Zucchini Bread Extraordinaire
Zucchini bread is the blessing of summer. It is a quick and filling breakfast as well as satisfying dessert. My problem with most zucchini bread recipes is that they are too sweet, too dry or too nutty. I like the flavor of nuts but the texture doesn’t combine well with the a good sweet bread. […]
1.Herbs for Dental Health
Strawberry is an uncommon herb, even though it’s a common garden plant and favorite fruit of millions. We discussed the virtues of this humble berry and delved into how strawberries and strawberry leaves can be used in dental care for mild to serious cases.
In this Apocalypse, Burdock is Worth the Risk
Episode XII One Important rule Sadie, my teacher, taught me early on is that the risk of contracting Virus Z is a key factor in choosing which plants to harvest. Roots, for the most part, are the riskiest of all. When you’re digging, it’s too easy to stop watching for Zs. Even relatively easy roots, […]
Antioxidants Boost Your Health and Stamina
Blueberry and blackberry season is upon us and the apples are hot on their heals this time of year. These wonderful late summer fruits offer a wealth of antioxidants we can use through out the year to help boost our immune systems, improve vision, and clear our systems of toxins and free radicals that would […]
Antioxidant Rich Smoothie Blend
Research shows that antioxidants are good for us. It’s not clear yet whether antioxidant supplements are healthful, but given how easy it is to eat your antioxidants, there’s no sense in relying on supplements anyway. The key is to have a varied diet rich in fruits, vegetables, and whole grains. This smoothie blend offers a […]
Busting Out in Blueberries
This month has been fabulous for blueberries in the Willamette Valley: A few weeks of sun followed by rainy days then again by more sun. Usually, blueberries are shriveled by the end of July and it’s time for blackberry picking. This year was great for fruit in general. It’s almost August and there are still […]
Cheating with Ice in Summer – The Shoestring Herbalist
I am a cheater. Summer jumps up from behind me and, suddenly, I have too much food and herbs to put by than time to process it. Sometimes I need a tincture tomorrow I haven’t started today. Sometimes, a plant just holds on despite my coaxing. These are cheatin’ times. My freezer is my partner […]
Using Herbs to Build and Repair Broken Bones
Last winter, my boy broke his arm in a taekwondo test. It was an accident, the perfect connection of sidekick and outer forearm block, that split a thin space from the outer edge of his ulna into his elbow joint. As has so often been the case when I’ve been neglecting some aspect of my […]
Protect Yourself from Zombies with Landscaping
Episode XI I wouldn’t have believed the Howard Clan could have become the Protective Landscaping gurus they are today when I first met them. They were a rag-tag group of mostly men hell-bent on shooting or cutting their way through the apocalypse. Were it not for the horde of zombies we took down together, we […]
Rosacea Facial Rinse
Rosacea is a chronic skin condition that causes red, blotchy patches resembling acne or sunburn on facial skin. It’s most common for fair-skinned women starting at the age of 30 or 40 years. When it occurs in men, the condition can become more severe. Doctors commonly prescribe antibiotics for rosacea with limited success. Although the […]
Soft Water Blues
I live in a soggy area. Like most continental curls of geography, this section of Oregon does a great job of collecting rain clouds. The soil is rich and spongy due to years of volcanic activity. This is a boon to the farmer and the backyard gardener. The water here is soft. Soap lathers up […]
Cherries with a Side Order of St. John’s Wort
The Practical Herbalist® team headed out to the hills last week to pick cherries at a local farm, Detering Orchards in Harrisburg, Oregon, hosted the latest Practical Herbalist field trip. Cherries were early this year, and we gathered our buckets and bags to collect them. Although cherry is a traditional remedy for gout, our intentions were […]