Lavender Sachets and Dream Pillows
A delightful, calming herb, lavender is a great addition to any home during the holidays. Lavender sachets and dream pillows are a very simple yet lovely craft which can be whipped up in a snap as a last minute gift. Whether used to impart a fragrance to clothes or as a nighttime companion, lavender provides a gentle aroma…
How To Make Homemade Fire Cider (With Video!)
While some think of this time of year as holiday season, I tend to think of it as the season to make homemade fire cider! Fire cider is a traditional immune-supporting remedy with deep roots in folk medicine (but most popularly championed by herbalist Rosemary Gladstar). At its most basic, it’s a zesty infused vinegar,…
How To Make Mulled Wine For Holiday Celebrations
Whether it’s a holiday gathering, a crisp autumn evening, or a bone-chilling winter night, mulled wine is both a wonderful winter warmer and a great holiday cocktail. Instead of going with a plain bottle of wine or the typical home stocked bar drinks, why not be trendy and serve up some great tasting wine with…
Clove Pomanders: An Old Fashioned Holiday Favorite
Clove pomanders are a seasonal delight! Made with numerous little cloves, pomanders are a wonderfully fragrant addition to holiday decorations as well as a lovely gift to share with others. Gathered in bowls around the home, hung in windows to catch the warmth of the sun, or displayed on a tree, this old fashioned favorite…
How To Celebrate The Winter Solstice Like The Ancients
The winter solstice is approaching. This year it will be on Wednesday, 21 December 2016 at 4:44 a.m. central time. What is the solstice? It is an astronomical event caused by the tilt of the earth on its axis and its orbit around the sun. The result in the Northern Hemisphere is the longest night…
23 Gifts for the Aspiring Herbalist
The holidays are quickly approaching. As we scramble to find the perfect gifts for all of our loved ones, we find ourselves wondering what to buy that plant-crazed friend or relative on the list. Below you’ll find 23 gifts for the aspiring herbalist—many of which are things I’ve both shared and received. May they become…
Homemade Squash Cinnamon Dough for Holiday Decorations and Ornaments
What spice reminds us more of the holidays than cinnamon? The smell of cinnamon cookies baking or perhaps a few cinnamon sticks brewing on the stove instantly brings warm memories to mind. There are many ways to enjoy cinnamon during the holidays and squash cinnamon dough is a surprisingly fun way to welcome this beloved…
Adaptogens: 75 Herbal Recipes and Elixirs – Book Review
Adaptogens: 75+ Herbal Recipes and Elixirs to Improve Your Skin, Mood, Energy, Focus, and More by Agatha Noveille is an inspiring read. This book takes a common sense approach to making this class of herbs (which should be on the top of everyone’s list) understandable and approachable. Agatha brings us back to the origin of the…
101 Herbal Books To Build Your Herbal Library
As we so often remind our readers and students, learning herbalism is a lifelong journey to be savored and experienced. It is an endeavor to be nurtured with hands-on practice, study with experienced teachers, and learning from the many herbal books written by herbalists of all traditions and approaches, both modern and historical. As herbalists,…
How To Make Your Own Fresh Rosemary Wreath
With its fragrant aroma reminiscent of fresh pine, rosemary is a wonderful herb to enjoy during the winter holidays. Bring rosemary into your home and adorn your walls with this beautiful aromatic herb. A fresh rosemary wreath is easy to make and will add a special herbal flare to your holidays. Be sure to make extras to…
