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By Robin Bennett, Posted in Blog

Summer is the time for gathering fresh, golden silk right off of ears of corn when you husk them before cooking. If you are grilling your corn cobs with the husk on, then you have a different taste treat, but you have no silk to harvest. I've been known to have barbecues or go to them just to be able to have access to lots of corn in one place! And offering to husk the corn makes me a welcome guest as well as an opportunistic herbalist! I lay the golden silk out to dry on wicker plates like this, first cutt... read more.

• August 06, 2013

By Robin Bennett, Posted in Blog

Motherwort – Leonurus cardiaca Motherwort is still blooming where I live and is a plant I wouldn’t choose to live without. This weed is not only beautiful, but a highly effective calmative for the nervous system. She soothes the heart emotionally when rage, frustration, anxiety, or unreasonable fear threatens your peace of mind and heart. She is an ally when overwhelming emotion renders you incapable of loving communication with yourself and others. 10-25 drops of motherwort tincture in water or tea is a... read more.

• July 16, 2013

By Robin Bennett, Posted in Blog

Let’s Celebrate the Natural World in all it’s astounding Creativity! Beautiful and wild Isabella Roselliini will put such a smile on your face: Watch any of her award winning and funny Green Porn Videos They are wonderful! “Edu-tainment” at its most creative. In her Seduce Me series, I particularly loved the Duck. http://www.sundancechannel.com/greenporno/?playlist_id=681381763001&play_video=77813783001 - video_section During my herbal apprenticeship in 1985 I learned that male ducks have corkscrew... read more.

• July 08, 2013

By Robin Bennett, Posted in Blog

  We take herbs to help us heal our bodies. And consciously or subconsciously, we are drawn to herbs because they help us reconnect to ourselves, and the Earth. But we’re usually not present in our own bodies. We live more often in our minds. This limits us. The mind wants to grasp everything first, but full aliveness happens as you learn to be present and feel, heal, and fully inhabit your body, learning through your senses. This quiets and focuses the mind, and improves its functioning. In my experi... read more.

• July 07, 2013

By Robin Bennett, Posted in Blog

Hello! I've done guest posts for other blogs, but never done my own. I'm going to give it a try this year and will orient the blog toward day-to-day happenings in the gardens and kitchen, medicine making tips, stories I want to share, some poems, and undoubtedly some philosophical musings. Stay tuned! Today the snow is still melting off the mountain here. The food garden is flooded, but will soon drain thanks to the water catchment swales that were dug last year. (I'll post more about  the permaculture... read more.

• July 02, 2013

By Robin Bennett, Posted in Blog

I've had some personal experience with healing from radiation exposure. I used seaweed, herbs and foods to bring my cat and myself back from severe, life threatening illness that I believe we contracted while living almost on top of the Indian Point nuclear power plant in NY 15 years ago. The seaweeds kelp and dulse played a big part in our healing, as did miso paste. I also craved sunflower seeds and ate them copiously, ground up and added to anything, and as sunflower seed butter (not opting for organic... read more.

• July 02, 2013

By Robin Bennett, Posted in Blog

We have to look for signs of life among the decay and death. It’s not always so obvious, But whenever we slow down and look, and really see… Shimmering sparkling life reasserts itself, Every single time… And every single being is… A shining one. Let your light shine!... read more.

• July 02, 2013

By Robin Bennett, Posted in Blog

I happened upon an entry from my journal that made me smile. I’d been writing about plants late one night in February and then wrote: “Thinking about all these pink and yellow blossoms in February is so much fun, such a promise of life to come when these mountains of snow melt away.  There will be dandelion flowers and cherry blossoms and violet flowers again! To think! And now the snow is melted, it’s spring, and they’re all here...  We can put away the snow shovels. It is glorious. The other day I fina... read more.

• July 02, 2013

By Robin Bennett, Posted in Blog

It is a wonderful and busy time out in the garden, so much to harvest, while still planting, and I like to take time to simply sit and be to enjoy the sights and smells. Wild rose has been wafting her exquisite fragrance everywhere reminding me of all that is beautiful in this world. Here are some of the week’s herbal medicines:     In the jars are: Violet leaf oil,     Wild rose tincture,     Black birch leaf and twig tincture,     Plantain leaf oil, and Wild rose honey.     In the baskets are:... read more.

• July 02, 2013

By Robin Bennett, Posted in Blog

The height of light, the shortest night, we celebrate in sheer delight! Blessed and Happy Summer Solstice to you, May your good wishes all come true!... read more.

• July 02, 2013