Wintertime Motto: An Ounce of Prevention

“An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.”  ~ Benjamin Franklin Every winter, I sense that the viruses going around — flus and colds — well, I sense that they are getting worse.  Partly, I blame the hyper-speed we Americans seem to move at (especially during the holidays).  I also look to our … Continue reading →

Wart Story: Blistering Beatles vs. Vinegar

…a little story about the virtues of a common household item, vinegar…the discomfort of the blister beetle, and the ridiculousness of our medical system (anyone experienced the tangled web that is our health care?)… I’ll try to make this short (insert Pinocchio’s growing nose here). As you all know, I’m an herbalist. If I can … Continue reading →

Cordage and a Worthwhile Hand Cramp

I did get a hand cramp.  But, it was worth it. Let me back up a bit. Working with my hands has always been healing.  And, recently, I had the chance to learn something new…something I had been wanting to learn…basic cordage making. My first imprint of the process was at a Chumash Cultural Day … Continue reading →

Zucchini Tahini Banana Ginger Muffins

I’ll make this short. Because it’s starting to get cold out there.  Because these are so yummy. Because you can warm your house *while* baking something DELICIOUS. That’s why. This. Gluten-free.  Dairy-free.  Sugar Free.  Yummy.  Toddler approved. Serve with a lot of ghee or butter (smile).   Zucchini Tahini Banana Ginger Muffins 10-12 small muffins … Continue reading →

Grandmothers Can Tell It Like It Is

When I worked as the Retreat Manager at a silent, contemplative retreat center in a holler out in the mountains of WNC about 10 years ago, the (amazing) cook gifted me this book. I haven’t picked it up in years. I opened it up and turned directly to this page. Sobering words, but words we … Continue reading →

The Forgiving Oat Bar

The amazing teacher that led my daughter’s parent-child, outdoor program this past year gave me this recipe.   She gave me the scaffolding, shall we say?  And, I made it my own. Like she promised, it is a forgiving recipe.  Too moist?  Cook it a bit longer. The batter too dry?  Add more wet ingredients. It’s … Continue reading →

Brand Names and Small Crafters for Clean Threads

Something shifted in me around the time of my pregnancy back in 2017.  Even though I had owned my share of hemp and organic cotton clothing…and steadily sifted through the endless racks of thrift and consignment store shops for second hand threads…fibers…all of a sudden…became more of an interest for me. There was something about … Continue reading →

Kitchen Scrap Color, Plant Dye Explorations

I’ve been exploring plant dyeing lately and it is so much fun.  I think I’ve dyed everything cream, white, or off-white in our house.  My husband is considering hiding some of his boxers that are white. It has become a bit of an obsession, I admit. As an herbalist, I often looked to plants to … Continue reading →