Making Elderberry Sparkle

It’s easy, it’s yummy!

Step 1   Locate (Black) Elder Trees and when flowering (sometime in June if you are in the Northeast) On a sunny day collect 3 large heads of fragrant elderflowers. Make sure they’re not going by (you can tell by the browning of the petals), otherwise the finished result will taste nasty! 

Step 2  Shake any insects from the elderflower heads and immerse in 4.8 litres of cold water in a crock (a plastic bucket works well also) 

Step 3  You’ll need one lemon, 750g white sugar, 2 tbsp white wine vinegar   Peel a lemon, making sure not to include any pith. Squeeze the juice. Put the flowers, the lemon peel and juice into a large clean plastic bucket, together with the sugar, wine vinegar, and water.

Step 4 Stir vigorously. 

Step 5 Leave for about 24 hours, then strain and pour into strong screw-topped bottles – fizzy water bottles are ideal. Don’t fill them to the top.

 

Step 6 Leave in a cool place for 2 weeks and the naturally occurring yeast on the elderflower heads begins to ferment with the sugar creating a very weak alcohol content but lots of carbon dioxide.

Lots of CO2 = Big Elderflower Fizz!!!!

It is possible that one or two of the bottles explode! It seems a little random, it is possible that they’re less likely to explode the cooler.

Step 6 Drink cold. Great for a party on a hot summer’s day. I have heard that if stored in a cool place they can last up to a year! 

 

{this moment}

{this moment} – A Friday ritual. A single photo – no words – capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.

. . . . . . . .

thanks soulemama. Happy Week-End all!

 

Gardens on the Go

One of the hardest part of this move for me has been moving the gardens. Thanks to the willingness of this years apprentices we have spent two long days digging and potting plants…As an herbalist it is so hard to decide what gets left behind……how does one decide?

Good-bye gardens!

they’ll be more tea parties to come!

they’ll be more conferences to come

they’ll be more mowing to come!

they’ll be more rituals to come……

 

{this moment} Saying Goodbye!

{this moment} – A Friday ritual. A single photo – no words – capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.

If you’re inspired to do the same, leave a link to your ‘moment’ in the comments for all to find and see.

. . . . . . . .

 

Self Reliance and Sustainable Medicine and Gratitude

“Emerging at the other end, we will not be the same as we were; we will have become more humble, more connected to the natural world, fitter, leaner more skilled and, ultimately wiser.”

Rob Hopkins, originator of the Transition Town Movement

Recently I got to thinking (again) about sustainability and ways of becoming more self reliant (next step chickens and beekeeping). Sticking point is still reliance on my vehicle!  This time I got to thinking about sustainable medicine, how so much as been said about growing/preserving your own food, eating local, seed saving, there has been less emphasis on locally grown/manufactured DIY medicine.  Thinking of your families health care as a skill that can be learnt as opposed to relying on professionals.  While we have talked about the benefit of using plants that are local and part of our home ecosystem, every step in the process of herbal medicine making from growing and gathering, to tincturing, to family care can be taken on as part of the family homestead whether urban or rural. It can is a project that the whole family can participate in, at the same time gaining skills in personal health promotion. Herbal medicines are not only a source for treating disease they are also a source for promoting health for your family and community health by reducing the number of trips to a family practice, travel time, energy consumption, pharmaceutical company support.

 

“Annually, about 7,000 children ages 11 and younger require a hospital emergency room visit because of an adverse reaction to one of these substances.” U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

 

In solidarity with the sustainable farming movement, it is important that we begin to make local choices regarding our family health-care. Despite the cost, the commitment to grow or make our medicines or purchase locally and organically grown herbs is an investment in the health of the planet.  Remember Herbal medicine is the medicine if the People practical thrifty and fun, over 80% of the worlds population still uses herbs as their primary means of healthcare.

Here is where I see my role as a community herbalist to teach  people the art of herbal medicine, and to encourage the practice of community based herbalism. For this reason I am offering my new distance learning program at an affordable rate with the hope that families will jump on board and begin their journey to sustainable family health-care.

(Click on image for more details on the course)

 

Give-Away over at Blazing Star Herbal School

Thought I would direct you all over to Blazing Star Herbal School

 

 

Happy Holidays!

 

Sale over at Blazing Star Herbal School

Thought I’d let you know about the sale over at Blazing Star Herbal School

 

Making Echinacea Tincture

This fall Zoe has been really into making her own medicine. Harvesting, processing and bottling….

 

Cross Post from Blazing Star Herbal School

3 Daylong Workshops offered at 

Blazing Star Herbal School 

 

July 12th 2009  10:30am-3pm $50 

Tonic Herbs for Optimum Health for detoxification and rejuvenation

We will explore nourishing herbs, medicinal foods and tonic herbs that strengthen our terrain, while supporting wellness, immunity, fertility and digestive and cardiovascular health. Together we will create a year long herbal protocol that encourages physical, emotional and spiritual well being that the whole family can participate in.  

 

July 19th 2009 10:30am-3pm $50

Basic Medicine Making

 

Herbal medicine is one of the oldest forms of healing and has been practised continuously from the earliest times. Over 80% of the worlds population still uses  herbs as their primary means of health-care. Although much has been lost traditional uses have been passed down to us in stories and songs….today we can reach back across thousands of years to join Achilles in making salves from Yarrow to heal wounds.

 

 

There is nothing quite as empowering as knowing how to make your own medicines. Herbs are magical but preparing and using them doesn’t have to be mystical. In this class we will learn how to make medicines from common herbs and foods in the form of vinegars, tinctures (alchohol, glycerine), honeys, teas (infusions, decoctions), salves, liniments and syrups. Restock Your medicine chest. Be prepared with natural remedies you make yourself for cuts, stings, burns, rashes, colds coughs and allergies. It‘s an easy, inexpensive, empowering  and very fun! 

 

Learning to create your herbal medicine at home is both empowering and eye-opening.

 

 

 

 

August 2nd 2009 10:30am-3pm $50

Teaching Herbal Medicine to Children

 

“When we teach children about plants as medicine it helps them develop a soulful, deep relationship with them” -Rosemary Gladstar 

 

Nurturing a childs relationship with herbs, involving them in the growing, harvesting and creating of herbal medicines is a way of life which involves a relationship with the earth. It can also lead to a continued practice of nurturing their health with the aid of natural remedies. In this class you will learn all you need to engage your childrens curiosity about 12 common herbs complete with stories, art projects, recipes,games and medicine making. Lots of resources provided.

 

Learning about the plants in person, where they grow, engages the senses as we smell, touch, see, and often taste our green allies. This approach helps us to integrate all we learn about plants as food and medicine.

 

 

**REGISTRATION INFORMATION**

You can register for the above classes by sending a deposit of $25 per class to 

Blazing Star Herbal School, 119 Pfersick Rd, Shelburne Falls, MA 01370

You may also register using paypal please email me (tlemos@noho.co) for instructions

If you sign up for all 3 classes you will receive a discount of $25 and your total will be $125!!

Please register soon as classes are limited to 10 students. Thanks.

 

We invite you to study herbalism here at Blazing Star Herbal School in Ashfield. Learn to open your heart and engage the wisdom and spirit of the healing herbs with community herbalist, and teacher, Tony(a) Lemos.

 

 

I will also teaching at the following conferences/festivals:

 

 

Falcon Ridge Folk Festival

Thursday July 23rd 2009

- Tips for Maintaining Health while on the Road

 

NOFA MASS SUmmer Conference 

August 7-9 2009, UMASS Amherst

-Maintaining Optimum Health for the Whole Family

 

Planting The Future Conference

Saturday Sept 19th 2009

Apeiron Institute for Sustainable Living Coventry, RI

- I will be leading a plant walk forcussing on First Aid uses of plants

 

Healing with Flowers Conference

Rowe Camp and Conference Center

Rowe MA Sept 25-27 2009

- Combining Flower Essences, Aromatherapy and Herbal Remedies in Clinical Practice

- Sacred Baths Workshop