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So many flowers, so little time – blooms of all sizes, colors, and fragrances, and I’d like to capture them all. As I picked wild blackberries, I stopped to smell the flowers and enjoy their cheeriness. They’re hard to ignore, aren’t they?
Continue reading “Sunday Scenes: Flowers Abound”
Each year, it seems like a different plant goes gangbusters in the pastures. Two years ago, it was red clover: so plentiful, it seemed like it was everywhere. Sadly, despite my plans to make something delightful with it, last year was a red clover bust. This year, the standout plant is the delicately white-flowered chickweed.
The farm flowers are blooming, providing plentiful inspiration for verse. I am particularly fond of the demure, diminutive blue violets – they’re such a lovely pop of color against the dark greenery. Not just beautiful to behold, violets also have a number of health benefits…and they make a gorgeous syrup!
Why preserve? Fundamentally, it’s about finding ways to extend the “shelf life” of edibles: fermenting, drying, pickling, canning, freezing, and curing are some of the common ways of preserving food. In this case, I made jelly because it’s an economical way to have this delightful treat available even when fresh leaves may not be…like in the dead of winter. Continue reading “Preserve This: Lovely Lemon Balm Jelly”
What’s that divine perfume wafting through the humid summer air? It’s honeysuckle, a wild-growing vine here that’s climbed enthusiastically all over the field fencing. Unpopular with some gardeners because it’s highly invasive, it’s a wildcrafter’s delight: the blooms make a heady wine, an aromatic syrup, and fantastic facial oil!
Continue reading “Natural Care: Honeysuckle Infused Facial Oil”
I stopped using toothpaste, including “natural” brands, several years ago, and haven’t looked back. My mouth no longer burns after brushing (and it wasn’t a “good” burn, either) and my teeth have never felt cleaner!
Continue reading “Natural Products: Remineralizing Tooth Powder”