Count Down to Herb Day - A Touch of Polish with Horsetail

Horsetail, also known as shavegrass, dates back to prehistoric times. It's a basic plant, whose delicate looking stems are sturdier than you'd imagine. Don't let it's simple appearance fool you - it is a true work horse that is packed with silica crystals.

Although it prefers damp, swampy areas, it's quite adaptable to a variety of soil and light conditions. I have small stand of these interesting reeds growing in my garden, and their stately presences is a real treat. But they can get to be invasive, so I have to watch these wondering wonders.

Shavegrass was once use the sander of choice for wood workers and pewter smiths. Just gather a bunch of the reeds and tie the ends together and you have a fine sander that gives wood and metals an beautiful patina. I've seen walking sticks that have been polished with horsetail that were so smooth and silken to the touch, it was hard to believe a simple herb did this. Whenever I chip a nail while I'm gardening

(which is more often than I'd like to admit), I grab a piece of horsetail and use it as a nail file.

The silica properties in Horsetail also make it a wonderful addition to hair rinses. It's a key ingredient on our Mela Tae Bright and Moon Hair Rinses.

I've never tried using Shavegrass in a tea, although it is said that it is said that it is a good diuretic and antispasmodic.

To find out more about this herb that adds a dramatic touch to your garden, check out Well Sweep Herb Farm, or A Modern Herbal.

Count Down to Herb Day - Herbal Sugars for Sweet Success

Saturday, October 11 is Herb Day! The herbs around us are intricately woven parts of everyday life, whether you realize it or not. From cooking to medicine, beauty care to cleaning, herbs serve purposes besides beauty in your garden.

The first Herb Day was celebrated only a few years ago, in October of 2006. It was the inspiration of 5 herbal organizations: American Botanical Council, United Plant Savers, the American Herbal Products Association, the American Herbal Pharmacopoeia, and the American Herbalists Guild. It's a day to learn and celebrate herbs of all kinds.

As an herb enthusiast and student, I thought I'd share an herbal idea everyday to get you thinking about all the great uses for herbs of all kinds.

Today: herbal sugars.

Making flavored herbal sugars is easy and fun. A great family project, too, because children can help create these multi-use treats.

You'll need:

• 1 large, well cleaned dry glass jar with a lid. Quart mason jars work well or cleaned out spaghetti jars (Well cleaned out!)
• 1/2 to 1 cup (loosely packed) of your herb of choice - see some suggestions below.
• Sugar to fill your jar.

1. Rinse your herbs and make sure the are thoroughly dried off.
2. Lightly crush the herbs to help release some of the oils.
3. Put about 1/2 inch worth of sugar in the jar.
4. Place a layer of herb on top of the sugar.
5. Place a layer of sugar, followed by a layer of herbs.
6. Continue layering until you reach within 1/2 of the top of the jar.
7. Seal the jar tightly.
8. Let this sit for at least two weeks, but the longer you let it sit, the stronger the flavor.

Yes - it's that easy. Some wonderful herbs to use in your sugar: lemon verbena or lemon balm (my favorites), rose petal, lavender, rose geranium leaves - or any of the edible geraniums, mint, sage, marjoram, calendula petals - what ever grows in your garden! You can also do this with spices like vanilla beans, allspice, nutmeg, or coriander. Or try adding the dried rinds of oranges, lemons or limes.

Now what to do with this abundance of sweet flavors? Use them in hot or cold teas or punch. Sprinkly them on French Toast. Use when making a glaze for meat or chicken. They are terrific when baking, adding a wonderful depth and mystery to your usual cake or cookies. Whatever you would use sugar for - make it more flavorful with an herbal sugar.

If you have ideas for using your herbal sugars - feel free to share!

The Nip of Crisp Air Marks the Change of the Season

The light has subtly changed. There's a briskness in the air. Blankets come our for snuggling under in the evening. The days are growing shorter - but candles come out to warm and lighten the night. It's autumn, and it's wonderful.

I love this time of year. The Autumn Equinox the other day marked the beginning of the dark season, but there's such a rush to the end of the calender year, that it's not so bad. After all, tis harvest season - one of the yummiest seasons of them all.

Right now my home is filled with the smell of warm apples getting ready to be made into Lughnasa Butter (apples, fall raspberries and currants - yum!) Very soon I'll be picking pumpkins to carve into dozens of scary and festive scenes for Halloween. Some will be saved for Pumpkin Butter, pumpkin pies and cakes and cookies, and of course our Honey Pumpkin Face Mask. Even the veggies know the time has come. They've suddenly put on that last burst of ripening to fill my table with tomatoes, zucchini and peppers.

The herbs are drawing the bees as I finally let them flower before harvesting them up for the long winter. The rush is on to finish up the gardening and gathering before frost and winter make us huddle up in our homes.

The moral of this story - get out there and enjoy! Season's pass quickly so watch for those leaves changing, celebrate the warm days, and enjoy the change that is Autumn!

Heritage and Beach Plums - Where we'll be - and won't be - this Weekend

It seems Hurricane Hana has had her way with Lavallette already. The Heritage Day Festival, which is typically a wonderful day, has been cancelled for this Saturday, September 6. With an 90% of rain and thunderstorms, the committee wisely chose to not have the event. There's nothing worse than a soggy Mummer. Sad, but wise decision.

However, Sunday, September 7th, promises to be much better - maybe even sunny. And what better way to finish up the summer season than with the Friends of Island Beach State Park Beach Plum Festival! This even is always fun, festive, educational and entertaining.

If you've never had the chance to attend, you should take the opportunity this year. There are kayak tours available, beach plum picking, a wide variety of educational opportunities, dozens of handcrafted items, and the best view of the beach you could have.

Island Beach State Park is an amazing resource, and probably one of the most beautiful spots in New Jersey. There are 10 miles of beautiful beaches, swathed in a gentle, inviting, natural maritime park. It's like stepping into another world. Definitely a spot worth investigating.

The Beach Plum Festival runs from 9 am to 4 pm at the Ocean Beach Bathing Area #1. We hope to see you there!

Have a Little Honey, Honey, it's National Honey Month!

As you may have gathered from our previous post about honey - which you can find here
- we're a little sweet on honey. What's not to love!? Honey is a natural sweet treat that's nourishing for your outside as well as your inside.

In celebration of National Honey Month, here are two honey based recipes to get you venturing into the wonderful world of honey.

For your outside:

Honey Hair Shine
Honey's softening power will keep your hair soft and shiny.

5 cups of warm water
2 teaspoons of light honey
Optional: a squeeze of lemon juice, strawberry, or a few teaspoons of chamomile tea

Stir the honey into the warm water. Add option of your choice. After shampooing, pour the mixture through your hair. Don't rinse, just dry and style as usual. Not only will your hair be soft and shiny, it will smell wonderful, too!

For your inside:

JP's Glazed Carrots
This is a family favorite - particularly my son's. He started making them with his grandmother when he was about 5 (he's now 25).

Carrots:
2 pounds baby carrots
water to cover

Glaze:
3 tablespoons butter
1/4 cup pineapple juice
4 tablespoons honey
1 tablespoon dark brown sugar
Optional: just a pinch of hot pepper flakes or a dash of hot sauce.

Directions

Carrots:
Cook to carrots in the water until just fork tender but still firm. Don't over cook them or they'll be mushy. Drain carrots and return to put.

Glaze:
Set heat to low and add the butter to the carrots, . Add honey, brown sugar, and pineapple juice. Stir until well combined. Turn up the heat to medium when sugar has dissolved. Let simmer in the glaze until the liquid cooks down and thickens (usually about 5 to 7 minutes).

Place into a bowl, toss the option of your choice, if you'd like. The glaze with thicken slightly as it cools. Yum!

For the best in local honey, check out Herbertsville Honey or E&M Gold. They have wonderful information, terrific products, and are great people.

Have a little honey every day and celebrate the sweetness of National Honey Month.