Fáilte Lughnasa - Celtic Festival of the Harvest

Welcome to August! Summer begins to wind down and the fruits of our gardening labors are ready for picking. In Ireland and the Celtic nations of old, this was a great festival time - the end of summer growing, the start of the harvest.

As with most Celtic festivals of old, there was a lot of celebrating going on. Lughnasa was a day to honor Lugh, a Tuatha De Dannan king who is often referred to as an ancient god of light. There is some wonderful information about the Irish and Scottish celebrations of Lughnasa - both ancient and modern - at the All Saints Parish website.

This is a wonderful time of year to enjoy the fruits of your labors and cherish the

warmth of summer. I'll spend Lughnasa baking some bread, making yummy tomatoe sandwiches, and visiting our local farmers markets.

With the harvest comes lots of work - putting up fruits and herbs into jams and jellies, drying herbs, making herb vinegars and tinctures, freezing fruits and veggies. After the dog days of July, August begins the flurry of activity that leads to the cool of Autumn.

So Happy Lughnasa everyone! Let the celebrations begin.

Amazing Arnica's Muscle Magic

Arnica, small bright yellow-orange flower, packs a powerful punch. A native of mountainous areas in Europe, Arnica has long been used for various medicinal purposes. But it's true magic is it's bruise, sprain and muscle strain healing properties.

In compresses or ointments, this dazzling summer flower helps speed up healing by improving the local blood flow and increases the reabsorption of internal bleeding. That's some strong power for a little flower.

This amazing healing ability of Arnica is why we use it in our Muscle Rubs. It's a great gift of the garden (which seems only fair since I get so sore working in the garden!)

With this great gift comes a caution. In earlier times, an Arnica tea was used to help with fever, arthritis, pain and a number of other ailments. And, indeed, it can help reduce bruising and speed recovery from injuries. Studies have shown it can be poisonous if not used correctly. So it is best if Arnica is not taken internally unless under the wise guidance of a homeopathic professional. Even externally, be careful. Extensive exposure or overuse can cause contact dermatitis or other skin inflammation for those with allergies.

But with a little common sense, and a little care, this magical remedy of the ancients can be put to use for you today. These profiles at Mountain Rose Herbs can give you more details, as can this article at The Herb Companion.

Farmers Market discoveries are more than just Food

I told you about the wonderful Farmers Market at Rutgers Garden. The handmade kielbasi is killer when grilled! But the best part of this market is that everything is local. And the nice thing about New Jersey is that local covers just about the whole state!

While I was at the farmers market this past week, I came across an interesting looking magazine. I freely admit that I'm one of those folks who collects all the papers and business cards from fairs and expo's and conferences. So, naturally, I picked up this magazine, called edibleJersey. After I brought my collection of cheeses, fruits and veggies home, I pulled out edibleJersey. I was enthralled from the cover all the way through to the last page. Informative and entrancing articles are partnered with wonderful photographs to create the perfect picture of the charm and enchantment that

the farms and restaurants of New Jersey hold.

I happened to pick up the summer issue. The style is charming and inviting, with stories of successful vineyards next to information about basil and enticing recipes for its use. This is a true magazine reflecting all the great things in the Garden State.

I could go on and on, but I encourage you to take a look for yourself. edibleJersey is a delight and much needed publication that boasts the good and has something for everyone all over our state.

Fresh From the Farm is the Way to Go

I love summer. I love the hot summer sun, gardening, going to the beach, barbecuing, warm sultry nights, walking in the woods, and - most of all - the lovely, fresh fruits and vegetables found at farms and farm markets.

The gardener in me loves to pick fresh tomatoes off the vine, the never ending supply of zucchini, and bright tasting blackberries nibbled from the the bushes. This year we're trying for cucumbers again - if we can keep that rascally gopher out of the yard. He seems to have a true passion for my cucumbers.

But my very favorite thing is to go to a farm or one of the local farm markets to

gather those sweet fruits and essential vegetables that I don't have the room (or patience) to grow at home.

And New Jersey is still packed with great farms and markets to satisfy any whim or craving. Interestingly, farms are making a come back, thanks in large part to the return to green we all seem to be feeling. Bouts of bacteria tainted produce that's been shipped in have heightened the desire to return to local choices for our produce. It's a nice thing - for the farmers, the economy, and our tables.

Two of my favorite spots are the Rutgers Garden Farm Market on Ryders Lane in East Brunswick. Nestled in a field among the trees, this market offers a wide selection of goods - not just produce either. I picked up some terrific Kielbasi from Stefan's Pure Blends while I was there, although I was too late for the bread from the Village Bakery - he had sold out already. You can bet I'll be there earlier this week! There were some amazing sheep cheeses from Valley Shepherd Creamery. I didn't even know New Jersey had any place that made cheese! It was a wonderful adventure that I look forward to attending again this week.

My other favorite stop for fresh and fabulous is Terhune Orchards. They have an amazing selection of pick-your-own fruits and veggies. Cindy and I always run down for apple picking in September, but there are some outstanding picks early in the season - including blueberries! Not always having time for the thrill of the hunt, their farm market offers a full selection of the farms finest. The staff is always wonderfully helpful and knowledgeable. It's a wonderful place to visit and learn and spend a sunny summer day.

I hope you'll make it a point to go local when you can. Maybe I'll see you at one of the hot farm spots this summer. Feel free to share any of your favorites in the comments section below. Right now, I'm going to go grab a Jersey Fresh Peach and have a healthy, summer munch!

We're Back at Allaire - and you should be too!

It's time to return to the Historic Village of Allaire for the Annual Summer Crafters Market.

If you couldn't join us in the spring, you'll definitely want to join us on Saturday. The weather promises to be absolutely lovely, and what better place to enjoy a great day.

Allaire is a beautiful, historic village in a pastoral park setting. The village was once an active manufacturing community, making bog iron for the Howell Works Company. Volunteers and docents demonstrate how people lived their lives back in the early to mid 1800's. And on Saturday, it's market day! Over 100 crafters will be selling their wares and

demonstrating their skills. What a perfect opportunity to learn a little history - and get a some great gift!

Celtic Chairde Creations is delighted to be at Allaire again. We just love it there. Our booth will be over by the blacksmith shop, so come by and say hello. Mention THE COMHRA and get $2.00 off a purchase of our new Sugar Scrubs!

Annual Spring Crafter's' Market • Saturday May 10 (Rain Date May 11, 2007) 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. • $2/Adult Under 12/Free • 4265 Atlantic Ave Wall Township, NJ 07727-3715