Wednesday, May 25, 2011

I made tincture - Wednesday, May 25, 2011

Burdock Root (Arctium lappa)
  • 45%; People’s Coop bulk; Everclear

Marshmallow Root (Althea officinalis)
  • 40%; Limbo bulk; Vodka 80p
Tincture will be ready anytime between June 8th and July 6th.

Sunday, May 22, 2011

Mustard Family - Sunday, May 22, 2011

Time to learn some plant families starting with Mustard Family.

Brassicaceae
  • 4 petals
  • 4 sepals
  • 4 tall stamens
  • 2 short stamens
  • arranged X or H
Domesticated mustards include horseradish (Armoracia), watercress (Nasturtium), radish (Raphanus), turnip and mustard (Brassica). (Elpel)

Sunday, May 15, 2011

Liver balls and the herbs for the liver

Some of my favorite liver herbs include; Dandelion root, Burdock root, Yellow Dock, Oregon Grape, Tumeric root, Artichoke leaves, Milk Thistle, Chickweed, Violet and Herb Robert.

Today we made liver balls with tahini, honey, powdered herbs, cocoa powder, goji berries and brazil nuts; a recipe inspired by recipes from Rosemary Gladstar’s Herbal Recipes for Vibrant Health.

Saturday, May 14, 2011

Herman Creek and Ainsworth State Park - Saturday, May 14, 2011

Today we travel to Cascade Locks area to Herman Creek for a walk with the flowers and their leaves. We met Fairybells (Disporum hookeri), Small Solomon's Seal (Smilacina stellata), False Solomon's Seal (Smilacina racemoasa), Poison Oak (Toxicodendron diversilobum), Miners Lettuce (Montia perfoliata), Wild Strawberry (Fragaria sp.), Miners Lettuce (Montia perfoliata), Big-Leaf Maple flowers (Acer macrophyllum), Chocolate Lily (Fritillaria lanceolata), Chickweed Monkey Flower (Mimulus alsinoides), Fairy Slipper (Calypso bulbosa), Wild Ginger (Asarum caudaum), Bracken Fern (Pteridium aquilinum), Larkspur (Delphinium trolliifolium), Bleeding Heart (Dicentra formosa), Nettles (Urtica dioica) among others who have already slipped my memory.

Tuesday, May 3, 2011

An evening with herbal elder Cascade Anderson Geller - Tuesday, May 3, 2011

Yet another wonderful opportunity; hearing Cascade Anderson Geller speak at NCNM today. CAG brought some lovely plants to share with us today including, Dandelion, Yellow Dock, Valerian, Cottonwood buds in oil, Chapparral in oil, Fennel seeds, Anise seeds, and St. John’s Wart in oil.

Cascade states the importance of knowing and being connected with the Elements; earth, air, fire and water. These are building blocks that society has been disconnect from. She spoke of fire and how humans are like fire in ways including the need for fuel and oxygen and how we both start young and fragile and grow strong. 
I thoroughly enjoy what Cascade has shared with us herbal students and look forward to expanding my knowledge in these helpful directions. I look forward to connecting with the Elements; respecting and knowing them. 
I am also reminded to eat my greens, which I love and could always experience more of, including Dandelion greens which I tend to over look when making salads.

Monday, May 2, 2011

May Day Wine - Monday, May 2, 2011

Rosemary and Sage infused wine! I purchase two bottles of Green Fin organic white wine from Trader Joe’s, then harvested Rosemary and Sage from my garden. I put the Rosemary in a quart mason jar and the Sage in another and poured one bottle of wine over each. I let the wine and herbs infuse over night and then took the wine to a May Day celebration to share. It was delightful, but not quite as delicious as Meredith’s May Day which had rose petals and strawberries, yum!