Coffee : Slow Roasted Medicine
A warm cup of Joe in the morning is not usually sipped with herbal medicine in mind, but no one will tell you it doesn’t have an effect on the body. Coffee is full of stimulants that, when properly placed, provide a remedy for common health problems.
Athlete’s Foot – Herbal First Aid
Athlete’s Foot is a chronic problem in gyms and locker rooms. As a fungus (dermatophytes), it thrives in warm, moist, sheltered environments and feeds on keratin. Keratin is a protein that forms the base for skin, nail and hair production. Rarely, Athlete’s Foot can be caused by yeast but it is treated the same way. […]
Spiced Asian Pear Brandy Cordial
Imagine a cold winter day. You’re sitting by the fire with a snifter of brandy in your hand. As you raise the glass to your lips, you smell the gently fruity scent of pears mingled with the spicy aroma of ginger. The first sip warms your tongue and throat. The second sip brings a smile […]
The Male Herbal by James Green
Best Audience for The Male Herbal: Men and the women who take care of men, beginning and experienced herbalists alike Patrick said: The Male Herbal contains good herbal information, including basics on making herbal preparations. Green makes it easy for men who are reluctant herbalists to use plants to care for themselves and their boys. […]
Putting Food By by Ruth Hertzberg, Janet Greene and Beatrice Vaughan
Best Audience for Putting Food By: Beginning to Experienced Homesteaders, Homemakers, and folks who practice the food-preservation arts Candace said: Wow, Putting Food By is thick with solid facts and practices for preserving a host of different foods. Some of the recommended practices are more stringent than I’ve practiced, but I’ve been known to take […]
Reader’s Digest Back To Basics: How to Learn and Enjoy Traditional American Skills
Best Audience for Reader’s Digest Back to Basics: Urban homesteaders, especially those new to homesteading. Patrick said: Reader’s Digest Back to Basics covers just about everything homesteading, but it doesn’t give a lot of detail. It’s a great book for getting started on any given technique. The how-tos may be enough for your needs. They […]
Strawberry History, Folklore, Myth and Magic
Although strawberries have only relatively recently been cultivated in Europe and western cultures, beginning around 1300 C. E. in France, folk all around the world have used strawberries for a variety of purposes for centuries. In South America before the Europeans arrived, strawberries were traded. North American First Nation tribes used strawberries as medicine, particularly […]
How to Make Incense Sticks
Homemade incense is easy to make. When my son was young, he loved making incense. We learned this technique for making homemade incense sticks using our loose incense from my friend Dawn at Dawn’s Enchanted Garden and have since modified it slightly to accommodate the resins available to us. I’ve provided specific quantities to give […]
Oregon Grape History, Folklore, Myth and Magic
Oregon Grape’s history as a medicinal plant in North America, particularly in the Pacific Northwest, is clear and undisputed. Oregon grape was used by many First Nation Tribes and later by European colonists for a wide variety of healing purposes. Folklore and myth regarding this plant, however, is far less clear. Introduced to Europe by […]
Coffee Brewing – How-to
One important key to making great coffee is to choose coffee you love. Using this process, the scent and the flavor of your beans will shine as will any unbalance or flaws. Experiment with the best quality beans you can find. Pay attention to the characteristics you like best and to which varieties satisfy your palate. Ignore any coffee experts who try to tell you what you should or shouldn’t like. Coffee is highly personal.
Turkish Cardamon Syrup
Cardamon syrup is a great digestive for a variety of coffee, tea, and cocoa drinks. I use just a dab in my latte, chai and iced coffees to add a hint of floral sweetness and to help my stomach better tolerate the dairy. I like it so well that I’ve been known to stir a wee-bit into my non-dairy coffees, teas, and cocoas as well.
How to Make Herbal Ice Cubes
Herbal ice cubes are versatile little powerhouses of medicine. Store a batch of calendula ice cubes in your freezer to treat minor burns and scrapes. Put nettle ice cubes in your pets’ drinking water on a hot day to keep their electrolyte balance in check. Toss a few lemon balm ice cubes into your glass to add zest to your iced tea. The list of uses for herbal ice cubes is endless.