Homesteaders Basket: Herbal Preparations and Handmade Goods

06/25/2023

Lifescycle of a blackberry

06/25/2023

Please like and follow my doula page if you haven't already! Growing my page and reach is the big goal this month 🙌

Herbalist, Doula, Placenta Encapsulator + Bengkung Binding specialist. Message for free consult!

10/23/2022

Onto step two with the ACV. After that- FIRE CIDER!! 🔥 💯‼️

Note: There is a lot more than just this bottle 😉

10/21/2022

✨️Wow✨️

If you cultivate a mushroom in a petri bowl on agar agar, its actual ′′ shape ′′ becomes visible. The essential part of a mushroom, the Mycel, is usually hidden from our eye. What we perceive as a ′′ mushroom ′′ is only its transient fruit body.

Credit: Aimee Cornwell
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09/01/2022

Whoa! Crazy week!! Sick kids then I sprained my ankle 🤡 stepping on a wooden block... so not even a cool move...

Regardless, recovery is happening and soon we'll be back in the full swing of things. I sent out several packages of the Herbal Toothpaste the other day and as of right now there are 6 left so pm me if interested!

08/24/2022

Stress is a modern epidemic - not to say that we haven't encountered very high levels of stress since the creation of the world, however in the past we haven't so consistently been exposed to the toxic low levels of chronic stress that we are today.

First, recognize you're never neutral- you're either in a parasympathetic nervous state or a sympathetic one.

Second, the problem is, you probably think that winding down for the evening to an episode of your favorite sci-fi fantasy show is very relaxing, but you'd be wrong... From your body's perspective, a bike ride through the park- though physically more strenuous- is much more relaxing as it eases you into the parasympathetic nervous state better than the flashing lights on your TV ever could.

This low level chronic stress is killing us slowly, and the immediate evidence of this is the rising struggle with digestion, fertility and improper immune function (to name just a few)... and that makes sense!

Again, from your body's perspective, it's much bettter to put your limited resources toward higher cognitive function and cortosol levels so that you can perform under pressure while in the sympathetic nervous state. Why? Well, because you can digest food, fight off infection, and reproduce LATER! AFTER you've gotten away from the problem that is stressing you out (for instance a tiger). Once out of danger, a healthy body should flip back into the parasympathetic state and resume proper digestion, immune funciton and reproductive health because this is the correct time to focus on these things. When we are safe and can afford to spend those resources on long term goals.

And again, you're always in one state or the other... you're never in some middle state where your body is simply holding onto resources and waiting for you to become stressed (or more stressed) to decide to use those resources. You're burning them already, and if you're not putting forth effort to settle into that true parasympathetic nervous state more often, then you're waisting those valuable resources on worrying whether or not your favorite character in that sci-fi show will escape from their latest predicament or not?!

Stress is a good thing and it has it's place, at the proper times, in moderation. It challenges our bodies, keep things in check and keeps us sharp. We shouldn't try to avoid stress altogether... but we need to recognize that there is currently a hefty imbalance here... and it's costing us a lot.

So, maybe instead of watching TV tonight, you might consider winding down with a warm cup of tea and an easy book, a craft you've been putting on the back burner or writing a letter to a friend. Who ever said snail mail was out of style?!?

Blessing and Love, you Wonderful Wild People!

08/11/2022

Made this tonight! Self Heal, Lemon balm, St. John's Wort and Oregano are a powerful team against cold sores. Has always stopped mine in its tracks!!

08/06/2022

The common garden sage is from my garden, but the white sagebrush is from the roadside. I'll cover them in a paperbag to finish drying thoroughly before storing/bundling.

Something I found very challenging when I first started my journey as an herbalist (specifically as a medicine gatherer) was moderation/only taking what I really need.

It's so easy to fall into the trap of taking bunches when it's there, but we need to be able to trust the earth to bring this medicine back when we need it again. 💯

Taking too much and having it sit in your cabinet might make you feel safer, but isn't respectful or sustainable in the long haul, especially in the age when entire acres of unused land are mowed down for no reason.

When you come across a plant that you desire, consult all four quadrants of your whole balance before deciding how much to harvest...

Physical: How much of this medicine do you need for your physical well being?
Mental: It is OK to harvest all if you KNOW that the patch will be destroyed in the following days... (ie. You know that the city will mow down the ditches on Wednesday) but be sure to double check your information!
Emotional: Make sure you aren't harvesting out of fear of the future.
Spiritual: Be willing to trust God through nature and the universe to bring medicine to you when you're in need.

Once you've done this, harvest what feels right and leave the rest for the earth 🌎

It's OK, if it doesn't feel like a lot! A good herbalist doesn't need an overflowing apothecary; just a reasonably stocked one, most of which, can be kept outside 😉

07/29/2022

Putting up this ferment tonight- which was a collaboration of our own garden veggies and one giant (and I do mean giant) Armenian Cucumber 🥒 from a friend 🥰 I do not think they're on Facebook, but we give them a hardy thank you anyway! It will be delicious 😋

07/28/2022

Self Heal (Prunella Vulgaris) 🌿

I was excited to find a large patch of this herb on a plant walk last week with a dear friend 🥰

Self Heal has notable vulnerary, antimicrobial, antiviral and lymphatic actions. It's wonderful for wound care, both inside and outside of the body. Think burns, cuts and dermatitis as just a few indications for Self Heal on the outside of the body; while mouth sores, gingivitis, stomach ulcers, IBS, etc... are indications of it's use inside of the body.

My preferred preparations are tea and salve 👌 but many others are appropriate, depending on the situation!

07/27/2022

Saponaria Officinalis (soapwort). This plant often grows in ditches. It smells HEAVENLY! And because of its saponins, it foams and cleans your hair ✨️beautifully✨️. To use it, simply cut it up and create a light decoction (bring to boil, then simer on low for 10-15 mins). Once cool, strain, then use!

07/27/2022

I've got tincture of Shepherd Purse, Yarrow and Red Raspberry Leaf 🍃 this tincture is formulated for postpartum hemorrhage. I have four, 2 oz. bottles left. $7.50. Pm me with any questions!