There are too many squash varietals to even begin naming them! And, now is the time (roughly Late Summer) when the first of the winter squashes start rolling in from the fields. We’ve got some interesting shaped and colored fellas in our kitchen — one kind of looks like a submarine. Many of the existing … Continue reading
Apple Chutney (lacto-fermented)
Heirloom apple mix from Southern Appalachia A few weeks ago, a friend ‘found’ some apples — about two bushels — that were just ripe for the pickin’. So, for the past few weeks, I’ve been trying to do stuff with them before they go bad. I didn’t feel like making standard apple sauce or apple … Continue reading
Late Summer Tummy Love
Late Summer arrived near the beginning of August. In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), a rare type of ancestral medicine that has remained quite flexible and integrated, Late Summer is one of its five seasons. It falls between Summer and Fall and is time when the yin (feminine) and yang (masculine) energies are balanced. When Fall … Continue reading
Liquid Nurturing
Turmeric powder and fresh root About four years ago, my life went through some shocking changes. A short relationship had ended abruptly (although right on time, really), triggered by an abortion that I went through. Deciding to go through the abortion was very difficult. However, after consulting my inner wisdom and guidance (and with heart-felt … Continue reading
Beautiful Beyond Belief
Mystic Hildegaard of Bingen’s mandala (12th Century) “I am dreaming back my sisters Whisper-worn footfalls on the Temple steps Skywalkers Storm dwellers Heavy-breasted cauldron keepers ..Songweavers Snake sisters Darkmoon dancers Labyrinth builders Star bridgers Fiery-eyed dragon-ryders Wind seekers Shape shifters Corn daughters Wolf women Earth stewards Gentle-handed womb sounders Dream spinners Flame keepers Moon birthers … Continue reading
Reishi (Ganoderma tsugae): The Mushroom of Immortality
Reishi goes by a lot of names: Mushroom of Immortality, Supernatural Mushroom, Shining Skin, Auspicious Herb, and the Herb of Longevity. So — you get it? — it’s an amazing offering to us from the largely unseen world of mycelium (a network of fine, white filaments in the soil or wood of a decaying tree, … Continue reading
Summer Peach Chutney (lacto-fermented)
Fresh and fuzzy peaches Unfortunately, these beauties are one of the most sprayed fruits in the US. So, always wash and peel (sigh, as if that really does anything) and buy organic (ask the farmer if they are chemical-free!) whenever possible! Below, I have a lacto-fermented peach chutney recipe for you. But, first — a … Continue reading
St. John’s Wort (Hypericum perforatum)
St. John’s Wort is a beautiful weed that spread from Europe to the Americas with the settlers. This plant is energetically associated with sunlight and is able to cast light in dark places. The flower essence serves as an aid for the very emotional and light-sensitive ones. Hypericum perforatum blooms around the Summer Solstice — … Continue reading
Kickin’ the Coffee Habit
If this picture stimulates your salivary glands and kicks in your coffee craving, consider that you are addicted to coffee. I kicked my short-lived habit about 10 years ago. I used to drink quite a bit in one day (I think, encouraged by my restaurant job at the time). However, after a couple years of … Continue reading
Mint-Fennel-Rose Whey Cooler
Whey cooler ingredients (+ organic cane sugar) One of the best ways to cool off and break up cascading heat in the body is by putting mints in you or on you. And, one of my favorite ways of taking in mint is by drinking a whey cooler. Whey (a by-product of making queso fresco … Continue reading
Lindsay Kolasa 