I don’t know why I haven’t thought of this before. A traditional pesto recipe has the green goodness of sweet basil that requires the zing of a little lemon juice. Enter purslane, stage right. Purslane is THE Omega-3 powerhouse of the plant kingdom. It also has a slightly sour taste to it, making it an … Continue reading
Settling Into My New Bioregion (Coastal California)
In April, my small family moved to Santa Barbara, CA for my husband’s work. Thankfully, my work with plants and people is pretty portable (another p-word please?). Considering that my work with plants really began in CA, it feels good to bring it back home after about 9 years in Appalachia and the Deep South. … Continue reading
Borys’s YUM Lactation Cookies
Dairy-free. Egg-free. Gluten-free goodness for little ones with a milk protein sensitivity… Yeah. I hadn’t heard of that either until it happened to my little one. Boo. So, my husband, Borys, has been such crucial support during my postpartum period after our little one’s birth. We couldn’t just order take-out. We couldn’t just cook as … Continue reading
Motherhood and the New Ring on My Tree
It’s finally springtime. And, I’m feeling the warm sun thawing the last, cold-knuckled grip of winter. I have never been so ready for spring (clutches table in front of me and locks you in a exasperated stare). My little one, born in late October, is now 5 months old. Through the short days and long … Continue reading
Privet & the Healing Potential of Invasive Species
Privet (Ligustrum sinense) I just survived the privet trimming. Of course, this dance with privet (and what a wild dance as it grows like crazy) got me thinking about the traditional use of this plant as well as new scientific information coming out about it. I’ve always had a thing for invasive plants. In my … Continue reading
Plant Love & the Interns’ Final Projects
August 3, 2017 Sniff, sniff… Just had the most wonderful call with the interns last night. It was our last call as I’m simplifying things to prepare for the birth of this little one. Two of them have worked with me directly at the apothecary. And, one was a friend who became a satellite intern, … Continue reading
Tales from a 3-day Herb Course in Mississippi
I didn’t know who would sign up. But, I knew I would show up no matter what. Before I left Mississippi to move to Tennessee this April (2017), I wanted to leave a heaping package of ‘thank you’ behind. So, I crafted a 3-day herb course for Spring 2017. We met one Sunday each month … Continue reading
A Recap: Foraged Farmacy Intensive
Reposting this from my old website, http://www.sweetgumsprings.com, to this one (as I am about to shut down the other website). I feel really satisfied with the recent intensive, Foraged Farmacy: Crafting Your Own Medicine Chest in Clinton, MS which took place the last weekend of May 2016. This was the third time Jen Stovall and … Continue reading
Fibers That Won’t Choke The World
With the little one on its way…I’ve been obsessing about fabrics, textiles, and yarns. As an herbalist and plant-worker, I’ve always been drawn to natural fibers and plant dyes, but this nesting season has taken it to a whole new level. In addition to this, my increasing awareness of microplastics has deepened my commitment to … Continue reading
Hearty Homemade Crackers
When I moved away from San Francisco in 2009, I was sure to take with me a small binder of recipes my nutritionist friend had given me. She was the one that had exposed me to whole foods, traditional food ways, and the Weston A Price Foundation (which focuses on food, farming, and the healing … Continue reading
Lindsay Kolasa 