Colds and Flu and Autumnal Blues - Try a Little Fire

(This is an edited version of an article that appeared in our newsletter a few years ago. It seemed appropriate to run for Fire Cider Day)

Autumn is rolling through, and the chill of the changing season is creeping in more and more.  With the fluctuating weather, flu's, colds, and a general feeling of ennui become more prevalent . There's an age old remedy you may have heard about. It uses the many healthful benefits of apple cider vinegar, onions, garlic, ginger, horseradish and honey to kick start your immune system and fight off the nasties. It's an easy remedy to make at home, useful for your health and for cooking!  It's Fire Cider!

You can find my general recipe for fire cider here. There's also a link for a great video from Rosemary Gladstar, the first herbalist to publicly, freely, and openly share her fabulous recipe.

Fire Cider has a biting, tangy sweet flavor. And it's easily adaptable to your personal preferences. Once you make your fiery cider blend, what can you do with it beside fend off a cold? Oh so very much! It's unique flavor makes it a great addition in many recipes.

• Use it when making a vinaigrette dressing. It adds a nice warmth with just that little touch of sweetness.  
• Making some Bloody Mary's? Add a splash of this fiery blend.   
• When I'm making taco's or macaroni & pasta, I like to add a splash to the meat to boost the flavor.
• It is fabulous as part of a marinade!
• Use the fire cider as part of an amazing barbecue sauce.
• Add a splash with a little extra honey to some seltzer and you have a surprisingly refreshing and revitalizing soda.

Let your imagination go and you can find dozens of ways to make fire cider a healthy and tasty part of your cooking routine.  Fight off the flu and kick up the flavor with some home made Fire Cider.

Bring Magic to the Garden with Fireflies

The onset of summer brings on many magical delights. Longer days, delightful nights, gardens and beaches and mountains, and adventure. And bugs. There are some bugs that truly bug us, but there are others that absolutely delight - like fireflies!

Fireflies are amazing little creatures. These beetles are a welcome pleasure since seeing them is a sign that summer is truly upon us. Unfortunately, they are on the decline. Losing these little fairies of the season is not only sad for the child in all of us, but it is sad for the environment as well. There are, however, a number of things you can do to keep the magic glowing in your yard.

1) Turn off the lights. Fireflies signal their mates by flashing their perfect little lights. Ambient light from houses, streetlights, garden lights, etc., make it hard for the guys and gals to see each other. From twilight to just after dark, resist the urge to pop on the lights and you might just have a chance to see the light show of love.

2) Don't over mow, at least not that low. The firefly enjoys hanging out in the grass during the day. And eggs and larvae are born and grow in the ground. They prefer longer grass, so resist the urge to keep the lawn trimmed as tight as a crew cut. At the very least allow for some longer grasses to grow in some areas of your lawn to give the lightening bugs somewhere to live.

3) Let the slugs ... be slugs. Although most adult fireflies eat nectar and pollen, the larvae are carnivores and enjoy snaking on slugs, grubs, snails and even aphids. So the little glow worms (yep, the larvae sometimes glow) are actually natural pesticides for the garden.

4) Speaking of pests, Avoid pesticides and fertilizers. Commercial pesticides don't discriminate and affect a broad range of insects - including the good ones like fireflies. Chemical fertilizers can also cause issue since some of the constituents are the same as the pesticides. Try to use natural fertilizers like compost, and look for natural remedies like companion planting to deter bad bugs.

5) Leave the natural litter. Well, not litter. But the fallen leaves and wood piles kind of litter. Larvae love rotting woods and leaves, like the kind found on the forest floor. Having some of these around will give them a cozy home to grow in.

6) Plant what they like. Your yard will look great too! Native trees and pines are good homes to local fireflies, they love the shade and protection. Fireflies tend to like moist areas, especially wet meadows, forest edges, farm fields, and wild bog, marsh, stream and lake edges. Adult fireflies eat nectar and pollen, so plant natives would be extremely enticing to our flashing friends.

7) Don't put them in a jar. At least not for a long time. A short time for better observation would be OK, but a longer time might kill them. With their numbers dwindling it's best to spot them while they flit about. In fact if you like an evening firefly watch, you can join the Museum of Science Firefly Watch. Help keep track of the firefly population and maybe help save them!

Fireflies bring out the magic of a fresh new summer. Help keep that magic going by taking care to encourage the fairies to light up the night.

Burning Up the Herb of the Year - Hot Peppers!

Hot peppers are all the rage. You can't watch a cooking show without seeing them “kick up the heat” with some type of fiery fruit. Jalapenos and Cayenne are the most popular additions. You can find this spicy fruit in everything from stews to sauces, rubs to rices, even in chocolate and ice cream.

Here's the kicker... I can't stand eating them. Actually find them painful – and not in the good way. Very, very, VERY mild heat I can tolerate. We're talking lots of black pepper hot. No super zippy foods for me. But I can appreciate the benefits they provide, for your insides and especially for your outsides.

Capsicum, or hot peppers, are the 2016 Herb of the Year. The International HerbSociety, which chooses the annual celebratory herb, “evaluates possible choices based on their being outstanding in at least two of the three major categories: medicinal, culinary, or decorative.” Peppers fit that definition perfectly in all three categories.

Internally, cayenne and it's cousins pack in the vitamins like C, A, B, K1 and E. They provide a painful heat that produces endorphin's which, despite the initial pain from the heat, actually help relieve pain. The hotter the pepper the more endorphin's produced. Be careful before you go on that endorphin bender though. You can actually get burned from peppers like Scotch Bonnets or Trinidad Scorpions. In fact, one drop of pure capsaicin comes in at over 15 million Scoville units. Even diluting that 1 drop in 100,000 drops of water, your skin would blister.

My favorite use for hot peppers, having the issues I have, is to use it externally. The Capsacin in capsicum's provides that heat both inside and out. Capsacin does cause an initial hot feeling on the skin. It binds with pain receptors in the nerve endings and causes an intense burning sensation, which overloads the body’s pain sensors. The nerves stop sending pain messages for brief time, giving temporary relief to aches and soreness.

This is the natural magic that comes in to play with our Muscle Rub. We steep hot peppers (cayenne's and scotch bonnets) in a blend of oils and other herbs. Peppers add that nice little warmth. It's also used in a variety of liniments – if you need to “kick up the heat.”

Hot peppers do have an interesting history. Did you know that sweet peppers – which I do adore – are not naturally occurring? They are bred to be heatless. In fact, if you are growing peppers make sure to keep the hot ones far from the sweet ones. They can cross breed, which can be very surprising if you don't know that.

These are just a few of the reasons Capsicum annuum truly does deserve the status of Herb of the Year! There are so many more. Let us know why you love your hot peppers.

What will you do on Herb Day?

Herbs are so much a part of daily life. They are used in food, flavoring, medicine, cleaning, and decor. They can bring such simple joy - there's nothing like a whiff of Pineapple Sage or Rosemary to brighten your spirits.

Saturday, May 7th, is Herb Day. The annual celebration takes time to honor these seemingly innocuous little plants that are all around us. And I mean ALL around us! It's a perfect day to take some time and learn more about your favorite herbs, or discover some new ones.

What can you do to celebrate? How about:

1) Walk around your yard! Try a nibble of a dandelion leaf. Pick the smaller, newer leaves. They are more tender less bitter. Take note of the plantain, ground ivy, violets - yep, those are all herbs!

2) Take a cooking class, or improvise a new spin on a favorite recipe by adding some extra herbs. Add some lavender flowers to some yellow cake mix and make Lavender cupcakes. Use a bright, strong tea to enhance a recipe.

3) Read up on this months Herb of the Month (Nasturtium - beautiful AND tasty!) or the Herb of the Year (peppers - hot or sweet).

4) Herbs are great crafting! They can be used in flower arrangements, made into sachets or potpourri, making pomanders, infused into vinegar's or oils - so many options.

5) Get digging and plant some herbs! Whether it's favorites like peppers, tomatoes, or sage, or some new inspirations like rue or Calendula. Many gardens and markets are having sales this year - so stop by and visit and get inspired. Rutgers Gardens is having their big Spring Flower Fair. Everyone there is very knowledgeable and will be glad to help.

Herb Day can be a kick off for into a year long exploration of the amazing herbal world around us. And you can turn your herbal adventures into gifts for Mom, since the next day is Mothers Day!

Let us know what you to celebrate a Happy Herb Day!

Let's Hear it for the Trees! In Celebration of Arbor Day!

Spring is well in. We can tell by the greening of the grass, the cheerful flowers that appear, and, perhaps, the most heartening sight of all - the greening of the trees. How appropriate that as the spring comes full sway, we celebrate Arbor Day!

Angel Oak of South Carolina - she's a beauty, isn't she?

"It is not so much for its beauty that the forest makes a claim upon men's hearts, as for that subtle something, that quality of air that emanation from old trees, that so wonderfully changes and renews a weary spirit."
-   Robert Louis Stevenson 

We can thank a journalist and nature lover from Nebraska, J. Sterling Morton, for this annual celebration of our most sustaining an valuable natural allies. He recognized the importance of trees to all of nature, and made it his calling to see that everyone understood their importance to our existence. 
"The cultivation of trees is the cultivation of the good, the beautiful and the ennobling in man." 
-   J. Sterling Morton  

Trees have so much they give to the world, it IS an important thing to remember. They provide air, food, prevent erosion, and so much more. Some of the worst environmental damage is when swaths of forests are destroyed.

"Trees can reduce the heat of a summer's day, quiet a highway's noise, feed the hungry, provide shelter from the wind and warmth in the winter.  You see, the forests are the sanctuaries not only of wildlife, but also of the human spirit.  And every tree is a pact between generations." 
-   George Bush, U.S. President, 1989  

Thank you Ents (from Lord of the Rings)

There certainly is a magic in trees. Walking through an old forest does something for your spirit. Everything feels different. Trees can tell the history of an area in their growth and in their very being - within their rings. You can almost hear them whispering their stories as you walk along. You can hear their warning as well.

We haven't always been careful or considerate of their presence because we want their space for concrete that keeps the earth from breathing. They're in the way. But if not for them there'd be no way. 

So this Arbor Day, if you don't want the Ents to get you, take some time and plant a tree, or tend some trees. Walk in one of our amazing parks, or really take a look at the New Jersey Pinelands. Feel the magic that the trees provide, and carry that with you throughout the year. They are a precious commodity that should be listened to. 

We are Groot (Guardians of the Galaxy)

It's Time for Some Weed Appreciation

March 28 is a very special day. It's Weed Appreciation Day!

So many people spend a fortune and endless hours trying to develop and maintain a perfectly manicured, pristine lawn. I am not one of those people. To me there is nothing more delightful that seeing all the amazing little plants popping up like old friends. Some call them weeds. For me, they're herbs, spring gifts to be eaten and used and treasured.

Dandelions are just beginning to peak up, thanks to the warmer weather we've enjoyed. Not only to their bright yellow flowers look so happy and cheerful, they are a wonderful leafy green to kick start your system for warmer weather. Add some young dandelion leaves to salads for a lovely, peppery bite and lots of vitamins and minerals.

Stinging Nettles are young now. Yes, they can feel painful if you pick them without gloves. But they can easily be stripped for their stems and cooked. They have a great, spinach like flavor and are packed with nutrients.

One of my spring favorites is chickweed. This tender plant is so cute, and it has a nice tender sweetness. I tend to nibble it while I'm working in the garden. It's juicy and refreshing, and can make you feel like a kid again. It also makes a nice, soothing poultice.

There are so many other delightful surprises that a spring lawn brings. Plantain, ground ivy, and soon violets all coming up and not only delighting the birds, and animals, but providing nutrition and care for those who look. What a glorious day and what's not to love about Weed Appreciation Day!

The Happiest of Places - Well Sweep Herb Farm!

There are those places that just always bring a smile to our face. Well Sweep Herb Farm is one of those places for me.

Years ago I came across this gem through a friend. It's nestled in the hills of Warren County. And it's a beautiful drive past farms and mountains and charming old homes. Whenever I go there, I always come home with a selection of plants and herbs  - many of which find their way in to our products. Even on a chill, over cast day it's a trip that highlights the glories of New Jersey.

Last week I journeyed through the hills for the Winter Green House Tour. In the spring and summer, the farm, though small in size is absolutely bursting with flowers and herbs to make a gardener giggle with delight. Even in winter, there are wonders everywhere.

The tour through the green houses and the farm was led by Cyrus Hyde, owner of Well Sweep and an amazing font of herbal lore and knowledge. 

When Cyrus talks about the history of the various herbs and plants, there is a passion that is contagious. He can tell you about the biblical references for the herbs, the folk lore, medicinal uses, and their growing habits. Many of the plants available at Well Sweep are developed by Cyrus over the years. A favorite is Cy's Sunburt Scented Geranium. It's delightful and smells fabulous! The selection of lavenders and rosemary's is amazing.

Part of the tour was conducted by Patrick, Cyrus's grandson. In him you can hear the same passion as his grandfather. His knowledge also expansive. He is very well versed in carnivorous plants, which is really cool. And he's developing his own talents at creating topiaries, which are a specialty of Well Sweep.

I could go on and on about Well Sweep. Their shop is packed with interesting herb related items: dried herbs, essential oils, books, note cards, planters, etc. And if you enjoy making your own dried arrangements, their selection of dried flowers is unsurpassed and beautifully displayed.

At the height of the season, the farm is filled with perennials as well as exotic plants. There are places to enjoy a picnic lunch, you can stroll through the magnificent display gardens, and get advice from generations of experienced herbal and professionals. They have a number events throughout the year and I strongly recommend you take advantage. It is a place filled with wonder and magic and I'm pretty sure there's a few fairies around there, too. Just check Louise's fairy garden. It is really one of my happy places. I hope it becomes one of yours.

Let Us Toast with Tea

Delightfully, and appropriately, January is Hot Tea Month.  The weather is chilly, and it's time to get cozy, and nothing soothes a chilled spirit and body than a cup of hot tea.

 I love tea all year round, but it's especially inviting in the winter. An absolute favorite of mine is chai, a spicy blend with cinnamon, ginger, cardamom, clove and all spice, traditionally made with warm milk. Add a dash of chocolate and it is heaven after an afternoon of shoveling snow. Throw in a little Pumpkin Syrup and you won't be able to talk to me until I've finished the whole cup. I'll be in my happy place.

Tea has been enjoyed for thousands of years. It is the most widely drunk beverage in the world (coffee is moving up as a close contender, but tea still wins at the moment).

Not only is tea a spirit lifter, it is a beverage packed with healthful benefits. All of the varieties are!

The most typical and popular teas are green, black, white, oolong,  and pu-erh. These are filled with ECGC, a powerful antioxidant. They do have caffeine, but in different strengths compared to coffee. Herbal teas can add a wide variety of healthful benefits. Chamomile can be calming and help with sleep. Mint and ginger is refreshing and aids digestion. Hibiscus is very refreshing and can help reduce blood pressure.

And tea offers a myriad of magical options. Add fruits like pineapple or raisins, add a kick of heat with peppercorns, dabble in reds or blacks or blends, include a splash of honey or sugar or milk... the list goes on and on.

Mountain Rose Herbs and Ducky Life are two of my favorite companies to purchase loose leaf tea. I even have a soft spot for Teavana. My absolute favorite way to make tea is with herbs from my garden - chamomile, lemon balm, mint, lavender, roses, Jersey Tea, Oswego tea or Mondara (bee balm), holy basil, and my favorite lemon verbena. I just pick them in season and dry them to enjoy year round.

Celebrate Hot Tea Month this January... and keep the fun going through out the year.

Oswego tea or monardo,

 

Oswego tea or monardo,

Oswego tea or monardo,

Pumpkin Syrup to Round out the Season

I have finally finished roasting the last of my pumpkins. Luckily, they keep a good long while if kept cool and dry. And I got to the last one before we finally got freezing weather here in lovely central New Jersey.

My favorite type of pumpkin to prep for later jamming and pieing and such are cheese pumpkins. These are delightfully rich with a touch of natural sweetness. They almost smell like cantaloupe when you cut into them. My 4 rather large pumpkins from Giamarese Farm yielded about 40 ounces of roasted mashed pumpkin. That's quite a bit for future use! And it also gave me about 9 cups of sweet, earthy pumpkin juice.

What to do? Time to make some Pumpkin Syrup! It's a slow process - but soooo worth it. As Alton Brown says - Your patience will be rewarded.

First, I took the pumpkin juice and simmered in down a bit to enhance the flavor. I kept it on a very low simmer, so it wouldn't over cook. When it simmered down to about 8 cups, I added 2 sticks of cinnamon, a little ground nutmeg, and some allspice berries and let it continue to gently simmer for about an hour.


I took out the spices, then added 1 cup of chai infused honey, 1 cup of white sugar, 1 cup of turbinado sugar, and one cup of the mashed, roasted pumpkin. This then simmered for about another hour.

The trick to make this smooth is to blend it all together. I took my stick blender and gave it a good whir. I then brought the whole thing up to a boil, stirring frequently. Watch it carefully or it will bubble over. Once it comes to a good boil, turn it off and remove from the heat. Let it cool
completely.

One of the blessings and curses of being an herbal student is that I tend to have bottles and jars a plenty. I put the the syrup in 3 cute little bottles.

I've kept this in my fridge for up to 6 months and it's been fine. It's divine in chai tea, heavenly over waffles, and oh so marvelous over ice cream.

You can always play with this recipe a bit. I've made it before adding some maple syrup or some brown sugar.  For me, an extra dash of cinnamon never hurts either.

This is the perfect way to keep the Season of Everything Pumpkin going, so you'll want to make  sure to have some on hand.

Winter Colds & Chills Stolen Away by the Robbers Clan

Winter is finally upon us here in New Jersey. After celebrating Yule and Christmas in short sleeves and sandals with temps in the mid 60's, the iciness of the season has hit home. With all of the temperature shifts and craziness of shopping, parties, dinners, and families, it's not surprising that many people find themselves fighting off colds.

There are certainly many things that can be done to help keep the nasty little buggies at bay. Washing your hands, obviously. Try desperately not to touch your face. Making sure to eat healthy and drink lots of fluids is extremely important. It's also imperative to make sure to clean the air and frequently touched surfaces. Viruses and bacteria can linger and wait until transferred to a new recipient - like you!

One of my favorites for winter is our Oil of the Robber Clan.  Not only is it wonderfully aromatic, the essential oil blend is created specifically to fight off the invisible fiends. There are many ways this concentrated blend can be used:

• Place a few drops in a diffuser to purify and cleanse the air.
  
• Fill a small spray bottle with white vinegar. Add 10 or so drops of Robbers oil. Shake well and use to clean and disinfect counters, sinks, doorknobs, etc.
  
• Put a quarter teaspoon in the dishwasher to help sanitize dishes.

The spiciness of clove essential oil encourages the immune system.  Red Thyme essential oil is a powerhouse anti-septic and disinfectant. Lavender is renown for it's  anti-bacterial properties. Lemon is - well lemon! Add in Rosemary, Lemongrass and several other essential oils and you've got a true legend - and an amazing way to scare away winter colds.

Before the Season of "Everything Pumpkin" - Take time to Savor the Apple

I do adore pumpkins. Soon enough it will be the Season of Everything Pumpkin. But for me, September is the season of the apple.


Apples are the glorious gifts of late summer and early fall. There are so many varieties to choose from, and in New Jersey we have a plethora of pick your own farms. Some apples, like Cortlands, are on the sweeter side. Empires are great for eating raw and have a bit of tartness. Fuji's are wonderfully sweet and last a very long time. Granny Smiths are lovely if you prefer the tartness of apples. Jonathans are great for making applesauce, but not for baking because the mush. Yorks are great for baking. I could go on and on, since there are over 100 types of apples grown for commercial use. Actually, there are over 7,000 types of apples grown world wide, but that would take us rather far afield.

There is so much that apples give us. Not just for eating and cooling. On these first cool nights as summer fades to autumn, there is nothing like some warmed apple cider with a cinnamon stick in it. Around here, Delicious Orchards has the best cider. A great place for pick your own apples is Terhune Orchards. They also make some yummy apple wine. And of course there are the amazing benefits of apple cider vinegar.  We use it in many of our products because it is so good for you on the inside and on the out. Ooh - and I've recently discovered the fun of hard cider, but that again is another story.

Apples are packed with nutrition and fiber. They contain lots of vitamins like A, B, and C. They have antioxidant components, quercetin, collagen, and elastic which make then wonderful for your skin, boost your energy, and aid in digestion.

Applying apples to your outsides might seem strange - but your skin will certainly appreciate it. Here are a few quick tops to try:

• Take a nice fresh apple and run it through the blender with just a little water or green tea. Take that fabulous smelling mush and rub it in to your skin after a hot day. Rinse with cool water and you'll be washing away the heat and damage you've imposed on your face.
• Kick the apple treatment up a little by blending apple mush with honey and make yourself a skin loving face mask. It will brighten and soften your skin.
• Use a little apple mush or gently run a slice of apple under your eyes to help alleviate those dark circles. 
• After shampooing, pour some apple juice through your hair and then rinse. It will help with dandruff and add some nice shine.
• The pectin and tannin in apples helps soothe bug bites. Rub a piece of apple on a bite or apply a little mush.

Of course the best thing you can do with an apple, especially fresh and in season, is eat one a day. It may help keep the doctor away, and it will definitely taste great and make you happy.

Beeting the Summer Heat

I'm lucky enough to have a number of wonderful local farms not to far from where I live. One of my favorites, Giamarese Farm, has a CSA and we're happy to be members. The last couple of shares

have had a wonderful selection of rich, sweet, beets. I LOVE beets.

With this abundance, I decided to boil our last couple of batches. Then I freeze some, mash some, finish it up by roasting them, or pickling them. But there was all this lovely water that I thought, "There has to be something I can do with this."

Figured something out that's VERY yummy.

I took the water and strained it out well. I made a wonderfully fruity blend of ice tea with limes, pineapple, cherries, raspberries, and rooibos tea. (Sorry there's not more detail, this was very much a little of this and little of that recipe). I sweetened it with just a little honey and added the beet water. Delicious, refreshing - and healthy!

Beets are nutritious little jewels. They are rich in Vitamin B, C, magnesium, folate, lutien, copper, and more. And low in calories! Although the water isn't quite as powerful, it still carries some of those health benefits.

My suggestion - play with your food. Think about what else you can do with the juice or water. I may try it again by adding some beet water to rice, or maybe as part of a stock. So many options that I never thought of before.

Hey - I wonder if it would work making a sherbet. Hmmmm. Maybe next time!

Let Your Inner Spirit Out - It's As Young as You Feel Day

Welcome to As Young As You Feel Day!

Let's face it, there are days when that statement means you're about 112. But there are other days... oh, those wonderful other days.

Those are the days when you're tempted to do a cartwheel. It's the day when you want to pull out that favorite peasant top, or dig out that jean jacket and wear it in public. The days that you want to disco or dance your little heart out. The days your heart and spirit just zoom. Today it that day.

Go do those things that make you feel young! It will make your spirit soar!

Pucker Up Again with a Luscious List for Lip Appreciation Day!

Lips so lovely they have their own day! For National Lip Appreciation Day we thought we'd pass along some lip licking tidbits about  - lips!

• Human lips are unique. According to LiveScience, humans are the only creatures that have such a distinct border between the pinkish, reddish parts and the surrounding skin, called the "vermilion border."
• You pucker up by tightening the orbicularis oris muscle, a set of four independent quadrants of muscles that interlace the mouth. 
• Oh, and puckering up takes 2 muscles. French kissing takes 34 muscles.
• Lips don't sweat. They don't have any sweat glands, which is one of the reasons they can dry out so quickly.
• Blood red lips is an appropriate saying. Lip skin is thinner than else where on the body.  There are only three to five layers of skin. Most areas have up to 16. Because it's thinner, its easier to see the blood vessels. And the skin gets thinner with age.
• Your fingertips are extremely sensitive  - but lips are the most sensitive part of the body.
• Movie kisses have been around since the beginning. The Edison Company made the 30 second long film The May Irwin-John C. Rice Kiss in 1896.
• Lip gloss was invented to make lips look moist for the movies. It was developed by Max Factor in 1930.
  
• Good lip balms with a wax base provide a waterproof barrier that keeps your internal moisture from evaporating. It's especially needed on cold, dry, or windy days. Naturally Celtic Chairde Creations has a fine selection for you to choose from.
• Lips sunburn more easily because they don't contain melanin, the skin pigment that helps protect your skin against UV rays.
  
• Don't lick your lips! The enzymes in saliva will break down your lips the same way they start to breakdown your food, cause cracking and dryness.

Celebrate Lip Appreciation Day and take some time to give your lips a little TLC. Even it's just to give a little whistle!

A Howl from Our Heart

Each month this year, we are donating a portion of our proceeds to different charities. In January, we Rivers Edge Horse Sanctuary. It's a wonderful place that has been under a lot of stress due to flooding and storms.



In February, we were sharing with Lakota Wolf Preserve. What an amazing place this is. Jim and Becky care for all the wolves and animals with respect, love, and appreciation. The enclosures are well maintained and spacious for the packs and foxes and other animals. If you want to learn about wolves, their habits and environments, this is the place to go. You can just feel the affinity they all have for each other.

We were going to switch in March, but we decided to stay with Lakota for another month. This winter has been particularly brutal with the freezing cold weather. They haven't been able to have the tours they usually do, which is their form of income. Becky has also found out that she has colon cancer. They are the only two that maintain the preserve, so it's become a particularly difficult time for them. That's why we decided to extend our month of giving through March.

How can you help? Well you can certainly go to their website and make a donation. You can also comment, like, share and order from Celtic Chairde! Whether it's here on our blog, or our Facebook or Twitter page, every interaction will help add to the kitty for the wolves. 

March may have come in like a lion, and we may be hoping that it goes our like a lamb, but let's make sure it goes to the wolves at Lakota Wolf Preserve.

It All Starts With Once Upon a Time.....

and suddenly you are whisked away to a magical, mystical place and time. Myths, legends, and fables not only teach us, they enchant us in a way that makes us remember them throughout our years. They are to be celebrated and shared. Why not do it now, because today is

Tell a Fairy Tale Day. 

I have always loved fairy tales. My father would read stories to me from Grimm, Aesop, and Hans Christian Anderson. It's always delightful to see movies made from treasured stories, but there is a different type of magic in just telling the story.

Telling a tale takes time, and often practice. But you can do it. I've come up with a few Fairy tales myself - including ones for our Queen of the Pirate Sea Waters and Oil of the Robber Clan. All great fairy tales take a first telling, when the idea starts. After a  few more tellings, characters will begin to take form and start to take on the challenge of their tale. Who knows, you may come up with the next Peter Rabbit or Peter Pan. 

If you aren't comfortable enough to just tell a story yet, try reading some of the classics. You may be surprised at the darkness in Grimm's Tales - surprised and probably delighted. Hans Christian Anderson tales have a sweetness, and sometimes sadness, who's lessons apply to life in any time. There's Aesop, Baum, and even modern fairy tales like Stardust, the Never Ending Story, and of course The Princess Bride. (If you've never read the book The Princess Bride, treat yourself. It is wonderful!)

Let the Craft Faire season begin!

We're getting an early start this year! We're delighted to be a part of the first ever Valenzano Craft Faire and Wine Tasting. Held in the beautiful Grand Ballroom at the vineyards property in Shamong, it's bound to be a day to warm your heart. Come by and visit and get some of those wonderful skin care goodies your skin is craving this time of year.

Mention this post and you'll get a free gift!

Light and Fluffy Shave Foam

My son has always been a connoisseur when it comes to shaving. He liked straight edge razors when he was in his teens. He had soap mugs and shave brushes in all shapes and sizes. So when he asked me if I could make him a shaving cream, I had to jump at the chance.

It took some experimenting, and with that were some disasters. Some were way too oily. Way, way to oily. And there were others that had no foam at all, or felt too dry. We went through a lot of combinations - but we came up with a winner.  The final version  includes pure Castile's soap blended with clarifying hydrosols, skin refreshing essential oils, and carrier oils. JP's Shaving Foam is light and fluffy. It puts a light thin, protective coat on your skin with just a fine foam. It's doesn't even need to be washed off after your done shaving. Just a light rub in and you're good to go.

JP's Shaving Foam is great for men and women. The scent is very light and fresh. My husband, who gets 5 o'clock shadow at noon, loves this. I love it as well. It even feels nice using it under my arms. 

Next up, finding the right combination for a shave butter. 

And if you have any suggestions for products, just let us know. That's how we come up with the best products!

A Very Happy 2015 to You All!

Happiest of New Years

Welcome 2015

This New Year is still young - may it be filled with love, laughter, friendship, and merriment! 

Your story for this year is just beginning - make it a good one.

 

The Secret of the Salve for Gardener's

When we started our business, we came up with many wonderful creations. One of our earliest and most popular is our salve for gardeners. Steeped with the treasured little calendula plant in every step, it is the perfect balm for chapped and cracked, hardworking hands.

But this salve for gardeners has a little secret. It is based an the wisdom of herbs and healing shared by Airmid, a goddess of the Tuatha Dé Danann. Her family were healers and surgeons to the gods. Airmid's gift was regeneration. She knew the secret of all of the herbs, one for each day of the year and the different parts of the body. Her recipes and blends have been passed and shared through the ages, her lessons on herbs whispered from the people and plants to all that could hear. We listened, and we heard.

We infuse Calendula, a champion with healing properties and infused it in to oil that is the base of this soothing salve. To that we add comfrey, rosemary, sage, basil, hemp seed and other oils, aloe, and a luscious blend of other herbs and oils. These combine to aid with the healing of nicks, scratches and cuts, all while softening and soothing your hardworking hands. Airmid had a fondness for gardeners, since they tend to her favorite plants - the herbs. 
 
We love to garden and get our bare hands good and dirty. That's why we've created this gardeners salve with the Airmid in mind – Airmids Salve for Gardeners.

You'll also find that it is a wonderful rescue for cuticles and knuckles that are becoming dry and cracked from the cold weather. It's always with me to give a quick treatment after a frosty encounter. 

The secret is out - but the softness and soothing continue!