“They were all gathered around a table,” says chef Sara Bradley. “Labeling, laughing, dating each batch—like a real kitchen should feel. Full of purpose, community, and pride. When people make something they can hold in their hands—that’s healing.”
At Merryman House, healing often begins in the little moments—the rhythms of making, measuring, and creating help stitch back a sense of home.
Season & Shadow is Merryman House’s new social enterprise: a line of elevated spice blends created in partnership with chef Sara Bradley of freight house. Merryman House, Paducah’s domestic violence crisis center, serves survivors with shelter, counseling, advocacy—and now, healing work in the kitchen.
For the team bringing this vision to life, Season & Shadow is a mission—a work of love that gives survivors a path toward confidence, income, and belonging.
“For so many survivors, the number one reason they stay in a bad situation is financial,” says Merryman House Executive Director Mary Foley.
That truth led Merryman House to launch workforce programs through its Common Ground initiative—first in gardening and food services. Season & Shadow became the natural next step, inviting survivors into the restorative rituals of food and creation.
“Every chef dreams of having their own spice line,” Sara admits, “but this felt different. This one could help people. It could bring comfort into their kitchens and also build futures.”
She brought recipes, ideas, and heart, creating blends that were beautiful and usable, something anyone can reach for and feel proud of. “I love making people’s lives easier,” she says. “These blends are for real kitchens; for people who want flavor, warmth, and something elevated, even on the days they don’t have much time.”
The first collection includes three signature blends.
The House is an instant classic—savory, versatile, and delicious on almost anything.
The Ember leans smoky and bright—peppercorn, chilies, apple cider vinegar powder, and a hint of sweetness. Perfect for pulled pork.
The Table is a floral riff on herbes de Provence—lavender, calendula, and cornflower—“almost pretty enough for a vase,” Sara says. “It feels like sitting down at a real table—comforting, beautiful—and it means something, because the purple color represents hope.” (Roll goat cheese in it and drizzle with honey for an easy crowd-pleaser.)
Sara brought the flavor, and program manager Stephen Montgomery is building the backbone—sourcing ingredients, translating small-batch blends into production, and quality control. “We could just order fennel powder,” he says. “But instead, we buy fennel seed and grind it ourselves. Side by side, they don’t even look or smell the same. When you start with something whole, something real, the difference is unmistakable.”
Stephen first came through the garden, cultivating lavender and rosemary. For him, cultivation has always meant people, too. “The coolest part,” he says, “is watching the transformation that happens with the clients. When somebody grows a little more independent and learns to solve a problem—you see it. They start to come alive. It’s night and day watching them find their rhythm.”
Five survivors have already been hired through the program. Some thrive in production. Others discover a love for sales, setting up tables at events and speaking to customers. “This was a savior,” says Katrina. “I love making and selling our product. Even when I leave, I want to come back and work.”
For Mary, the name Season & Shadow holds the heart of it. “Many survivors come to us in their hardest season,” she says. “Merryman House can be a refuge until they’re ready to step into the light. But for the community, domestic violence can’t stay hidden.”
The House seasoning nods to the partnership between Merryman House and freight house. The Table seasoning represents welcome and healing. “When people can sit, eat, be seen, be welcomed,” she says, “that’s when home begins again.”
Season reflects growth, change, and the role of food in every home. Shadow speaks to the safe place where survivors begin to rebuild before stepping forward again.
The blends are now sold in Paducah shops, at freight house, and online. Long-term, Merryman House dreams of full-scale production, with herbs grown on site, a blending warehouse, and survivors gaining skills for life.
“It’s more than a spice blend,” Mary reflects. “It represents healing, dignity, and hope for the future. It restores confidence and reminds people they are capable of more than they think. It becomes a spark for the survivors, for Merryman House, and for this community.”
As Season & Shadow finds its way into kitchens across Kentucky and beyond, Mary hopes something more will be held in mind. “Yes, it’s the final touch on a meal. But it’s also hope and dignity, and a place at the table. I hope people remember that someone is healing—someone is rebuilding.”
