Herb Blog Contest - Week 8

Bertha Reppert (1919-1999) was the founder of The Rosemary House and our mum. She was a Renaissance woman ahead of her time when she opened a herb and spice shop in a conservative East coast town in 1968. Convinced that once everyone learned about herbs they would love these plants as much as she did, she became an avid educator about the secrets of herbs. Lecturing, writing and always promoting herbs, Bertha Reppert became a mentor to many. This weeks prize is a copy of her last herbal and one of our very favorites.
Bertha Reppert's TwelveMonth Herbal features 365 herbal essays one for each day of the year. Written like she is speaking to a friend this book is fun, informative and easy to read. Many folks have told us they reread the book every year and make their own daily notes in the margins. Be sure to leave a comment to this post and at the other participating herbal blogs (see the links below) for your chance to win this clever book (an $18.00 value) filled with herbal lore, recipes and crafts (priceless). Sisters Susanna, the herbalist, and Nancy, the culinary artist, continue to share their Mother's love of all things herbal at The Rosemary House, the herb and spice gift shop, and at Sweet Remembrances tea room.
The following blogs are also participating, so stop over, post a comment on these blogs for additional chances to win this weeks giveaway AND the chance to explore some cool blogs.

Nature's Gift to be announced (next week)
Torchsong Studio to be announced (two weeks)
The Essential Herbal - magazine subscriptions
Garden Chick - fairy cookie kit
SunRose Aromatics - facial exfoliant and liquid soap
Herbs from the Labyrinth - tea sampler
Patti’s Potions - lip balms
PrairieLand Herbs - healing wand
Aquarian Bath - lip balm and soap
The Rosemary House (where a list of winners will be posted on the 24th)
Check back we have a couple more weeks of give-aways!

The Essential Herbal - May/June 2009

If you are a subscriber to The Essential Herbal magazine, this issue is in the mail and will be reaching your home by the first week of May. If you are NOT a subscriber to The Essential Herbal magazine, you are really missing out. This magazine is chock-full of wonderful herb information, from culinary to medicinal to folk lore to chemistry (for Pete's sake!) and back again. One of the highlights of this issue would have to be the pictures of apothecaries and workrooms sent in by several herb businesses and herbal enthusiasts. It's so much fun to see how other people work. 6 fabulous issues every year for $24. Subscribe today!TABLE OF CONTENTS

Field Notes from the Editor
Flower Essences Part 3, Kristena Haslam
Stinging Nettles, Susan Evans
Seborrhea on Dogs, Kathi Garrison
Louisiana Lagniappe - Butterfly Cake, Sarah Liberta
Our Workspaces - a compilation
Down on the Farm - Companion Planting, Michele Brown and Pat Stewart
The Global Herbal, Asia Part 1, Marita A. Orr
The Herbal Laboratory, Cory Trusty
Ginseng - An Herb for the Ages, Joe Smulevitz CH, MH
Herbal Fast Food, Maggie Howe
SouthRidge Treasures - Herbal Butters, Mary Ellen Wilcox
Start Mindfully Marketing your Herbal Business, Jenn Givler
Suburban Herbie - The Garden of Relativity, Geri Burgert
The Soap Pot - Slow Cooker Hot Process, Alicia Grosso
Herbalism Abroad - an Interview with a Mayan Herbalist, Betsy May
Lignans, Cindy Jones
Magick of Mint, Gale La Scala
Caraway 10 Ways - Sue-Ryn Burns

See what I mean? Even skipping the usual word puzzle, we still had to add 4 pages (again). The Essential Herbal is also available to herb shops and businesses wholesale, as are our books. The advertising rates are the best in the business. Come check us out! All of the back issue tables of contents and covers are on our website.

Here we go - Spring '09

When I woke up this morning and sat at the desk, the sun was coming over the horizon, cutting through the fog, and casting a shell-pink glow on the blossoming nut trees leading down to my sister's house. It is becoming the fairyland that always enchants me once again.
We are in the throes of getting ourselves together for the PA Herb Festival tomorrow, and Maryanne took John for a paracentesis today while I did some things here that needed to be done. But... somewhere in mid-afternoon I had to go see what was happening. This tulip is right outside the shop. Is it stunning, or what???

These trout lily (dog-tooth violet) buds were the first I spied. In a few days...Sunday for sure, the floor of the woods will be covered with flowers. At the same time, these beauties - Spring Beauties - are starting to open. In the spaces between the yellow trout lilies, the spring beauties will nestle.

Mr. Spider gets into the action here along with the speedwell and spring beauty. Everything is in full gear.

Here Mayapples are in varying states of unfurling. I wonder if I listened closely... do they pop when they open?

This picture has such diversity. At the top left are spent bloodroot petals, ad to the right are mayapples. In the center are sweet violet leaves and then we have a fully opened trout lily.

This jewelweed has a set of "real" leaves. In a couple of weeks it will be nearly as tall as me and the stalks will be succulent and juicy.

A slightly different type of spring beauty, with more elongated petals.The dutchman's breeches are fully in bloom. I can barely stand how beautiful they are.

Ok, that's it for today. Sometime soon I will once again post some recipes and medicinal herbal information. But for now.... it's walks in the woods!

I LOVE WEEDS

Gads, I love weeds! It's getting worse, too. Anymore I shun the cultivated flowers that used to be so interesting. The stuff of florists have come to seem almost plasticized to me. It is through no fault of their own, it is just that weeds have such a natural charm and beauty that they put their hothouse cousins to shame. Look at this luscious chickweed!
Yesterday I was burning a little bit outside and wanted to stay nearby to make sure the fire was safe. That caused me to roll around in the weeds a little bit, so I went for the camera. That lying on the ground thing makes for a great angle! Chickweed is for some people, very difficult to identify. The flowers above are perhaps 4X larger than in real life. Those little buds are about the size of seed beads, and the leaves are maybe 1/2" long. It grows like a mat on the ground. Once it is identified, they never have that problem again. They say, "Ooooooohhh!"

Here we have some catnip and Lily, our resident feline has been having a great time with the new crop. It can be somewhat difficult to be sure it isn't a different mint - and early in my foraging days I could confuse it with stinging nettles - but it has a distinctive scent and doesn't sting. hah.

This robust mustard is (I think) black mustard. The seeds will be black in color. The leaves are delicious when mixed with other wild greens in salad.

Red Dead Nettle... called dead because it carries no sting. I am not aware of any pressing medicinal use for this plant, nor have I eaten it. But how can one not love the delicate flowers though,and the way this plant can turn spring fields into purple vistas? Ok... maybe farmers can not love that, now that I think about it. If you look closely, you'll see both varieties of chickweed. The thicker, darker, hairy leaves are mouse-ear chickweed, also edible and used interchangeably with the "regular" stuff.

This one needs a little research. The flowers have four petals which lead me to think mustard, however the leaves hug the stem where they are attached and have that bluish green color reminding me of wild lettuce.

Sweet violets are starting to make an appearance in the fields. This year perhaps we'll make some violet syrup for market.

The Shepherd's Purse is already forming the little purses. They are seed pods and they rattle in the wind after drying. The seeds can be used as pepper as can a close relative that also grows nearby - penny cress or pepper grass.

This is just the big picture while lying on the ground. Look at the variety that lay before me!

Friends, News, and the Woods

My friend Susan Hess at Farm at Coventry ordered the upcoming issue for her Homestead Herbalism class, and I scurried to get them there. They are seeing the first issues to get out. The others are in sacks waiting to go to the post office as soon as I get up from the desk.

Another friend, Sarah Campbell was featured in an article about labyrinths. Her business - Herbs from the Labyrinth originally used mostly herbs which were grown in the labyrinth to make salves, balms, and such, but has outgrown that possibility now. This picture was taken by Blaine Shahan for the Lancaster Sunday News. There is a link for the full article under the photo.
http://articles.lancasteronline.com/local/4/236157

I'd also like to share this video from a friend's band - Hippie Cream: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nElYG5PLqIU They have a very unique sound. Based in the LA area, they are starting to be pretty well known on the club scene. I love Hippie Cream! Have a listen, and visit hippiecream.com for more MP3's.

Molly and I once again headed out for our Sunday jaunt. I am seriously overjoyed watching her as she looks closely at plants, asks questions, and even bent down to taste a ramp leaf. When she was small, she was always with me in the garden - usually chewing on onion grass or covered with mulberry juice. Her very favorite way to spend the day was picking violets for syrup. She loved the idea that nobody asked her to keep the stems longer - she could just pop the flowers off. That's MUCH more fun. As time went on, she wasn't terribly interested anymore. Boys. Nuff said. But now it is returning as an interest, and I am happy about that. It is something that gives me so much pleasure that I want her to find that too - it's free, it's always there, it is easy to find. We all need to have something we enjoy so readily available.
So even though I am in the woods nearly every day right now, she goes along at least once a week.

I do not know what the arrow shaped leaf is. It has popped into my consciousness before, but just as quickly passed out, while the Spring Beauty leaves and spotted Trout Lily leaves carpet the ground around them. Soon the flowers for the latter two will bloom and I will forget all about those leaves. Anyone know what they are?This little guy cracked me up. It has been YEARS since I've seen a salamander. Normally there is not a lot of picking up rocks or pieces of wood. We leave things alone as much as possible. This guy happens to live exactly where I *thought* I put in some trillium, so moving the piece of log was meant to enable the plant to come up. The wood went right back over him. When we were kids, our grandfather used to take us "sally" hunting in the woods around the house. Looking back, there wasn't any real purpose. It was probably even a pretty bad thing to encourage kids to do - but it instilled a real curiousity about the woods for me, and I am thankful. Maybe this spring I'll look under some rocks in the creekbed and find a newt just for old time's sake.

These bloodroot bloom their heads off while the mayapples at the very top of the picture push up through the ground. The succession of spring blooms has begun and for the next month or so, it will be a constant source of amazement and there will be much medicine making to be done.

This little cottage in the woods is really my nephew's old camp cabin from when he was a kid. It was built across the creek - and by that I mean that the building is over the water. There is a drawbridge to enter. A hammock still hangs across the far corner. What a great (if somewhat mosquito infested) place for a kid to spend his days!

Pictures from a distillation

A while back we did a distillation at Radiance in downtown Lancaster. Lori Stahl of Stahl Gallery was there, and brought her camera. Lori has come to a few different classes, and her camera is always unobtrusive. I'd pretty much forgotten about it until Sarah gave me a dvd full of pictures last week. There are probably about 100 photos, and without going through each and every one yet, I thought it would be fun to share a few. They are so gorgeous.
For this distillation, we used hyssop. The hydrosol will be used in a syrup for respiratory problems. It was amazingly fragrant. A bit of a surprise, actually. Pleasantly so. Above, I am adjusting the clamp that will hold the condenser during the process.

The bottom flask has begun to boil and steam is just beginning to build in the bottom of the bioflask.

Sarah and I look intently at the separater from opposite sides of the table. The ball shaped collection flask is nearly full of distillate, cloudy with the particles of essential oil that will remain emulsified in the water.
We catch a drop to taste.
Below, a single drop falls into the collection flask.
In the bowl, a pump runs icy water through the condenser and returns it to the bowl warmed from the steam in the center of the tube. I've learned to fill the bowl mostly with ice. Usually the distillation is nearly done by the time the ice melts. I'm answering questions and explaining the process while it occurs.

The pale yellow layer on the top is essential oil. There isn't a lot, but considering that many times we get no oil, this is a good bit for this size still. My still is mostly good for the hydrosol.

The valve at the bottom lets me release the hydrosol while trapping the essential oil. It isn't perfect, and I usually get a drop or two of the water. Here you get an idea of the quantity of essential oil that was produced.

The hydrosol is poured into sterilized bottles for later use.
I'm not sure how instructional this is, but I just love the way Lori captures the light and colors.

Week 7 - Herb Blog Contest!!!

Welcome to week 7 of the herbal blog contest! This week we are featuring Aquarian Bath your source for all natural gentle soaps, herbal balms, salves, deodorants, and spa pillows. Aquarian Bath's soaps, balms and salves are either unscented or lightly scented with only pure essential oils. This week, enter to win you choice of a Lavender Spearmint Lip balm in a 0.15 oz tube OR a Lemon Lime Lip Balm in a 0.25 oz slide tin, and 20% off on your next order with Aquarian Bath.

The Lavender Spearmint Balm is made with Extra virgin olive oil, Shea butter, Beeswax, Castor oil, Spearmint and Lavender essential oil.



The Lemon Lime lip balm is made with Coconut oil, Shea Butter, Castor oil, Beeswax, Jojoba, Lime and Lemon Essential oils, and Zinc Oxide, a mineral used in sunscreens.



To win one of these lovely balms, enter by posting a comment in response to this blog entry and take a chance at winning! Entrants must include their email address to be eligible to win. US and Canadian residents are eligible. You can receive additional chances to win in the following ways:

* Tweet about this blog contest on twitter.com including @aquarianbath in the tweet. Come back and log your tweet with a comment to receive 1 additional entry.
* Visit and join Aquarian Bath's fan page on Facebook. Leave a comment so we know you joined to receive 1 additional entry.
* Make a comment about your favorite item from Aquarian Bath's etsy or 1000markets stores to receive 1 additional entry.
* Make a purchase with Aquarian bath to on etsy or 1000markets to receive 3 additional entries.

*The following blogs are also participating, so stop over to enter with them for additional chances to win AND the chance to explore some cool blogs.
Aquarian Bath
Make a purchase from one of these 9 host blog's online stores to receive 2 additional entries and leave a comment at the host's blog's contest:
The Essential Herbal
Herbs from the Labyrinth
Patti's Potions
PrairieLand Herbs
The Rosemary House
Nature's Gift
Torchsong Studio
SunRose Aromatics
Garden Chick

One lucky winner from one of the 10 host blogs will be contacted to receive 2 free soaps of their choice along with their lip balm and 20% off coupon, so be sure to visit and enter at all 10 blogs.



The winners will be announced at the Aquarian Bath blog when the results are in from all participating blogs. Enjoy.

Keep coming back and keep entering. We have some great prizes coming up, and we'll be having the contests until the middle of May!

Into the woods again - April 4 and 5

There is no doubt or argument, woodland natives are my favorites. I absolutely adore the spring wildflowers that push out of the floor of the forest, through the rich humus of decayed leaves. After waiting through the winter, it is such a pleasure to see them again, like old friends that have been too long away.
So I will be visiting them at least weekly for a while, and reporting in and showing their progress. This helps me, too. Yesterday I decided to check one of my favorite nettles patches, and I am so glad because they were just perfect for tincture. Next week we will harvest some for food.
Today the walk started out near the shop, where the catnip is looking very healthy and vibrant. On down past the pond and the beautiful old gazebo, dressed for spring....

A lot of what I see is just a tease for next week. Geranium leaves are everywhere. Next week there will be beautiful hot pink and magenta blossoms. They are also called cranesbill. Note the splotchy leaf at the bottom of the picture on the left. That is trout lily, and the entire woods is now carpeted with them. Most of these things were nowhere to be found last week.

The first Spring Beauty blossom. As the walk progressed there were perhaps 10 more. In a few days there will be millions of them.

The Dutchman's Breeches are in bloom. I am tickled to death. The little bits of plants we put in 2 or 3 years ago have taken and spread. They will cover that side of the hill soon.

I don't know what this might become. Its location makes me think perhaps False Solomon's Seal, but another few days will tell for sure. It is such a graceful shoot.

A trillium gets ready to unfurl.

The ramps are taking off. There are 3 healthy patches of them.

The Yahoo! group is talking about dandelion right now, so I took a picture of the first blooming plant I've seen this year.

The bloodroot has begun opening all over the place - on the flat land, on the banks and up the hill.

That was this weekend's hikes. I've been trying to go visit each day to capture each stage of the woods and to get my walking legs back. There is no time as wondrous as spring.

Where are the Twisted Sisters now?

This will be an ongoing and oft updated post to keep you up-to-date on where we are and where we will be in the future. We hear from people from time to time who want to come to a workshop or talk we're giving, so I'll just post our schedule here.
You can find us at the Mount Joy Farmers Market on most Saturdays between May 2 and October 17 unless we have another engagement.

April 17 and 18 (Fri and Sat) - PA Herb Festival York PA. Soapmaking demonstration on Saturday at 1:15 Vending.

April 22 - (Wednesday 7-9pm) Soapmaking at The Rosemary House Registration information on the website.

April 23 - (Thursday 1pm) Women's Garden Club of Lancaster - speaking, "Medicinal Weeds in the Garden."

May 8 and 9 (Fri and Sat) - Landis Valley Herb Faire benefits Heirloom Seed Project. We're vending and will be doing a demo or two during the faire (to be announced).

May 15 - DEADLINE FOR Jul/Aug issue of The Essential Herbal Magazine.

June 5 and 6 (Fri and Sat) - Alloway Creek Gardens and Herb Farm Annual Garden Craft Faire. Vending.

June 15 (Monday) - PA Heartland Herb Society Symposium, speaking - "Wild Foods in the Lawn and Garden" , vending, and signing books.

June 20 (Sat) - Brady Reunion 2009 - speaking on how Hannah Brady would have used herbs for first aid, fragrance, cooking, decorations, dyeing wool, etc. (Living History) Brady Homestead, Shippensburg.

Wednesday June 24 ~6:30-8:30 pm : Lavender Fields, Forever at Farm at Coventry! We're doing a distilling demonstration using lavender flowers, producing a bit of lavender hydrosol and maybe even a few drops of essential oil! We’ll also immerse ourselves in lavender treats and beverages while Susan instructs us how to make pretty lavender wands using fresh flowering stalks! You’ll each go home with recipes, instructional handouts and a finished wand. $30

August 15 (Sat) - Wild Weed Day with Barb and Fred Will of Sugar Grove Herbs in Somerset County. Weed walk with lots of woodland natives. Demos and lunch cooked outside. Contact information to follow.

October 3 (Sat) - Farm at Coventry Incense and Beads workshop.

Herb Blog Contests - Week 6

Welcome to week 6 of the herbal blog contest!
This week, enter to win a .15 oz. Healing Wand from Prairieland Herbs!
These healing wands contain herbally infused certified organic olive oil, locally produced beeswax, vitamin E, essential oils of tea tree and lavender, and are the perfect size for your pocket, purse, or diaper bag. They work wonders on cuts, scrapes, rashes, burns, dry skin, hangnails, etc. To win one of these useful and natural healing balms, simply enter by posting a comment in response to this blog entry and take a chance at winning!!! Don’t forget to include your email addy so we can contact the winner! The following blogs are also participating, so stop over to enter with them for additional chances to win AND the chance to explore some cool blogs. Each blog is giving away a prize, so there are 10 chances to win!

Prairieland Herbs - week six, healing wands
Aquarian Bath
The Rosemary House
Natures Gift
Torchsong Studio
The Essential Herbal - week 0ne, magazine subscriptions
Garden Chick - week two, fairy cookie kits
SunRose Aromatic - week three, facial exfoliation kits
Herbs from the Labyrinth - week four, selections of herb teas
Patti's Potions - week five, lip balms

Keep coming back and keep entering. We have some great prizes coming up, and we'll be having the contests until the middle of May!