'Greenwashing' in Action?

Happy 2012 to all!

I was just sent this article by a member of my herb group, Ocean State Herbal Association (OSHA) about a product, even I thought was non-toxic. It has been around since my kids were in elementary school since I remember using it for class car wash fundraisers back in the 90's. To be honest, I detest the smell of it so stopped using it-I guess the scent should have given me a clue right there!

So, read on and be enlightened...

http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2012/01/16/toxic-chemicals-in-green-cleaning-products.aspx

Summer Solstice Greetings!

A blessed Summer Solstice to all on this space in time when the Earth's axis is tilted towards the sun at its maximum angle of 23° 26', also referred to as Midsummer. Worldwide, interpretation of the Summer Solstice has varied among cultures, but most have held a recognition as a sign of fertility. It is especially celebrated in Europe. One of my favorite traditions occurs in northern Spain where pagan beliefs are especially evident. These beliefs are based on three planetary elements: Earth, Fire and Water, which are exemplified as the importance of medicinal plants, especially in relation to health, youth and beauty; the protective character of fire to ward off evil spirits and witches and, finally, the purifying, miraculous effects of water.

• Medicinal plants: Traditionally, women collect several species of plants on St. John's eve. These vary from area to area, but mostly include Fennel, different species of fern , Rue, also called Herb of Grace, Rosemary, Dog Rose (rosa canina), Lemon Verbena, St. John's Wort, which blooms on St. John's Day, June 24th, (it has bloomed a week earlier this year) Mallow, Foxglove, and Elder flowers. In some areas, these are arranged in a bunch and hung in doorways. In most others, they are dipped in a vessel with water and left outside exposed to the dew of night until the following morning (o dia de San Xoan -St. John's day), when people use the resulting flower water to wash their faces. Calendula flowers were historically picked throughout Europe on this day as their potency was deemed to be most powerful and could ward off evil spirits.
  

• Water: Tradition holds it that the medicinal plants mentioned above are most effective when dipped in water collected from seven different springs. Also, on some beaches, women who wanted to be fertile would bathe in the sea until they were washed by nine waves.

• Fire: Bonfires are lit, usually around midnight both on beaches and inland. Occasionally, a dummy is placed at the top, representing a witch or the devil. All gather around them and feast mostly on potatoes boiled in their skins and maize or cornbread. When it is relatively safe to jump over the bonfire, it is done three times (although it could also be nine or any odd number) for good luck at the cry of “meigas fora” (witches off!). It is also common to drink Queimada, a potent Galician wine called grappa mixed with sugar, coffee beans and pieces of fruit, which is prepared while chanting an incantation against e vil spirits...

So my blessings for a fertile and joyous summer extend to all of you!

Hello friends,

My friend and webmaster, Paul Verduchi, surprised me via e-mail today in honor of my upcoming birthday with a very timely song about our important connection to Mother Earth. It's called 'No No No' by Archie Roach, an Australian born Aboriginal guitarist/singer/songwriter.

Thank you, Paul!

It goes like this:

No, No, No

Standing on a mountaintop listening to the land.
Make them stop please make them stop this burning in my brain.
People they're just passing by,
They don't understand, they can't hear our mother cry.
No they can't hear her pain

No, No, No

Feel our anger, feel our rage. How much can we take?
We're living in a nuclear age. What the hell for?
You cut our mother, watch her bleed and dig your yellowcake
When everyone has had a feed, you can go and kill some more.

No, No, No

I reach out and look around and tears fill up my eyes...

I try but can't block out the sound of crying in my ears,
So take a walk with me, my friend, you might be surprised.
Before our journey's at an end you might even hear!

No, No, No

I kiss the land, I kiss her cheek and nestle at her breast,
Then I ear my mother speak. She says we're one-you and I.

No, No, No...


Honoring the Plants

If you have ever taken an herbal tincture, sipped an herbal infusion used a plant-based medicinal salve, creme or lotion, you have been the recipient of the Earth's prolific plant bounty and its power to nourish and heal. Have you ever paused to consider and appreciate that each one is the Earth’s gift to you? The healing properties of plants are a wondrous blessing to humans and animals alike. Herbalists worldwide believe that this is indeed a time of strife for our planet. We feel it is important-now more than ever-to be mindful of the fragility of many native plant species and their habitats. Your herbal formula is much more than plant(s) combined with alcohol and/or water or an aromatic scent. It is, in fact a representation of how we as humans are connected to the Earth and how we are dependent on it for our health and well-being. So how can you show your appreciation for the plants that provide so much? One way is not to use herbicides on your lawn or garden. Pull unwanted weeds instead or use an organic alternative. Another way is to allow a small section of your yard or property to grow wild. In winter, use sustainable and non-toxic melting agents on walkways and driveway. Who knows? One day you may find a plant that is part of the very herbal formula you are taking today, ready to sprout up and send off its pollen to another meadow and insure its place as an important thread in the web of life.

Photo above: Stinging Nettles (Urtica dioica). See upcoming post for more details on this wonderful gift of nature.

DEEP IMMUNE TONIC TEA BLEND

Here is a Winter time tea blend I introduced at our herb group meeting last night. I thought readers might be interested in trying it. Your thoughts are welcome! It contains Licorice and Cinnamon that are sweet but don't cause a spike in blood sugar. AND each has anti-viral properties as well. Drink throughout the winter months to create and maintain vitality!

DEEP IMMUNE TONIC tea blend
1 part Astragalus c/s
1 part Licorice root c/s
1/2 part 14 mushroom blend from Mushroom Harvest: http://www.mushroomharvest.com/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=201
1/2 part Elder berries
1/4 part Rhodiola rt c/s
1/4 part Cinnamon chips (or powder if you can't get)
To decoct, add 1 teaspoon of herbs to 1 cup water in a stainless steel saucepan. Bring to a boil. Cover and turn heat down to simmer for 15 minutes. Drink 1 cup AM and PM from October to April. It's a good idea to make enough to last 2 days in refrigerator.

Now that I'm on a roll...

If you would like to win a Lily's Garden Herbals product sampler, all you need to do is log onto http://eringoodman.com/blog/ and leave a comment. This giveaway begins, today, Friday, October 29, 2010 and runs till Sunday afternoon - Halloween. Good luck!

Dear Friends,

I know, it's been a long time since my last post. Much has happened since March! As many of you may know, I have decided to take a position as 'The Coop Herbalist' at the Alternative Food Cooperative in Wakefield, RI. www.alternativefoodcoop.com where I am responsible for the ordering of bulk herbs, nutritional supplements and health care products. I still mix up my tea blends, although I will admit I haven't gotten them all back up on the shelf yet after the Coop's ceiling collapse back in the summer. (That's a story for another day!). But never fear, Lily's Garden Herbals is still in full swing, with exciting events in the works for 2011. I'll certainly keep you posted on this.

Blessings to all,

Kim

The Amazing Cucumber!

This information was originally from a The New York Times article as part of their “Spotlight on the Home” series that highlighted creative ways to solve common problems. My sister-in-law forwarded it to me and I was fascinated by all that I read. I had never realized how the humble cucumber could be such a powerhouse of nutrients. I am taking an educated guess that the skin must remain on the cucumber to obtain these nutrients. Just slice them thin!!

1. Just one cucumber contains Vitamin B1, Vitamin B2, Vitamin B3, Vitamin B5, Vitamin B6, Folic Acid, Vitamin C, Calcium, Iron, Magnesium, Phosphorus, Potassium and Zinc.

2. Feeling tired in the afternoon? Put down the caffeinated soda and pick up a cucumber. Cucumbers are a good source of B Vitamins and Carbohydrates that can provide that quick pick-me-up that can last for hours.

3. Tired of your bathroom mirror fogging up after a shower? Try rubbing a cucumber slice along the mirror, it will eliminate the fog and provide a soothing, spa-like fragrance..

4. Are grubs and slugs ruining your planting beds? Place a few slices in a small pie tin and your garden will be free of pests all season long. The chemicals in the cucumber react with the aluminum to give off a scent undetectable to humans but drive garden pests crazy and make them flee the area.

5. Looking for a fast and easy way to remove cellulite before going out or to the pool? Try rubbing a slice or two of cucumbers along your problem area for a few minutes, the phytochemicals in the cucumber cause the collagen in your skin to tighten, firming up the outer layer and reducing the visibility of cellulite. Works great on wrinkles too!!!

6. Want to avoid a hangover or terrible headache? Eat a few cucumber slices before going to bed and wake up refreshed and headache free. Cucumbers contain enough sugar, B vitamins and electrolytes to replenish essential nutrients the body lost, keeping everything in equilibrium, avoiding both a hangover and headache!!

7. Looking to fight off that afternoon or evening snacking binge? Cucumbers have been used for centuries and often used by European trappers, traders and explores for quick meals to thwart off starvation.

8. Have an important meeting or job interview and you realize that you don’t have enough time to polish your shoes? Rub a freshly cut cucumber over the shoe, its chemicals will provide a quick and durable shine that not only looks great but also repels water.

9. Out of WD 40 and need to fix a squeaky hinge? Take a cucumber slice and rub it along the problematic hinge, and voila, the squeak is gone!

10. Stressed out and don’t have time for massage, facial or visit to the spa? Cut up an entire cucumber and place it in a boiling pot of water, the chemicals and nutrients from the cucumber with react with the boiling water and be released in the steam, creating a soothing, relaxing aroma that has been shown the reduce stress in new mothers and college students during final exams.

11. Just finish a business lunch and realize you don’t have gum or mints? Take a slice of cucumber and press it to the roof of your mouth with your tongue for 30 seconds to eliminate bad breath, the phytochemcials will kill the bacteria in your mouth responsible for causing bad breath.

12. Looking for a non-toxic way to clean your faucets, sinks or stainless steel? Take a slice of cucumber and rub it on the surface you want to clean, not only will it remove years of tarnish and bring back the shine, but is won’t leave streaks and won’t harm your fingers or fingernails while you clean.

13. Using a pen and made a mistake? Take the skin of the cucumber and slowly use it to erase the pen writing, also works great on crayons and markers that the kids have used to decorate the walls!!