vote for pete

Artists play a role in changing the world, if they choose to accept it... so when will the world recognize their contribution?
http://www.nobelprize4pete.org/

This may convince you. Vote.

FLOWERS OF PEACE
by Pete Seeger

sung to the tune of "Wild Mountain Thyme"

Oh the summertime is coming, and the leaves are sweet returning
But those flowers of peace, it's for them I'm really yearning

Will they bloom, ever bloom?
Will they bloom in the springtime?

Oh you flowers of peace
When the world should be ringtime
Will ye bloom, ever bloom?

I built my love a bower by a clear, crystal river
But the thing her heart desires is a thing I cannot give her

Oh providence smiled impassive, while I fell on bended knee
Said, the lives of you empires are no more than swarms of bees

If you and I would see those flowers, get up and rouse your neighbors
When first the seed I'd planted, it takes long and careful labor

If you and I would see those flowers, go out and till the fertile soil
It will take more than prayers, it takes hard and sweaty toil

[these lyrics are found on http://www.songlyrics.com]

Amen

What Kate Said! ... and What the commenters said, too.

Weird, I was just last week having the same thoughts about blogging - only my thoughts were amorphous and unorganized. Kate writes beautifully.

today is your last chance for march madness, 2008

Looking for signs of spring while waiting for the robins and worms to return?
We gardeners know our snowdrops, crocus, winter aconite, hardy cyclamen.
But in the bigger world ...
Sweaty little kids riding bikes with their winter jackets unzipped.
Teenage boys in (brrr!) shorts carrying skateboards.
Bagged mulch piles at gas stations.
The whole yard and garden merchandising thing.
Free roosters showing up on Craigs List, no one wants roosters.
Buckets hanging on maple trees, maple sap collectors laying hoses.
The buds on the trees starting to thicken - color will come soon, with the sun and rain.
Distant golden yellow Willows at the edges of fields are usually the first color that inspires my confidence as we drive through the brown landscape.
Today is your last chance for 2008 March madness.
Take bets on When the last snowpile will melt!

A great quote

“I want our students learning art and music and science and poetry...”
Do you know who said it?

Green Thumb Sunday - tender lavender blooming in the window

Gardeners, Plant and Nature Lovers can join in every Sunday, visit As the Garden Grows .

The first time I participated in a volunteer project at Crossroads Village with the Genesee County Herb Society, a pleasant, knowledgeable woman gave me a fragrant tussie mussie of fresh herbs she had just made as a demonstration for the visitors. I knew then these were the kind of people I wanted to be around. Milli is still one of our stalwart members, and I'm getting to be an old hand.

I took the little bouquet home and took it apart - and rooted the tender lavender in a small pot. That little variegated feather lavender (I know, common names drive me crazy too but I'm not looking it up) grew for me for years until I let it get root- bound and baked one summer on the patio.

My take home point here, however, is that tender lavenders in pots are some of the easiest and most rewarding herbs to grow. They grow easily from cuttings in plain old potting mix, and will grow without artificial light if you can put them in a south window, and remember to water before the tips droop too awfully much.

The felty gray-leaved variety here has been neglected in this pot for years, and the small blooming stems are a reminder that I should do something for goodness sake. This year, little lavender, I promise some fresh soil, but let's wait until spring...


You can see in this third photo, how I'm doubling up my indoors-square-foot gardening-in-front-of-the-window scheme by stacking the smaller Dutch lavender on top of the soil in the French lavender's pot,in a space left bare by some heavy pruning back done last year on the French lavender. A curry plant is also having a good winter right there in its front row seat.
Waiting for spring...

A Sense of Wonder Camp

"If I had influence over the good fairy who is supposed to preside over the christening of all children I should ask that her gift to each child in the world be a sense of wonder so indestructible that it would last throughout life." Rachel Carson


If you are anywhere near Lancaster, PA and have a daughter aged 8-15, I highly recommend that you consider this week long Eco-Feminist day camp as a gift to her.

My daughter started the year she was old enough. We taught a session at the camp when she was about 5 or 6 and she couldn't wait to be old enough, pleading with me every summer until she finally met the requirement. Now she assists the staff. She just couldn't bring herself to walk away from it when she reached 16.

Why? The above quote is part of the stated philosophy of the founding members (Full Circle Susquehanna, Inc.) and it goes on to say, "These words of Rachel Carson express the philosophy that guides our camp. We want girls to know the beauty and mystery of nature and to see and learn about female role models who hold a deep regard for the Earth and the amazing life on Her."

The things the girls see, hear, and do at this camp are extraordinary. Women who work to change the world in powerful ways come to talk to them. They've met women in politics, women who fly (and soar), women who travel to other countries to make a difference, and women who use their skills and talents to support themselves and contribute to others.

On the surface, it is a week of being outside, guided by the incredible knowledge and attitude of naturalist Lisa Sanchez. Interwoven with that experience is a rich and diverse tapestry of learning new skills and ideas. Over the years, Molly (my daughter) has learned basketry with natural materials, gourd crafting, drumming, Tai Chi, Mask Making, and how to work and play in a group - and many other things. Native plants, animals and insects are studied as well as stream life and habitats, while always the interconnection of all things is noted and discussed.

This year the camp will run from June 16th through the 20th. The theme is Sustainability. If you are interested in more information, email fullcirclesusq@aol.com, or call 717-872-6334.

Wild Foods to the Rescue?

This thought has come up time and again over the past 15 or 20 years, and now with the world financial situation what it is, and with people struggling to feed their families, it has me really trying to come up with an answer.
It was in the back of my mind when we put together the book "Wild Foods for Every Table" here at The Essential Herbal. I had recently read one of the stories that come up from time to time about a young boy lost in the woods for days, and how worrisome it was that there was nothing for him to eat. When he was found, the rescuers quickly fed him energy bars and donuts.

I find it horrendous that humans have grown so distant from their food sources that it would be possible to lie down upon a bed of chickweed and burdock, and die of starvation while pine needles and slippery elm trees wave overhead. No matter what the season, with a little bit of education we can all find something good and nourishing to eat outside.
Wild foods are not some trendy novelty. Many of these foods escaped the colonial gardens of our ancestors, or fed the Native Americans here in the US. In other lands, the wild foods were what shaped and formed the national cuisines until more convenient forms of these plants were developed - and later processed, preserved, and packaged.

We have been trained to think that food must come in cartons and packages, far removed and nearly unrecognizable from the original condition. Kids at the grocery store check-out ask me what the different veggies and fruits that I buy are called. Serving my own siblings a delicious plate of steamed nettles or lamb's quarters is a novelty that is generally politely declined. Why? Because it didn't come in a box or bag from the freezer with a Green Giant or Bird's Eye on it. I'm guilty of this myself, having had a hard time getting used to the rich saffron colored yolks of eggs from our chickens rather than the pale chiffon yellow eggs at the store. I have to push myself to get past the sterilized world of foods that we've all been forced into.

But now it isn't funny anymore. Now there are people in parts of the developed world who are subsisting on meager supplies of canned vegetables and scouring trash dumps for food. I'm not talking about places where drought has wiped out any vegetation. I'm talking about countries where people are accustomed to going to the grocery store and buying foods - just like the people in the US.
So the dilemma as I see it, is how to educate people in the art of foraging. How do we change the mindset from how it stands at this moment? Wild foods - roots, greens, fruits, etc - are so much more nutritionally valuable than the pablum we're buying. Their flavors are unique and full. They are free, plentiful, and available to nearly all but the most urban areas. And, should those who do have them available choose to utilize them, there would be more food for everyone, even those who do not live in an area where these wild foods are readily available.

Do governments need to start programs like the Victory Garden programs, and teach people how to find and identify these foods? That was certainly effective! Those of us who do eat wild foods and make wild medicines are nearly universally willing to teach anyone who will listen. Yet this whole topic still has the stink of radical fringe all over it. Somehow it needs to be legitimized and made acceptable to the average person who is struggling to make ends meet.

So how do we get from here to there? How do we make this happen so that people can stop going hungry while they pace over land covered with food? Is it just a matter of waiting until enough people become hungry enough? I hope not. I really hope not.

You never know what you'll find in a compost pile

I immediately tripped over this following poem after my usual habit of following a link back to the commenter's blog (after yesterday's explainer post). Hedgie, your blog 'the compost pile' is a whole book of poetry, years of poems, and good poems, and I'm so excited to find it. I'll be spending time there, Thank you thank you thank you!

For other readers, Here is the pointer, go.

Monday, June 12, 2006

"Abundance"

The first time we grew herbs,
we planted the whole back yard,
and the harvest took us by surprise;
we simply weren't prepared
for the burden of abundance
we found ourselves faced with.
Some herbs to be used fresh,
with others, just enough, to see
us through the winter with delicate
reminders of the warmth and motion
of summer gone -- that's all
we thought we'd have. We cut, bundled,
and tied stems -- rosemary, thyme,
marjoram -- and hung them from the cords
we'd stretched across the pantry. Without
making a noticeable dint in what still
flourished in the sun. We stretched
more cords across the kitchen, cut
and hung more herbs -- dill, mint, tarragon --
without reaching a conclusion. More
cords across the den, more herbs --
oregano, sage, rocket -- then into
the bedroom -- basil, chives, savory --
before arriving in the living room --
parsley, fennel, bay -- and the end.
Tsunamis of scent swept through
the house, swamping the day-to-day
with rich exuberance that tired
the nostrils. Neighbors complained
that we were using too much air
freshener. Bees lay siege well
into winter. Eventually, fragrance
faded, and we were left dodging
dangling bundles gathering dust,
lashed together with spiderwebs.
We gathered them -- wheelbarrow
loads -- hauled them out, and
burned them; it took much of the day,
and the scents returned, ascending
back to the sun.

Now we ask only for the merest pinch, artfully deployed
by the sparest of hands.

posted by Hedgie

Post note: Having a plain and ordinary mind, I can't imagine having such a gift for describing. This poem strikes a chord. I hung the rooms of my house with bundles of herbs and herbal wreaths for years (probably embarrassing the kids now that I remember it) and only a few years ago upon the excuse of 'needing to paint', did I take them down and store them 'temporarily' in bags out in the garage.

It was enough to lose the attachment which we all know is a step up the karma ladder. But they've been in the bags in the garage for two years now (and wonderingly enough Herb hasn't commented on them, probably fearing that if he did say something I'd re-hang them, Ha!), me being too sentimental to pile them all on the compost heap. Now I know what to do with them: a bonfire. Maybe on the next quarter day? I am part Scottish, so it might just be in the genes.

Beltane
1424, from Lowland Scot., from Gaelic bealltainn "May 1," important Celtic religious rite marking the start of summer, probably lit. "blazing fire," from PIE base *bhel- "to gleam" + O.Ir. ten "fire," from PIE *tepnos, related to L. tepidus "warm." But this derivation of the second element is hotly disputed by some on philological grounds. Fires were equally important in the other Celtic holidays. Also known as "Old May Day," since after the 1752 calendar reform it continued to be reckoned according to Old Style; it was one of the quarter-days of ancient Scotland.
Online Etymology Dictionary 2001 Douglas Harper

flowers and candy

On my turning path again. So I'm rumbling around this morning reading and absorbing words from clicked link to clicked link on the great big net. Dissatisfied with this blogging thing, unhappy with politics and the big world outside of my backyard, in anxiety at contemplating the future for my children and grandbabies. Generally unhappy. Discontent (what is the derivation of that word?) Feeling a bit of what is called, in the world of liberal bloggers, 'cognitive dissonance'.

Casual reader, as I've told it before this is supposed to be my 'happiness and light' blog. A guide to gardening and living a herbal life. Photos of my backyard and my garden projects. Recipes and tips. A bit of pointing to things I like and words that inspire me. It hasn't been that. I'm sorry.

'How-to' blogs bore me. The perfect garden is out of my range and I'm not a photographer. 'Other People's Stuff' is fun to look at, but ultimately meaningless to me. Candy.

If you look back in the archive at the way I began garden blogging it was what I would call impersonal in the way a Hallmark greeting card is impersonal. I read my first review that implied as much. And I took it to heart and tried to journal a bit more about my life. Fewer quotes, less poetry. It works, for bloggers out there who want readership: be original.
But now, for me, once again I'm finding myself at another turn.

At this point I'm thinking of turning this so called garden blog into my simple journal, no theme, no writing for 'the community'. If you are still reading you are welcome to continue on my path with me - it is wide enough or we can go single file in the untrod parts, or I guess you will find again your bigger road.
But as usual I digress. We are in the weeds here.

This morning I found some interesting things that dug up some memories and associations. As I told before, I am not of the superstitious bent, but my life has proved to the scientist mind in me that there exists coincidence and prescience in the world that is verrry verry hard to rationalize. Or maybe it is just my mind filling in the blanks and drawing Venn diagrams of inclusions and links between meaningful moments.
I've talked enough for now. I'll continue some more on this path later.
And yes I still owe you that cactus jam recipe.

for your amusement and consideration

quote from (Sierra Club's) daily ray of hope

"It is from the numberless diverse acts of courage and belief that human history is shaped. Each time a man stands up for an ideal, or acts to improve the lot of others, or strikes out against injustice, he sends a tiny ripple of hope, and crossing each other from a million different centres of energy and daring, those ripples build a current which can sweep down the mightiest walls of oppression or resistance." -- Senator Robert Kennedy

(And may I add, Senator Kennedy would have been exceedingly proud of the man his son, Robert Kennedy Jr. has become.)

Foraging ~ How do we learn?

Chickweed nestled under lavender in the snow.
Over the years, I've come to the conclusion that we have an innate sense of which plants are our friends. Some people believe that they actually call to us.
I'm often asked how I've come to know so many of the wild plants around me, so I've been thinking a lot about that lately, expecially since my silent, knee-jerk response is something akin to, "how can you not?"
Of course, it started out in childhood, walking through meadows with my brothers to play or fish in the creeks, avoiding "burn hazel" (my grandfather's name for nettles) and cow patties. We all knew poison ivy/oak on sight by the time we were 5 or 6. Both of those we learned the hard way. Along the way we learned which trees bore different fruits to eat when we got the chance. Playing in the woods, we'd gather dry pine needles to plug up the holes in our forts made from fallen timber. Sassafras leaves just smelled good as did angelica. We spent days adding food coloring to vases full of Queen Anne's Lace, and blowing the fluff from dandelion seed heads. In the fall we found milkweed pods and found ways to play with them. Poke berries were our "sidewalk chalk". Hollowing out the pith from elder stalks was just ... interesting, and we chewed the tender stems of grasses and grains. Seeds and flowers and fruits were always fun to dissect and inspect. I still remember my sister telling me a story about a fairy princess while gingerly taking apart a bleeding heart flower, with each part representing something in the story - finally ending with a bottle of champagne! Take one apart, and you'll find that.
Eventually, as we started gardening something else came into play. I really don't quite know how to explain this, but I could always tell a weed seedling from a seedling of something I wanted to grow. 'Course, if I was wrong, there'd be no way to tell, would there? Except that often, looking at a little sprout I'd think, "that's *something*", and leave it to grow into a flower or vegetable.
It wasn't until my 30's that I was really drawn to start using wild plants on a daily basis. Up until then, it was "kid stuff". Reading about plants, seeing pictures and descriptions would remind me that they were nearby and send me out searching. Sure enough! There they'd be.
Soon I was poring over field guides, and gathering groups of friends to trek into the woods. We'd all take our guides and find a plant of which we weren't certain. Then, we'd confer, trying to agree on a specific plant using several field guides. If that didn't convince us 100%, we'd take a leaf or two home for further research. It helped to have it physically available to note the stem, texture, scent, hairyness, etc.
It still takes me a couple of walks each spring to get my bearings. A few days ago there was a discussion about a cress that is rampant around here, but it took me a while to remember that we call it peppergrass, and to be able to envision how it looks in the summer and fall.
I tell people who want to learn to choose 5 plants their first year. Those 5 will give them plenty of information, and projects for a year. The next year there will be more.
This all just reminds me how lucky I was to be a kid in the 50's and 60's when children were sent outside to play all day. We existed among the plants and used them in our play. They were our toys, our teachers, and on occasion our sustenance. They waited patiently for me to come back to them.

Kitchen Gardeners Unite

Roger Doirion of Kitchen Gardeners International, also known as KGI, sends a monthly newsletter that is really well done with articles, recipes, videos, the kind of stuff I like to read and think about ... Topical, insightful, enthusiastic about spreading the concept of kitchen gardening as a kind of socially responsible movement. This month's offering showcases KGI particularly well, go read it and subscribe!

There is a lot there to keep you busy, but one take home message was Roger's pointer towards this site:



Especially good for us Zen gardeners, who use gardening time as a stretching exercise for both the body and the spirit, this is a fine focal point for your next quiet moment:

Just imagine what you would advise the next president to do on day one of a new administration. Bomb, bomb, bomb Iran? ... Drill the Arctic? ... or plant* the front yard of the White house with beautiful veggies? (*Roger's idea, and a fine one that.)

Nothing is as good as being the change you want to see. That is the meaning of the word manifest. Don't sit around hoping for supernatural beings to give you heaven on earth after you die, or waiting on the whim of the rich and powerful to feed the world and clean up their messes. Just do it, yourself. Take the first step. Dig a patch and plant a seed. Get a friend involved. Let the grass roots grow.

You say, But what can one person, or two, do? We are so busy, and running as fast as we can.

I say, What are you running toward? Do you have time to watch television? Never was there a more crucial time to think of priorities. Even small change is good. Incremental change.
The small change that you work to make visible to your neighbors reinforce the change others with the same ideas are working to make manifest. Change needs to come from within our society, from us, not from the professional thought shapers in the corporate media culture.
So make a small change. Don't sit around waiting for supernatural beings to give you heaven on earth after you die. Or wait on the whim of the rich and powerful to feed the world and clean up their messes. 'Just do it'. Take the first step, after a while you'll see others walking the same path. Dig a patch and plant a seed. Let the grass roots grow.
We the People.

Post note: I got some comments/inquiries over the weekend about my political blog not being updated. I guess some folks enjoy a good rant. I am still commenting on the politics of the day, although not as, ahem, radically, at what I call my cranky green treehugger blog. It's been buried as a link in the sidebar, but here it is (link) again FYI.

Green Thumb Sunday Once Again

Mister "Glass Half Full" does his part for colored egg tree believers.
With age comes wisdom.
Join! Gardeners, Plant and Nature Lovers can join in every Sunday, visit As the Garden Grows for more information.

A day in March - whoosh!

Here is a picture of my cluttered mind....

At the end of each day there is a moment when the accomplishments of that day are silently catalogued and listed in my head. Check... check... check for the mental list that goes on and on. It doesn't help that with each check, a new idea pops up that leads me astray.
Yesterday was one of those days that always makes me chuckle when people talk about how much they want to work from home and "take it easy". As always, I must admit to loving what I do, but easy? No.

We started out just before 8. There was snow falling, and even though the weatherman was only calling for a few inches, we knew if we didn't get down off the hill for provisions, there'd be no feast today. So - off we went, sans coffee and pre-shower, on a mission to get out and back while we still could. It's a pretty casual town, so we didn't stand out in our slovenlyness.
After getting back home, putting away the groceries, pulling myself together, and making sure everyone was fed and happy, I set off for the soap studio for a day of making product and packing orders. The weather had turned, bringing out the sun, so my sister called to say that I could probably make it down to her house (with a little sarcasm).
We toiled away making several kinds of lip balms, the Bug Off! sticks, Sinus Sniffing Jars, and wrapping soap. In between we discussed the finishing touches for the magazine and exactly how to promote the soon-to-be released new book. Oh - and how we were planning on getting everything done. That was a big topic of conversation too. She had a couple of tree customers while we worked, but we got a huge amount of stuff finished, packaged, and labeled.
I came home and fed the troups again. Thank goodness for large salads and leftover salmon.
Next on the agenda was finishing up the 18 swap items for a spring gardening swap on The Essential Herbal List. By about 9 last night they were finished and bagged, just needing labels.
After that, the Hiker's Releaf that has been stewing all winter long needed to be strained and bottled and labeled, all the while thoughts of a new idea for a prize drawing for the next issue and how exactly to accomplish that are swirling in my head.
Somewhere in there was laundry, dishes, some bookwork, packing orders for The Essential Herbal, answering emails, and some housework.
I woke up this morning and finished the labels for the swap items.

And this isn't the busy season.
So my advice to anyone who wants to work for themselves is this: choose something you love, because you're going to be doing it all the time. Week days, week ends, holidays, and the middle of the night. You'll push on when you're beat, because there is no time left.
Personally? I wouldn't have it any other way.

Hemorrhoids and suppositories

Hemorrhoids thrombosis can be an uncomfortable and embarrassing situation. The symptoms include pain or burning when defecating, pain when sitting, itchiness, and bright red blood from the rectum. Everyone has hemorrhoids, hemorrhoid thrombosis is simply swollen blood vessels. There are many in-depth websites full of information about hemorrhoids - try googling it if you are looking for more information.

If you are looking for herbal solutions to hemorrhoids you know you have then read on. If you are unsure whether or not you have hemorrhoids, please seek medical help for a proper diagnosis. Hemorrhoids can easily be confused with other problems such as anal fissures.

I've never given much thought to hemorrhoids until a friend of mine got them after giving birth and asked me for help. She was very uncomfortable, so I suggested she make some herbal suppositories.

The recipes for suppositories can vary greatly, we just worked with what she and I had on hand.

1 cup of coconut oil
2 T powdered calendula buds
2 T powdered plantain leaf
2 T powdered comfrey leaf
2 T powdered yarrow leaf and flower
(I am guessing on herb amounts as small handfuls were ground and added in.)

Melt the coconut oil over medium heat - once it has liquefied add the powdered herbs and stir well. Remove from heat. As it begins to firm up keep stirring the oil so that the herbs are mixed in well. It should be a nice green color. Once the oil is mostly firm, use clean hands to form the green goop into smooth tampon shaped suppositories. Keep them stored in the freezer until ready to use.

To insert, just before going to sleep at night, lie on your side, find the right the opening for your anus and then insert gently. Your symptoms should clear up within a few days, but keep using the suppositories for a few days after that. If symptoms do not go away after several days, seek a holistically minded medical professional.

Instead of a suppository you can also do an herbal sitz bath with the above herbs. You don't want a lot of water in ratio to herbs, so a small amount of water with the herbs in a small tub should suffice. Let your booty rest in there for twenty minutes, twice a day until symptoms have gone away.

I chose the above herbs because they were what we had on hand. A variety of different herbs could be used. If you know your plant properties you can easily substitute different herbs. I was looking for soothing, demulcent herbs, vulnary herbs, astringent herbs, antiseptic herbs and anti-inflammatory herbs. Off the top of my head other herbs that could be used are slippery elm (demulcent), rose (anti-inflammatory and astringent), Geranium (antiseptic and astringent), etc.

Hemorrhoids can be caused by too much straining or bearing down (i.e. constipation or birth), sitting for too long, tight muscles or vigorous anal or vaginal sex. You probably know which one of these caused yours and you may want to take preventive care in the future.

If you frequently have swollen hemorrhoids changing your diet and increasing aerobic exercise might be appropriate. You may also find this blog post by Henriette to be helpful.

Dandelion ~ Spring Tonic

This time of year, there is much talk of spring tonics. Their purpose is to cleanse the body from the sludge of the heavy winter diet of meat, root vegetables, and very little fruit or greens. These days, with food shipped hundreds (or thousands!) of miles, many people's diets don't change that much seasonally, but still we behave differently based on the weather and season.
Winter holidays stuffed us with sweets. Very little sunlight, or desire to walk around outside, and even the viruses and bugs of the winter season have left us lethargic and sluggish.

Around here, the old-timers have always eaten their spring tonics as vegetables. That is not to say that tonics weren't prepared... it's just that whipping them into scrumptious dishes makes the medicine go down in a most delightful way.
When we put together "Wild Foods for Every Table" a couple of years ago (available here), the recipes for dandelion were the most prevalent of all the wild edible herb dishes submitted. After chickweed, they are one of the first to come up in the spring, so it would make sense that people long ago, hungry for some fresh greens, found many ways to prepare them and serve them to their families.
All parts of the dandelion are nutritious, helping to increase bile secretion and flush the liver, kidneys, and urinary tract. Dandelion is full of vitamins and minerals, helping to reduce water retention and swelling without depleting potassium. It can also help brighten and refresh the skin by getting those toxins moving through and out of the body.
So don't turn up your nose at the fabulously valuable dandelion! If it is growing nearby, give it a try. Snip the young leaves and add them to your salads, egg dishes, casseroles and pasta dishes. Pull the roots and roast them for a delicious beverage. As always, the price is right!

Tasty bread spread

One of our current students at the Institute of Structural Medicine (where I live and work) has dedicated his life to helping those with chronic disease. Dr. Paul Chhabra immigrated to the US over ten years ago and has spent more than twenty years in various fields of integrated health. He is an ayurvedic practioner, a physical therapist, and naturopathic physician, master herbalist, an author and more.

He has a very fascinating approach to chronic disease and he addresses nutrition, the lymph system and the fascial system. You can read more about him here as well as buy his latest book.

He is also an incredible chef. Give him twenty minutes in the kitchen and he will whip up healthy vibrant cuisines from all over the world. He left us with some bread seasoning last time he was here and we just can't get enough of it.

The following recipe is from his book, which is full of nourishing recipes.

Olive oil toast

1 1/2 teaspoons of ground black pepper
1 1/2 teaspoons of dried parsley
1 1/2 teaspoons of toasted sesame seeds
1/4 teaspoon of cayenne pepper (optional)
1/4 teaspoon of garlic powder (optional)
1/4 teaspoon olive oil
Sea salt to taste (optional)

As I said we're using the seasonings he left behind, so I am not sure what optional ingredients he may or may not have used, but let me tell you it's delicious.

We take a heaping tablespoon of seasonings and mix with with about two tablespoons of olive oil and stir to make a paste. We then spread it onto some sprouted bread and toast it.

a quick photo of what I found in the garage

I bought, at drastic markdown prices, two bags of hyacinths (can't remember what color) and two bags of scilla (blue of course) last fall during the pre-Christmas post-Thanksgiving clearance sale in the garden department at the grocery store.
Took them home and potted them up and left them in the back of the garage and forgot about them.
Sometimes I am brilliant.

(Just a few days of sunshine and they oughta green up. I hope this shallow pot isn't too confining, but if hyacinths can bloom in forcing vases, then this can't be too bad...)

On the Eve of Spring

Spring is such a roller coaster in the Mid-Atlantic region.
I don't complain so much as marvel at the variety in the temperatures and winds and atmospheres from day to day.
One morning we rise to greet sunny warmth, and the next welcomes us from sleep with cold lashing rain and foggy gloom.
We're putting the finishing touches on the next issue of the magazine, so I was paging through an ancient gardening book looking for inspiration, but instead found myself reading it (again) and daydreaming about working in the garden. That's part of spring too, it seems. Going off on tangents. It's so hard to stay on task when it is almost possible to hear the earth sighing and the plants reaching for the sun. The tiny "pops" as seeds burst their shells, the clamor of birds gathering nesting material, and the gusts of wind rattling last year's seed pods and grasses, all combine to raise a spring symphony that could be likened to a Syren's song.
This picture was taken during the first week of April last year, down in the woods. The Bloodroot, Troutlily, Chickweed, and false strawberry all struggle to climb above the rotting leaves from the prior autumn. It is nearly a riot, as they push and shoulder each other aside to reach the sunlight.
Much the same can be observed in the human residents of the earth. More so than any other year in recent memory, I feel us waking thunderously. This week in particular is packed with celebrations and holidays. We started with St. Patty's Day (which came directly following my daughter's spring break from school), and approach the Spring Equinox, Purim, Good Friday, and Easter.... all under a full moon. There are also many personal "holidays" including birthdays, the opening of HerbMentor, a new license :-), and the beginning of the return of my nephew from the distant West. On top of the May/June issue of The Essential Herbal being finished up, our book comprised of the first 5 years of spring and summer - "The Essential Herbal, Under the Sun" is in the last stages and will soon head to the printer.
I know very well that I did not hibernate this winter. The memory of all the accomplishments of those cold, short days is still with me... and yet, I feel as if I am waking from a long slumber!
Spring is like that here in the Mid-Atlantic region. The variety of seasons is not just visual or dependent on temperature. It is within us. I wonder sometimes if people who live in regions with relatively constant temperatures ever get to feel this excitement or renewal.

A new driver in the family

We're taking a day off from herb talk because this is a red-letter day here on the hill.
The kid pulled it off. She made it through the parallel parking and the 3 point turn, and got her driver's license. She is, at this moment, off picking up a list of groceries that I made up before the test, so she could have a destination to try solo.
It took her a little while to realize the enormity of the situation. She was prepared to fail, and as the inspector signed her permit she was still expecting a rejection. We talked on the way home about what this would mean. In honor of that, I'd like to share my youthful love note to my first car.... And just look at the difference these years have made in cars!

MY CAR BOB
Somehow I managed to pass my 26th birthday without my driver’s license. After several permits and 10 or 15 surprises of changes in state licensing procedures (they are kept secret, no publicity, in order to test the driver-to-be’s sincerity), a kindly and understanding trooper awarded me with the coveted rubber stamp on the permit.
After all those years of pretending I didn’t care to add to the congestion on the roadways, I lost control. I leapt from the car leaving the officer staring, and the door open, while I jumped up and down, whooping to my sister. She had been through this before, but the results had never been too good. She was on a bench with a mother and 2 driver’s ed teachers. She had told them the horrors of my student driving “career”, so all had expected me to be defeated once again by the demon course. They cheered for me as I stumbled over the doorstep and staggered blindly past the line of waiting testees to be validated.
I was too excited to drive. Instead I hollered and yahooed, and beat on the dashboard. This was a big triumph. I had somehow, in less than 15 minutes, become a real person.
Now it was time to find “the” car. I had taken a temporary job and expected to be able to afford 8 or 10 hundred dollars. My sister’s husband having ignored dire warnings, had taught me to drive (many before him had failed), and took it as his responsibility to find my car. My bank account swelled, but no decent cars revealed themselves to me. I started to spend, lend, and blow the money.
Finally yesterday, with no savings, and 400 expected income, the car arrived. A 14 year old 1969 Ford Galaxie for 300 bucks. It was buy the heap or walk. It isn’t much to look at, but better than many I’ve seen for more money. Pretty regular – until the test ride….
As I slid in, I was unimpressed, but knew I’d buy it because it was cheap and ran. Then I adjusted the seat. I’m short, but this seat moved into a position only a tall person could expect. I could see everything. I had power! I searched the steering column for the ignition keyhole. Not there. Delighting in oddities, I grinned when it showed up on the dash nearly a foot over from the usual place. I was beginning to warm up to the heap. Disappointment was almost painful as the car refused to even make an effort to start. Finally Bob suggested jiggling the gear shift lever. It worked. What character! And what a lovely noise the car makes…”Ba-doom brum brum brum brum”. Other than terribly bald tires and the need for front end alignment, the car is perfect. The paint is terrible, and half of the ornamental chrome is missing, but the interior is nearly perfect, and I feel like its beautiful outside – when I’m inside driving. Sometimes when I walk up to get in, it startles me that the outside isn’t gleaming candy-apple red, but faded dull, dented, white.
No matter. This car and I were together in another life. We fell for each other right away, and I think we’ll look out for each other. It seems to be a male. I say that because he’s a rugged individualist. Who would expect an old bargain basement Ford to act like a sexy young foreigner? Yet he’s still old fashioned enough to be comfortable around. Anyway, I named him Bob in honor of my driving mentor, and he seems to like the name.
Today I spent six hours cleaning him and 3 hours driving him. It was plenty of time to realize that this was one of the better breaks in my life. We perceive life similarly. Besides, we need each other.
For one thing, being short, I’m a bit afraid of other, bossier drivers. Bob remedies that by seating me in an almost menacing position, and making noises that sound like we could blow anything else right off the road. He’s got confidence.
Bob is a big car with a small appetite. I’ve never really liked compacts, but in the past ten years, everyone has adjusted to them. Bob has 4 big doors. No more bumping and grunting to get in the back. What a luxury. What a back seat!!! It’s as big and lush as a taxi. Compared to the cars of today, it is almost an obscenity, but it is beautiful, with a huge shelf in front of the rear picture window.
The dashboard sits back almost 6 inches, so that I can carelessly toss my stuff onto the shelf made by the indentation. The radio still plays, but only get am stations. He takes regular gas, NOT unleaded, and has a hinged gas cap that won’t get lost. Bob does not have bucket seats, thank God, but long soft sofas. Most wondrous of all, Bob has wing windows in the front. They wind open like the regular windows instead of nasty clasps and catches that take years of practice to figure out.
So now, not only can I get myself where I want to go, I have found a friend. He’ll never rust away in a (gag) junkyard. I’ll take care of him forever, get a job to earn enough money to restore him. Whatever. We’re in this for keeps.
Nowadays I have a real plastic picture license. The stamped pink paper one lives with other valued pages of my life. With my own car and a plastic license, nobody will be able to tell. But Bob knows, and at the same time, I know he has some itty bitty weak spots. So if he doesn’t take a turn too wide, I won’t let anyone kick his fragile grill. If he doesn’t let a tire blow out, I won’t push him into any other cars. If I don’t drive too fast, he won’t float across the center line and squeal his bald tires at me. In two short days we have reached this understanding. Great things are ahead for this duo…I just hope I don’t run out of gas money.
Sadly, Bob ran through a red light 4 years later and smashed a brand new camero. Yes…. It was icy, but he had to go. I later regretted that decision.

Top 9 Pro-active Choices for Health

I believe very strongly in taking personal responsibility for our health. Making informed choices in our every day lives is the first key to optimal health. Here is a list of nine choices I think are incredibly important for optimal health. (A later post will address things to avoid.)

1. Pay attention
Our bodies have incredible communicating abilities. If we are aware and attuned with our natural processes we will become easily informed of small mishaps within the body before they become disasters. By paying attention to our whole being we can realize the whole healthy beings that we all are. Paying attentions also means being aware of what gives you juice in life - to when you are most fulfilled, most joyous, and then living that way as best as you are able. Not living out our dreams is a sure fire way to health challenges.

2. Nourishing Herbal Infusions
I drink a nourishing herbal infusion every day. On the rare days I am unable, I really miss this health ally. Nourishing herbal infusions are like a powerful multi-vitamin that nourish our body. Since I've started drinking them daily there have been subtle, but important shifts in my body that would be hard to explain. More easily to explain is the lack of sickness I have had since drinking these daily. If you want to learn more about these infusions check out my earlier blogs.

3. Eating Organic Real Foods
When I was 23 years old I was diagnosed with a rare auto-immune disease the doctors said would first debilitate me then then kill me very young. There's nothing like a bad prognosis to get you inspired! After my initial diagnosis it took me about six months to get rid of all symptoms. I did multiple things during that time: acupuncture, energy work, and nutrition changes. I had always eaten very healthy. Even though I was raised in a small mormon town in Utah I sought out health food stores in unlikely nooks and crannies ever since I could drive. But, even though I was eating healthy, it was often "healthy" processed food.

(I am sure by now I don't need to list the incredible benefits of eating organic whether it be for the health of your body or the health of the planet, so I will assume we are on the same page with such a given.)

I no longer buy organic in a bottle or can. Everything we eat is fresh from the earth or fresh from the butcher. This has also made for much less fuss in the kitchen. Our meals are generally protein and veggies. So, Salmon and a Salad. Steak and Winter Squash. Chicken and Artichokes. Easy to cook, easy to clean, and absolutely scrumptuous.

Eating local is one of the most powerful things you can do for the health of the planet as well as the health of yourself, family and community. They say that most people's food has been shipped an average of 1500 miles before it reaches their plate. By eating food that has been shipped from so far away we lose our ability to take responsibility for our food. We don't know how this food was farmed, if the people who farmed it were treated fairly, we can't possibly know the damage that has happened because of the oil usage in the shipping of these foods. On the other hand by visiting your local farmer's market and getting to know your farmers you'll end up with dinner on your plate that you will have a connection with. The list could go on about the benefits of local food and on and there are plenty of other articles and books on the subject.

I also eat according to my Metabolic Type. This "diet" is a way of determining how individual bodies metabolize food and creating a lifestyle that is supported by that metabolic type. I really appreciate this method as it puts the responsibility of food choices in each person rather than making a generalized statement like: "the mediterranean diet is the healthiest way to eat." I am sure it is... for Mediterraneans.

When it comes to eating Real Foods there is an easy to way to determine if it's real or not. Just ask the question, did my ancestors eat this 200 years ago? No? Then you'd probably better stay away from it now.

4. Dance, Yoga, Qi gong
There's nothing like exercise - especially the kind that feeds your soul. Dancing is a given in our household. I've done yoga for many years now and really appreciate the many aspects of this ancient art. Qi gong is something I have only done through tapes and DVDs, but even still I have to say it's incredible powerful. The days I choose to do Qi gong in the morning are the days I am vibrant and full of energy.

5. Spend time outside
Being outside reminds me of why I am on this beautiful earth. Seeing this valley and our river teeming with life makes my heart swell and is a strong reminder of why I believe humans are here - to caretake all life. Being outside in the sunshine also has the practical application of giving me essential nutrients like Vitamin D.

7. Bodywork
Call me biased, I am a bodyworker, and I also absolutely love bodywork. Whether it's Structural Medicine, Craniosacral, Reiki, or general massage - I'll take it. Often seen as a luxury, I think it's a necessity. Regular bodywork can help us to avoid injury and prevent other structural problems before they start. And, as someone who regularly works with structural issues: It's much easier to solve them 20 years ago.

8. Say thanks
Upon waking, before eating, after eating, as the deer play in the yard, as I drink clear tasty water, as a client walks away with reduced pain, as I walk by my plant friends I give thanks. I give thanks to remind myself of all the good things in life. I give thanks, simply to give back.

9. Love and relationships
There's no greater thing on earth than love, whether it be love for ourselves, our partners, friends, family, the earth and the creatures we share it with.

I'd love to hear what your pro-active health essentials are.

Nourishing Herbal Infusions ( Part 10 FAQ)

Frequently Asked Questions


I don’t like the taste…
When we find distaste for a particular beverage or food it may be for several different reasons. One reason may be that our bodies are adapting to the new tastes and sensations. I am sure we all have memories of initially disliking something and then, after some time, really finding we enjoy it. I distinctly remember the first time I had brie cheese – I thought it was a practical joke or something. Years later living in France, I just couldn’t get enough of it.

Disliking a certain taste may also be our body’s way of communicating that we don’t need this particular nourishment at this time. I think intuitively we know which is true. If you taste a particular NHI and find that every cell in your body is shaking in disgust, I would suggest trying a different herb. However, if you try a NHI and it tastes too “green” or the texture isn’t your favorite, you can try the following to help your body’s taste buds to adapt.

• Add a pinch of mint. Not much, just a few leaves or so.
• Try adding a little salt. A pinch of salt can reduce any bitterness you may be experiencing.
• Try using less herbs. You could start with a ½ ounce and slowly increase the herb material to a full ounce. Or you could make it with the full strength of herbs and dilute it with water.
• Add a little honey or stevia. I used to add a little honey to my infusions, and now I find that I love them straight.
• You can try mixing different herbs together. Nettle has a very strong taste, while oatstraw is much more mellow. Some find that by mixing the herbs they find wonderful concoctions that are pleasing to the palette as well. (Also see FAQ below, “Can I mix different herbs together.”)

Over time, as our taste buds change or as our nourishment needs change, we may find that a particular NHI that was once unpleasant is now quite pleasing. Also, we may find over time that we need less and less honey, salt, or mixing of herbs to enjoy the NHI. Instead of getting stuck in a rut, always be sure to re-visit different herbs and different preparations.

Can I use fresh herbs?
We typically use dried herbs when making infusions because drying herbs breaks down their cell wall, enabling their nutrients to be extracted into the water with greater ease.

What if I don’t drink it in time?
NHIs should be drunk in a 36-hour time period. If you find that you haven’t drank your mix there are several things you can do besides pouring it down the drain.
• You can use it as a luxurious hair rinse – my best hair days always follow a nettle rinse.
• You can use it to fertilize plants – indoors and out.
• Or simply put it in your compost pile to nourish the soil.

Kiva Rose says she prolongs the use of her infusions by adding a little slippery elm to the mix.


Can I mix different herbs together?
Of course you can. When choosing my NHI herbs I like to “sample” all the options by smelling them, really looking at them, and enjoying the whole experience. In this way I can tune in to what my body is needing, and sometimes I end up mixing several herbs in my infusion.

That being said, Susun Weed recommends trying just one herb at a time. In this way you can receive the full strength of one particular plant and really learn to recognize and appreciate the way in which your body interacts with individual plants.

Especially when starting out, trying just one herb at a time really helps you to form a relationship with that plant.

Are NHI safe for children?
Absolutely. The herbs used in NHI are chosen because of their gentleness. Rather than thinking of them as medicine we can think of them as super foods that are beneficial to all, from the baby in the womb to the wisest of elders.

Further Reading

Healing Wise, Susun Weed

Childbearing Year, Susun Weed

Breast Cancer? Breast Health!, Susun Weed

Opening Our Wild Hearts to the Healing Herbs, Gail Faith Edwards

Herbalpedial CDrom, Maureen Rogers

Healing Teas, Marie Nadine Antol

Nourishing Herbal Infusions (part 9)

Comfrey is well known under its other names such as knitbone or bruisewort. It’s a champion for healing superficial scratches and cuts, bruises, broken or fractured bones, and torn tendons and ligaments. Commonly used externally for all of these ailments, the leaf can be taken internally as well for additional benefit*.

Comfrey leaf is a strong ally against osteoporosis. Its high calcium content is readily absorbed into our

systems, creating strong and flexible bones.

A comfrey nourishing herbal infusion is also powerful in healing bronchial conditions and lung congestion, and its demulcent and wound healing qualities are useful for gastric ulcers and colitis.

Parts used

Leaf

Properties

Relaxing expectorant, demulcent, alterative, astringent, vulnerary, cell proliferant, nutritive

*Special considerations The scientific community

recently determined that pyrrolizidine alkaloids (PLAs) found within comfrey can cause silent liver disease. You will find herbalists who claim that the internal use of comfrey poses absolutely no threat, while others absolutely refuse to use it internally at all. Every person who wants to use comfrey needs to come to their own conclusions on this matter.

The risks of using comfrey seem to be rare, but real. The roots have more PLAs than the leaves, the young leaves contain more PLAs than the mature leaves. With these considerations in mind, the internal use of comfrey is definitely contraindicated for pregnancy, children, alcoholics (including a history of high alcohol use), and those with liver disease.

Keep it simple

Although we now know we need to approach this herb with caution, comfrey leaf remains a powerful herb for healing our skin, ligaments, and bones as well as for strengthening our lungs.

Nourishing Herbal Infusions (part 8)

Linden (Tilia cordata)

Linden is a cooling and mucilaginous herb – I love to brew it up on hot, dusty days when I am feeling parched.
It’s used extensively in Europe, especially in France, for soothing sore throats and coughs. Its diaphoretic properties make it a beneficial herb for colds and flu. Sharol Tilgner reports its use has been shown to shorten the duration of infectious viral conditions.

It is a superb relaxing nervine for nervous tension, stress, and panic conditions.
Linden is used to nourish the heart and is specifically beneficial for high blood pressure associated with arteriosclerosis and nervous tension.

In France it is commonly used in lotions for itchy skin conditions.

Parts used
Flowers and leaves
Properties
Cool/moist, relaxing nervine, anti-spasmodic, relaxing diaphoretic, hypotensive, demulcent, diuretic, mild astringent

Nutrients
Flavonoids, glycosides

Keep it simple
Linden’s demulcent properties make it a valuable ally for colds, flus, and parched conditions. It’s a gentle nervine that calms the heart.

Nourishing Herbal Infusions (part 7)

Red Clover (Trifolium pratense)

Parts used: Flowers

Properties: Nutritive, anti-cancer, alkalinizer, expectorant, anti-spasmodic

Nutrients: Calcium, iron, magnesium, manganese, phosphorus, potassium, selenium, zinc, vitamins B3, C, and E.

Gifts: Red clover is world renowned as an anti-cancer herb. It is used by 33 different cultures as an aid against cancer. It is one ingredient in the famed Essiac Tea, and scientific studies have found 4 anti-tumor compounds in this miraculous plant. (Edwards, pg. 157) Besides being a strong ally for those dancing with cancer, red clover is a strong alterative, making it well known as a “blood purifier.” Rich in phytosterols, red clover nourishes hormones, making it an excellent choice for women going through menopause as well as those wishing to increase their fertility. It’s been used to treat whooping cough and other dry, irritable coughs – even tuberculosis. The infusion can also be used externally (as well as internally) to nourish the skin, eliminating eczema and psoriasis.

Keep it simple: Renowned for it’s anti-cancer properties, red clover is also an incredible alterative, nourishing and building our blood.

Red clover is “God’s greatest herbal blessing to mankind.”
Old time herbal (Antol, pg. 186)

Nourishing Herbal Infusions (part 6)

Burdock (Arctium Lappa)

Parts used: Root (First year roots gathered in the fall.)

Properties: alterative, nutritive, mucilaginous, alterative, diuretic, diaphoretic, urinary tonic, demulcent, bitter, laxative, vulnerary,

Nutrients: Amino acids, calcium, chromium, iron, magnesium, phosphorus, manganese, potassium, selenium, zinc, vitamins B1, B2, B3, and C.

Gifts: Burdock is a strong alterative – sometimes called a blood purifier. It does this by strengthening the kidneys and liver, which in turn helps to clean up the circulatory system. Burdock is a strong ally for those dealing with skin problems such as boils, eczema, psoriasis, rashes, acne, and herpes. It’s revered as an anti-tumor herb and is one of the ingredients of the Essiac formula. Used long term it helps strengthen the immune system and nourish intestinal flora – a great ally to use after a round of antibiotics. Burdock is a cooling herb that helps us to feel grounded and stable.

Keep it simple: Burdock is a grounding herb that strengthens the immune system, kidneys, and liver. It’s especially useful for those dealing with skin problems, from blemishes to tumors.

Burdock is like a cleaning woman, or garbage collector: essential to modern life, but underpaid and undervalued. She’s the old black rag-a-muffin of herbs.
Ellen Greenlaw 1988

Nourishing Herbal Infusions (part 5)

Oatstraw (Avena sativa)

Parts used: Whole plant (I like infusing the milky buds along with the “straw” part of the plant).

Properties: nutritive, tonic, demulcent, nervine, anti-spasmodic, anti-depressant, cooling, febrifuge, diuretic, diaphoretic, carminative

Nutrients: Calcium, folate, iron, magnesium, manganese, phosphorus, potassium, selenium, zinc, vitamins A, B1, B2, B3, B5, B6, E, and amino acids.

Gifts: Oatstraw acts as an anti-depressant and restorative nerve tonic. This makes it ideal for those experiencing stress, exhaustion, nervous breakdowns, or grief. Regular use eases inflammation in your body – which is especially helpful for those with crohn’s disease, lupus, or other autoimmune diseases. It’s a wonderful source of calcium for those wishing to strengthen their bones, teeth, and nails. To get your daily calcium supplement add a pinch of horsetail (Equisetum arvense) in your oat straw infusion. Oatstraw has been known as a love tonic for centuries, because of its ability to nourish your nervous system and clean out the circulatory system, increasing your sensitivity to touch. Oatstraw is also a powerful restorative for those who are just plain worn out.

Keep it simple: Oatstraw is a wonderful restorative tonic especially helpful to those feeling stressed or worn out.

Nourishing Herbal Infusions (part 4)

Red Raspberry is commonly considered a woman’s herb often used during pregnancy. It gently eases nausea and morning sickness. Red Raspberry has been scientifically proven to ease uterine and intestinal spasms and strengthen the

uterine wall. These actions help to ease labor pains and facilitate births. There is also evidence that regular infusions taken during the third trimester reduce the incidence of false

Drinking infusions after birth increases the colostrum found in breast milk helping to ensure a healthy start for the newborn. Susun Weed notes that although for some woman Red Raspberry leaf increases breast milk, for others the astringency of the herb may counter that.

It’s unfair to classify raspberry leaves as only beneficial to women. Not only does red raspberry tone the uterus, it has a toning effect for the male reproductive system as well. It is used for enuresis, spermatorrhea, premature ejaculation, impotence and sterility.

As a strong astringent, raspberry is helpful in cases of prolonged diarrhea and frequent urination.

Raspberry leaves have the ability to promote healthy bones, nails, teeth, and skin. It’s common to find it paired with red clover as a fertility tonic for both men and women.

Parts used

Leaves

Properties

Cool/dry, astringent, tonic, uterine tonic, hemostatic, mild alterative.

Special considerations

There are no major cautions with red raspberry, but take note of it’s astringent affects to determine if this is the right choice for you. Some may find it initially too drying.

Keep it simple

Red Raspberry is a uterine tonic especially beneficial to women during pregnancy. Its high calcium and mineral content make it beneficial to all.

sometimes you have to tidy up

I've rediscovered my first spring color. The hardy cyclamen is coloring up, can spring be far behind?

Most of the top parts of the epimedium turn brown and useless every winter. I imagine the heart shaped glossy leaves are probably evergreen in warmer hardiness zones. So I go out early and cut them back to provide a view of the tender new growth and I clean up the windblown tree leaves stuck around the stems.

That's when I rediscover one of my favorites, the hardy cyclamen, C. coum.
Here is a photo:

I don't know anyone else who grows the hardy cyclamen around here, even with all the multitude of Master Gardeners. Maybe they just don't care for its tiny-ness or think it is interesting enough to talk about. One expert gardener friend keeps repeating to me that there are no hardy enough cyclamens to grow here, although I have one right out in my epimedium patch. She doesn't listen much to me.

It's an odd little plant with beautiful small mottled leaves. The brown bulbous underground part sticks up a bit out of the soil looking like a half buried potato, I just leave it like that because that is what has worked. I worry that it will return every year, and make my expert friend right. The humble little thing doesn't 'leap and bound'. Its tiny flowers are petaling up right now, showing their very unusual (for our area) screaming magenta blossoms.
Cylcamen coum doesn't look like much now, but it'll perk up.

Happy Saint Patrick's Day

... to my Irish friends!
Well there we were on Saturday night, having a late burger at the White Horse Tavern after the folk music program at the Greater Flint Arts Council and who should walk in but a Leprechaun with her friend, a glittering green foil Shamrock Tree. No lie. And I wasn't even drinking.
The group at the next table had been celebrating since 3 at the local Irish family/community gathering and were getting together to plan the rest of the weekend from gist of the conversation. A morning run, a pub crawl in Bay City, then more parties. Something about the timing of Easter made this particular Saint Pat's Day a three day celebration for party loving Irish hereabouts.
I want to be Irish.
If I had a cool leprechaun costume like that gal, I could jump up and dance a silly jig for a whole day and people would love it instead of thinking I was slightly crazed. I could drink Bailey shots and toast and joke. What a stress reliever for these long March days!
Anyway, now I can begin stories with "I was sitting in a tavern and a leprechaun walked in..." and be telling the solemn truth. Another check on my life list.

Anyway here is a picture of what I found at the end of my rainbow yesterday:

Sustainability: Re-usable bags

I just love bags. I love getting funky looking bags and thrift stores and using them to carry home my wholesome food/library books/mail in from town. Re-used bags have a style with which boring brown paper bags just can't compare.

This holiday season my sister sent me two super cool bags that she crocheted out of used plastic bags. I have found these bags to actually be quite magical. They seemingly hold everything - sort of like a Mary Poppins bag, and are incredibly strong. This is a great use for all of that incredibly annoying plastic. I highly applaud the various countries and grocery stores who have stopped carrying plastic bags. Until they are gone for good though, you can read an article my sister wrote about these bags and learn to make your own here.

When I was at the local co-op near Seattle I bought a few of these nifty bags for putting vegetables in. You could also easily make these yourself by buying a similar meshy fabric and making a simple bag. We used to wash out our plastic bags for fruits and veggies, but these are much more practical for keeping things together.

GTS #8 browns and greens

Green Thumb Sunday

Join

Gardeners, Plant and Nature Lovers can join in every Sunday, visit As the Garden Grows for more information.

Our landscape is tinted dead leaf brown and winter tired evergreen shades. Everything color coordinates with the frozen soil and dead grass. But those hopeful snowdrops... so worth planting in the fall, like leaving a sign, "it will happen again" for those who come behind, or as a reminder to my future self to recall, recall spring.

Blood blisters and cottonwood buds

This morning I was a little careless and gave myself a blood blister with a pair of scissors. If you've ever had a blood blister then you will know how painful these tiny little things will be. I am making a bunch of cottonwood salve today so there were a a lot of buds on the counter. Moments after I pinched myself, thus creating the blister, I picked one up and applied the bud and resins directly to the darkening area. Instantly the pain was gone and has remained so. And although blood had been forming under the surface of my skin, it's completely gone 30 minutes later. Gotta love cottonwood for first aid.

a video from cooking up a story dot com

Another day of bountiful cottonwood (Populus balsamifera)

I couldn't sleep early this morning - something that rarely happens. As my mind was wandering over hills and through valleys I was suddenly hit with an idea, or rather an afterthought of sorts. With so many downed trees in the area I should definitely take advantage of this bounty and harvest the bark. The bark can be tinctured to make an anelgesic medicine, and I was also interested in drying some bark to later pound into flour.

As we were heading into town today (for an adorable 1 one-year-old's birthday party) we noticed several trees down by the river. Apparently the beavers in the area have been hard at work.


Having never harvested cottonwood cambium before we were a little baffled about which part to harvest for flour. Eventually we decided that perhaps it's too early in the season and the sap isn't running yet. I've harvested cedar cambium before while the sap is running and it's really amazing how easily it separates from the tree - which was definitely not the case today. If anyone else has experience with this please let me know.

I do have a hard time imagining that the cambium would taste good as a flour. I put some of the bark in my mouth and it tasted like strong aspirin. Hence the tincture. :) This explains why the flour was used primarily as famine or emergency food.

Update: I did some reading on cottonwood last night and it does seem that we are a little early on harvesting the cambium. May or June sounds like a better time. I also read that although some tribes ate this food very rarely, other tribes (in Montana esp.) considered it a treat. (Thanks to Nancy Turner and all the research she has done with Northwest ethnobotany.)

There was one really fresh older tree on the ground. We were able to harvest a lot more buds from the top of the tree, which is by far the most plentiful. I already had lots of buds from the other day, but I just couldn't resist. Although we had already been to the store, we went back before leaving town to buy a gallon of olive oil for a cottonwood bud infusion. I am teaching a class on oils and salves in a couple of weeks, so I know it'll come in handy.

I also wanted to make a tincture of the buds. I wanted to use a higher percentage of alcohol to extract properties from this resinous source, but only had a little tiny bit of everclear hanging around. (It's not sold in this state, so I am at the mercy of traveling friends.) So, I did one small tincture of half everclear, half vodka, and then another tincture with scotch whiskey. I'm curious as to the results. Already there is a big difference in colors. Surprisingly the everclear/vodka mix has a much darker and cloudier appearance than the scotch whiskey (the one on the right is the everclear/vodka) which begins as an orange color. These tinctures will be used as an expectorant for nasty chest colds.

I also did a tincture of the bark in scotch whiskey as well.

I have only recently started making tinctures out of scotch whiskey. In part two of the Village Herbalist on Herbmentor, Heather says she uses scotch whiskey for her tinctures for several reasons. One, scotch whiskey is made from barley, which has it's own health benefits. (As opposed to wheat, which a lot of vodka is made from these days.) Also, she said to buy the cheapest scotch whiskey available. When taking a sip you'll notice the astringent properties of this beverage. This astringency, says Heather, adds to the extracting properties of the alcohol making it act more like 60%-70& alcohol. So, seeing how everclear is hard to get, I thought I'd give it a chance. I'd love to hear other thoughts on this.

The sun is setting in the valley which has turned several shades of pink, blue and purple. The bald eagles have been busy feasting on the fallen deer in the field. We've really enjoyed watching so many up close right from our kitchen window. I am feeling very grateful to live in this beautiful bountiful valley.

Nourishing Herbal Infusions (part 3)

Nettle (Urtica dioica)

Parts used: Young leaves – before the plant flowers

Properties: Nutritive, astringent, diuretic, and styptic

Nutrients: Calcium, Potassium, Protein, B Carotene, chlorophyll, trace minerals, iron, Vitamins A, C, D, and K – virtually all the vitamins and minerals known to be necessary for human health and growth. (Weed, CBY pg 20)

Gifts: Nettle is a beloved herb that has been used for time immemorial on several continents. It is a strong ally for strengthening the kidneys and toning the lungs, intestines, and arteries. It helps restore vibrancy to the adrenal system, transforming sluggish energy into vitality. (Because of this I often suggest nettle infusions for people who have been long time coffee drinkers and are now getting off the sauce.) Hair and skin love nettle rinses and become more full and vibrant.

According to Susun Weed, Nettle infusions are “recommended for those wanting to stabilize blood sugar, reset metabolic circuits to normalize weight, reduce fatigue and exhaustion, restore adrenal potency to lessen allergic and menopausal problems and eliminate chronic headaches.” (Weed, HW pg. 172). I love nettle for its incredible calcium content – 2,900 milligrams for each 100 grams. Unlike calcium supplements, the naturally occurring calcium found in nettle is easily absorbed by our bodies. Daily nettle infusions for two weeks will increase the quantity and quality of breast milk in lactating moms. (Weed, Healing Wise 175). NHI made from nettle are one of Susun Weed’s favorite anti-cancer remedies. Long-term use of nettle infusions is recommended to receive full benefits.

After drinking nettle infusion daily for three months in a row I felt a steady increase of energy as well as a subtle toning of my urinary system. I used to be very prone to UTI's, but with nettle as an ally, UTI's are a thing of the past.

Keep it simple: Nettle is a gentle and powerful herb that can be drunk daily for increased energy and chi. Taken over a long period of time it is beneficial to the kidneys, lungs, intestine, arteries, hair, and skin.

Where to get nettle leaf: Remember it's always best to get from a local source, either wildcrafting it yourself in an ethical manner or from a local herb farm or store. If you don't have access to either of those options here are some additional ones.

www.ancestreeherbals.com (This is a small herb farm near where I live. I usually check here first to see if they have what I need in stock. They also ship fresh herbs overnight.)

www.iwantherbs.com (This is the largest organic herbal online store and carries herbs that are very high in quality although sometimes they come from very far away.)



Works consulted:
Healing Wise, Susun Weed
Herbalpedia CD ROM

Nourishing Herbal Infusions (part 2)

How to Make Nourishing Herbal Infusions

The preparation of NHIs is similar to that of teas; however, the plant material used is greater than in teas, and the soaking time is much longer. While teas brewed for twenty minutes or less are great tasting beverages, the extended soaking time of NHIs ensures our beverages are filled with nutrients and minerals for optimum health.




To make my NHI, I place one ounce of dried leafy herbs in my French coffee press. (You can also use a mason jar.)










I pour one quart of boiling water over the herbs, cover with the press, and let sit overnight.







In the morning I strain off the plant material and drink the infusion throughout the day. (You can see how this nettle infusion has changed color dramatically.)


Alternatively you could make the infusion in the morning to drink at night. Some people use mason jars to brew their infusions in – using a strainer to strain off the plants when ready. Whatever you brew your infusion in, be sure to cover it tight so water-soluble vitamins do no escape. After straining, refrigerate and drink within 36 hours. Typically one quart is drank each day.

Branching Out – Using a variety of materials

You can make NHIs from leafy material (stinging nettle, comfrey), roots and barks (burdock), flowers (calendula), or seeds and berries (celery seed, lamb’s quarters).

The brewing time differs when you are working with these very different plant parts. Flowers and berries tend to be more delicate, while roots and bark need a little more prodding.

The following brewing table is taken from Healing Wise, by Susun Weed.

Plant Part------ Amount Jar / Water -------- Length of Infusion
Roots/barks -------- 1 oz pint ------------------ 8 hours minimum
Leaves ---------------1 oz quart --------------- 4 hours minimum
Flowers -------------- 1 oz quart --------------- 1 hours maximum
Seeds/berries ------- 1 oz pint ---------------- 30 minutes maximum



The herbs we use for nourishing herbal infusions are just that – nourishing. These plants are high in vitamins, minerals and nutrients and do not contain bitter oils, esters, or resins that can create unwanted side effects – as well as taste very bitter. (There are circumstances when you would want to use more “medicinal” herbs in an infusion, but this article focuses on the herbs we go to specifically for nourishment.)

In part three I will post more about individual herbs you can use.