Blog :: The Withered Herb

At the Farmers’ Market: There’s More to Life than Rhubarb Pie

by Sue

May 20th, 2013

GREENS

Last week, I took a quick tour of the produce vendors to ask what will be offered over the next few weeks and the most common response was greens. Sounds rather predictable perhaps but the Farmers’ Market is where you will find great diversity in the type of greens offered. Bags of leaf and head lettuces, arugula, cress and spinach for fresh salads. And for the wok: spicy sauté mix, kale and bok choi.

Locally grown greens offer the best nutritional bang for your buck. Plucked from the soil the day of the market, there is abundant research that demonstrates that imported and (thus well-traveled) produce typically found in grocery stores will have lost much of its nutritional value by the time they land in your shopping cart. They will likely sit in your fridge’s crisper for a few more days at which point you might as well toss them in the compost.

Grab your market bag and invest your grocery money in food that actually feeds your body! Yes, the head of lettuce from Mexico is cheaper than the bag of greens from your local farmer. But by the time the Mexican or Californian lettuce meets your digestive system, it is void of most beneficial nutrients. In addition, non-organically grown greens are typically grown in fields lacking the natural minerals and vitamins inherent to healthy soil. More and more attention is being drawn to the poor nutritional value of industrial farmed foods. Cheap, yes; supportive of your body’s needs? No!

Delicate spring salad greens are best dressed with a vinaigrette while sturdier head lettuces (Ex: Romaine) can stand up to the heavier dressings (often mayo or dairy based). Making you own dressing with quality vegetable oils is much healthier than commercially made dressings; these are often filled with additional sweeteners especially the low-fat versions.

Heirloom Rhubarb “Champagne’

RHUBARB

In abundance at the market is one of the earliest vegetables out of the ground: rhubarb. And yes, botanically it is a vegetable though most of us treat it like a fruit and smother it with sugar to make pies, cobblers, crisps and sauces. Many of these dessert recipes pair rhubarb with strawberries for the unique sweet & sour blend. For a more-than-you-will-ever-need collection of both sweet and savory recipes check out Epicurious’ pages.

You will find plenty of fresh rhubarb stalks at the market over the next few weeks. (You won’t find the leaves because they naturally produce oxalic acid, a toxic compound that the plant uses to repel predators AND HURTS HUMANS.) Fresh rhubarb is more than just a pretty red face: high in calcium & potassium it also brings fiber, folate, iron and minerals to the nutritional table. With such a short growing season, you may want to stock up for the rest of the year: wash, cut and store several bags in the freezer.

Or why not pickle rhubarb for a unique addition to a cheese platter? OR Refrigerator Rhubarb Pickles, anyone?

The roots of rhubarb have a long history of medicinal use especially in Traditional Chinese Medicine. Dosage (the amount taken) is directly related to its medicinal effects: small dosages create an astringent or toning effect on the digestive system while larger dosages can be used for a laxative effect.

I received a cutting from a Seed Saver member of this heirloom rhubarb that I think was called ‘Champagne’ (need to contact her to verify). The stalks are white rather than red and it flowered very quickly. I have decided to let it go to seed so I can save and share some of the seeds. A quick Google search revealed an interesting history of Champagne Rhubarb. The world of growing is fascinating!

I tried this tangy dressing this weekend. Delicious on mixed greens!

Rhubarb Vinaigrette Dressing

¼ cup honey (try to buy local honey at the market or in the bulk section of grocery stores)

½ cup water

4 stalks rhubarb (about 2 loosely packed cups), cut into thin slices

¼ cup red wine vinegar

Zest of one lemon

¼ cup extra-virgin olive oil

Several pinches of coarse sea salt and pepper

Heat water and honey over medium heat. When the mixture begins to boil, add rhubarb and boil five minutes more, stirring often. Stir in vinegar and lemon zest, and cook five to 10 more minutes, until dressing is reduced by about half. Remove from heat, and let cool slightly. Whisk the olive oil into the dressing. Season with salt and pepper. Serve warm or cold over fresh salad greens. Yields about 2 cups.

http://www.motherearthnews.com/Real-Food/Rhubarb-Vinaigrette-Salad-Dressing-Recipe.aspx#ixzz2T6ftYoA3

Categories Uncategorized

Farmers’ Markets and Breakfast Greens

by Sue

May 4th, 2013

Let the Farmers’ Markets begin! Those of you in milder climates probably have the wonderful option of year round Farmers’ Markets so my enthusiasm may seem little over the top. But in the harsher weather zones we have to wait until the snow is gone and warmer weather has arrived. And wow…did we have the perfect weather!

It’s the first week in May in the Columbia River Gorge and typical of our mountain spring season the weather is different every day. Growers, especially those with greenhouses and hoop houses, have been busy for several months preparing the soil, seeding flats of veggies and planting food.

What kinds of food will you find in the cool days of spring here in the north? I can guarantee lots of greenery! Kale, spinach, lettuces, peppery arugula, chard, beets with their greens, and maybe, a cabbage or two?

What is the best benefit of shopping at Farmers’ Markets? Quality! Unlike the items in grocery stores which are picked as much as a week before showing up at the store, market growers usually pick the morning of the market, bringing all those nutrients to the market.

Greens should be on every person’s daily intake list. They are nutritional powerhouses and can be prepared in a variety of ways: raw, blended (smoothies), sauteed, steamed, stewed, fried (kale chips) and baked.

As part of my overall fitness plan, I have been eating a lot more cooked greens. The truth is I am not a big fan of cooked greens but I have been exploring several new recipes and love what I have been eating. Cooked greens for breakfast?

RECIPE: BREAKFAST GREENS

Fry some locally produced bacon or sausage (nitrate-free). Remove the cooked meat and leave the fat. (Organic animal fat is good for you.) Don’t eat meat? Melt 2 Tbsp. of butter or olive oil in a pan.

Clean your greens. I prefer kale, and I strip off the tender leafy parts from the ribs. Rinse, drain and throw into the melted fat. Add chopped onions, garlic and any other veggies you like.

Cook until desired softness. Kale & chard take longer than spinach to cook down.

Move greens to side of pan and add a bit more fat. Break 1 or 2 eggs into the pan and fry to preferred style. (Scrambled eggs work, too.) Move warm greens to plate, place meat on top of greens and then the eggs.

A little hot sauce for the adventurous and you have a healthy and delicious protein-filled breakfast to start your day.

The best part of this meal? You can find locally produced greens, eggs and meat at the Market.

Categories Recipes

She is Kicking My A**

by Sue

April 29th, 2013

Who is the real couch potato?

It has taken a while to get back to the promised telling of my fitness tale. Spring burst forth and suddenly the garden and greenhouse were demanding my attention. Farmers’ markets are starting up in my region, and I have been prepping products in anticipation of market season.

Developing the habit of daily exercise has been challenging. I work at home and the distractions are plentiful, especially when you truly want to avoid something. Clean the refrigerator at 7am? Dust the furniture at 9am? I have done a good job of sticking to my commitment to a 30 minute workout via Jillian Michaels Body Revolution DVDs.* If I had to sum it up…

She.Is.Kicking.My.Ass.

Funny, how I convinced myself that I was in reasonably good shape. After all, I walk two miles every day and do yoga sessions a couple of times a week and yoga stretches every day. But when the DVDs start out with one FULL minute of jumping jacks …well, fitness is suddenly redefined.

Let’s be real …

My daily walks are done on fairly level gravel roads with my two dogs and my camera as companions. Several clues in that description should hint at the level of aerobic (or lack of) intensity. Walks with dogs involve a lot of stopping and sniffing, and camera work is usually done while standing still. I have finally acknowledged that my daily walks are more beneficial to my mental health. Which is certainly important but this got me thinking about the medical establishment’s proclamation that 30 minutes a day of brisk walking can be called exercise.

I don’t think so. Movement is not necessarily exercise designed for fitness. More on that later…

Yoga has been part of my life for fifteen years, and I can’t imagine how my body would feel if I didn’t do it. Actually, I can. After several days of no yoga, my body is tight, sometimes achy and I occasionally have spasms in my back. While I am not very successful at the meditative aspects of yoga, my non-stop AAA brain does appreciate any effort to lift the load of busyness.

These DVDs are REAL workouts. Thirty minutes in length with one minute alternating intervals of cardio and bodywork. What was shocking to me was my complete lack of endurance in the cardio intervals. One minute of jumping or my absolute least favorite exercise, “Running Man’ were simply not doable. If you are a runner, jogger or bicyclist, this may sound like I am out of shape.

I am. I also believe that the average American is likely even more so. When the zombies finally arrive, the aerobically fit (those who can run the fastest) will be the survivors.

It has been a month of almost daily workouts accompanied by extremely sore muscles. My energy levels soar when I work out in the mornings; not so much when I do it in the afternoons. My ability to focus improves dramatically when I exercise in the morning. I have lost seven lbs (next blog post is on the complicated issue of food). The habit of daily exercise is working its way into my muscle memory, endurance training and neural pathways. I can complete most of the one minute cardio intervals, have moved up to 8lb weights for most of the weight work and can do all of the exercises though not always for the full set of reps or required one minute hold. But the best part and the most important, is that I can see differences already in my physical strength and endurance.

Fitness is my goal; weight loss and toning are like icing on the cake. Probably not the best metaphor to use…

Next time: It’s All About the Food, Silly.

Like this post? Share on your FB page or email to someone else who might enjoy it.

*I am not endorsing nor receiving any compensation for mentioning these DVDs. I am sharing what is working for me. See my previous post.

Categories Fitness

Treadmills & Chocolate Cake or Why I Hate Gyms

by Sue

March 30th, 2013

The end of the first week has almost arrived! My energy level has soared, most of my muscles ache, my brain seems more focused, my sleep has deepened and even my posture has improved. What magic pill am I taking? What herbal concoction am I drinking? What new diet am I on?

My wellness plan can be defined in two words: Jillian Michaels. Wait, don’t click me out! Stay with me…there’s a story here.

Like many Americans, I have put on extra weight. Unlike many Americans, it is not necessarily attributed to processed food or drive through lunches. I have been cooking and eating healthy food for years. But my weakness is refined carbs. Bread and pasta…oh, how I love you!

But the bigger issue is my complete lack of cardio (read: fat-burning) exercise.

This winter I sat on the couch and wished I would lose 25 lbs. Turns out that wishing does not expend a lot of calories.

In a FB post, I read about a woman who lost 70 lbs mostly through the hard work of exercise that focused on high-intensity interval training. She suggested viewing Jillian Michaels’ videos on Youtube as an example.

My first question: who is Jillian Michaels? I had heard of the TV show, The Biggest Loser, but had never watched it. So I “Youtubed” her 30 Day Shred video and was hooked. Which is very unusual because I generally abhor organized exercise routines.

I watched the video again only this time in exercise clothing and participated fully. And in between the gasping and sweating, I realized it was time for me to stop wishing, get off the couch and start working. I went to her website and felt kind of like a gimmicky shopper. I also kept questioning my own willingness to participate. I currently own a treadmill that is seldom used (see below for more on why). But I needed to do something, and I wanted to do it in my home (also see below).

I ordered her Body Revolution: a 90 day kit which includes 15 DVDs, menu plan/recipe book and a resistance cord. Next week I am buying heavier weights: my 5 lb weights are already too light. Please note that I am not endorsing her or her program for any reason other than my own health. She’s making the big bucks, not me.

I am sharing this publicly to a) keep me honest and b) to perhaps inspire others to stop wishing and start working. I will blog on a weekly basis offering my take on this whole fitness thing.

Mountains, Canyons, Deserts, Forests

And for me, fitness is what I am seeking. Yes, I also want to lose 25 lbs and tone up my muscles. But most important is my desire to continue an active life: to be able to hike the canyons, deserts, forests and mountains that I deeply love. At the age of 54, my body is feeling some of its wear and tear and I want to feel less of that reality.

This is the first step: having a reason for investing the time. Jillian’s mantra: If you know the why, you can tolerate the how.

So why did I buy DVDs instead of joining a gym?

Because I hate gyms. Truly. Over the years, I have belonged to numerous fitness clubs and gyms and have the following complaints:

1) The sounds: listening to people breathe heavily, sigh loudly and grunt while lifting drives me nuts. The last (and final) gym I belonged to was small and offered a CD player instead of piped music. Every time I went into the weight room, there were young males, grunting with weights, playing heavy metal or bad rap at high volume.

2) The smell: reminds me of middle school PE class where some traumatic memories were created.

3) The machines: Walking 3.0 MPH on the treadmill while watching Paula Deen frost a buttermilk double chocolate cake on the overhead TV seemed pretty silly. Walking 2.8 MPH on the treadmill while the person next to you is running 5.5 MPH is humiliating. Not to mention the absolute boredom of walking or stair stepping on a machine. Inside. With me in control of the speed.

4) The babes: no offense if you are one, but watching women who work out 2-3 hours every day, struttin’ around in sports bras and tight little exercise shorts is not inspirational for those of us in baggy sweat pants and t-shirts.

5) The dudes: my, they are so serious! Staring into the mirror, watching their muscles flex with each rep. Reading GQ or The WSJ while on the treadmill. The dudes. Also, see #1.

The DVDs and my small living room are my new gym. These blog posts will be your opportunity to peer through my living room windows. Next post will include what I like about the DVDs and why they are working for me.

What does my fitness have to do with herbs? In my studies of clinical herbalism, wellness and balance is at the heart of herbalism. And wellness begins with the food we eat and the exercise we do. I am starting the path of walking my talk.

Join me on my path to wellness. Like The Withered Herb on FB and/or sign up for my e-newsletter at http://www.thewitheredherb.com

It’s gonna be fun!

Categories Uncategorized

The True Distinction Between Coffee and Herbal Teas

by Sue

February 28th, 2013

The Evergreen State

I live in the Pacific Northwest – the land of gourmet, artfully presented coffee. I blame Starbucks – started in Seattle in 1971 – for the glut of coffee shops everywhere. The bigger cities are populated with corporate chain coffee cafes while smaller towns offer individually owned shops with idiosyncratic names but both types serve the same: gourmet coffee laden with flavored syrups, foamed milk, numerous versions of sweetened chai teas, and, in my limited experience, a predictable array of mass-market and bland herbal teas.

Don’t get me wrong; I love coffee. But I like the taste of a dark roasted espresso bean, strongly brewed …and that’s it. No sweeteners, no flavors, no cream. (Though I have been experimenting with cinnamon in my morning java.) No doubt my preferred taste for coffee straight up is influenced by my midwestern roots where coffee percolated (originally on the stove, later in an electric appliance), all day long, and where the nickname of mud surely was invented. But the food industry knows how to hook us: the concoctions in today’s cafes target our already over-indulged sweet tooth. And I do mean intentional hooking…on my list to read is the newly released Salt, Sugar and Fat: How the Food Giants Hooked Us.

Research confirms that coffee, on its own and in moderation, offers several health benefits. But all those extra flavorings, rich in sugar and corn syrups, carry their own health concerns as noted in the recent research linking sugar, not obesity, to diabetes.

In the US, herbal teas have earned some significant space in the grocery aisle and you can order a cup of herbal tea in most cafes and restaurants. Herbal teas (including green and black teas) are making headlines every now and then for their medicinal usefulness. Pre-packaged teas are convenient but often stale tasting and weak: I typically have to use two or three teabags. I now create my own tea blends and when traveling I make my own generously sized tea bags.

The preference for tea or coffee is influenced by an assortment of things and many of us enjoy both each day. But my observations have highlighted a subtle but distinctive difference. In our culture, coffee is viewed as a component of work: we start off with it in the morning to ‘get moving’, we drink it while working to ‘keep moving,’ and grab a large cup to stay awake through those long afternoon meetings or to meet task deadlines.

A cup of tea is a metaphor for rest and thoughtfulness. I take to my reading chair when I have a cup of a tea and start my morning with a cup of coffee at my computer and writing table. I gaze out the window or read a poem when I drink hot tea and read work-related stuff and busily respond to emails when I drink coffee.

My tea blends are assertive in taste and incorporate a variety of flavors. Most offer some level of medicinal properties especially if taken on a regular basis but for me drinking tea is about settling my overly nervous and busy-work personality. It reminds me, even encourages me to sit and ponder something other than my to-do list.

One tea I love is my Rosemary Renewal Blend. Not actually developed by me, I borrowed this list of ingredients from another tea drinker and tweaked them to suit my preferred tastes. That’s the beauty of making your own tea blends.

Rosemary Renewal Tea Blend

ROSEMARY RENEWAL BLEND

2 Tsp. dried rosemary

1 tsp dried juniper berries (crushed in a mortar & pestle)

1 tsp dried spearmint (Dried apple mint is good, too)

1 tsp dried lemon grass or lemon verbena

Steep covered for 10 minutes and enjoy it when those mid-day zone outs happen. Rosemary can help with mild headache tension.

Don’t have all the ingredients or time to put a tea blend together? I offer all of my tea blends in one ounce packages and you can order them here.

Categories Uncategorized

For the Love of Breasts – Part 1

by Sue

February 27th, 2013

Breasts. The word itself can bring an array of emotions and imagery. Our culture has a long history of obsession with them but not necessarily because of their amazing life-giving purpose. Many women have agonized over them: too small, too big, sagging, not perfect, etc. We spend millions on cosmetic surgery, push up bras and enlargement products. How much do we spend on the health of our breasts?

Most of us don’t give the health of our breasts much thought until something goes wrong. We smother our bodies in lotion but typically skip the breasts. We get body massages but skip the breasts. We stuff them into bras that are too small or too tight. We are asked to do monthly breast self-exams …and I am wondering just how many of us commit to that. And more importantly how well do we do it?

Rosemary Gladstar, a well-known and long time herbalist, offers the following: “We are trained to look for cancer, not the lack of it, when we examine our breasts, Maybe that’s why so many women unconsciously choose not to do breast exams. Even though it’s a simple process that can save lives, each time a woman searches her breasts she feels, albeit unconsciously, that she is looking for cancer. It’s a very negative concept. Perhaps we really do believe the old adage, “What we seek, we shall surely find.”

I had my own scare last year when the doctor ordered me back for additional mammogram screens after finding a “spot.” My emotions took immediate control and I was obsessed with the word cancer. This is when I became aware of how little I knew about my breasts. After additional screenings and then an ultrasound, my spot was determined to be a benign cyst. But the two weeks of emotional turmoil created a commitment to learn more, to take more control of my body and health.

Let’s start with a few facts:

1) Since 1950 the incidence of breast cancer has increased by 53%.

2) While genetics plays a significant role in who is more likely to be diagnosed with breast cancer, there is mounting evidence that lifestyle decisions and environmental toxins are factors in the increased incidences.

3) Breast cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death in women

About 1 in 8 (12%) women in the US will develop invasive breast cancer during their lifetime.
About 1 in 36 (3%) women in the US will die from breast cancer.

4) The good news is that death rates from breast cancer have been declining since 1989. Many believe that increased awareness and early detection are strong factors in this reduction.

Awareness is the key to prevention. And after all, prevention is what we want, right? Unfortunately, little of the current research being done on breast cancer is dedicated to prevention: so we must create our own system of prevention based on the limited research available on some of the causes linked to breast cancer.

A recent study found a slight increase in late stage breast cancer in women under the age of 40.

Two resources I recommend:

Breasts: A Natural and Unnatural History by Florence Williams

A book published last year that does a wonderful job of explaining breasts and how they ‘operate.’ Topics range from the purpose and origin theories of breasts, breast implants, the increase of early puberty, the legacy of environmental toxins, breast feeding & breast milk and breast cancer. Every woman should read this book.

Breast Cancer? Breast Health! (The Wise Woman Way) by Susun S. Weed

The first section of the book is about preventing cancer through lifestyle choices and actions; the second section is about women who are diagnosed with breast cancer and surveys various treatments; and the last section is full of resources and help. This book offers explanations, definitions, strategies and recipes.

Note: the book was published in 1995 and some breast cancer treatments have changed since then. The first section on breast awareness and prevention strategies is excellent.

Categories Uncategorized

An Ancient Tradition: Bone Broth

by Sue

February 12th, 2013

My imagination visualizes early hunters and gatherers, who discovered the nourishing qualities of bone marrow (probably by observing animals), dropping left over bones from their meat into a large pot of perched over a fire and then tossing in nearby plants, mushrooms and perhaps seaweed. The pot stayed on the fire for hours, maybe even days, offering a dark and richly flavored broth.

Did they know about the vitamins and more importantly, minerals that could be retrieved from the bones and plants? Did they know that their concoction would support their immune systems and be the ideal broth for rebuilding from sickness?

Probably not immediately, but they did enjoy the rich-tasting broth and ingested more of it and made a connection between bone broth and wellness. With no grocery stores available, they likely made use of all of their leftover foods, bones included.

I discovered bone broth several years ago and keep quarts of it year ‘round in my home. Its richness can’t compare to store-bought broth and the nutritional and medicinal qualities quickly become evident when used during illness. I use it for soup, beans, rice and when feeling under-the-weather drink it like tea.

Research suggests that we are more likely to be deficient in minerals (due to a variety of reasons) and the human body requires minerals. Bone broth offers a reliable and easy-to-make way to replace lost minerals.

The link below offers a detailed blog post on the nutritional and medicinal benefits of bone broth:

http://www.jadeinstitute.com/jade/bone-broth-health-building.php

The kit idea was a light bulb moment: after gathering/ordering all of the ingredients, I made several pre-made kits for my personal use and thus, the Bone Broth Kit was conceived.

The Withered Herb’s Bone Broth Kit includes mineral rich herbs, medicinal Chinese herb roots, dried seaweed, medicinal shitake mushrooms and aromatic herbs. Directions are included and one kit makes about a 2-4 quarts (depends how strong you like it). You provide animal bones of your choice, and a day of simmering on the stove or crockpot and delicious medicine is your reward.

You can order the kit here.

Categories Uncategorized

Elevator Speeches and Herbal Medicine

by Sue

January 26th, 2013

One indicator of our culture’s impatience is the elevator speech: an oral summary of who you are or what you can do or what your business, product or serve can do for the listener. And it must be succinct – no longer than the typical time of an elevator ride. Hurry up girl; convince me why you are worth my time.

As a small business owner this concept has been drilled into my brain: my entire success seemingly begins and ends with my ability to create and deliver the perfect one-minute presentation.

Oh dear…brevity is generally not associated with my communication skills. I mean really…language is the gift to humanity and you want me to keep it short and to the point?

At a recent gathering, I sat next to a woman I had not seen for a long time. She asked about my life’s activities and listened attentively as I described my blossoming herb business, and then announced my decision to enroll in a three year Professional Herbalist education program. Her interest was piqued: she asked simply, “Why herbal medicine?”

Wait a minute…is this a test? Nobody asks me that. Most people smile politely and silently when I mention my new endeavor. That’s another blog post…

My brain went to work but I wasn’t sure where to begin.

I could start with my passion for nature. Since I was a young child, the small pockets of nature’s wildness in my life offered both refuge and revelation. I could describe my ever-growing collection of plants, books about plants and my days spent out in the garden and the endlessly scanning for plants I know and plants I don’t know. I could offer a display of my many photos of plants and my journal entries about my relationships with plants. Herbal medicine is about a traditional, deeper, intimate and caring relationship with the natural world.

Or perhaps I could offer my personal/professional goals: my requirement to live an integrated life where my passion for plants, my desire to work with people in ways that are meaningful and my aspiration to leave a kinder and more respectful footprint on the planet and in my community are all intertwined rather than segmented into 8 hour categories of life. My work is my avocation and my avocation is my work. Even my dreams involve walking through nature though sometimes on a nightmarish trail!

Of course, there is the political approach: our culture has surrendered our health and wellness to large corporate structures that make billions of dollars off of illness. A for-profit business, healthcare is front and center in the debate of rights vs. privileges. In a world of mega-corporations we discover that the companies who feed us toxic and unhealthy food also own the pharmaceutical companies that will later keep us alive despite our poor health. Herbal medicine is a return to individual responsibility and empowerment; an opportunity for self-care.

I could jump on my Earth Mama philosophy with a bit of anthropology tossed in: we are part of nature and our bodies and brains have evolved with plants. Our overall wellness, both individually and culturally, declines as we sit inside with our technology. Herbal medicine keeps us connected to nature, teaching important skills and lessons so we understand our role as a guardian of nature.

But my opportunity to answer her inquiry with a well-worded, explanatory and succinct response was cut short by the announcement that the meeting we were attending would begin.

So, in an enthusiastic and somewhat bubbly voice, I quickly whispered to my friend, “ Because it is so cool.”

Uhh…yeah… gotta keep working on that elevator speech.

Categories Uncategorized

A Monthly Herbal CSA is …

by Sue

January 20th, 2013

Herbal CSA

So, you might be asking what is a monthly herbal CSA?

CSA stands for Community Supported Agriculture and is becoming a popular way for folks to get just-picked-this-morning fresh, organic and locally grown produce and meats. Models differ but the most common method is for buyers to purchase up front a share from a local farmer. Farmers then provide a share of the products each week throughout the growing season to members.

Herbal CSAs are starting to pop up throughout North America. Like food CSAs, the models differ as do the types of products offered. Some herbalists offer only medicinal products (teas, elixirs, balms, salves) and others like mine, offer a variety of herbal products. Some of the herbal CSAs are offered as a seasonal package; others are monthly. The ten or so herbal CSAs in the US all have one thing in common: the bulk of the ingredients are organically grown and ethically wildcrafted.*

Many herbs and spices have medicinal applications including ones we typically use in the kitchen. Most herbalists create products that are one-of-a-kind: you won’t find bee balm oxymel, comfrey salve, elderberry elixir, pine-infused honey, or fire cider in drugstores. Many herbalists include an educational handout with each purchase so that their buyers become knowledgable about herbs and their healing powers.

THE WITHERED HERB’S CSA – HERBWYFE

Each month you will receive a box filled with four unique herb and/or spice products. All of the products are created with organically grown herbs from my abundant gardens, wildcrafted from the nearby woods and fields or purchased from a certified organic supplier. The ingredients are free of industrial chemicals, and I guarantee that you will be able to pronounce everything listed as an ingredient! The herbal products will be aligned closely with the seasons; herbs and spices that warm or cool you, that flavor traditional foods, that build an herbal apothecary and that offer a variety of sensory experiences.

The monthly four herbal delights will be selected from the following:

Herbal teas – tasty, seasonal, nutritional, medicinal
Infused oils – culinary & medicinal
Culinary herb & spice blends – seasonal and unique
Infused honeys & oxymels
Herbal syrups & elixirs
Infused vinegars – culinary & medicinal
Healing balms & salves
Herbal bath salts & other body care delights

A surprise free gift is included in each month’s delivery as well a succinct educational newsletter offering information on the month’s products. They will be shipped via USPS around the 15th of each month. There is also a beautifully presented gift basket option; what an unusual gift! (Email me if you want it packaged as a gift basket for an additional fee).

HerbWyfe is a unique and affordable way to experience the sensuous and healing magic of herbs & spices. Click here to order!

*Ethical wildcrafting is the harvesting of wild plants for the purpose of making herbal medicine. Herbalists are committed to ethical harvesting and take only from areas of abundance.

Categories Uncategorized

The Gift of Gratitude

by Sue

January 1st, 2013

Early morning on the first day of a new year and I think about the expectations and resolutions that are associated with the ringing in of a new year. Humans seem forever optimistic; the gift of hope is a grand one.

Last night I read a post from a friend: filled with gratitude, he thanked those who offered him support when he made a significant career change in his fifties. It takes a considerable amount of hope to leave what you know, to change direction, to start over, to move forward. The voice of doubt, the stop sign for so many of us, shows up every day challenging our hope, our faith in our abilities. But our optimism is stronger, and we rise above the doubtful voice telling us what we can’t do, what we shouldn’t do.

Not all of us take such leaps while some of us are compelled to leap, to follow a path that is not yet known. Like my friend, I changed direction at the age of 50. My path has had some false trails…if you hike, you recognize these faint paths as the ones that veer off the main trail. Sometimes they lead to new a sit spot under a beautiful tree or an amazing view; often they simply stop – evidence of past hikers’ hope – and you retrace your steps back to the main trail. I like these false trails – they engage my curiosity, they sharpen my senses, they enlist my optimism, they challenge what I think I know. Occasionally, they also scare the hell out of me.

But my friend’s post reminded me that gratitude is necessary: without it we can easily become unbalanced, veering mindlessly on our path, stomping forward to get to the end.

I already have an assortment of weekly, monthly and quarterly to-do lists so traditional resolutions seem redundant. Instead I am committing to gratitude this year: to be thankful for my opportunities; for my willingness to take risks; for friends and family who offer encouragement, love and support; for the beauty of nature and companionship of animals; and lastly, for the gift of hope.

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