started on your holiday shopping! See our current list of amazing 2024 donors here.

This auction is open to everyone so be sure to share with your friends and family!

Avocado: 2 Down Pillows

Reima: Rain Set for Toddlers

Fungi Perfect: MycoBrew Sample Pack

Chapter Gatherings

Halloween Candy Alternatives

In-person gatherings are at the heart of our HMN Communities. You can find the next month's events on our Facebook page. All are welcome to attend. Below is a sample of some gatherings happening soon:

• Zero Waste Lifestyle hosted by our Hillsborough County, NH Community
• Female Hormones hosted by our Morris County, NJ Community
• Annual Open House hosed by our Cucamonga Valley, CA Community
• Halloween/Harvest Party hosted by our Montgomery County, MD Community
• Helping Children Choose Healthy Food hosted by our Chicago, IL Community
• Remedies for Tummy Troubles hosted by our Berkshire County, MA Community
• Crunchy Trunk or Treat hosted by our Camden, Burlington and Gloucester Counties, NJ Community
• Friendsgiving Potluck hosted by our Ocean County, NJ Community
• Functional Medicine hosted by our Chicago, IL Community
• Mental Health Awareness hosted by our North Louisiana, LA Community
• Parenting with Homeopathy hosted by our New Haven County SW, CT Community
• Homeopathic Remedies hosted by our Santa Clarita, CA Community

Whether you are a future parent, have babies, children in school, or your children have their own children, you are welcome at HMN. 💚💙💚



Halloween kicks off the start of months of holiday celebrations filled with treats running all the way through Easter and with it a barrage of decisions for holistic families around sugar, food dyes, seed oils, and allergens that many conventional candys and snacks contain.

Online I see parents debating collecting candy and giving it to the switch witch, donating it to troops through dentist collections, allowing unlimited access for a short time before tossing the rest, avoiding trick or treating all together and dozens of other ideas to control the flow. One of our HMN chapters has started hosting their own holistic truck or treat, requesting that families bring only dye free and low sugar treats or non-food items.

Picking what works for your family might take some time and thought and might change as kids get bigger. A small neighborhood trunk or treat was perfect for my preschooler and mom and dad even shared some of the haul making Halloween feel like a small indulgence, but my now fourth grader wants to do the town trunk or treat and trick or treat in the neighborhood with friends and comes home with a big pile! Regardless of how you decide to handle the haul we can all strive to choose to share healthier treats with our friends and families ourselves!

There are several companies offering healthier choices that kids will be excited about but will also make you feel better about sharing them. Check out some of our favorites that are widely available:

• Yum Earth & Torie and Howard -lollipops, sour gummies and fruit snacks many Top 9 allergen free, organic, non-GMO, gluten free and vegan!
• Unreal - low sugar, peanut butter cups and chocolate coconut bars that are fair trade, gluten free, vegan, non-GMO with simple ingredients
• Black Forest - organic gummy bears that are gluten free, no artificial colors or flavors and many top 8 allergen free
• OCHO Candy - organic, fair trade chocolates including many favorites like caramel, peppermint and peanut butter.

What do you do for Halloween treats? Share your favorites with us on our FB post!