It’s been raining in southern California for many days now. While I enjoy living in a place where this is the worst of our winters (sorry mom, but I don’t miss the rocky mountain snow), I’m still not a big fan of wet, chilly weather for days on end. Combined with the waning moon, mercury […]
One of the many perks to having my office in the park is the reminder that I am part of nature, connected to the web of life that surrounds me. Where some just see the summer heat, I see the power of sunlight shining down. Where some see weeds in the grass, I see the […]
Today’s lemon balm harvest! This beautiful plant (Melissa officinalis), in the mint family and originally from the Mediterranean, grows easily and abundantly in my backyard garden. These leaves will be infused in water, in alcohol, and dried to eventually become tea/tissane or tincture… all yummy and powerful medicine. Lemon balm is known to help ease […]
This is my first bloom on the rose bush I put in last fall! I’m beyond excited at the prospect of all the lovely healing medicine I’m going to make from homegrown roses and rose hips in the coming years.🌹Tending to my garden has become one of the single most powerful parts of my mindfulness […]
Though the last few months have seemed rather uneventful, I’ve actually been very busy making things… I’ve crocheted several blankets, hats, and scarves; I’ve mixed up herbal tinctures, bitters, and elixirs with interesting new-to-me flavor combinations; I’ve made up several batches of honey-fermented cranberries (using this recipe); and I’ve harvested, bundled, and dried various herbs […]
Lastly, I’ve noticed more and more how healing it feels to return to nature medicine… through simple mindfulness activities that allow me to connect with the energy of mother nature, I feel nourished. These practices don’t take any special technique or supplies, just the willingness to not be distracted by external sources (television, music, social media, or the news) and a little time.
“When you settle a share of land, first plant an Elder tree, then make your home there.” ~T. Elder Sachs These days, it seems I can’t go a week without the immune benefits of elderberries being posted, shared, or pinned via one of my social media pages. BUT, there is good reason for it. All […]