Gifts From Nature...A Valentines Day Harvest

Today was the perfect day in Descanso, just east of San Diego. The cool breeze was off set by the gorgeous blue sky filled with sun beams. Denise, Brian and I made our way to the Cottonwood grove that we visit on a regular basis. This grove has known us for at least four years now, and has frequently heard our conversations admiring it's beauty. "If only we could harvest the new spring buds" which these majestic trees held so far from our reach. As we made our approach, we realized the sacrifice the grove made for us this season. A huge limb of one tree had fallen, just recently, in anticipation of our arrival. The severed and torn wood, still fresh and moist, was scented with the sticky buds we call Balm of Gilead. There she lay, natures gift to us. Waiting for us as though she knew we were to pay a visit today. With the greatest respect, we harvested the bounty our Cottonwood grove offered and left offerings and blessings in return.

Populus balsamifera, Western Cottonwood, Balm of Gilead, Native to Southern California and through out America. In Southern California the leaf buds are in bloom mid February through March and this is the official part and time for collection. The leaf buds are covered in a resinous sap that has a strong terpentine odor and a bitter taste. It can be used for a variety of complaints, but especially known to treat skin problems and lung ailments. Balm of Gilead is used as a stimulating expectorant for all conditions affecting the respiratory functions when congested. The resin is used as a salve or wash on sores, it is antiseptic and anti-inflamatory, and also stimulates skin regeneration.

As for the Balm of Gilead we colected on our days journey, some will be prepared in a select oil base and become the most skin soothing and healing, luxourious handmade herbal soap. I can't wait for the oils to be ready for use. Some buds will be tinctured and bottled for future needs as they arrise. As for the closing of our day, we celebrated our time spent with nature at the ol' Descanso Cafe planning the next harvest adventure. It will be soon, as spring is blooming here in San Diego and Denise and I are ready to pay our respects to her. She obviously awaits our visit bearing gifts to share, gifts from nature with love on this Valentines Day. I love Following the Seasons!

Happy Valentines Day!



http://www.followingseasons.com/

Indulge Your Senses In Nature

Anxious For Spring

San Diego has been having so much rain this winter that spring is sure to blossom early with a big bang. In my feverish anticipation for the arrival of spring, I took some pictures of the natives to document their growth thus far in mid February.

White Sage, Salvia apiana, is about three weeks from harvest time. You want to be sure that the new growth is long and sturdy for clipping and only clip the top half. Be careful not to clip old growth, as you will be cutting off next years shoots. You also want to harvest White Sage leaves just before the flower stock shoots up. The Kumeyaay people call it the umbilical cord to the heavens and used the fresh, raw stock as a food source.

The Lemonade Berry, Rhus integrifolia, is coming into blossom. The miniature, whitish pink flowers huddle together and attract the bees. I picked a few and added them to a salad. They offered much beauty and a slight bit of crunch. Not big on flavor, but the berry will make up for that come fall! Fall...lets get back to spring!

Foeniculum vulgare or Fennel, is not a native, rather an invasive, but an invasive I'm thankful for. I love Fennel and all it's virtues. Tiny, fuzzy, fern like shoots are just beginning to appear. It will be fall before the seeds are ready to harvest, but the fennel bulb can be used now to flavor many dishes.
Hore Hound, Marrubium vulgare, another non native, it has naturalized almost everywhere in America. Long known as Horehound candy or cough drops, it can still be used today for a cough relieving remedy. It's ready to harvest and I took advantage of it by putting it up in tincture form.

There is something so satisfying about wilde harvesting your foods and medicines. The call to nature and the howl of the wilde beckons for attention. While so many states are buried in the mist of winter snow, I feel fortunate to be only an hour from Following Seasons between the coast, desert, the inland chaparral, and our local mountains, which are still hiding the new shoots of spring with several feet of snow.

Indulge Your Senses In Nature.......

Holly-Leaf Redberry Harvest

I was so lucky yesterday to have had the opportunity to wilde harvest with my two friends. We went to Descanso area where the heat of the summer day was taking hold. The plants were thriving in their favored environment and bearing fruit that instantly caught the eyes attention.

Holly-Leaf Redberry

Rhamnus ilicifolia

Rhamnaceae/Buckthorn Family

Native to CA, AZ, no.BC.

Chaparral, Woodlands

Traditionally, a decoction of Redberry root and bark was used by Native people as a tonic. This decoction was also used to treat colds, coughs and internal pains. A root decoction increased urination and acted as a laxative. Redberry cured boils and carbuncles, as well as stomach troubles and other internal disorders. The smoke of the burning Redberry was inhaled to relieve headaches and rheumatic pain. The bright red fruits of Redberry were eaten with meat by California Natives and the mashed ripe berries were used to poultice sores.

As for my harvest, I separated the berries and placed them in a zip lock bag, in the freezer, to keep until I have a chance to use them. I think they will be nice shared with some Elder Berry to garnish a meat dish. I will also perhaps try them as a fresh poultice when the need should arise. As for the woody stems, I will sort them, dry some for future decoctions, and use plenty of the fresh in a deep infusion for a very special soap. I'm thinking RedBerry Summer Silk.

Frosted Silk For Your Skin

Naturally soft, and as silky as the finest cloth slipping across your bare skin. This favorite soap is for everyone. With no essential oil's added it is pure soap at it's finest, fit for deeply sensitive skin. No fragrance, other than fresh, natural handmade soap ingredients. Olive Oil, Sweet Almond Oil, Jojoba, Shea Butter, Aloe Vera and pure Silk fibers contribute their virtues to this lovely soap. If you haven't found the right soap that works for your skin, give this one a try.

I use the cold process method of soap making. Here is a fresh batch of Frosted Silk in the making. I measure the raw, natural oils and warm them at a very low heat, 105 degrees is typically the temperature I like to use. Once the oils are melted and at the right temperature I turn off the heat.

Carefully, and using appropriate safety gear, pour the lye mixture over the oils.

Using a wooden spoon, stir vigorously until the soap batch becomes thick.

Notice how the color and texture of the batch changes as trace begins to take shape.
Trace is similar to making pudding or chocolate, the ingredients leaves a trail when a spatula is run through it.

At trace it is ready to pour into the soap mold.

Enjoy fresh handmade soap on your skin. Once you try your first bar, there is no going back to detergent bars again. All of the ingredients used to make Following Seasons soap is FDA approved food products. Your skin will notice a huge differnce. Enjoy Your Soap!

Licorice Root Soap

Fresh out of the mold. One of my favorite soaps to use, as I just adore the flavor and aroma of Licorice, not to mention it's medicinal properties. This soap is made with a deep infusion of Licorice root and a generous helping of the fresh root. Licorice root is both healing and soothing internally and out. Licorice root makes an excellent ointment for eczema, psoriasis, and redness of skin. Native American tribes used Licorice root to help heal sore skin of a horses back. I indulge in Licorice root soap when my skin is feeling dry or chapped. The emollient quality is so soothing. Licorice root soap can be found at Following Seasons in our Ancient Ways soap line. Order your Licorice root soap at http://www.followingseasons.com/.

Nourishing Infusions

I love to drink refreshing, nourishing infusions for my health and delight on a daily basis. Nourishing infusions go far beyond a simple cup of tea. They are full of vitamins, minerals, calcium and plant proteins, as well as soothing and healing properties. Here is one of my favorites, Red Clover blossoms, Calendula flowers, and a bit of Licorice root. Red Clover helps clean the blood, Calendula helps soothe and heal the digestive tract, and Licorice root soothes, heals and protects the digestive tract in addition to adding a flavorful sweet taste to your infusion. I use one ounce of total herbs. For this infusion I used approximately 2/3 oz of Red Clover, 1/3 oz of Calendula and 1TBS of Licorice.

Place your herbs into a quart size jar.
Add boiling water over the herbs.

Fill to the top of the jar.
Use a wooden chop stick to stir. Just a bit is all that is needed. Your just looking to blend the herbs up a bit and release any air bubbles. Wood implements are suggested. Stay away from metal spoons ect., as they tend to change the flavor of the herbs.
Then cover with a lid. I like the lids that provide an underside plastic coating. If the lid is metal, simply use a wax paper to line the underside.

Let nourishing infusions steep for at least four hours before drinking. I like to make my infusions before bed time so I wake up to a wonderful drink in the morning. Delicious and nutritious! Have you had your nourishing infusion today?

Infusions in Olive Oil

Here are Calendula, Creosote, and Chamomile infusing in olive oil. This is a second infusion, as I like the final product to be extra strength for using in salves and soap recipes. Notice how some herbs will float and others will sink. I like to use virgin olive oil for its healing, moisturizing and skin soothing qualities and extra light oil, as it allows the herbal colors to really infuse and enhance the final product color.