There’s a certain moment every spring in the Hudson Valley when everything starts waking back up again. The trees soften. The river sparkles. Windows open. People come outside again. We remember what it feels like to slow down, connect, and actually enjoy being human.
Honestly, that feeling is a lot of what inspired Upstate Mary in the first place. We love helping women reconnect with themselves.
We’re especially excited that over the next few weeks, you’ll be able to find us out in the world at a few gatherings IRL.
First up is FIELD + SUPPLY at Hutton Brickyards, happening May 29–31 in Kingston. If you’ve never been, it’s one of the most beautiful weekends in the Hudson Valley. The entire waterfront at Hutton Brickyards fills with incredible makers, artists, designers, vintage finds, music, food, and people who genuinely appreciate creativity, craftsmanship, and thoughtful living. It feels inspiring without trying too hard. The weekend is relaxed, elevated, and very Hudson Valley.
It’s also the kind of weekend that makes you want to turn the whole thing into a little getaway. Spend the morning wandering the market, book a massage or sauna session at Mirbeau Inn & Spa in Rhinebeck, and grab dinner at one of the many incredible new restaurants popping up across the region. Check out this recent Hudson Valley dining roundup from Chronogram, and maybe even stay overnight at Mohonk Mountain House and soak in the mountains for another day or two.
We’re so happy to be part of it again this year! Please come find us and say hello. Smell our CBD-infused sample bottles and test some on your hands. Ask questions. We love to talk about all things related to our bodies; menopause, libido, cannabis, relationships, healing after cancer, motherhood, exhaustion, pleasure, or what it means to feel disconnected from your body and slowly find your way back to yourself.
Because that’s really where all of this started for me.
After breast cancer, I realized how little support women are actually given around intimacy, hormonal change, pleasure, and reconnecting with themselves after illness, stress, caregiving, aging, or major life transitions. We’re taught how to survive, but not necessarily how to feel alive again.
Upstate Mary grew out of that realization. Not because I wanted to start a cannabis company, but because I wanted to help women feel at home in their bodies again. I wanted to create something that felt supportive, shame free, plant-based, beautiful, and rooted in real conversations women were already having quietly behind closed doors.
That mission is also why I’m incredibly honored that Upstate Mary will be spending the first weekend of June at Camp Breastie, created by The Breasties, the first all-inclusive nonprofit community for survivors, previvors, stage 4 thrivers, and caregivers impacted by breast and gynecologic cancers.
What they’ve built is extraordinary! Camp Breastie has become one of the largest and most joyful summer camp experiences in the country for survivors, previvors, thrivers and caregivers too! But their work goes far beyond camp itself. The Breasties also fund metastatic breast cancer research, create educational resources, host year-round support programming, and advocate for a future where nobody navigating cancer feels isolated or alone.
This kind of community matters deeply. Especially in a world where so many women are quietly carrying so much.
So if you see us out there this summer at FIELD + SUPPLY, or somewhere else in the wild, please come say hi.
I truly love meeting this community in real life. And if you’ve been feeling disconnected from yourself lately, I hope you know this:
Pleasure still belongs to you.
Connection still belongs to you.
Joy still belongs to you.
Enjoy 25% off your favorite full spectrum CBD-infused lubes and suppositories with code SEXTALK25 for the month of May, 2026.
About the Author
Melissa is the co-founder of Upstate Mary, a Hudson Valley-based sexual wellness brand rooted in clean ingredients, sustainability, and plant-based intimacy support. A breast cancer survivor, speaker, and advocate for body acceptance and pleasure at every stage of life, Melissa writes and speaks openly about perimenopause, pelvic health, intimacy, and reclaiming confidence in changing bodies. Upstate Mary and her work has been featured in national publications (i.e. Oprah Daily and Business Insider) and numerous wellness platforms. She is committed to breaking taboos around sexual health, aging, and healing through honest, science-backed education and storytelling.
Melissa Eppard | Co-Founder of Upstate Mary | Hudson Valley, NY
About Upstate Mary
At Upstate Mary, we celebrate the power of plants and the beauty of self-care. Our Farm to Bedroom™ collection is designed to support pleasure and connection at every stage of life, whether you’re navigating menopause, postpartum, or simply exploring your sensuality. Formulated with organic botanicals and full-spectrum CBD, our intimacy oils and suppositories nurture your body without disrupting its natural balance.
Rediscover your pleasure with Upstate Mary.