Delicious Elderberry and Blueberry Jam With No Pectin
Who’s ready for a burst of berry botanical flavor? Warmer days call for a special picnic companion—homemade jam. You can spread this blueberry and elderberry jam on toast, crackers, bagels, or waffles—the possibilities are infinite. What’s even better than a homemade jam? One that you can make without needing pectin, and one that is free…
Anise vs. Anise Hyssop: What’s the Difference?
It is easy to make the mistake of thinking that the name anise is just an abbreviation for the anise hyssop plant. Many people assume that they are the same thing, when in fact, they are actually two completely different plants. Both plants share one major characteristic–a rich licorice aroma and flavor–but the fresh plants…
Herbal Academy Student Interview: Laura Rubin (@nurtureforall)
In this installment of our Student Feature series, we spoke with Laura Rubin (@nurtureforall), founder of Nurture, which empowers you to live more joyfully through the amazing power of herbs, helping you to reconnect with your body and the Earth. Laura has completed Herbal Academy’s Intermediate Herbal Course and Herbal Business Course. HA: Please tell…
8 Herbal Preparations + a Monarda Oxymel Recipe
The following excerpt outlining eight herbal preparations and a Monarda Oxymel recipe is taken from the book, Our Kindred Home by Alyson Morgan, and is reprinted with permission. Our Kindred Home takes you on a journey through the heart of cyclical, seasonal living. It’s a heartfelt collection of the recipes, rituals, and plants that Alyson’s…
The Herbal Kitchen: Paprika
In this book excerpt from The Herbal Kitchen, author and herbalist Kami McBride highlights an herb common in our kitchen – paprika! – and shares three culinary herbal oil recipes that present this herb as the star of the show and provide an easy and inviting way to season your cooking with this tasty and beneficial spice. Packed full of…
How to Make A Wildflower Cordial
Blooms and bubbles–a delightful spring experience awaits you via the fascinating method of fermentation. Wildflowers (or garden flowers!) and their accompanying unique wild yeasts are submerged into a bath of sugar water and, with a bit of time, the magic of fermentation yields a fizzy, delicious refreshment, perfect for sipping on the porch. Let’s make…
Homemade Crackers With Scallions and Black Mustard Seeds
Until a couple of months ago, I never thought to make homemade crackers. Crackers were one of those things that I only enjoyed when store-bought. However, making crackers in your own kitchen is surprisingly easy and fun—also, you can get creative with the ingredients and you always know exactly what goes into your savory snacks….
Antioxidant Herbal Power Punch With a Classic Fruity Flavor
Spring has sprung, and even though we’re not exactly feeling the truth of that up in the northeastern United States, I am hopeful that warmer weather is on the way–so hopeful that I have been preemptively planning and practicing my go-to beverages for summer as if I could will the passing of these cold days…
Floral Bath Tea Sachets for Mother’s Day Gifting
These floral bath tea sachets are a wonderful gift to give on Mother’s Day. Mother’s Day is truly a celebration of giving life. We have all been through the profound and utterly fascinating event that is human birth. However, a mother is not only the one who delivers, but also the one who cares, nurtures,…
Herbal Academy Student Feature: Serena Hartwell (@serenahartwell)
In our most recent Student Feature interview, we spoke with Serena Hartwell (@serenahartwell), owner of Everyday Homestead, where she shares foraging tips and wildcrafted recipes that feature locally foraged and homegrown plants. Serena has completed Herbal Academy’s The Craft of Herbal Fermentation Course, Herbs for ADHD, Cognition, and Focus Intensive, Intermediate Herbal Course, Emulsifiers and Preservatives in…
Heart-Supportive Cake With Hibiscus Berry Jam & Rose Ice Cream
We recently celebrated Herbalist Day as a wonderful moment to acknowledge how nurturing herbalism is in our everyday lives and in our deeper soul-searchings. Those who practice this sacred connection on a daily basis know well that it is a celebration that never quite ends. Which is why the Herbal Academy is sharing this celebratory…
Clean Sweep Blood Cleanser Herbal Capsules for Spring Renewal
As the flowers awake after the cold days of winter, we feel a nudge to embrace new growth and shed our winter coats. Spring is the natural time to cleanse, detox, and refresh after a long winter season. We swap extra hours inside and heavier foods for more time outdoors, more movement, as well as…
Edible Flower-Pressed Shortbread Cookies
The following excerpt is a brand-new release from Loria Stern’s book Eat Your Flowers (published by William Morrow, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers, April 2023) and is reprinted with permission from the publisher. This is the recipe that started it all! These beautiful cookies catapulted my career in food. Delicately sweet, with a touch of…
Bountiful Herb Guacamole Recipe That Will Have Everyone Coming Back for More
What is it about margaritas and guacamole that is just so dang good? The sweet and sour margarita seems to pair perfectly with the creamy guacamole – and we have just the guacamole recipe in store for you today. Throw in a big bowl of tortilla chips and veggie sticks for a fantastic party spread…
DIY Floral Ice Ring for Punch
We look forward to spring and summer garden parties all year, and with the upcoming release of our new Botanical Mixed Drinks Recipe Book, we’re dreaming of all the ways we can serve creative herbal cocktails and mocktails to our guests. In our new book, we share a recipe for Lavender and Citrus Rum Punch…
DIY Fermented Mallow Leaf Chips
The following excerpt and Fermented Mallow Leaf Chips recipe is from Pascal Baudar’s book Wildcrafted Fermentation (Chelsea Green Publishing, March 2020) and is reprinted with permission from the publisher. Snacking on kale leaf chips is one of my favorite pastimes and so, of course, I had to explore some possibilities with similar wildcrafted leaves. I…
A Toast With Spring Sting Nettle Cocktail From the Botanical Mixed Drinks Recipe Book
Herbalists Jane Metzger and Amber Meyers offer up a cocktail toast in the spirit of Herbalist Day with a fun and special celebratory twist on nettle tea! This recipe is shared as a sneak peek into the Herbal Academy’s newest recipe book, the Botanical Mixed Drinks Recipe Book – a collection of 82 cocktails and mocktails…
Aviva Romm’s Gentle Evening Tea
We are delighted to welcome Dr. Aviva Romm, physician, herbalist, mother, and midwife, as she shares this gentle evening tea, a calming blend that makes every evening a celebration! In this blend, Aviva includes three familiar herbs and shares her blend in the video below. Aviva is the author of multiple books, including Hormone Intelligence,…
Juliette of the Herbs
Juliette de Bairacli Levy (1912-2009) was a pioneer of holistic animal health, a prolific writer, and a proud Gypsy, a term she considered to mean person of the earth. Deemed one of the grandmothers of contemporary herbalism, de Bairacli Levy’s life, practices, and legacy of teachings fully embody the natural rhythms of the earth and…
An Herbal Cheers With Mimi’s Mimosa Mimosa Recipe Featuring Mimosa Blossom
This Herbalist Day, Mimi Hernandez, RH(AHG) shares with us a celebratory cheer with her sparkling Mimi’s Mimosa Mimosa recipe! In this video excerpt of Mimi’s interview with HA Staff Herbalist Heather Wood Buzzard, we learn about this tree’s uplifting benefits and a bubbly herbal recipe to make with its blossoms. As Executive Director of the…
How to Choose Essential Oils You Really Need
Can you relate to any of the following situations? Every time you shop for essential oils, you see a new blend or even a new essential oil listed for sale; the description of the aroma sounds wonderful, and the list of health concerns it addresses includes an issue you or your loved ones have. You…
Herbal Academy Student Feature: Andrea Minniti (@divinebalanceco)
For this installment of our Student Feature series, we spoke with Andrea Minniti (@divinebalanceco), owner of Divine Balance Co., where she strives to provide elevated creations to give your self-care routine a boost of magical bliss. From handmade crystal tea infusers and tea accessories to bath soaks and facial steams, Divine Balance Co. is just that—finding…
How to Make a Cold-Infused Wild Soda
The following excerpt and wild soda recipes are from Pascal Baudar’s book The Wildcrafter Brewer (Chelsea Green Publishing, Feb. 2018) and is reprinted with permission from the publisher. This method is fantastic for making quick sodas out of your favorite hiking place or to study the flavors of whole environments. Unlike most beers, you really…
How to Make an Herbal Fever Ease Syrup
You may have heard that there’s a nationwide shortage of children’s acetaminophen and ibuprofen—critical fever reducers for children with respiratory viruses! While there’s no replacement for these medications when fevers are dangerously high, there are a few herbal allies that can help to gently encourage the resolution of a fever (and even help with the…
Herbal Blood Sugar Balance Recipe
A hot topic that has been circulating lately is the importance of blood sugar balance. Glycemia, also known as blood sugar level or blood glucose level, is the measure of glucose concentration in the blood. This level fluctuates throughout the day and is affected by the food you eat, your lifestyle, hormones, and even your…
How to Make Coffee Extract + A Dark Chocolate Delights Recipe
Aside from being one of the most popular morning wake-up beverages, the coffee bean (Coffea spp.) is a plant that offers a range of health benefits. For many coffee drinkers, sipping a morning cup of coffee is a cherished ritual—it’s not just about the caffeine pick-me-up, but also about the smell, flavor, aroma, and brewing…
How to Make Newspaper Seedling Pots for Your Garden This Year
Growing food in your backyard (or even on a porch or windowsill) is one of the simplest and most rewarding ways to nourish yourself, be self-sufficient, and connect with nature in a hands-on way. The following excerpt is taken from Gardening for Everyone by sustainability expert Julia Watkins which shares everything you need to know…
Using a NRCS Grant-Funded High Tunnel Gardening System to Grow my Herbal Business
Kendra Payne is the founder and operator of The Herbal Scoop and graduate of several Herbal Academy courses. She is an herbalist entrepreneur to the core, and in this vlog, Kendra shares how she is expanding her herbal business, a discovery-based herbal botanical shop and herb farm, by installing a High Tunnel Gardening System, commonly…
To Pot or Plot: The Advantages of Container Gardening
Whether you’re planning your garden for the first or the fiftieth time this spring, deciding what to plant where is an essential part of the process. Whether to pot or plot the plant in your garden should be part of your considerations. You may choose container gardening if you have a lack of traditional garden…
Respiratory Support Honey for Spring Allergies
The following book excerpt is taken from The Herbal Kitchen by Kami McBride and used with permission. If you’re an herb nerd with spring allergies, you face a bit of a conundrum. While the Earth bursts with color and birdsong, you might feel the urge to run indoors instead of out. But as we head…
