I Couldn't Wait Until Next Year!

Had to show you what I finished while I was gone.  I have a list of cross-stitch "to do"s.  This Shepard's Bush chart was from the early 90's.  The Herbal Husband was amazed how quick it was to finish.  He was probably thinking why didn't she finish it sooner!  Oh, well, this was what I was ripping out earlier and had to start over again!

Psst, don't let The Herbal Husband know it, but this is my favorite Christmas present this year.  He got me some wonderful language of flower books.  I'll share them later.  This is from my best friend's daughter, my almost daughter, Miss C.  It is a BloemBox for a Bumble Bee Garden.  Inside this adorable box are three 5' seed ribbons made of plantable, biodegradable tissue paper filled with premium seeds for effortless planting.  They are Dahlia Flowered Pink Zinnia (Zinnia elegans), Queen Anne's Thimble (Gilia capitata) and Black-Eyed Susan (Rudbeckia hirta), all annuals.  Miss C called this gift a twofer because once the seed ribbons are planted, the box is way too cute not to use it for other stuff!  So Miss C and I will be busy planting them next spring after the threat of frost is gone.  So The Herbal Husband and I hope you have a wonderful New Year's Eve celebration wherever you may be!  Be safe and I will talk to you in the New Year!  (Probably tomorrow!)

quote

"The poetry of the earth is ceasing never;
On a lone winter evening when the frost
Has wrought a silence, from the stove there shrills
The Cricket's song, in warmth increasing ever."
- John Keats

Why should a man die while sage grows in his garden?

Salvia spp.

Sage 

Botanical Name: Salvia officinalis

Plant Family: Mint, Lamiaceae

Properties: Bitter, pungent, astringent, oily, warming and cooling, antiseptic 

Wherever sage grows around the world it is used and revered as medicine. There are many varieties of sage plants and mainly discuses Salvia officinalis, or culinary sage. This plant is native to the Mediterranean and southern Europe and is now cultivated all over the world. 

For most people in North America, sage is used just a few times a year as a compliment to the turkey stuffing but sage has a long history of use. 

Its name comes from the roots of “to save” or “to heal”. Maude Grieve writes in A Modern Herbal that sage was even sometimes known as Salvia Salvatrix (Sage the Savior). 

In medieval times there was a saying, 

“Cur moriatur homo cui Salvia crescit in horto?”

Which translates to “why should a man die while sage grows in his garden?”.

Let’s take a look at the properties of sage so that we can better understand how this plant is used. 

The taste of sage is both bitter and pungent. Often, when we see these two attributes together we know this plant can be used to promote digestion. And sage is a wonderful carminative. It can ease gas and bloating, can move stagnant digestion (when you eat food and it feels like you have an immobile rock in your belly), and can even relieve painful cramping in the gut. Sage is especially appropriate for people who cannot digest fats well. It can be taken as a tea prior to or following a meal or simply used as a spice within the meal. 

Sage is a wonderful astringent herb and can be used to tighten and tone tissues. It has a special affinity for the mouth and can be used to relieve pain and heal mouth ulcers, canker sores, bleeding gums, spongy gums, and cold sores. Sage is a common ingredient in many tooth powder and mouthwash recipes. 

The astringent and antiseptic qualities of sage make it perfect for sore throats. I like to combine sage tea with some lemon and honey for this purpose. 

In fact, sage is effective for a variety of discomforts that can accompany a cold or flu. Taken as a warm tea it acts as a stimulating diaphoretic, making it a good choice for fevers when the person feels cold and is shivering. As an herbal steam it can help to decongest the sinuses and loosen congestion in the lungs. 

You’ll notice that sage is listed as being both warming and cooling. Taken as a warm tea sage can open your pores and increase sweating. But taken as a lukewarm or slightly cold tea it has the opposite effect; it actually decreases excessive secretions. 

These two qualities may seem contradictory in nature but sage, like so many plants, has the ability to bring balance to the body. 

Herbalist Kiva Rose explains: 

When reading some of the seemingly contradictory actions and indication in the description of Sage, it will be helpful to keep in mind that the herb seems to act primarily as a balancer of fluids in the body, whether there is too much or not enough. 

This ability to stop excessive secretions can be helpful in a variety of ways. 

• To stop excessive diarrhea. 
• To stop the excessive sweating related to night sweats or fevers. 
• To stop the flow of breast milk in the weaning process. 
• To stop the excessive flow of mucous in the sinuses. 
• To stop excessive vaginal discharge, for example discharge associated with yeast infections.
  
  

The red sage of China is well known for its affinity for the blood, but our culinary sage can also be used for a variety of stagnant blood conditions such as blood clots and varicose veins. In the Earthwise Herbal, herbalist Matthew Wood describes using sage on multiple occasions for dissolving blood clots. The term for this in traditional herbalism is “blood mover”.

As a blood mover, sage can be used for those with poor circulation resulting in cold hands and feet. Improving the blood flow to all parts of the body, including the brain, sage is also well known to improve cognitive function and can help prevent memory loss and clear foggy thinking. 

Sage is singularly good for the head and the brain, it quickeneth the senses and memory, strengthening the sinews, restoreth health to those that have the palsy, and taketh away shakey trembling of the members. 

Gerard

Sage is commonly used for menopausal complaints such as night sweats and hot flashes. Herbalist Phyllis Light says sage is 

“specific for the transition from fertility levels of estrogen to post-menopausal levels. In other words, it helps the adrenal cortex take over the manufacture of sexual hormones as the gonads atrophy”. It is specific for symptoms of “drying out”.

Sage can relieve pain and increase circulation and, keeping this in mind, we can see that sage lends itself well to external use. It can be infused into oil and used for massage.  It can be infused in witch hazel or alcohol and used for varicose veins. Infused in vinegar it can both relieve the pain of sunburns and soothe the dry heat. A tea of the leaves or a diluted vinegar infusion can be used as a wash to remove dandruff. 

Sage can also be used for a variety of pain ailments. Culpepper recommends it for headaches, rheumatic pains and joint pains.

Maude Grieve lists this sage recipe as a cure for sprains. 

Bruise a handful of sage leaves and boil them in a gill of vinegar for five minutes; apply this in a folded napkin as hot as it can be borne to the part affected. 

There are many sage varieties from around the world that are revered as medicine. 

In China, Dan shen (Salvia miltiorrhiza) has been used for thousands of years as blood tonic. 

Salvia militiorrhiza

The white sage of California (Salvia apiana) is used extensively, both historically and in present day, in ceremonies. 

Botanical Description

Sage grows anywhere from 1-3’ high. It’s a member of the mint family and has square stems and opposite leaves. 

The leaves are lanceolate (long oval) and are grayish green in color. 

Sage has blue to purple flowers on terminal spikes. 

Typically, sage is gathered just before flowering. 

There are so many ways to use sage.

tea

tincture

oil, salve

wash

steam inhalation

essential oil

tooth powder

vinegar

butter

wine

Sage is generally considered safe for everyone. However, sage is contraindicated in pregnancy. It can also dry up the flow of milk during lactation so, unless the mother is wishing to wean, it is generally contraindicated during nursing.  

Resources used: 
Earthwise Herbal by Matthew Wood
Writings by Kiva Rose
Herbal Medicine by Sharol Tilgner
Personal studies at East West School of Herbology

You mean *those* dandelions?

I was a lucky kid. We grew up surrounded by woods and fields and streams. We knew lots of the plants that grew around us by name, and they were part of our play, but not used in the home as food or medicine. My grandmother was from the days of horse and buggy, and she wasn't looking back. She embraced modernity with open arms and wanted nothing to do with the past. Every time she opened the chest freezer to withdraw some cherished out of season fruit or vegetable in one of those little waxed cartons (before they came in plastic bags), the look of supreme pleasure that spread over her face made it clear that she was never going to be making sassafras tea, dandelion greens or ANY foraged plant based foods or medicine in her house.

There was the disconnect. It happened right there. We knew the plants, but their place has been usurped by a love for modern convenience.Echinacea

As the years passed, we rediscovered a love for gardening, but in doing so, we looked for the new hybrids, the double flowers, and the colors that didn't exist before.
Then we developed an interest in herbs.
We started reading all the books we could get our hands on. My sister and I would each read a different book, swap, and then discuss. Over the winter, we studied field guides and memorized pictures of our long lost friends.

Early on, we started reading about herbs like dandelion, sheep sorrel, chickweed, and burdock. Burdock
Surely they couldn't mean the ones growing outside here! We were so removed from what we felt, that we would order these herbs from suppliers to work with. Catnip, rosehips, and chamomile came in bags. Things like shepherds purse and cleavers and elderberry were ordered. Why? Because we just couldn't believe that the ones growing in the yard could possibly the magical, mystical items we were reading about.Yarrow

And then one day we reconnected. At an IHA conference in the early 90's, I saw a Wild Foods Field Guide and Cookbook by Billy Joe Tatum at the bookstore. For three days, I looked through that book before finally deciding to purchase it (I'm tight with a buck - lol). Inside, I found recipes for all kinds of weeds - the same ones that grew outside everywhere.Stinging Nettles

That started my everlasting (and somewhat annoying to companions) search for various wild herbs whenever I am outside. If we stop at a gas station in another state, I am standing on the edge of the parking lot looking down at the weeds growing by the culvert. If we stay at a hotel somewhere, I need to wander along the edge of the cultivated lawn and look into the wild places. If I am driving somewhere, I am looking at the sides of the road as much as possible, and prefer the passenger side because it is safer for everyone.

The first year, I looked for chamomile, and found it everywhere.Chamomile

The next year it was elderberry.
In recent years, it has been blue vervain and linden. It is always something. I learn to see them by their color and shape, by realizing what plants they grow near or whether they like wet areas, or disturbed places, or shady, bright, hilly... Soon, if you look long enough you know where they are without actually seeing them. Step a little closer, and yup - there they are.

But the most important thing was learning that YES, it is THAT dandelion. It is THAT catnip, or elderberry or sheep sorrel. It is THAT red clover.Elderberries

At the time, we opened a shop and needed lots more of many of these herbs than we could ever forage or wild-craft ourselves. We tried gathering our own catnip one year, but we needed 10 or more pounds for the year and despite massive efforts only managed to collect a bit over a pound before taking over large portions of the workshop to bunches of drying plant material.

Now, without a shop it is very easy to gather what is needed for most things. Very few of the herbs that I use are not from this property - either wild or cultivated. I will never know all the plants that grow around me, but I do know that they are all important, and will keep learning them - one or two per year.Rosehips

Not everyone has the luxury of living where there are wild things outside the door, but I've also found chickweed and lambsquarters in a rooftop garden in Manhattan. Here at The Essential Herbal, we believe that if you're interested in herbs, it's a good idea to recognize that the dandelion you see is the very same one you'd use. It's great to get to know them!

Starting out with herbs

This topic has come up in private conversations in the last week or two, so it must be something people are thinking about.
The topic of herbs is huge. It is intimidating to those who haven't put their tootsies in the water yet.Everywhere you look, people are talking about obscure, sometimes rare herbs, and as is suggested by the experts, they are using the Latin botanical names. There are very good reasons for that, but if you are hoping to just learn about the things that will keep your own family comfortable and healthy, it seems like too much to bite off.
The truth is that most of us will use a small personal arsenal of herbs. Although I grow and/or gather 30 or 40 different herbs during the year, there are only 3 or 4 that have a place on my kitchen counter. Elderberry and holy basil are always there, although we don't take anything on a daily basis. Right now, goldenrod, ephedra, and nettles are there too, because my kid is struggling with some allergies, but normally they are back in the cupboard. Chamomile is one of our staples too. We always have ginger around, especially in the winter because it warms everything and seems to increase the actions of the teas we drink.
But I'm getting off course here....
Considering how few herbs are truly necessary for the average person to really get to know (learning 10 well is very significant), the best thing to do is to learn one or two very well in a given season (or even year). I've written about this before, and I remember listening to Gail Edwards give a talk many years ago about finding an herbal ally and spending at least a year with it.
For winter, elderberry and holy basil are my go-to herbs. Both are anti-viral, and holy basil has many other attributes, like helping the body handle stress. Stress leads to illness, so handling it is a good way to avoid illness.Let's say you wanted to become familiar with these two herbs. First read about them. Take notes and find out all the positive things they can do, and also if there are any contraindications. Next, obtain some of the herb. Make them into tinctures, syrups, jelly, and herbal lozenges. I keep several "batches" of elderberries frozen and ready for pie in the freezer. Blend them into an herbal tea. Use them, and record how they work for you. Really get to know them and get comfortable with them.
Before you know it, you will have knowledge. You'll have some herbs that you can rely on, and you'll know how to use them. You'll have learned to put together soothing teas, a nice healing salve, and a tincture or two. By learning about herbs one at a time, there is nothing to fear and everything to gain.
The Essential Herbal Magazine's goal has always been to demystify herbs and make them accessible to everyone. It's a great place to start!

Here comes our first snow.

I can feel it arriving.
On the pavement, a few errant leaves clatter.
The wind is whipping through the trees that sigh and wave. The house is creaking to the rhythm of the gusts outside. The storm is on the way and snowflakes will begin to fall soon.
I know in another month or two, I'll be singing a different tune, but right now this storm is welcome to me. There are people who need to travel and need to get back and forth to work, and this is not the case for them. For me, it is welcome.
The holiday passed yesterday, and we are cozy and warm with everything we could possibly want or need.
We'll relax, read, write, watch a movie or two with cocoa, hot tea, and lots of sturdy stews and soups. Now THIS is what winter is about! Bring it on.

Wishing You All A Peaceful Holiday!

The Herbal Husband and I want to wish you a very happy and peaceful Christmas and the happiest of new years!  Going to take a small herbal timeout and enjoy some stitching time and enjoy being with The Herbal Husband and friends.  Hope you stay warm and cozy and just have enough snow to enjoy the holiday!  I will talk to you again in the new year!

My Christmas Present to Myself!

I finally finished this cross-stitch piece.  I think I started it last year at this time.  I try to do a big project a year.  Didn't get any thing finished for 2009.  This is my seventh from the Told in a Garden series.  For as complex as it looks, it is really a simple life and design and that's what I love about them.  I have already started another project and have been ripping out what I started.  A story for another time.  I have a list of projects and maybe it will be finished some day!  Movie day.  Going to see The Fighter this afternoon.  Not my kind of movie, but going to see the performances.  Saw Black Swan the other day.  A very intense movie, but a wonderful performance by Natalie Portman.  Hope you are staying warm wherever you are.  Talk to you later.

We Weren't Even Supposed to See This!

We weren't supposed to see this last night.  Pittsburgh is known for its gray cloudy days in the winter.   Sooo when the lunar eclipse was last night and the winter solstice, it was too much for The Herbal Husband.  I took the top photo of the full moon earlier in the evening.  At 3 something AM is when the second shot was taken by a sleepy Herbal Husband.  You might have to click on the bottom photo to get a better view.  The Herbal Husband said it was freezing but impressive!  Wasn't quite as good as Tufa Girl's photo.  You have to stop by!  It is stunning!  We are actually having one of those rare sunny days today!  Hope you are warm and enjoying getting ready for the holidays.  Talk to you later!

Guest Blogging for The Herb Companion Magazine!

This is my latest guest blog for the year so I wanted to give you a special treat for your holiday festivities.  Here is the link at Herb Companion magazine.  It is called A Holiday Favorite-Mini Cheesecake Bites.  Hope you had a great day wherever you may be.  Talk to you later.

What a difference a month makes...

A month ago, we were filled with anticipation, getting the little seasonal-only shop ready for the tree hunters. By the Hearth had just been released a week or so earlier, and we were flying! We were swamped with wholesale soap orders, and coming up with new products for the websites daily.
On the 10th, the Jan/Feb issue of The Essential Herbal went into the mail. I don't remember too much since then. It's been a blur.
Today I sent out the last orders that were obvious gifts, and from now on they won't have the same amount of pressure attached in terms of delivery time.
Today 4 wholesale soap orders went out, and the 2 that are sitting in the shop waiting for pick-up are not time sensitive. The soap shelves are moderately well stocked - although we're not really sure how we managed that.
The tree farm is done for the year.
As thrilled as we were going into the rush of the season, that's precisely how thrilled we are to be finished with it and returning to normal. I am not missing the symbolism of how this happily coincides with the full solstice lunar eclipse... of the return to light, and the seeds that have been planted during the darkness. Nor am I ignoring the idea of the current retrograde phase of Mercury that slows things like communication down. I welcome that with open arms. The timing couldn't be better.
I know I've written about the subject of self-employment before, but there is no season quite as telling as this one for small retail business owners. It is pure craziness.
Taking a few hours off to celebrate my sister's birthday last week meant working until past 11 that night to get orders packed. Every morning before my eyes opened, my mind was turning to what requirements lay before me that day, and how to accomplish them in the most efficient way. The smallest glitch or unexpected issue (whether good or bad) could throw the whole day into chaos, because it was just that busy. I don't mind admitting to an element of fear each time I checked emails, wondering what sort of orders would await, and whether they'd be able to fit with today's run, or if they'd have to wait until tomorrow. That little spark of fear... that's when we start looking forward to the end.
I can set the alarm and go watch the moon turn red in the middle of the night tonight without worrying about oversleeping tomorrow.
When I wake tomorrow, there will be the bliss of knowing that only the typical activities of living will fill the day. There are only a few things that need to be done before the weekend brings Christmas Day, and I will be able to do them with full enjoyment, not having to squeeze them in or begrudge the time spent.
So in review, the past month was wonderful, crazy, busy, and fun. I expect the next month to be full of its own kind of wonderfulness. Thanks everyone!

I Finally Get Facebook, Herbally Speaking and Herb Channeler, Part Seven!

I had a light bulb moment yesterday while visiting my wall on Facebook!  One of my favorite bloggers who has been a faithful follower of my blog from the early days, Leslie from Comfrey Cottages gave me that moment.  Her latest post is about making soap and I saw it both here on my blog and on Facebook.  On Facebook, she had a comment from EMELIE TOLLEY, one of my favorite herbal authors and one that if you need a last minute holiday gift, her books are great.  This is just a sampling of the books she has written along with Chris Mead and she is still writing because she has a blog.  Both her website and her blog are on the right-hand of this blog!  I heard her speak in Ohio 16 years ago and got an illegal photo of her on stage!  I promise Emelie I will not post it here or anywhere else!

Only by blogging and on Facebook can you get comment from your favorite authors, herbal or otherwise.  They are great tools!  Thanks Comfrey Cottages!  Still cold here!  A broken record!  Hope you are staying warm wherever you may be!  Talk to you later!

well this looks oddly familiar...

Check this out: http://mrsgreenhands.blogspot.com/2010_12_01_archive.html
Look familiar?
It sure does to ME!
my post on making and using herb vinegars
my post on lavender wands
my post on distilling lavender
my post on elderberry tincture

Hmmph!
No links, no credit.. just stolen information posted as her own. And lavender was spelled wrong in the titles.
Yes, I wrote to her a week ago and got no response.
Yes, I reported it to Google and Blogger - so far, no response.

Yes, I am highly peeved.

Just to be clear, I love it when people share the information posted on this blog, but as with all things posted or published anywhere, it is copyrighted as soon as the "publish" button is hit. A link to the original post is an absolute requirement.

Same Wreath, Different Look!

The bells in the middle are the old/new bit.  They need a bit of polish and a new bit of cording, but maybe after the holidays!  I remember my mother putting them on every evergreen wreath at Christmas time.  They always rang when we opened the front door inviting company inside.  It brought back a flood of good memories to see them on our wreath.  The cold weather just doesn't want to let up here!  Looks like there is going to be a white Christmas this year!  Hope you are staying warm wherever you may be.  Talk to you later.

This Was A Last Minute Catch, Herbally Speaking!

I always try to make a last minute stroll through the garden.  I don't always catch tenders that should come in, but this year I did.  The Victorian rosemary or Australian rosemary (Westringia fruticosa) had been in the fairy trough and was planted in the garden because of its size.  As you can see by the botanical name, not truly a rosemary.  Very drought tolerant!  So at the last minute, The Herbal Husband dug it up and in it came.  It could be decorated with my gingerbread ornaments!  Now where did I put those!  Hope you are staying warm wherever you may be!  Talk to you later!

A Surprise Indoor Herbal Visitor!

Not the greatest photo, but  the surprise indoor herbal visitor is pineapple sage!  The Herbal Husband got a cutting of pineapple sage rooted and it is thriving in the southern living room window!  It is in between Rober's Lemon Rose scented geraniums.  They all can get white fly inside.  So we have to watch out!  Hope you are having a great day.  Off to make some tea bags for The Herbal Husband.   Talk to you later.

Repeat after me: No.

In the past week or two, I've spoken to several friends who are just completely overwhelmed by this season. Of course it isn't entirely about the holidays, but the season brings about a culmination of anxiety and stress.
We all do it. We agree to things that we know are going to be difficult to accomplish. Lots of those things can't be avoided. Somewhere in the middle of it all, we lose the ability to differentiate between the "musts" and the "maybes". We can't see the forest for the trees, and sometimes even stop looking.
When I was a child, most families had one parent who worked, and one parent who took care of the home and the children. It was not that way at our house, but most of my friends had that typical situation. When the holiday season rolled around, the mothers spent a lot of time on decorating the home, shopping, baking, and creating the whole fantasy. On a weekend soon after Thanksgiving, the father would get out the lights and the ladder and deck the house with lights before returning to the football fest indoors.
As times changed, we have not allowed ourselves the flexibility to recognize those changes. We still expect the same amount of preparation and magic even though the time to make it happen has vanished, leaving us feeling inadequate and lacking.
I'm not suggesting that we should give up the things we enjoy, but I am thinking that we need to give some serious thought to what we do because it is fun, and what we do because of some external and/or imagined pressure.
Here, we've run the gamut from the Total Christmas Experience to pushing the whole season back a month because we couldn't manage it. Neither of those really work for us. The first makes us grouchy and stressed, the other feels sad and empty. Somewhere in the middle is the perfect blend.

I've found that what we "need" to feel happy and festive is:
*One day spent shopping at quaint shops for quirky little gifts with the kid.
*One mad dash around with my sister.
*One batch of cookies baked with the kid.
*A tree.

Everything else is extraneous. If it happens, great. If it doesn't, that's also fine. The best part is that by paring down the list of "musts", we find more time for extras without feeling like we're doing it because we have to. Then the extras really are fun!

I'm wishing you all a season filled with genuine fun, joy, peace and love.
And the ability to say no.

The Essential Herbal - Jan/Feb 2011

We start off in this, our 10th year, with an issue full of warmth and herbal wisdom. Lots of everything you've come to expect from The Essential Herbal Magazine - herbal information, recipes, crafts, lore, and humor.
Our goal has always been to empower people to use the herbs that grow around them in ways that they've never tried before. As we sent this issue out, it was with the knowledge that we continue to achieve this goal with every issue. So stay warm, and try some of the great things that have been shared within the pages. If you aren't a subscriber, get on board HERE. You won't be sorry.

Table of Contents, Jan/Feb 2011
Field Notes from the Editor, TEH news
Winter Herbs, Oils, & First Aid, Mary Graber
Total Tonic Formula and Essential Oil blends along with herbal remedies for winter
Winter Soups & Stews, Susan Evans
Stay warm from the inside out with these luscious recipes
Heaven "Scent" Sachets, Diane Runge.
Learn how to make sachets with home-grown or purchased ingredients
The Historic Herbal, Fragrant Washing Soaps, Kathleen Setzer
Castile soap and herbs together in historic greatness
SouthRidge Treasures, For Your Valentine - a Tussie Mussie, Mary Ellen Wilcox
Tell your sweetie how you feel without saying a word
Top 10 Herbal Resolutions, Cory Trusty
Humorous and thought provoking
Food by the Fireplace, Melissa Sidelinger
Yummy, healthy snack mix
Unusual Salted Potpourris, Marcy Lautenan-Raleigh
An interesting old-fashioned way to make potpourri, with recipes
February is Chocolate Month, Jackie Johnson
...and it's good for you!
Curry Up!!! Rita Richardson
Did you think curry was a single blend made by a big spice company? Think again.
Louisianna Lagniappe, Yummy Yam Spice Muffins, Sarah Liberta
Another great use for sweet potatoes
The 1st Trimester: Preparing, Betsy May
Some ideas and recipes for the discomforts of early pregnancy
Winter Soothing Herbal Breads, Marcy Lautenan-Raleigh
Add some herbs to those breads and spice things up
Gardeners Herbal Hand Soap, Marci Tsohonis
A wonderful bar to make now for the excesses of Spring to come
The Soap Pot, How to Swirl, Alicia Grosso
Now that we've learned the basics, Alicia talks about swirls
Sugar Hearts, Cindy Jones
A little sweet for the sweet
The Winter Garden, Maryanne Schwartz
Some color in the winter landscape
Herbs of the Zodiac: Aquarius, Susanna Reppert Brill/Bertha Reppert
Aquarian herbs topped with Sesame Seed Brittle
Herb of the Year - Horseradish, Ym-health
An interview with a 4th generation "horseradish man", information on the health benefits of this amazing root, and some interesting uses for horseradish
Why I Love Horseradish, Carey Jung
A memoir with recipes!
Warm Fuzzy Feeling, Jennifer Lane
Staying cozy and healthy in winter

OMG! I Had So Much Fun Decorating The Tree!

Finished Tree without Decorations

Added Eucalyptus and Teasel to the Bare Spots

Finished Tree in the Dining Room

A Little Better View

A Closeup of the Branches

Well, I have decided that another bag of artemisia from Bed, Bath and Beyond would have helped.  I did have some eucalyptus and some teasel that I added to the bare spots and I think it added another dimension to the tree.  I just had so much fun decorating it!  Here are the directions from the 1995 Yankee Magazine's Christmas in New England:

Artemisia Tree
Materials needed:
artemisia (Silver King); you will need almost half a bushel  (2 bags from Bed, Bath & Beyond)
6-inch Styrofoam cone
clippers or shears
small pinecones (cones from spruce or hemlock are a good size)
bittersweet, pepper berries, or rose hips
dried flowers such as bachelor button, delphinium, everlasting, oregano,
pearly everlasting, statice, tansy, yarrow
tiny bird figurines
small bells
fine florist wire or a hot-glue gun

Insert the handsomest pointed artemisia spike (about 6 to 7 inches long) into the top of the cone.  Decide on a good length of the bottom branches; some people prefer a fat tree, others a skinny one.  Cut 4 branches and insert them horizontally on the lowest level of the cone, roughly equidistant from one another so they divide the cone in quarters.  They will guide you as you work around, filling in the bottom row entirely.  Repeat the process on the next 2 rows, inserting 4 "guide" branches, then filling in.  Keep turning the tree.  You may want to put it on a lazy Susan as you work so that you can keep the whole shape of the tree in mind.

With the fourth row, begin to angle the branches slightly upward.  From that point on, each row will point increasingly upward.  You should begin to lengthen the branches slightly, so that by the time you get to the top few rows, they will hug the top 7-inch branch.  Your tree should be bushy and full, with no Styrofoam showing.  Trim the tree with assorted decorations, using either florist wire or a hot-glue gun.

The tree should last for a few years if stored in plastic in a dry place.  To refresh, give it a quick shower under a spray faucet and add a few new blossoms and branches.

Still very cold and windy here!  Hope you are having a great day wherever you may be.  Talk to you later.

Never The Wrong Day for This!

One of my favorite Peruvian dishes is Causa.  The Herbal Husband usually makes this for my birthday in August.  I could eat this once a week easily.  We had a lot of leftover mashed potatoes at Thanksgiving.  Never a bad thing, but we always try and make something special out of them.  Most of the time a summertime treat.  For those of you in the tropics, this is a really good lunch or even dinner item.  Way off track.  Lots of you are done with your holiday decor.  It may be a lite decorating season here!  It is snowing here and very cold.  Hope you are staying warm wherever you may be.  I'm off to exercise.  Talk to you later.

The photo shows a single portion.  For Lifeshighway and Jim Long:

TUNA FISH WITH COLD MASHED POTATOES

(CAUSA A LA LIMENA)

Serves 12

4 (6oz.) cans of white albacore tuna, packed in water, drained

3 lb. golden potatoes, peeled (about 8 to 10 medium potatoes)

1/4 t. cayenne pepper powder (to taste)

1 t. salt

1/8 t. ground black pepper

Juice of one large lemon

3 T. fresh parsley, chopped

2 T. olive oil

1 medium onion, chopped

4 T. light mayonnaise, (not salad dressing)

3 large eggs, hard boiled and chopped

12 large black olives, pitted and chopped

In a large pot, boil and cook peeled potatoes until fork tender (about 20 minutes).  Strain water and mash potatoes by hand.  Let cool.  While potatoes are cooking, hard boil eggs in separate pan.  Let cool, peel and chop and set aside.

In a large bowl, mix tuna fish, chopped onion, chopped egg and mayonnaise to combine.  Refrigerate.  Add olive oil, salt, peppers and parsley to room temperature potatoes.  Mix so all ingredients are well incorporated.  The potato mixture should be smooth not lumpy.  Taste to make sure seasoning is evenly distributed.

In a 9" x 13" pan, spread half of the potato mixture evenly on the bottom.  Then add all of the tuna fish mixture on top spreading evenly.  Use the rest of the potato mixture for the top layer spreading evenly.

Add black olives on top as a garnish.  Chill in refrigerator until it is ready to be served (not less than one hour).   Serve in squares on organic lettuce.

Last Minute Salad Burnet!

Can you believe The Herbal Husband just went out and cut this salad burnet  just now before the rain and snow hits tomorrow!  Remember salad burnet gives you the flavor of cucumber in your salads.  I'll use it fresh or maybe put it in some vinegar.  Hope the weather is not too bad where you live today!  It's going to be interesting.  A little bit of everything!  Talk to you later!

Later in the day.  I just wanted to say that salad burnet (Sanguisorba minor) is an all season herb.  It comes up early in the spring and it is just finished in our garden (mid December!)  It is up to two feet tall and is hardy from Zones 4 to 8.  Having said that, it is not reliably hardy for me.  It does self seed, but never to the invasive point.  I usually can find a plant or two at my favorite herb farm in Ohio.  You can also easily start seeds indoors or plant directly outdoors in spring.  Johnny's Selected Seeds is one of my favorite sources for seeds of all kinds.  Very reliable company from Maine.

The Classic Crash and Burn

This year, I think the timing is the best yet!
It's something that just isn't worth fighting anymore. It always comes eventually. So many of my friends are self-employed entrepreneurs that I see it all around me, and at this time of year it can hit everyone, regardless of their circumstances.
We work and work, creating endlessly auto-revising lists in our heads. As things get more urgent, diet, exercise, and fresh air fly out the window, sleep is sacrificed, and we are in contact with more people.
I've actually experienced this in an almost instant way on some occasions. A few years ago I was caring for a desperately ill relative, and it was very stressful. I started to feel "off", but it showed up as a restless crankiness. After a few days, it was determined the patient needed hospitalization. Getting into the car, my stomach cramped. By the time we got to the hospital parking lot, I was full-out sick, quickly reaching the feverish weepy phase. In other words, as soon as the pressure was released, my body allowed itself to give in.
That happened on a smaller scale today, since I've learned to listen more closely (and have the luxury of being able to stop).
We've been at a dead run for several months, publishing 2 books since July, along with the bi-monthly release of The Essential Herbal Magazine, and the near tripling of the my sister's wholesale soap company. Then the tree farm opened, along with the little shop. The next issue of the magazine went into the mail yesterday, and my lower back started to act up (Ding!). This morning I felt grumpy. I went down to the shop, but couldn't quite get the smile thing going.
By 2 o'clock I was back home and barely managed to get my shoes off before crashing for about 3 hours. It will probably be a very early night tonight, and a hefty dose of elderberry is in the cards for me too.
Good timing, though. There's still lots of time to enjoy the next couple of weeks, and for once the crash and burn won't happen on the eve or day of a major holiday, and it only took me half a century to figure it out.

Only the Price of Seeds!

This was taken in early November.  I think we all take a ton of photos and forget what has been blogged about and what hasn't.  The Herbal Husband brought these seeds back from Peru.  When yellow, orange and red peppers are more expensive than green ones, it is fun to say you grew these your self.  These beauties were raised in a container.  We had stuffed peppers several times this season.  Always a good thing!  Well, we are off to the movies this afternoon and tomorrow before the storm hits on Sunday.  Hope you are having a great day wherever you may be.  Talk to you later.

Cheep Rooms on Thursdays!

Sometimes I forget that I need to take photos of Cheep Rooms for Thursdays!  Here is one at Well-Sweep Herb Farm in New Jersey.  Hope you are having a great day!  Talk to you later.

Guest Blogging for The Herb Companion Magazine-Well-Sweep Herb Farm!

The Well-Sweep Sign

The Gift Barn Chock Full of Xmas Gifts for Herb Lovers!

One of the Beautiful Knot Gardens at Well-Sweep

Lamb's Ear Path to the Outhouse!

Rosemarys That Go Into the Greenhouse Before Frost

Early November and the Pineapple Sage was Still Blooming!

Wonderful Pathway and Bed Structure

Birdbath Gives Interest in the Well-Sweep Garden

Another Beautiful Knot Garden

Cy's Exotic Roosters and Chickens!

I am so lucky to be able to travel to herb shops and farms all over the world.  One of my favorite places to stop in any season is Well-Sweep Herb Farm, Port Murray, New Jersey.  It is about one hour east of Allentown, Pennsylvania.  If you are in the area, please visit Well-Sweep and shop for your herbal Christmas gifts and plants.  It is the subject of my guest blog for The Herb Companion magazine.  It is called Herbal Travels: Well-Sweep Herb Farm.  Hope you enjoy it and that you have a great day wherever you may be.  Talk to you later.

FREE Webinar on Sweet Herbal Medicine PLUS Digestive Elixir Recipe

Once again I am teaming up with world renowned herbalist Michael Tierra to bring you an hour and a half of herbal information, for FREE.

When: Tuesday, December 14th
Time: 5:30 PM PST





In order to attend this event you need to register here:
https://www2.gotomeeting.com/register/837758418 

Join me in this webinar to dive into the depths of Sweet Herbal Medicine.

In the first part of the class I'll break the large category of the Sweet Taste into smaller classifications to bring further understanding.

We'll look at classical thoughts on the sweet taste from around then world and then discuss sweet nutritive demulcents, sweet digestive tonics and then look at the difference between empty sweet and full sweet. 

Throughout the lecture I'll be sharing formulas and ways to fit this into your life so that we can move beyond the simply philosophical arena.

The second half of the class we will look at some of my favorite recipes for Sweet Medicine. These will have practical applications for common illnesses as well as simply for the joy of tasting sweetness in our lives.

Here's a sneak preview.

Sweet Digestive Elixir Recipe
I am posting this recipe using parts so the medicine maker can choose the amount they use. The total herbal material should fill half of the jar they are using. The dried herbal material will expand and filling it more full may result in a big mess.

1 part fennel seeds
1 part orange peel
1/2 part marshmallow root
1/4 part ginger root
1/4 sage leaves
1-3 cardamom pods
Small amount of honey.

Then fill the jar with brandy or vodka. After a few days to a week you might want to top it off again with some more alcohol.

Let sit for 4 - 6 weeks. Strain.

This is a balanced formula that can address a variety of digestive upsets from gas and bloating, cramping and other mild complaints. We'll discuss this and other sweet medicines more in depth during the webinar.

I look forward to seeing you on December 14th, 2011.

Remember in order to attend this FREE event you need to register here: 

https://www2.gotomeeting.com/register/837758418 

Herbal Memories-California Style!

Lots of years ago, we took a trip out to California and among the places we stopped was Sycamore Farms in Paso Robles.  Sycamore Farms has turned into Fat Cat Farms.  But back to the postcard above, it says at the top:  "Each day brings new delights here at Sycamore Farms as herbs like thyme, sage and oregano emerge from their long winter's rest.  Even the chickens seem more energetic as they search for bugs.  We're sowing seed for everything from basil to dill."  Below it says:  "Come and explore our seed selection, or just sit on a garden bench and watch the birds."

I actually have an herb from that California visit in my garden.  It is this basil mint or Mentha arvensis.  It is grown commercially in Japan, Brazil and other countries for its essential oils, which are used in toothpastes, pharmaceutical products and colognes.  It prefers a drier situation, but mine seems to be very happy in the shade and wet by the birdbath.  There are 'Banana',  'Coconut' and 'Variegata' varieties of Mentha arvensis as well.

You will get a feel for the farm from the link above.  Hopefully this "new" version will stay afloat!  Please if you are in the Paso Robles area, patronize this farm.  Got to find my photos of that trip.  You will enjoy seeing the other places we visited!  Hope you are staying warm wherever you are!  It is FREEZING here in the 'Burgh!  I hear possibly colder next week!  Yikes!   Our little furnace is working overtime!  Talk to you later!