Category Archives: Herbs, Wildcrafting and other things Earth related

Labour Day weekend, I worked in the garden, fixing our side of the new retaining wall the neigbours had built this summer. That gave the “weeds” the freedom of a lovely summer as I am not good in heat. Summer has however come to an end. I will always say, please, pick only what you […]

Nestled between the split cedar fence and hertitage apples is Jean’s border of calendula, little sunny yellow (and sometimes orange) faces that brighten the day. Calendula, with its antiviral, antifungal and antibacterial properties is a gentle herb that soothes cuts, burns, rashes and other abrasions. Recent studies also suggest an antifungal aspect that may be […]

A post about soup and stew herbal wreaths came up in my news feed the other day. It was about a lovely day spent several years ago at the Western Reserve Herb Society by The Windesphere Witch. Here is the post http://stirringthesenses.typepad.com/the_windesphere_witch/2013/07/kitchen-apothecary-herbal-soup-wreaths.html I began to mull, always a dangerous thing, and then in a bit […]

Summer brings the opportunity for light meal options to combat the heat. This watermelon, ricotta and smoked turkey salad fits that bill, served either as a full meal or a side for a Lammas potluck. You probably have seen recipes for watermelon with feta but this is a way to bring all your fresh herbal […]

Summer is here and if you are out gathering the bounty and getting ready to steep plants in oils and alcohol, there is an alternative to keep in mind. Glycerine can be substituted when making alcohol tinctures. Generally used when the finished product is for a child or pet, someone with diabetes or a sensitivity […]

I have noticed from comments posted on Facebook that many readers are not as far along in their seasons as we seem to be here. In my part of the world the lilacs and violets are over but I did manage to put up one small bottle of lilac honey. Last year I tried roses […]

Years ago my grandfather and I had returned from a trip to gather fresh fall elderberries in the Keremeos area. That evening a stroke that ultimately took him home changed those plans. Going on the trip was the last thing on his bucket list and it brought home the idea that a bucket list is […]

Have you ever been driving down the road or looking out the window during the summer to see great amounts of white fluff floating through the air? Sort of a cross between fluffy snowflakes and dandelion seeds, wafting everywhere? That is cottonwood. It is a member of the poplar family and the resin filled buds […]

When I started this mini theme in the spring the title was more from the reader’s perspective, an “I got them now what do I do with them” kind of thing. I have realized over the months that it can also mean how do I use my herbs and so I am going to focus on […]

The legend of the Four Thieves is said to have begun with The Black Plaque, an outbreak of bubonic bacteria in 14th century Europe that is estimated to have killed 25 million people. The story goes that a group of men would walk amongst the dead, stealing from the bodies and not getting sick themselves. […]