Custom Blending herbs, teas and spices is one of the many cool and creative things I get to do for The Herbal Sage Tea company.
This week we began to harvest Spicebush Berry for a new custom blend. Spicebush Lindera benzoin also called wild allspice is an abundant understory plant in SE Ohio.
Years ago one of the old timers showed me how he and his family would harvest the twigs and soft branches during the fall season to make a tea. He also would pick a few twigs and chew on them. Though I like the gentle spice from the branches of this plant, I prefer to harvest the berries, dry them, then add then to herb blends. My current custom blend request is from Denison University located an hour or so north of The Herbal Sage Farms. They wanted a BIG RED blend, we'll also be adding our native Elderberry fruit to their blend , more on amazing elderberry next time!
I think these berries qualify for a BIG RED theme, don't you?
Finally a reprieve in our winter storms, at least for a few hours. David and I have been checking on our young elderberry plants (Sambucuscanadensis) throughout these winter months and have a few images to share. For those of you familiar with Herbal sage Farms or have seen our talks at @MotherEarthNews these images will be more of an update.
Early summer 2013, we were able to harvest 80% of the mature rootstock from a local winery which was no longer going to grow elderberry for their wine. From the plants themselves we planted 139 cuttings. In the fall of 2013 we realized that we had a success rate on these starts of about 75%, which is quite good. As fall turned to winter, our protective fencing was not good enough to keep the deer out and we had plenty of deer damage.
The last image shows a start that had developed quite a number of buds before winter arrived and remained untouched by the deer. This will be our comparison start to see how the others do.
Elder elderberry growers ( nice play on words, yes?) assured us that this damage would not affect the starts come spring 2014.These wise elders told us that elderberry is very hardy in this area and would recover by putting out plenty of new shoots as the warm weather arrives.
Stop back for updates, we'll keep you posted as the warm weather arrives...it will arrive won't it?
It's frustrating to me, as a formulator, when certain herbs are inaccessible. When formulating, I often create the blend in my mind initially, then work towards accessing specifics herbs and teas to create my finished project/product. I imagine what each herb will add to the recipe and which herb or herbs will help to make this new blend both effective and pleasant in taste.I dream big at these times.
Yet, I realize that this frustration is an example of my unwillingness, to realize at all times, that I am working with the natural world. I get wrapped up in the idea of what I want to make a certain blends.I often am asked "Why can't you just make such and such blend?", my answer is "That plant is not available right now". Their questions act as a reminder to me.The lack of understanding by many people is key here. I take time to explain that we do not work with flavorings, or artificial ( natural) ingredients, we cannot generate our ingredients by a whim. There are seasonal changes and many factors that relate to the unavailability of specific herbs.Loss of natural habitat, crop failure experienced by growers, natural resources that may make it unaffordable for herbs to be grown in a region where they once thrived. Many, many variables exist..
When I find myself wresting with frustration, I am motivated to grow more of the herbs that I need.
The fact that were are losing plants at a record rate, encourages me to get busy, put seed and plants in the ground. Learn how to grow, harvest and create with those plants, that are grown by us, at Herbal Sage Farms. We cannot grow everything we use in our blends, but we can make a difference by growing those that we can.We can add to the plant population of our planet, not just glean from others.
Perhaps a field trip to the land would help folks understand the reality of REAL..
Real food, real plants, real herbs. REAL.TEA..
thanks for listening, time to water the seed beds and get these plants ready to flourish!
Today is one of those days when I realize the tapestry of life is woven deeply thru so many of us, connecting us in ways that we could have never imagined.
In my senior year at my hippie high school I was introduced to Richie Havens, his music, his poetry of song and sound was ever etched in my mind and heart. He embodied to me the essence of a real man. His tonality struck me, his words moved me, how I heard him, in my own way, gave me hope. And I needed hope during those years, thank you for that Mr. Havens.
I also viewed the images from that famous event called Woodstock, for the first time during my senior year. Hendrix, Jefferson Airplane, Mountain, Janis Joplin, Joe Cocker, Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young, Their music, created a road to freedom for me. They fed into a sense of freedom that I longed for. I ate it up.
Many years later , I reflect on that freedom, the style of life that I led then, and the incredible need to be true to myself, still year after year. By following my heart and lots of hard work I find myself full circle with a few of those individuals that gave me that sense of hope, thru their music, when I needed it most.
Jefferson Airplane, and in particular Jack Casady from the Jefferson Airplane band is a person who is currently woven into the tapestry of my life.
Organic full leaf green tea with chia for Jack Casady
I am working closely with Jack to create a custom Green Tea blend specifically for his tastes.
Yes, that's true!
I met Jack thru his friend Jorma Kaukonen years ago, down at Jorma's Fur Peace Ranch. Seems that music camp that Jorma and his wife built is close to Herbal Sage Farms...go figure.
Jack and I have worked on other organic tea blends and now I have the pleasure of creating another tea for him. Jack loves full leaf organic sencha green tea, I do too. It's a mild green tea, yet full bodied a with just the right amount of astringency. Jack is into chia seeds right now, so I added some organic chia seeds with the sencha leaf. Its an amazing blend actually smooth tasting and very ,very healthy.
So we never know how things will work out, or how folks will work into our lives. I for one, feel blessed and grateful for this twist of fate.
Like Richie Havens who sang so often about Freedom, I feel I can only be free when my heart is open to experience whatever it is that is put in front of me. How my life has evolved to this place in time, where I can share my art of blending with someone who shared their art of music, with me so many years ago, is a mystery to me.
All I can say is , YES, and clap my hands, clap my hands... RIP Richie Havens
I have the honor of being on the Board for our Farmers Market here in Athens, Ohio. Our market is over 40 years in the making and I have been serving up my herbal brews as a vendor at the market for over 12 years.I was elected to the board last year and had to run again tonite.Ballots are being counted at one of our local brewery's... Jackie-O's, so we're not sure how it'll all turn out!
I decided to come home tonite and post to express how connected I feel with this wonderful town of Athens, Ohio. When moving to this region full time in the mid 1990's I had no idea how wonderful and rich my life could become. The hills that surround Athens and Meigs county are comforting, The folks in this area are interesting, creative, loving and quick to laugh. It seems as though many of us have come from other areas, yet were all drawn, for diffferent reasons to make a claim here.We now call this place home,
Check our our Athens Farmers Market website and see what some of the farmers and producers are up to. I'll let you know if I cleared the ballot count! http://athensfarmersmarket.org/
Sunday, February 17, 2013
Traveling with my companion Gypsy Rue, is a bit like heaven on earth. Moving along the roads of America with my sometimes mellow, always curious 113 lb German Shepherd makes it all look so easy. With her by my side I dare to stop more, to explore new places, hidden and not so hidden places that catch my eye as I drive. When traveling alone the idea of stopping "anywhere" is just that, an idea.
We are heading south, chasing the warmer weather. Tonite,I called out to whomever was listening via my CB radio and asked for a "good" truckstop. A place where a soon to be weary, RV driving woman could rest. Quickly the reply came thru, mile marker 29South."That's a good place", the answer came in loud and clear over the speaker. Destination suggested by an anonymous fellow traveler. I answered back, "Well, I have this 113 pound German Shepherd to walk too", the voice committed again, " Yes, that's where you want to be". I took a deep breadth and relaxed a bit.Grateful for this new destination point, I continued south, knowing rest was soon to be had.
The sunset softened and the sky turned deep pink, and the road became a bit easier, anxious thoughts of where will I stay meandered away. I had a place and it wasn't far . I asked for help , got an answer and made a decision. Soon I'd be cooking supper in the RV, walking the dog, then settling in for the night. The hum of the big rigs running down the highway, these folks, these drivers, are often my go to when I am sitting on the fence, of where to stop for the night.
Gypsy Rue and I have traveled many roads together, often times only once, if I let fear overtake me, the adventure becomes a chore, but when I take each mile in the moment, the adventure remains.
Thanks and see y'all on the road tomorrow~
Moe and Gypsy Rue
Last month I had the opportunity, again, to listen to my friend Rosemary Gladstar talk about using herbs for nutrition and health. She was speaking at The Mother Earth News Fair and I was an exhibitor there.Rosemary is one of the matriarchs of the herbal world. She has been creating effective and great tasting herbal formulas for over 4 decades. I am honored to know her and feel blessed too, of having her support and encouragement over the years. Her belief in me, as I grew The Herbal Sage Tea Company,inspired me to become a better formulator. Rosemary has a great way of reaching out, she makes it look so easy! I was sent this prompt today, this is a new venue for Rosemary, using the Internet to share her story. Take a moment and join her, and I know you will enjoy her as much as I have over the years!
Fall is quickly approaching and soon winter will be creeping in. Changes are all around, and its time to let go of the falsehood of control,of trying to hang on.As the leaves are beginning to turn here in SE Ohio and I am settling in with the changes that have happended in my life this year.This has been quite a year in learning to let go. Perhaps not so much in learning as an achieved task, but learning,as forced ,to move thru hard times.
Early summer my father passed on, it was difficult and too quick. Once he was able to come home from the hospital and be at our house, he let go and within a week was gone. I hadn't wanted that happen, yet it wasn't up to me, was it? Summer began then, in a new way for the first time in my life, no talks of fishing trips, no calling home to tell him about new recipes, new clients, new endeavours. He had always been the guy I went to as business grew ( up and down!), then grew again. He helped me keep to the task at hand, always helping me look to the finished product, the end result. Regardless, if it was beneficial in financial growth ,or just another one of my creative ideas, that created yet another curve in the road of my life!
I miss him.
This last week that sadness was rekindled as a close friend, Megan who lived in the DC area passed on unexpectledly. Now THAT was something too, that I didn't want to happen. She leaves behind a very young son,a loving family and many, many friends. My friend Megan helped steer me ,while I maneuvered thru the hoops that the large natural food store chain,that had picked up The Herbal Sage Tea Company Teas, put me through. She kept me grounded and reminded me of my vision for The Herbal Sage. Her help was invaluable as I got knocked around by the "big" players, helped me stay true to quality and to the passion that still drives me.
These losses this year have actually been gifts for me. Their passing has helped me realize the fleeing of this life.Sometimes quickly, sometimes slowly it always moves on. How I move with it is up to me.
I am drinking a nourishing herbal tea, organic nettle leaf as I write.I had thought of this blogg as an avenue for herbal news, I realize that I hadn't written in so long because this fear and sadness I held close and hung on to,kept me stuck and unable to write. Perhaps with this blogg post, I am able to let go a bit more and make room for the richness and beauty of this season.
Harold was the man who introduced me to this native shrub called Spicebush. To Harold, Spicebush was a common shrub with many uses. Although this shrub is found throughout all of Ohio, I had never seen it near our home in Cleveland. Probably because it is an understory shrub, meaning it grows under other trees in the woodlands, and there was not much in the way of woodlands on the west side of Cleveland where I cam from!.
During a hike in the woods near our home in Rutland, Ohio Harold broke off a small twig from this beautiful plant and had us put it on our mouths, much like a large toothpick. The taste was spicy and the fragrance was intense. He explained that folks around here use the twigs by adding it to hot water to make tea. Harold and his brothers would make batches of this tea during deer season every fall when hunting. I loved it the taste. Honestly I'm not sure if I loved the Spicebush itself, as much as I loved that Harold took time to show us so many things in these woodlands, he was a treasure for sure.
Spicebush ( Lindera benzoin) is in the Laurel Family ( Lauraceae). It bears bright red fruit in late summer and early autumn on the female shrubs. These berries are often eaten by wildlife, yet they are so abundant here that the bounty is plentiful for all. The glossy foliage is dark green and is often found near its neighbor the Paw Paw Tree.
Local Paw Paw expert Chris Chmeil uses the leaves of this shrub for tea.This is Chris at our local Athens Farmers Market, showing dried Spicebush twig and leaf. We've both been at this market for years, Chris with Integration Acres and me with The Herbal Sage Tea Company.
Letting the berries of the Spicebush dry, I then prepare tea from this dried material.I like to crush the berries and blend with local mints or other herbs to create inspired blends. I vary the amount of berries in each blend, as well as vary how much the berries are crushed. When the berries are crushed the flavor is more intense than when left slightly crushed, then the taste is milder.
Often folks say the berries taste similar to allspice. I can taste the subtleness and understand their comparison, but I admit there is nothing like this berry as far as unique flavor.The berries,leaves and twigs can all be used as tea. It is said that this tea will relieve fatigue, cold symptoms and intestinal disorders. Oils from the berries have been applied topically to treat bruises and as a general first aid, first relief, for cuts and abrasions. The strong fragrance of the leaf, crushed is often used to invigorate while out in the woods hiking. Try crushing a leaf and add it to you pocket, remove and smell when needing a bit of energy! Using the leaf, berry ,or twigs as a compress has traditionally been used to soothe mild skin irritations , rashes and itching.
When brushing up against Spicebush in the woods I often think of Harold and am forever grateful for the patience he took with a city gal and her urban son, although poking fun of us for our naivety , he helped to open up a whole new natural world for us.
The Herbal Sage Tea Company will have Native Spicebush Tea Blend available as soon as the berries are harvested and dried. Check on this seasonally delightful at www.herbalsage.com
Today's Food that Heals is Spinach served up in Crumbs Bakery's Spinach Fettuccine.
This is pasta that Popeye would love!
How Happy is Lisa?
Lisa works at Crumbs Bakery, which is why she is so happy! Crumbs is a worker owner business established in 1986 and is located in Athens, Ohio. They have wonderful pastries, as well as hand crafted crackers and wonderful pasta. Crumbs Bakery is in a shared use kitchen with me, The Herbal Sage Tea Company. There are other folks who create wonderful foods as well, but today's topic is on Lisa, Crumbs and the FAB Spinach Fettuccine. What a wonderful way to include some veggie into a nutritious meal.
We often think of spinach as a cooked green and many do not enjoy it.Spinach eaten as a fresh green, can tend to be tough or too leafy for many. But spinach is so beneficial. I want to encourage everyone to try spinach in their weekly menu. Lisa is just the gal to help make that happen. Can you see that glow of health beaming directlyy at you? Could it be that those ribbons of spinach and love are permeating thru? Maybe!! I love having creative folks around the kitchen, we never know what will be stirred up, cooked or brewed. Lisa's infectious laugh is an added bonus any day at work.
Include spinach in your diet the easy way is with the Spinach Fettuccine offered by our local bakers from Crumbs! Spinach is rich in flavanoids, vitamins and minerals. Dried spinach is blended with flour, eggs and other secret bakery ingredients and made into these little ribbons called Fettuccine. By eating this nourishing pasta one has the benefits of fiber.Spinach is rich in complex carbohydrates, which provides our bodies with vitamins, minerals and energy. Crumbs Bakery and their offering of spinach, can provide our bellies with a real delight in taste as well as health!
This is the first blog on my series entitled, "Foods that Heal". My focus is on herbs and their therapeutic effects, with the idea that herbs are not only something to add to water to make a tissane or tea, but something to add to your meals or use to create a meal. I will be interviewing Athens,Ohio area growers, producers and foodies for this series and allow them to share with you their favortie Foods that Heal.
Today's herb is one such herb,it is one of my favorite herbs for health.Nettles ( Urtica dioica),also known as Stinging Nettle are best harvested in spring, when the leaves are fresh and full of healthful juices.They are considered a spring remedy and a general detoxifying herb for the whole body. Nettle has Vitamin C, protein and fiber. It also works in creating relief of allergy symptoms as Nettle is a source of quercetin which is a flavonoid that inhibits the release of histamine. Many find that by drinking Nettle tea consistently they exhibit less allergy problems. Nettles are nutrient dense and contain the minerals calcium, copper, iron, magnesium, manganese, phosphorus, potassium, selenium, sulfur and zinc, as well as vitamins B-1, B-2, B-3, B-5, C, E, K and folate. In addition, Nettle contain numerous phytochemicals, including lycopene and beta-carotene.Nettle is also a diuretic,helping to rid the body of excess fluid and toxins.
If you choose to harvest Nettle yourself, be sure to wear gloves as Nettle has fine hairs on the leaves and stems that contain chemicals that sting and burn when it comes in contact with the skin.Folk remedy suggests that stinging yourself with Nettle will relieve pain associated with arthritis. I just find it uncomfortable if I harvest without wearing gloves. When the leaves are steamed in tea or cooked, the stinging will not occur.Nettle also looses much of its sting when dried.
It is most often prepared as an infusion, pouring a cup of boiling water over 1-2 teaspoons of the dried herb and leaf to infuse for 10-15 minutes I make it into a tea and also use the leaves as food. Nettle is nourishment, simple yet effective, nourishment.
. Today, I have chosen to make a batch of Nettle sun tea, which after steeping for the entire day, I will strain and put into the frig for refreshing cups of Nettle tea for a few days! We served Nettle to everyone at Athens Farmers Market on Saturday and converted many naysayers to the wonderful taste of Nettle tea.We brewed it hot, then cooled it and sampled it as Iced Tea. It was wonderful!
Here in Tealand we handcraft our blends. Working closely with healing herbs has allowed us to become very familiar with each one.Sometimes we use the flowers, or berries.Other times the whole plant,and with some herbs, we work with the roots or bark. Slippery Elm Bark is one of these.We blend with slippery elm utilizing the inner bark of the tree. This mucilaginous part of the tree offers the utmost in healing.It not only soothes an achy throat, but it has been traditionally used to help soothe the entire digestive system. Generally we blend using the cut inner bark, it is very fluffy and somewhat stubborn in blending well with other herbs. We had an idea, why not use the powdered slippery elm bark? We add the powdered version of this healing tree to our Essiac formula and it works well with the other powdered herbs. Well... the answer is in the photo. Do you see that shine to the blend once water has been added? This blend was allowed to steep for 10 minutes, and when we began to strain it, well, the healing ,soothing, muscilaginous nature of slippery elm bark slowed the straining process almost completely to a halt! WOW! We were surprised at the thickness that the powder produced compared to the cotton cut version of the inner bark.Remember this is the same herb, the same part of the tree, only cut differently!The taste was somewhat altered as well, we think a bit smoother, much like one of Thayers throat lozenges, made from slippery elm bark. The recipe stayed the same except for this, what we thought,would be a minor change. Many of you may like this new version, and if so grab a package of Calm Your Cough Tea now, as this blend is a once in a blend situation.On a side note, if you don't like it and picked up a package please send us an e-mail and we'll ship you out our traditionally blended Calm Your Cough Tea!
I found this plant while biking on Pine Island Florida this week. It is called Kalanchoe delagoensis. Common names are Mother of Thousands or Chandelier Plant. Although not a native plant,I have seen it blooming this week in Pine Island Sound and along the Manasota Key area. I was told that it was brought here as a house plant years ago and has since gone invasive on Florida's coast. The bright colored coral tubular flowers hang together, hence the name chandelier plant. The two places where I found it were near old home sites, long since abandoned. I was also told that it takes 2-3 years before the plant flowers, but once it starts to grow it is very invasive.I was on a mission to find the Beach Elder or Marsh Elder, native to Florida when I found this beautiful plant. The Beach or Marsh Elder is not a true Elder (Sambucus), but nonetheless I was intrigued when I was told that elder grew amongst the ocean areas.I have a real affinity for elderberry and love to use it when I can in my blends. When I travel to SW Florida yearly I bring extract made from elderberry that grows in SE Ohio known as Sambucus nigra (black elderberry) for some local friends. The health benefits are far reaching with a focus on supporting one's immune system and helping to fight off the flu. At The Herbal Sage Tea Company we make a highly concentrated extract with the elderberry fruit, as well as adding these powerful antioxidants to our Family Health Tea with elderberry. Thanks for reading this blog and I will share new plants that I discover as I travel the way of the Herbal Gypsy.
This is the first day of thenew year, generally I try and take it one day at a time, but this year,2012,seems to be on every one's radar as an upcoming epic year. Last fall flew by me and I did not have a chance to post to this blog. My father had been diagnosed with cancer in late fall, intitally, we were told that it was operable and that we could expect treatment and some recovery. That's not how it played out and now and we find out that it is terminal. My parents are extremely strong individuals and when working as a team, as they have done for over 61 years, they are awesome. They have taken this diagnosis head on and are truly living each day to its fullest.Taking great care of each other and following the treatments prescribed, with the added benefits of eating quite well and having herbal teas in their daily diet.The fact that they are snowbirds and are now in the warm of Florida helps too!
As an herbalist and someone who plays the role of caretaker often,I have found myself very frustrated at times since the diagnosis. Although dad is enjoying many of my teas,including Happy Belly Organic Herbal Tea,he is beginning to feel the ill effects of his treatments.Currently he is also taking elderberry extract and Family Health Tea. The tea blend is rich in anti-oxidants,vitamin C, is all organic and caffeine free. Elderberry has been used traditionally to help fight the flu for centuries, and the extract is very effective.We do NOT want him to get the flu or any illness at this point!
We have purchased an RV and plan on traveling down south to visit them and help in any way, leaving in the next few weeks.I will also continue to look for new revenues for Herbal Sage Brand Teas,as I travel, and will have opportunity's to share my herbal knowledge in a couple of scheduled classes in Florida.
For now I am working hard to get Herbal Sage's main offices in order, with my excellent blending staff ready to blend in my absence.I plan on blogging as I travel, sharing herbal information, Herbal Sage Tea news and of course tidbits about my dad's road, and how we all travel with him as he moves thru it. The Sage suggestion for today is,,,, to remember to take your elderberry extracts and share your herbal teas. Drink organic healthy herbs often and enjoy!
Our Farmer's Market in Athens, Ohio is still going strong. We have an abundance of wonderful farmers who are keeping us nourished with local veggies, great selection of fruits,herbs,teas and spices. We also have processors,such as myself, who create products using these wonderful local ingredients. Staring last month we began to harvest and dry local spice bush berry. After the herb is dried we hand crush the berries to release the amazing flavor trapped in each seed.We look for the berry in the undergrowth of our woodlands. They are most often found growing under Paw Paw trees.When we harvest our Paw Paws in early Sept, the spice bush berries are still green, giving us notice to comeback and harvest in a month. The old timers in my area told me that they generally harvested the twigs of the spice bush tree to use for a tasty tea. They would often be in the woods hunting in the fall, and would brew up a batch of spice bush twig tea. They did not bother to much with the berry as the hardness of each berry made the tea brew too weak. The berry taste is similar to a nice nutmeg, not too strong, yet full of its own unique flavor. Because spearmint is one of my favorite herbs I add crushed spice bush berries to a blend of organic spearmint leaf. Giving me a tea I call, Native Spicebush Spearmint Tea. The flavor is an interesting blend of mint and deep spice. A perfect reminder of fall for all of us here in Athens, Ohio. The berry is said to have medicinal qualities, good for relief of fever and flu symptoms.It can also be added to seasoning mixes, or used alone, to add the distinct flavor of native nutmeg.
The whole world stands still for us when we see the elderberry beginning to fruit. Watching the bushes as they grow taller and taller, sometimes out of our reach, umbels cascading with green, semi-green and then deep purple fruit, give precedence to our days here in Tealand in SE , Ohio.
A storm blew thru night before last and as it woke me, thunder crashing, my first thoughts were to the elderberry fruit. How are they handling this wind and rain? Knowing that many "seeds" were dropping to the ground, beginning growth for next season, I hoped Mother Nature would leave enough on the bush for harvesting.
Our harvesting this year is leading us deeper into overgrown areas. The vines, thistle, multi floral rose,poison ivy and snakes creates an exciting and challenging wild crafting adventure. This type of work, I must admit, is my favorite part of being an herbalist. Working and harvesting in the field allows me to feel the presence of Mother Nature. I could do without the possible snake sighting, but we watch were we walk, when we can see the ground and hope for the best!
Some of the berries will be dried and added to our Family Health Tea, the rest will be made into an extract and be made available on line and at our local farmers market. I've added a link for more information about the healing qualities of elderberry.
As early as 2007, research studies have found that black elderberry to be effective in shortening the duration of influenza A and B.Elderberries are unusually rich in the phytochemicals known as flavonoids. Among all fruits, elderberries are the most concentrated source of anthocyanins, a class of flavonoids that act as powerful antioxidants to boost the immune system.
The rural ways of the entrepreneur can be quite basic and driven by necessity. When I drive by signs such as this one I try and imagine who is this business person. Not only what is it they are selling but who are they? Why here? Why are they here, down this country road and what is it that keeps them here?
This particular sign on a bend in the road in Meigs County has grown since early spring. Cookies have recently been added to the inventory as well as business hours. I suppose they had folks stopping by at all times trying to purchase goods. One knows that although a buying customer is a good customer a browsing customer can waste allot of one's time.
Perhaps because I too sell, that I can relate to an enterprising soul. The growth of this sign assures me that this grower, baker, chicken handler is destined to prosper. I wonder if pumpkins will be added come October? I'll keep you posted!
This is the time we begin scouting out local areas for elderberry harvesting. Although we have begun to grow elder on The Herbal Sage Farms, we still harvest from the wild for most of our elderberry. The rich white showy flowers scattered generously on the umbels of each elderberry bush guide us to our future harvesting sites.One of the most fun parts is finding the places where elderberry grow undisturbed by car,electrical sources and other impediments. We are feeling blessed this year, with our rain, and our continued quest for the best crops, we have found what may be this years Mother load! We will keep you posted and let you know as time moves along. Much can change, nature can wipe out a whole area, but we are hopeful, as most herbalist are, that Mother Nature will provide!
Thursday I attended the Chesterhill Auction, in Chesterhill, Ohio. Driving about 40 minutes deep into the country I drove past the auction sign and into the small town of Chesterhill. I knew I had passed the entrance but for the life of me did not know where I was.I stopped to ask directions at a small convenience store/gas station, the first woman I asked who was working the counter had no idea about any Amish auction. I thought this was a bad sign,that the locals did not even know about it. I thought that perhaps I had really driven too far!Finally one of the women from behind the deli counter was able to direct me. She knew where it was , yet had never gone herself. I was told I hadn't gone to far and to turn around and make the first right past the building with the orange roof. So I proceeded to drive back in the direction I came and look for this orange roofed place, I never did see the building but I was driving slow enough that the Chesterhill Auction sign rose up out of the clay soil and presented itself to me! Yes I had arrived. Luckily I was early for the auction and sat in on a compost tea workshop, being The Tealady, I felt it was important that I attended, and had hoped that I had not missed it due to my detour. Kyle O'Keefe, an Americorp worker from Rural Action taught the workshop, he was a wealth of information. The auction was filled with folks looking for a fresh deal and many of us were successful! I brought home first of the season red raspberries, and some fresh strawberries.I was told that 95% of the sellers at the auction were Amish and the buyers where made up non Amish and Amish.
There were a few Amish handmade items, and I bought a bird house and a nicely built wood basket.I'll use the basket at my farmers market to display my elderberry tea, and the birdhouse will find a nice home at my in laws 200 year old home in PA. Do you attend a local farmers market? Tell me about it, I'd love to learn more about your experiences at these events,and hope to stop by Chesterhill again next week.
When I had my vintage clothing shop in Cleveland I loved Tuesdays. It is the day where sales tended to be a bit slower and if it rained, I often had the day to myself, listening to old records,rearranging my showcases full of vintage jewelery and dreaming of possibilities.I allowed and encourage my mind and heart to live in the sea of creativity, all day.Tuesdays' were a gift to my muse, So today I am in a small college town, and the sun is shining. Although I no longer have a retail store I have wonderful offices in a shared facility, and on Tuesday its my day to work solo.I give myself this day to work on the creative aspects of my business, not formulating herbal recipes necessarily, but creating new, and strengthening current business relationships. In the herbal tea business I am able to work with like minded folks, I have peers who are practitioners, gardeners, chefs, massage therapists, doctors, naturopaths, community health folks, artists etc..you get the idea! Working with herbs as food and as medicine, is a wonderful vehicle to reach out to others in a positive way. Who doesn't love nourishment. Once in awhile, when I had that shop in Cleveland, folks would come in on those rainy Tuesdays, more often than not these folks tended to stick around and listen to old records and we would share our ideas about the interesting items around us. So if someone comes to the offices today, I'll make a cup of iced tea and we'll listen to the tunes on the computer. Although the location has changed, Tuesdays are still a day to nourish my creative side. How about you? Thanks for listening, M
