Just outside your doorstep or kitchen window, hidden beneath a tall pine tree or twining through porch latticework, a wild and weedy apothecary waits to be discovered.
Herbalist Doreen Shababy shares her deep, abiding love for the earth and its gifts in this collection of herbal wisdom that represents a lifetime of work in the forest, field, and kitchen. This herbalism guidebook is jam-packed with dozens of tasty recipes and natural remedies, including Glorious Garlic and Artichoke Dip, Sunny Oatmeal Crepes, Candied Catnip Leaves, Lavender Lemonade, Roseberry Tea, Garlic Tonic, Parsnip Hair Conditioner, and Dream Charms made with Mugwort.
A sampling of the herbal lore, legend, and instruction found within these pages:
The difference between sweet-faced flowers and flowers with attitude
How to assemble a well-stocked pantry•The importance of gratitude
Plant-spirit communication basics•How to use local wild herbs
How to make poultices, teas, tinctures, balms, and extracts
"Those who dare delve into this book may emerge with catnip on their breath, mud on their knees, wild fruit juices on their hands, and a mysterious, satisfied smile—the very image of a wild and weedy woman. Come on!" —Susun S. Weed, wild woman herbalist
Many of us, especially city-dwellers, don't have access to large plots of land for gardening. But that shouldn't stop us! Most herbs are tolerant of harsh growing conditions—even those found in our urban centers, which are man-made heat wells. With a little direction and some perseverance, urban gardeners can grow plenty of herbs for the kitchen, bath, or cupboard.
Today’s home and office buildings have become so energy efficient that very little outdoor air circulation occurs within their walls at any time of the year. But what about the buildup of chemicals that find their way into our homes and places of work? Environmental experts recommend the use of plants that mitigate the toxicity.
Remove flowers from dried lavender stems and save for another
use. Soak the stems in a water/potassium nitrate bath, 1 cup water
to 1 tablespoon potassium nitrate, for thirty minutes. Remove from solution and dry completely on paper towels. Place the end of a stick in an
incense holder or a jar of dry sand and light. They will burn slowly like
incense. Do not leave unattended....
We are now entering the time of year when most of us would give just about anything to see the sun and smell the sweetness of spring on the air. With spring comes a myriad of things to enjoy, the least of which are fresh flowers, plants, and herbs. Doreen Shababy, author of The Wild & Weedy Apothecary, has narrowed her favorites down to the 10 most enjoyable things about spring.
A soft-edged triangle of arrows, tip to end, forms an endless rotation. More than forty years old, the symbol for recycling is used and known the world over. Practitioners of magic know recycling is by no means a "new" idea. Throughout history many have lived by the mantra of "make it do, use it up, wear it out." Earth-based religions have... read this article
