Ruby’s House

04/20/2026

Things are slowly appearing in my gardens and my heart is happy! This flax didnt even care that it snowed 3 days ago. 😅 What has started growing in your space?

04/13/2026

Guess who's giving kombucha a go?! 😅 Special thanks to my new friend Shelley for the beautiful scoby!

Ever tried to make some?! What's your favourite recipe? Im excited to try it with herbs in the future - could be a grand experience!

04/11/2026

I'm so excited to once again, join Loretta and Felicity and share some plant medicine for women, at the Summer Solstice Celebration in June! Such a wonderful, welcoming group. Come ground yourself and connect, how ever that may look for you. 🌿💚 Click the post for info!

Join Loretta and Felicity for a Summer Solstice Celebration in a beautiful space Indoors and outdoor at Rochon Sands, Buffalo Lake. June 20 and 21

This day is curated with guidance from our ancestors, as we gather in celebration honouring the land, season and blessings.

☀️Water Ceremony

☀️tea and bannock

☀️creation of spirit

☀️nature meditation

☀️medicine making

☀️drum circle

☀️ sacred fire

This is a soft outline of all the blessings as we allow ourselves to be guided by Mother Nature.

All of the above gifts, blessings, space, food and drinks for the day are provided in cost.

$444 registration fee for 2 days
( payments plan available)

$ 50 for lodging at house ( spaces limited)

Camp at the provincial park ( this is at your cost )

https://letscamp.ca/camps/rochon-sands

Travel back and forth, come for the day

Please txt or call Loretta at 403-740-6839 to register, June 6 deadline

Please note at time of registration any dietary concerns.

Watch Broken Drum Creative and Goals with Soul for details on the beautiful souls joining us in creation.

04/07/2026

🌿📚Ruby's Reccomendations April Edition📚🌿

Refence Cards and Decks

A quick one this month - and not necessarily a "book" but absolutely a valuable resource.

I love my handy cards - mostly for the at-a-glance information but also because it's a valuable tool when teaching people what things look like (in a general sort of way, nothing's perfect 😅)

Enchanted Foraging Deck - Ebony Gheorghe
🌷Nice variety of plants, and you can find pretty much all in AB
🌷Quick glance info including the science-y stuff, identifiers, tips and uses.
🌷BONUS - it suggests best times to forage.

A Kitchen Full of Herbs - Holly Farrell
🌱More culinary focused combine with usage on how to support health
🌱Lovely sections that separates the best herbs to use for cooking, baking, making drinks and best ones fresh.
🌱If you grow or want to grow your own, quick snapshot on each card. Size, zone and some growing tips.

Mushroom Spirit Oracle Deck - Nicola McIntosh
🍄Beautifully panted mushrooms, many of which can be found locally.
🍄Each one has a description in the booklet provided, including scientific name, brief description and whether or not it is poisonous or edible.
🍄Have I mentioned the artwork?! 😅

All card decks were found in various places along my travels. Costs ranged from about $20-30. There are loads like these ones out there, sometimes the trick is just finding ones with local plant information.

If I HAD to pick just one, I'd start with the Enchanted Foraging Deck.

Definitely handy as a quick guide, I would follow it up with more detailed resources until youre 100% confident in your IDs.

Which one would you choose? 🤔

04/02/2026

Spent a little time this afternoon at Vintage Thistle and couldn't help but treat myself to a new plant and some super cool seeds from Nova Scotia. 😁 It was so hard to decide which ones to get!

Loads of glorious gifts, beautiful Canadian made products and of course flowers and plants. Stop in and see!

My products are also there if you need a refill in your travels:
🌿Plantain Salve and DIY kits
🌿Elderberry Syrup Kits
🌿Muscle Balm
🌿Lavender and Lemongrass whipped tallows

Have the most amazing weekend friends, I'm taking some time off with my family. Have a blessed Easter!

04/01/2026

😆 This is absolutely my sense of humor.

03/30/2026

How gorgeous! 😍 No filter either, just sunshine!
This, my friends, is Balm of Gilead in all its golden glory.

If you've been following along a few posts back, I explained a little about this fantastic and very historical herb, the salve in particular made from the resin on spring poplar buds.

This resin is known for its analgesic (pain relieving), anti-inflammatory, antiseptic, and expectorant (helps get mucous loosened and moving outwards) qualities. It actually contains salicin, which is a similar to the pain relieving chemical in ASA.

Thats great!
But what does that mean?

🌳 It is excellent for soothing and supporting skin health, especially with issues such as eczema and psoriasis,

🌳It can aid in healing wounds,

🌳 Can ease muscle soreness, joint pain from arthritis and rheumatism

🌳It is a lovely chest rub for coughs, to help loosen mucous from your lungs and may even aid with reducing headaches and fever

I have prepared a batch with love and care, harvesting only from fallen poplar branches. (We are leavers, not takers).

If you are interested in trying some, let me know!

*This information is for educational purposes only. I make no claims that this product will cure anything but merely support the body in healing. Always speak to your physician before using herbs as a part of your daily regemin. Do not use if you are allergic to poplar/willow family or asprin related pharmaceuticals. External use only.

03/26/2026

👀 Have you ever seen one of these?
I came across this Pharmacy Show Globe in my travels and WOW!

As the information states, it was used to indicate the pharmacy/apothecary (much like barber poles tell you where to get a cut and a shave)

The globe has a very long, storied and somewhat unclear origin, depending where you look and what you read. Though I do like the thought of the colored bottles of mascerating herbs in the windows of the apothecary, as a symbol of a herbal healer.

Pretty neat, hey?! This one is rather large and SO beautiful... even if it is indicating the plague right now. 👀🤷‍♀️😅

03/23/2026

Was out and about this morning to take advantage of the "almost" spring weather and melted snow. It's time to create my first batch of Balm of Gilead.

These are poplar (cottonwood or balsam) buds that I've harvested from fallen branches. Poplar are really great at self pruning - which makes it super easy if you know where to look!

Balm of Gilead has quite the history, back to biblical times. It is very fragrant and reminds us all of spring. You are likely very familiar with this bud, as they stick to EVERYTHING... your vehicles, shoes, pets, sidewalks... 😅

But dont be too hasty to dismiss this treasure. The resin on the bud is a valuable herbal remedy.

What it is known for:
🌱Anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties- helps treat cuts, scrapes and bruises dry cracked skin and burns. It can also aid in soothing eczema and psoriasis.
🌱Analgesic - pain relief! It contains salicin (similar to asprin) to aid in reducing pain in joints and muscles
🌱Relief from congestion- can be used as a chest rub to help open up airways.
🌱Has a very distinct, sweet balsamic and woody scent. If you live near them, you already know. 😄

Have you ever tried using poplar buds?

03/22/2026

Herbal friends! Look who is coming to Red Deer in April and it's a FREE event. Yarrow will be touring a few cities that week like Calgary and Edmonton, check the link (let me know if it doesn't work and I can message you).

Return to Harmony: Functional Mushrooms & Restorative Herbs
https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/return-to-harmony-functional-mushrooms-restorative-herbs-tickets-1984508452202?utm-campaign=social&utm-content=attendeeshare&utm-medium=discovery&utm-term=listing&utm-source=wsa&aff=ebdsshwebmobile

03/20/2026

🌷Happy Spring Friends! 🌷

Though it's a little gloomy outside I want to bring you some warmth with herbs (and tea blends) to add to your spring apothecary!

🌿UNTIL WEDNESDAY MARCH 25th🌿

Have a gander at the herb list below and let me know what you fancy! All herbs are organic certified and sourced from reputable Canadian suppliers.

**Please note: There is a limited number on most items, especially the chaga and reishi, so if you want them, now is your chance since it's all I've got!* 🍄 Some things I am able to bag more of, just reach out and let me know.

🌱Sale does NOT include salves, tallows, kits or other ready made product at this time.

🌱Will meet to deliver items in Stettler and surrounding areas (within reason) or Red Deer.

🌱I am happy to ship via Canada Post flat rate box as needed, at the purchasers expense.

03/18/2026

One guess what I've been doing. 😅
Another gorgeous day!