Mossop Natural Remedies: Review and Giveaway!
The Phytobiophysics Flower Formulas support emotions and help people to deal with the sad, painful and traumatic experiences that we all suffer with throughout our lives. Emotions interfere with function which then creates physical imbalance. Through stabilizing the emotional issues in our lives, we may then recover from the physical manifestation. This quote is…
In the Spring…
In the spring, at the end of the day, you should smell like dirt. -Margaret Atwood Quoted in Bluebeard’s Egg.
Natural Easter Egg Dye
There are more natural ways to color eggs than using the fizzy tablets we used as kids. You don’t have to run to the store to buy a kit or any special materials. Colorful veggies, fruits and spices all make nice dyes. This year I experimented with what I could find in my kitchen. I…
The Herbal Healing Practices of Native Americans
“Man did not weave the web of life; he is merely a strand in it, such that whatever he does to the web, he does to himself.” Native Americans believe strongly in the interconnection of all of creation. They practice their healing arts in a way which includes the natural world and the whole person –…
Berry Bok Choy Chia Smoothie
My go-to smoothie these days has a little secret: bok choy. Now, I love me some leafy greens, but since even I find it challenging to fit in the recommended servings all in one day, I fancy finding places for them wherever I can. Bok choy is in the cabbage family and is high in…
Teacup by Teacup
Turn up the flame, wait for the teapot to heat and whistle. Pour hot water over the jar of dried leaves and flowers. A slow stir with a spoon sends steam rising from a spinning spiral of herbs. The technology is simple: water, fire, glass. No shares, likes, pins, tweets, or re-tweets. Simply water silently…
On The Road
We are packing up our cameras and notebooks and heading out on the road to bring you exclusive interviews and personal stories from herbalists across the country. We’ll introduce you to some of the world’s most well-known and revered healers and teachers, as well to the treasured local village herbalists working diligently behind the scenes…
Flowers For The Home
Flowers in the foyer, fresh lemons in the kitchen and plants, well…everywhere else! They say that the kitchen is the heart of the home and I wouldn’t disagree with that. We love hanging out in the kitchen. It is the place where we nourish ourselves, enjoy the company of family and friends and spend time…
Fancy Oatmeal
Sometimes my favorite cereal grain can feel a bit bland. Oatmeal for breakfast again? It’s the equivalent of khaki pants. Yawn. What about raisins? No offense to raisins, but again…yawn. The other day I ladled some oatmeal into a bowl and looked at it, all pale and lumpy, crying out for a splash of color. …
Tea Time Before Bedtime
Children of all ages love to have tea. They love the ceremony that having tea provokes. It can be a time to hang out with our little ones without the distractions of homework, TV and computers. Shut it down, sit down and enjoy a cup of tea together before bed.
Spring Tonics
Despite the snowy view from our windows, it’s the official first day of spring, the Equinox, so called because the earth’s tilt is balanced in such a way that day and night are about equal lengths. Yes, there is snow, but the robins and snowdrops I spotted last week promise us: Take heart, friends. Warmer…
Scientists in the Making
Hypothesis hy-poth-e-sis (hahy-poth-uh-sis) Plural: Hypotheses (seez) Definition: A proposition or set of propositions, set forth as an explanation for the occurrence of some specific group or phenomena, either asserted merely as a provisional conjecture to guide investigation (working hypothesis) or accepted as highly probable in the light of established facts.
Sex on the Table
You may be envisioning dishes crashing to the floor along with articles of clothing as the chandelier swings overhead. Well, that just may be the outcome after you’ve tried some of the suggestions we are about to give you. Interested? Read on! Our bodies respond in every way to the nutrients we put into them….
The Art of Conversation
I love texting! Texting is just easier, less intrusive and certainly less awkward then conversing over the phone, at least in some cases. However, we need to be aware of the consequences that texting has on real conversation. Texting or phone conversations for that matter do not allow for the observation of body language or…
Get Healthy The Write Way!
Clinical trials have shown that journaling boosts your immune system, reduces stress, lowers blood pressure, increases feelings of happiness and diminishes symptoms of depression and anxiety. Indeed the Journal of American Medicine Association (JAMA) reports that writing about stressful experiences reduces physical symptoms in patients with chronic illnesses. There are those that suggest journaling prolongs…
Brighten Up For Spring
I do believe home is built around the table and that is why I delight in all the ways to decorate it. What a breathtaking table setting this is, a lovely atmosphere for a Sunday brunch. For spring I enjoy the tabletop to be decorated with fresh cut flowers and herbs, light linens and vintage…
Hands in the Dirt
The glory of gardening: hands in the dirt, head in the sun, heart with nature. To nurture a garden is to feed not just the body, but the soul. – Alfred Austin As gardeners we shape and sculpt the earth, which in turn shapes us. Fresh air, sunlight, rain, and sweet and pungent scents nourish…
Food Faces
Finding ways to engage children in healthy eating is important at a young age. Not only are they in their growing and learning years, but it creates good habits for years to come! It is unbelievable how children’s taste buds adapt to healthy foods when they start eating them. Trading out the chicken nuggets for…
Hungry for Hutchins
Tucked between a hill and the woodlands buffering the Concord River northeast of Concord Center are green and fertile fields designated as farmland since at least 1775. Today this land is the site of Hutchins Farm, organic for 40 years. It was love at first sight, for Hutchins and me a few years back. Stepping…
Signs Of Spring
I had the most wonderful surprise on my afternoon walk yesterday. The snow is melting, the breeze is warming and the flowers are starting to break the soil. The seasons are changing and signs of spring are all around us. What a beautiful time of year!
Hildegard von Bingen
The Middle Ages brought us the Abbess Hildegard von Bingen, the Sybyl (Healer) of the Rhine, considered to be the first German Woman Physician and the mother of German Botany. The Benedictine monastery at Mount St Disibode was to receive the young Hildegard when she was 8 years old. She had been promised to the…
How To Make No Drawer Nightstands
The other day I found myself searching for home inspiration. Where better to look than Pinterest? (find us on Pinterest here) I needed a serious update for my bedroom and living room, and all in the same department… side tables. I found the perfect, simple and contemporary look I desired; a piece from Crate & Barrel….
Insomnia is a Symptom
When you have had a good night’s sleep, you should wake refreshed and feel well rested. The amount of sleep that you are getting does not necessarily indicate the quality of sleep. Everyone is different when it comes to getting enough sleep. For some 5 hours of good sleep is just the right amount while…
Very Common Herbs To Try
We recently posted the article, Cup In Hand, which is an introduction to tea with a good mention of herbs. We created an infographic for you below so you can easily reference some of the very common herbs to try. Most importantly, the chart identifies the ideal herb for various conditions.
See The Flowers
I often have to pause and ask myself, what are my eyes fixed upon? It is usually a pretty straightforward answer. Being a doer, a go-getter and a goal-setter I frequently find myself consumed by my work and the DIY projects that surround my lifestyle. I have goals and dreams, and they are big, and…
Tommy Priester
Tommy Priester is a well-known practicing herbalist in the Boston area. Often times he will guest speak on topics, including his most popular, Lyme Disease. We were grateful to have him visit our academy this fall for a talk during our October Guest Speaker Series with the Reisens and Jovial King. Read a brief excerpt…
Jovial King
We thoroughly enjoyed Jovial King, herbalist and founder of Urban Moonshine, when she came to visit our cottage last October. She is a sweet soul with a passionate spirit. We deeply respect those herbalists who find a vision and go after the dream! Here is a little bit about Jovial and Urban Moonshine. From their…
Andrea and Matthias Reisen
It was a joy to have the Reisen duo make a trip to our school for a talk on “Herbs and Their Many Healing Properties.” Andrea and Matthias Reisen are gifted, loving herbalists who co-founded Healing Spirits Herb Farm and Education Center. They grow and dry some of the best herbs we have ever seen!…
Cup in Hand
What goes through your mind at the mention of tea? I used to think Lipton and I’m not kidding! Preferring coffee over tea for most of my life I just wasn’t that interested in it unless it had some special connotation like; afternoon tea as served in England (of which I’ve enjoyed on numerous occasions)…
What is a Weed? Finding Appreciation
By Kerry Maegan Hughes-Rico, M.Sc. – Herbalist and Ethnobotanist What is a weed? There was a time in my life when weeds were simply generic plants, unnamed and unknown. I used to drive down the street and hardly notice the “green carpet” that would buzz by me. The world consisted of people, animals, objects, and…
