tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-60942532142259981052012-02-02T11:20:30.671-05:00A place to record my adventures of being a gentle consumer and living more fully, with less stuff.Amberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14504083012497351241noreply@blogger.comBlogger2791100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6094253214225998105.post-37649916963619075962012-02-02T09:07:00.003-05:002012-02-02T11:20:30.683-05:00

I know you all know this already but I just had to share this article that popped up in my FB newsfeed this morning. It's official folks, your wee is good for the garden! Science says so."Allotment growers can enrich the soil and therefore their plants using their own wee, according to a new study......Report author Surenda Pradhen said the findings could lead to a new source of cheap fertiliser

Amberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14504083012497351241noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6094253214225998105.post-75572110350388107522012-02-01T10:17:00.003-05:002012-02-01T10:39:13.462-05:00

Amberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14504083012497351241noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6094253214225998105.post-68235542262806691922012-01-30T17:42:00.004-05:002012-01-30T18:45:47.279-05:00

I'm not a wife, I don't have children, and I divide my "punk, DIY housewifery" time with my job, but I am so relating to just about everything in this delightful, declarative post, over at Apron Stringz.Lengthy excerpt (but please do read the whole thing):"Let’s be frank.I believe the world is fucked up. We have ravaged the wilderness into near oblivion, sucked the life out of every arable piece

Amberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14504083012497351241noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6094253214225998105.post-31329699787328910032012-01-25T01:28:00.002-05:002012-01-25T09:20:12.299-05:00

I recently started a tumblr blog that I'm calling A Small House and a Large Garden, which is a reference to the Abraham Cowley quote on the sidebar of this blog and at the top of my new one.The plan is to simply curate images that reflect how I aspire to live in the world and gather visual ideas for crafting a way of being and creating home. I'm making big changes in my life this year, leaving

Amberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14504083012497351241noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6094253214225998105.post-29960233429403853142012-01-23T11:38:00.000-05:002012-01-23T13:53:41.577-05:00

I hope my recent spate of posts on household frugality aren't becoming too tiresome for readers. I suspect I'm probably mostly preaching to the choir anyway. It's just that, being deep in winter hibernation mode at the moment, I have a lot of time to look around my space and reflect on my habits and daily routines. I have the time to make changes and shift patterns if I want, and so the subject

Amberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14504083012497351241noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6094253214225998105.post-74406642406441290642012-01-20T07:59:00.008-05:002012-01-20T12:52:26.607-05:00

This old juice bottle serves as my piggy bank. The small opening means I have to work to get the coins out and that is a sufficient enough deterrent to keep me from plundering it. Besides, I like to see it slowly fill up over the months. And fill up it does. About three times a year.I pay cash for most everything. I hate the thought of needlessly paying bank fees on my debit card and I've

Amberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14504083012497351241noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6094253214225998105.post-43911337632517415852012-01-17T07:50:00.000-05:002012-01-17T07:50:00.222-05:00

This is not an empty pot. You wouldn't believe what all lies underneath this steamer basket. There is a hearty stew here, piles of steaming hot, seasoned rice, simmering beans, a nourishing and healing drink to be served to a loved one feeling under the weather, a rich vegetable soup, a green smoothie, your daily vitamin and mineral supplement. Heck, there is even a great, chemical-free

Amberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14504083012497351241noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6094253214225998105.post-16747771128880794242012-01-12T08:44:00.002-05:002012-01-12T13:47:53.017-05:00

I've been interested in hay box cookers ever since I learned about them a couple of years ago. Also known as straw box or fireless cookers, they are a simple, but ingenious design, to cook food while saving enormous amounts of fuel or electricity (up to 80%!).Basically, it's a well insulated box big enough to hold a pot of food. Hay or straw was often used in the oldy days (hence the name), but

Amberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14504083012497351241noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6094253214225998105.post-12860451850254659502012-01-11T00:00:00.001-05:002012-01-11T00:00:08.934-05:00

Amberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14504083012497351241noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6094253214225998105.post-32441950324704086032012-01-06T10:02:00.000-05:002012-01-06T12:18:06.625-05:00

"the origins of the word frugality in Latin are frugalior, meaning useful or worthy, and frux, meaning fruitful or productive. These meanings give the word a nice feeling, but unfortunately, the word has changed over the years, and has come to mean thriftiness, the abstention from luxury and lavishness. In this book, the word will be used in its original meaning-...to make full and 'fruitful' use

Amberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14504083012497351241noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6094253214225998105.post-3658062063160230862012-01-04T10:48:00.004-05:002012-01-04T12:25:04.123-05:00

Back in October I was contacted by a Carleton journalism student who asked if I would like to be the subject of a mini-documentary her group was making, for a class assignment on people who 'live green'. I said, "sure, why not?" Over the next few weeks they came and got footage of me at home, at a workshop I gave on kitchen herbs and they interviewed two friends. This is what they came up

Amberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14504083012497351241noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6094253214225998105.post-67960540118683250162012-01-01T17:17:00.000-05:002012-01-01T23:59:36.819-05:00

Winter arrived the day after Christmas, just in time to transform the walk I like to take whenever I visit my dad and step-mom.My week spending time with family for the holidays was lovely and relaxing and unfolded just as I hoped it would, being present to the moment and the people. I took a break from the computer, hardly going online at all. I also made sure to find time for yoga, going out

Amberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14504083012497351241noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6094253214225998105.post-63976919468505754842011-12-21T08:20:00.003-05:002011-12-21T10:47:24.111-05:00

Horseradish was the herb of the year for 2011, and I can't think of an easier, quicker or hotter gift to make for the holidays than homemade horseradish sauce. Though by no means limited to the following, it would be a great gift for the menfolk and carnivores on your list. My mother's partner and my brother are both getting some this year, made from a freshly dug root out of my garden!

Amberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14504083012497351241noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6094253214225998105.post-67245074299185034802011-12-20T11:31:00.005-05:002011-12-20T12:22:32.646-05:00

I spent the better part of last winter deep in hibernation mode watching the wonderful and delightful series Edwardian Farm, Victorian Farm and Victorian Pharmacy (all available on youtbe). I escaped into the daily lives of Alex Langlands, Peter Ginn and Ruth Goodman, and it was good. So good.So you might be able to imagine how over-the-moon happy I am to discover that there are three whole

Amberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14504083012497351241noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6094253214225998105.post-52255180080587312502011-12-19T09:19:00.005-05:002011-12-19T16:57:56.576-05:00

An obvious gift project for the radical homemaking, gardening, foraging, food preserving, DIYer is jams, jellies and syrups. I spent last weekend on just such an endeavour and the result is many sweet gifts for the holidays.I made jelly for the first time ever and I'm thrilled that it turned out. I used Pomona's Universal Pectin, so was able to use a fraction of the sugar most recipes call for.

Amberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14504083012497351241noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6094253214225998105.post-73258226742419624392011-12-14T10:18:00.001-05:002011-12-14T10:20:14.490-05:00

My most popular post by far, is my tutorial on how to crochet your own reusable mesh produce bag. Nearly three years later, I'm still making and using these bags and I can tell you they are very durable and hold up well. I love them for bringing home produce from the farmer's market and my own garden. I also think they make lovely gifts. So I'm making a whole bunch this year.

Amberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14504083012497351241noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6094253214225998105.post-56180063727979623962011-12-13T09:06:00.001-05:002011-12-13T10:22:18.058-05:00

The countdown is on and I'm in full on gift making mode! Over the next few days, I'll post about some of the projects I'm working on.This year, all the children in my life will be getting homemade fruit roll ups. Now I know that might sound a little lame, kinda like giving out raisins at Halloween, but trust me, this stuff is hardcore kiddie crack. The little ankle biters go nuts for it. My

Amberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14504083012497351241noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6094253214225998105.post-73045820194155609042011-12-07T09:37:00.008-05:002011-12-07T12:41:57.450-05:00

I was sick with a bad flu the last two weeks of November. I came down with it immediately after giving a workshop on kitchen cabinet medicine, talking about which common herbs and spices we can use for illness and first aid. Over the last couple of weeks I put to use everything I talked about in that workshop and then some! I drank dozens of pots of tea. Tea for my fever and chills, tea for

Amberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14504083012497351241noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6094253214225998105.post-35788727121409352382011-11-22T08:59:00.002-05:002011-11-23T13:56:07.107-05:00

There is a new exhibit on energy at the Museum of Science and Technology, here in Ottawa.I actually had an interesting opportunity to participate in the exhibit, in a small way. A close friend of mine was on the team responsible for the project and back in September 2009, he asked if I would be willing to sit in on a brainstorming session to talk about ideas for an area of the exhibit that would

Amberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14504083012497351241noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6094253214225998105.post-3525959370124794262011-11-09T10:32:00.009-05:002011-11-09T14:04:34.543-05:00

Well it's official. I completed my permaculture design course! It was such a rich, full course with fantastic instructors and a great group of fellow participants. My brain has a lot to digest over the coming months and years. I recently heard permaculturist and author of Edible Forest Gardens Dave Jacke say in relation to the practice of permaculture that, "we have a lifetime of quiet

Amberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14504083012497351241noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6094253214225998105.post-1264699799820633302011-11-03T09:16:00.003-04:002011-11-03T10:45:25.811-04:00

"And lavender, whose spikes of azure bloomshall be, ere-while, in arid bundles boundto lurk amidst the labours of her loom,and crown her kerchiefs with mickle rare perfume." ~William Shenstone, The School Mistress 1742

Amberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14504083012497351241noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6094253214225998105.post-46344316244716397582011-11-02T08:48:00.003-04:002011-11-02T10:14:33.928-04:00

Amberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14504083012497351241noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6094253214225998105.post-81639458800437893472011-10-25T09:01:00.001-04:002011-10-25T11:24:28.364-04:00

"Its tenderly mysterious beauty of colouring...as delicately subtle in its own way as that of cloud or mist, or haze in warm, wet woodland...a suspicion of warm colour in the shadowy hollows and a blue-grey bloom of the tenderest quality imaginable on the outer masses of foliage." ~Gertrude JekyllIn between travelling and spending time with family over the Thanksgiving weekend, I managed to

Amberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14504083012497351241noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6094253214225998105.post-21655277945199293712011-10-19T10:01:00.001-04:002011-10-19T10:04:07.560-04:00

Amberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14504083012497351241noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6094253214225998105.post-8076996807004291842011-10-16T18:44:00.002-04:002011-10-16T18:49:25.456-04:00

Nicole Foss on her family's path to resiliency.

Amberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14504083012497351241noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6094253214225998105.post-69963601922662289712011-10-15T20:01:00.003-04:002011-10-15T20:10:43.992-04:00

I love this video with herbalist and poet Mariahadessa Ekere Tallie. She's so beautiful and radiant!video platformvideo managementvideo solutionsvideo player

Amberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14504083012497351241noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6094253214225998105.post-44753470785406798862011-10-13T09:26:00.006-04:002011-10-13T19:21:44.102-04:00

This is one of my homework assignments for my permaculture course. It might be dry reading for some, but I am utterly fascinated by how plants communicate, and allelopathic interactions specifically. As an interesting aside, I learned that it is the secondary metabolites in plants that are used as medicine. Some of the sources I read stated that secondary metabolites basically serve no purpose

Amberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14504083012497351241noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6094253214225998105.post-57825734685066265152011-10-06T10:00:00.004-04:002011-10-06T15:59:01.179-04:00

Not much posting around here these days I know. It's quiet on the blog because I've been busy with other things. After an introductory weekend in the spring, I signed up for my permaculture design course with the Permaculture Institute of Eastern Ontario (PIEO) and I'm right in the thick of it, with cool homework assignments and a group design project. I'm taking time to observe a spot in

Amberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14504083012497351241noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6094253214225998105.post-65467667202060971632011-10-01T19:04:00.001-04:002011-10-03T10:51:11.850-04:00

Amberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14504083012497351241noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6094253214225998105.post-85321023830580742922011-09-30T10:15:00.007-04:002011-09-30T12:41:25.028-04:00

On Monday I took all the grapes I had picked the day before and washed them in this big tub.I skimmed off the leaves and dead, dried up grapes that floated to the surface of the water.In another container, a 5 gallon food grade plastic pail, I put in about a dozen clusters of grapes at a time. I crushed the grapes with my grandmother's sauerkraut stomper, covered with a plastic bag so it

Amberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14504083012497351241noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6094253214225998105.post-6419976519556816542011-09-27T08:12:00.004-04:002011-09-27T11:14:05.547-04:00

I was out harvesting harvesting wild grapes and black walnuts with friends on Sunday.The grapes are prolific this year. The area we were in was full of them.The clusters were nice and juicy! And tart!I'm using the grapes I picked for wild grape juice. I'll post about that process later this week, but you can read about how Sam Thayer does it here.When harvesting wild grapes, be sure you don't

Amberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14504083012497351241noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6094253214225998105.post-43930626868492183272011-09-22T09:07:00.006-04:002011-09-22T14:10:29.678-04:00

A few weeks ago, the ADG and I travelled to the beautiful Kawartha Lakes area to visit a friend. My friend lives on a farm with two of her friends. Together, the three friends make up one part of a CSA collective called the Kawartha Ecological Growers (KEG). The KEG is unique in that over 20 small, family farms from around the Kawartha Lakes have come together to offer delicious produce, meat

Amberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14504083012497351241noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6094253214225998105.post-82701850539742144762011-09-20T08:32:00.000-04:002011-09-20T13:48:44.029-04:00

For the second year in a row, I've had the great good fortune of being invited to a friend's cottage to pick apples and press some cider!There are quite a few apple trees growing near the cottage, so the group went out on Saturday afternoon to gather apples.The best way to get the apples down, was to climb up the tree and give it a good shake.A hook over a sturdy branch and apple pickers work

Amberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14504083012497351241noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6094253214225998105.post-26787786810010886242011-09-13T12:56:00.003-04:002011-09-13T13:31:15.141-04:00

I'm leading a fermentation workshop tomorrow night with the Resilient Kitchen. I will demonstrate how to make kimchi and sauerkraut and you'll be able to sample some finished ferments too.All the details here!And if you're on Facebook, you might want to check out the wonderful Wild Fermentation group. There's a lot of excellent information and first hand experience from a great community of

Amberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14504083012497351241noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6094253214225998105.post-61308955862789512412011-09-09T08:42:00.001-04:002011-09-09T10:24:23.720-04:00

On our visit to Perth last weekend, the ADG and I stopped in at the historic Matheson House. Built in 1840, four rooms have been restored to reflect life during the Georgian and Victorian eras. I loved having this glimpse into the pre-industrial past.Our museum guide led us into the family room, decorated in typical Victorian style. Many of the items in the house are original and belonged to

Amberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14504083012497351241noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6094253214225998105.post-37921372941391524482011-09-07T08:35:00.006-04:002011-09-07T11:54:42.421-04:00

I love fall foraging far too much to mourn the passing of summer. This is the season of hips and haws, nuts and roots and knowing that first kiss of frost will sweeten so many fruits and mellow the bitter bite of dandelion greens. I am especially excited for black walnut season this year, as many of the trees I've been keeping an eye on, look to drop a pretty decent crop.The ADG and I spent a

Amberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14504083012497351241noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6094253214225998105.post-62794715209241030912011-08-31T15:57:00.002-04:002011-08-31T16:03:54.072-04:00

Amberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14504083012497351241noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6094253214225998105.post-57240951893221474682011-08-30T09:30:00.001-04:002011-08-30T09:40:28.471-04:00

Like so many things in life, canning with a friend is infinitely more fun than doing it by yourself! With another friend's salsa recipe in hand, we set out for the market to gather all our ingredients. Lots of hot peppers. A 10lb bag of onions. A bushel of tomatoes. And then it was time to get down to business. We sat at opposite ends of the table in the backyard. We chopped and sliced and

Amberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14504083012497351241noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6094253214225998105.post-48213642551677539382011-08-24T12:46:00.000-04:002011-08-24T13:21:43.162-04:00

This is my favourite place in the city. On the grounds of the Billings Estate, tucked between a stone shed and a small house, there is a sweet, little medicinal herb garden. A flagstone path leads visitors through the space. Many of the plants have markers, which makes for some easy plant ID. As small a space as it is, there are a lot of plants growing here. Every time I visit, I stop to read

Amberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14504083012497351241noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6094253214225998105.post-62732182570183094852011-08-17T07:09:00.005-04:002011-08-17T07:21:17.553-04:00

Amberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14504083012497351241noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6094253214225998105.post-24609278118777346202011-08-12T07:51:00.004-04:002011-08-12T14:04:54.054-04:00

I've had a fondness for Staghorn sumac (Rhus typhina), or as the ADG and I like to call it, s'mac, for as long as I can remember. It grows so prolifically in Ontario that many of my outdoor experiences include landscapes of sumac trees. Camping trips, long hacks on a horse (back in my horse riding days), nature walks, at the cottage, hiking...sumac is just always there. Growing up, my dad

Amberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14504083012497351241noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6094253214225998105.post-39882036587388437922011-08-09T10:35:00.004-04:002011-08-09T12:41:04.800-04:00

Back in June I posted about the awesome Urban Physic Garden. I've been following along with their events and what they've been up to all summer. The project wraps ups this weekend with plant adoptions. Being across the pond and all, I couldn't visit in person, but loved checking out the pictures and reading their blog. I especially enjoyed the Virtual Patient Herb Walk and the post about

Amberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14504083012497351241noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6094253214225998105.post-32344010154282396112011-08-08T12:10:00.002-04:002011-08-08T13:01:28.849-04:00

A bug flew into eye my while biking along the river on Saturday. I blinked repeatedly and my eyes watered until the bug was washed out. My eye felt scratchy and irritated for a few minutes and then felt fine for the rest of the day. However when I woke up on Sunday morning my eye was red and the scratchy, irritated feeling had returned. So I made myself an herbal eye wash. In a small bowl I

Amberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14504083012497351241noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6094253214225998105.post-76069569182709486702011-08-04T10:26:00.003-04:002011-08-04T14:16:15.472-04:00

The ADG and I became members of the Rideau Trail Association in the spring, and have been enjoying numerous opportunities to get some great hiking in. This past Tuesday, the group hiked to the Mackenzie King Estate in Gatineau Park. The house was pretty, the grounds were lovely and the Abbey Ruins were cool, but what really took my breath away was this beautiful field of Queen Anne's Lace off

Amberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14504083012497351241noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6094253214225998105.post-46571058368709743862011-08-03T06:58:00.001-04:002011-08-03T10:38:02.564-04:00

I had my first taste of this season's local corn on the weekend and it was delicious! Nothing beats this time of year when the corn starts coming in. I'll often have a meal of just corn on the cob, dripping with butter and lightly seasoned. It's like candy, such a treat and something I look forward to every summer.The other reason I look forward to corn season is for the silk. Corn silk has

Amberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14504083012497351241noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6094253214225998105.post-53261387652761270552011-07-27T08:15:00.006-04:002011-07-27T09:40:11.091-04:00

Amberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14504083012497351241noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6094253214225998105.post-31805915305378867832011-07-20T12:21:00.005-04:002011-07-20T12:37:40.861-04:00

I'm heading out to Southern Georgian Bay this weekend to visit my folks and I'm very excited to team up with Transition Town Huronia while I'm there. I've been working with two of the steering committee members and have arranged a weed walk this coming Saturday in Midland, near the Wye Marsh. I'm really looking forward to introducing people to the wild edible and medicinal plants we discover,

Amberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14504083012497351241noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6094253214225998105.post-18975818446884362232011-07-19T07:43:00.005-04:002011-07-19T13:07:35.300-04:00

Sometimes, spotting a plant is easy, as was the case with this one. The blueish-purple flowers stood out against the straw coloured grass, a gorgeous brushstroke on the canvas of summer. It caught my eye, from my bike, about 100 feet away.I instantly dismissed my first thought that it might be purple loosestrife. Purple loosestrife almost always grows in large stands, the flowers are much

Amberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14504083012497351241noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6094253214225998105.post-30612320965572840482011-07-17T08:12:00.005-04:002011-07-17T08:58:09.699-04:00

A few of my summer reads:CoopThis Life Is in Your HandsOn the Banks of Plum CreekSepp Holzer's PermacultureBotany in a DayGame of ThronesAny suggestions for what else I should add to my reading list?

Amberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14504083012497351241noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6094253214225998105.post-85198235509358860992011-07-15T07:12:00.006-04:002011-07-15T10:40:54.602-04:00

Not all of the food I forage is wild or weedy. Occasionally I come across domesticated plants gone feral. Case in point is this black currant bush. I found it last summer, while harvesting red clover in a stretch of green space, close to a parking lot for a medical building, a short bike ride from my home.What black currant bush, you ask? Yeah I know, it's kinda hard to see anything other

Amberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14504083012497351241noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6094253214225998105.post-75314270356218305022011-07-13T10:37:00.005-04:002011-07-13T14:24:37.691-04:00

For something a little more esoteric and mystical, why not try a moon tea? Yesterday I talked about using the sun to make herbal infusions, but you can also infuse by the light of the moon! Many herbalists feel that lunar infusions bring a sense of dreamy introspection, intention and ritual to the medicine making process. Moon teas are all about receptive, yin energy, as opposed to the active,

Amberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14504083012497351241noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6094253214225998105.post-41053170386426276152011-07-12T08:55:00.005-04:002011-07-12T11:15:40.876-04:00

Forget the Sunny D and boughten iced teas. No one needs all that sugary crap and artificial additives anyway, no matter what the zippy commercials try to tell you.If you want something really refreshing, nourishing, mineral and vitamin rich, try a sun tea. It's a simple, low energy and fun way to make a tasty summer time beverage.Basically, you fill a glass jar with your tea of choice (

Amberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14504083012497351241noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6094253214225998105.post-86243737496528918152011-07-07T10:02:00.004-04:002011-07-07T10:58:18.104-04:00

Huh, I wonder what kind of search engine traffic the title of this post will generate?Anyone who gets directed here looking for information on how to grow and profit from a particular kind of 'weed', will be disappointed. But maybe they'll stick around long enough to check out the amazing and magnificent Michael 'Skeeter' Pilarski video below and learn that Skeeter who, among many other

Amberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14504083012497351241noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6094253214225998105.post-6570098586234334752011-06-30T08:41:00.006-04:002011-07-01T09:56:05.045-04:00

As a new gardener coming to the practice primarily from the perspectives of ecology, food security, resource depletion and resiliency, I jumped into the deep end and experimented right away with different techniques and approaches that I didn't find in conventional gardening books.In particular, I learned quite a lot from Steve Solomon's Gardening When It Counts. I really like his technique for

Amberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14504083012497351241noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6094253214225998105.post-8750434985342838472011-06-29T07:29:00.002-04:002011-07-01T09:56:22.666-04:00

I can't believe I haven't done this until now, but I signed up for a CSA this year! Roots and Shoots is an organic farm just outside of Ottawa. CSA members were invited for a tour and potluck a couple of weeks back.We saw their fields, and learned about their growing methods, like row cover for pest control, how the irrigate and such.They have a greenhouse as well.Seeds getting started, waiting

Amberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14504083012497351241noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6094253214225998105.post-16280454927628677382011-06-28T07:07:00.003-04:002011-06-28T13:07:57.254-04:00

Whoa! Have I ever been seriously remiss on my Tree Year posts. My last ones were in March. I should have known that once gardening/foraging/wildcrafting season got going full swing, other things would get put on the back burner (like most of my dirty dishes!)I mean the catalpa is in full bloom. It's almost done blooming in fact.Aren't they gorgeous? They look like orchids, and smell

Amberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14504083012497351241noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6094253214225998105.post-37907238308659142032011-06-24T10:08:00.005-04:002011-06-25T08:38:49.527-04:00

Ah yes. The fine art of medicine making. I strained my elecampane elixir into my thrifted potato ricer-repurposed-as-herb press, through a reusable coffee filter, set into a funnel for stability, on top of wire strainer used to span the distance of the measuring cup, upon which this whole precarious leaning tower rests. Miraculously, it did not topple over! The elixir will be delivered later

Amberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14504083012497351241noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6094253214225998105.post-69148891480648875592011-06-22T11:03:00.003-04:002011-06-22T13:18:33.196-04:00

A couple of fermentation experiments. On the left: milkweed flower buds and garlic scapes that will hopefully be a tasty, caper-like condiment. On the right: burdock stalks and dill seed. Also have some spruce shoots and chive blossoms infusing in vinegar.I couldn't resist picking these sweet roses I spotted growing in amongst some other bushes, along a bike path.Gathering red clover blossoms.

Amberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14504083012497351241noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6094253214225998105.post-60146948077098764452011-06-21T10:00:00.001-04:002011-06-21T11:48:24.499-04:00

I ran an urban, wild food and medicine workshop at the allotment gardens on Sunday. There were about 20 people in the group, including some kids. The first half of the workshop was spent identifying plants, talking about their food and medicinal uses, when to harvest them, in what season etc. We looked at burdock, stinging nettle, yellow dock, red clover, milkweed, violets, plantain, daisies,

Amberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14504083012497351241noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6094253214225998105.post-44677563509370886742011-06-20T09:57:00.006-04:002011-06-20T16:03:04.876-04:00

I've been a vegetarian for years at a time, for various reasons, on and off since I was 16 years old. My most recent stretch of going meat free was largely for environmental and ethical reasons and because the ADG is a veggie, so our shared meals are always vegetarian.In April, for health reasons, I started eating meat again. I recently learned that I am allergic to beans and eggs, which were

Amberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14504083012497351241noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6094253214225998105.post-45493800416177635642011-06-16T08:40:00.003-04:002011-06-16T11:15:34.534-04:00

I love what this picture says about the life I live now. There is work reflected here, but leisure too. There is evidence of modern conveniences, but also a more simple, resilient lifestyle, chosen intentionally.In the background the sun oven stands empty, but earlier in the day it boiled potatoes and then cooked rice to perfection. During these long, hot days of summer I can cook two dishes a

Amberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14504083012497351241noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6094253214225998105.post-77867746518133572552011-06-14T09:11:00.001-04:002011-06-14T10:38:06.177-04:00

A Facebook friend posted this article about the opening of an Urban Physic Garden in London, England. I love it!Physic (in this case, meaning 'the science of healing') Gardens were developed in the 1500 and 1600's in Europe. They were usually attached to universities and used to educate physicians and apothecaries in the uses of medicinal plants and to conduct botanical research. The Chelsea

Amberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14504083012497351241noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6094253214225998105.post-11077382494286274922011-06-13T08:52:00.001-04:002011-06-13T09:48:27.535-04:00

They make for a lovely view to wash dishes by, in the fading light on a Sunday evening in June.

Amberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14504083012497351241noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6094253214225998105.post-12720500599731861942011-06-08T10:33:00.000-04:002011-06-08T16:08:12.308-04:00

I'm reading Common Herbs for Natural Health byJuliette de Bairacli Levy.It's a lovely little book, filled with lots of herbal lore from Juliette's unique perspective and wisdom gathered from years of travelling, learning, practicing and teaching.Something I found particularly fascinating, was how she used herbs in the garden to improve the health of her plants, treat diseased plants and manage

Amberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14504083012497351241noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6094253214225998105.post-23718926234142989652011-06-06T11:25:00.004-04:002011-06-06T15:05:13.313-04:00

Once upon a time a gardener planted comfrey at the allotment gardens, and now there are big patches of it growing near my plots. Comfrey spreads readily from the tiniest piece of root left in the ground. Experienced gardeners will tell you, once you plant comfrey, don't ever dig it up, or else you will have it everywhere. Someone must have ignored this advice, or perhaps a new renter had a

Amberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14504083012497351241noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6094253214225998105.post-72858552697497511992011-06-03T10:06:00.005-04:002011-06-03T11:20:30.180-04:00

Salad in a basket: peppercress, chives, dandy greens, waterleaf, spinach, kale, violet leaf, bishop's weed, sorrel, clover leaf.Here's how my polyculture, cherry tree bed is starting to look after getting it started in early May. On the shady side I've planted chickweed, and another attempt at cleavers, we'll see if this one takes. On the sunny, south-west side, I transplanted yarrow, sage and

Amberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14504083012497351241noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6094253214225998105.post-49195603292044201942011-06-01T12:52:00.003-04:002011-06-01T15:06:45.809-04:00

The weather turned on Sunday afternoon and Ottawa is experiencing a hot, sunny spell. That means it's just right for harvesting medicine plants!I skipped off work a little early yesterday afternoon, so I could wildcraft before it got too late in the day. With baskets and secateurs I headed to the garden. I harvested honeysuckle flowers, violet leaves, cleavers, raspberry leaves, stinging

Amberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14504083012497351241noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6094253214225998105.post-74128119196802140232011-05-28T07:53:00.001-04:002011-05-28T12:49:15.934-04:00

From earth to basket to soup pot:dandelion greensmusk mallow leavesred clover leaveslovageoreganogreen garlicsorrelviolet leaveschivesnettle

Amberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14504083012497351241noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6094253214225998105.post-16589536280990270572011-05-25T13:36:00.004-04:002011-05-25T17:20:09.759-04:00

In a parallel universe I have a modest homestead, on a bit of acreage that includes a woodlot and running water. It's within biking distance of a small town. It's seriously pimped out permaculturally speaking. There's a forest garden, lots of hedgerows, passive solar, an amazing compost system (humanure included) and hugelkultur everywhere. I forage and wildcraft everyday in my Zone 4. I

Amberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14504083012497351241noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6094253214225998105.post-52843710004342494632011-05-24T14:04:00.001-04:002011-05-24T14:46:23.078-04:00

Note: I didn't get this post finished before I headed to Vermont to do some camping with a friend this long weekend, but I'm publishing it today, as is, because I just finished reading this article on Foraging and Food Security and the author expresses a lot of similar thoughts I have about foraging.I apologise to anyone who may be getting a little weary of the weed/foraging posts of late. But I

Amberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14504083012497351241noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6094253214225998105.post-61744936899589053712011-05-18T11:38:00.006-04:002011-05-19T15:17:57.331-04:00

Update: An article came out in the NY Times today about harvesting ramps (wild leeks). To make sure this plant doesn't go the way of American ginseng and goldenseal, ask about harvesting practices if you buy them at the market or order them in a restaurant, and don't get them if you don't get a good answer. If you harvest ramps, please practice good foraging ethics!Rain, rain and more rain.

Amberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14504083012497351241noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6094253214225998105.post-33750067186807712172011-05-13T14:37:00.004-04:002011-05-13T15:19:21.512-04:00

Uh...blogger had some kind of massive stroke today and as a result has suffered some memory loss. I was able to recover one post, but yesterday's post with all the awesome food foraging links seems to be forever lost in the internet ether.Here they are again - but without my highly intelligent, incredibly witty, scintillating commentary this time. ;)NPR radio segment with Sam ThayerMy weed

Amberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14504083012497351241noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6094253214225998105.post-20921894527129782662011-05-11T14:28:00.006-04:002011-05-13T14:36:55.605-04:00

I work late on Wednesdays, but have the mornings free. This Wednesday morning was filled with glorious sunshine and warm temperatures. It was perfect for a short trip to the garden. The plan: harvest nettle. If I want enough nettle to last through next winter I have to start harvesting regularly now and continue until the plant flowers. It's a task I'm happy to do, even when it leaves my

Amberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14504083012497351241noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6094253214225998105.post-6369262746838388572011-05-10T07:31:00.005-04:002011-05-10T11:18:23.812-04:00

When we rented our first plot in 2009, we inherited this beautiful sour cherry tree.It shaded 2/3 of our garden and produced very few cherries that went entirely to the birds, but I loved that tree. The blossoms in the spring were gorgeous and the shade gave us a cool, comfy space to rest in the garden. I had garden parties under that tree, did yoga and lounged on a straw bale couch under it.

Amberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14504083012497351241noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6094253214225998105.post-14113582019999511972011-05-06T00:24:00.004-04:002011-05-06T12:29:00.279-04:00

Finally! After days of rain, the weather cleared on Thursday. I've been chaffing at the bit to get outside for some wild greens. Yesterday was the day, and the timing couldn't have been better. I got a call from the Ceeb asking if I would be available to come into the studio and do a radio interview to talk about my upcoming weed walk, and I wanted to bring in some samples for host Alan Neal

Amberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14504083012497351241noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6094253214225998105.post-13770133098944779582011-05-04T14:32:00.003-04:002011-05-04T15:00:40.795-04:00

I thoroughly enjoyed listening to this segment of CBC's The Current, while getting ready for work this morning.Discussed is the concept of the healing effects of nature, how our brains are hardwired to appreciate and want to be in contact with nature, some of the detrimental effects of city living and Nature Deficit Disorder. Some studies show that time spent in nature actually balances our

Amberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14504083012497351241noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6094253214225998105.post-66287548391835524872011-05-02T10:50:00.002-04:002011-05-02T12:12:45.519-04:00

So I winter sowed some seeds in January and they've been outside ever since then, doing their thing.Here's how they look now at the beginning of May. As you can see a few trays never sprouted. In total I planted 10 different kinds of seeds, 5 of which sprouted, so a 50% success rate. Considering it's only the second time I've tried this and I'm still learning and experimenting with the

Amberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14504083012497351241noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6094253214225998105.post-50955032486054830742011-04-27T10:08:00.002-04:002011-04-27T18:20:38.031-04:00

Last spring a gardener started a butternut squash plant from seed and planted it in the garden. One day it blossomed.That blossom made a teeny, tiny, baby squash. Hello, little baby squash!!Slowly, all summer long, that squash grew and grew. Late last summer it was finally big enough and ripe enough to harvest and bring inside.It lived next to its cousin for a while. Then the cousin went to

Amberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14504083012497351241noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6094253214225998105.post-27943108687939603502011-04-26T11:16:00.004-04:002011-04-26T13:45:11.808-04:00

Please excuse the shameless self-promotion but I'm excited to tell you all about the weed walk I'm hosting in a couple of weeks. As part of a Transition Ottawa initiative and connected with Jane's Walk, I'll be leading folks on a short tour of urban green space. We'll identify some common edible weeds and medicinal plants, and end with some wild snacks and beverages.I think it's going to be a

Amberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14504083012497351241noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6094253214225998105.post-24707386346239762332011-04-19T10:15:00.005-04:002011-04-19T12:50:16.687-04:00

I pack my backpack for work, as I do every morning. I check to see that the cloth and mesh shopping bags are there. At the bottom of the pack is a little, leather pouch with two knives and a Leatherman multi-tool. I also carry a pair of mini-binoculars. You never know what kind of nature you might find, even in an urban environment. It's good to be prepared to take a closer look at something

Amberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14504083012497351241noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6094253214225998105.post-25497043820501249502011-04-14T13:12:00.002-04:002011-04-14T13:24:52.724-04:00

You can see a billhook being forged in this episode of Edwardian farm.

Amberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14504083012497351241noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6094253214225998105.post-15863905441689825452011-04-14T09:19:00.000-04:002011-04-14T11:45:05.037-04:00

Knowing my love for all things hedge related, the ADG gifted me with a billhook for my birthday! Traditionally, its use is most often associated with laying hedges, although the tool is well suited for removing small shrubs, branches and the tough, woody stalks of large weeds. Since I don't have anywhere to lay a hedge yet, that's exactly my plan for my billhook. I've had to wait for two long

Amberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14504083012497351241noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6094253214225998105.post-57824038008145873792011-04-12T09:59:00.003-04:002011-04-12T11:55:07.114-04:00

"...used as a sauce with country people and strong labouring men in some countries of Germany." ~Parkinson, 1640The International Herb Association has declared horseradish the Herb of the Year for 2011.In honour of the occasion, I dug some out of the garden last weekend. It wasn't easy. Horseradish roots go deep.I dug and dug until I had quite the hole.But it still did not want to come out.This

Amberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14504083012497351241noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6094253214225998105.post-81253981508733212632011-04-11T11:46:00.004-04:002011-04-11T12:19:08.638-04:00

This weekend was a real milestone of the season for me. It marked the first harvest of the year (1.5lbs of sunchokes and 9oz of horseradish) and the first good chunk of time working in our allotment plots! I nibbled raw, stinging nettle leaves. I got in a tussle with a raspberry cane and have scratches on the tip on my nose to show for it. I relished the feel of tools in my gloved hands,

Amberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14504083012497351241noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6094253214225998105.post-30041440677957166782011-04-06T13:31:00.005-04:002011-04-06T15:32:12.459-04:00

It looks like the Alta Vista crows have made the news, though the news isn't that great. Most residents find the crows to be a nuisance and are complaining to our ward councillor to do something about them. "Alta Vista is plagued by the annoying black birds and residents want Councillor Peter Hume to do something about it.""The abundance of crows is not welcomed by staff [of the Ottawa Hospital

Amberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14504083012497351241noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6094253214225998105.post-60845666202904160392011-04-03T18:01:00.008-04:002011-04-03T21:13:41.445-04:00

"The winter is past, the rain is over and gone;the flowers appear on the earth; the time of thesinging birds is come, and the voice of the turtle is heard in our land..." ~The Song of Solomon, II 11-12My belly is full with a yummy stew that cooked in the sun oven this afternoon. I just confirmed with an area farmer our delivery to the garden tomorrow evening of 20 straw bales. The trays of

Amberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14504083012497351241noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6094253214225998105.post-61234122995529759852011-03-30T13:23:00.000-04:002011-03-30T17:43:20.950-04:00

Guys!!! I was pretty darn sure that the other tree I'm observing for the Tree Year is a balsam poplar (Populus balsamifera). But now I'm not so sure.I was looking closely at these pics I took last year of some branches that came down in a storm and I noticed some differences from the pictures of balsam poplar I've seen online and from the tree I've visited at the arboretum in Ottawa (I know for

Amberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14504083012497351241noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6094253214225998105.post-53634579536013828682011-03-28T11:02:00.008-04:002011-03-28T19:09:46.040-04:00

There's an article in yesterday's Globe and Mail about backyard herbalism. (Full disclosure: I was interviewed for it!)I think the journalist did a good job of presenting viewpoints from many different perspectives and highlighting the concerns as well as benefits. But I find some of the arguments- especially from the ethnobotanist- border on fear mongering. One of the things I repeatedly

Amberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14504083012497351241noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6094253214225998105.post-71175856915475165552011-03-25T16:35:00.004-04:002011-03-25T17:21:20.348-04:00

I read the best quote on this cool blog I just found."Cooking this way reverses the modern relationship between a chef and an ingredient. Rather than writing a menu and then going shopping, the chef walks through a garden or market; goes foraging, fishing or hunting; and cooks what is. This approach can deliver vibrant flavours and lively meals. Responsive cooking is not only a way to approach

Amberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14504083012497351241noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6094253214225998105.post-18584707621463079252011-03-24T08:36:00.001-04:002011-03-24T11:03:35.340-04:00

I spent some time with my Tree Year trees last weekend. The balsam poplar is loaded with buds, which will soon turn into pretty little catkins. I'll post about that another day. But today let's take a look at the catalpa tree I'm observing for the year.As you can see, not much is going on here. Nary a bud in site. While plenty of other trees put out buds in late winter through early spring,

Amberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14504083012497351241noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6094253214225998105.post-51222081623790984412011-03-22T09:30:00.004-04:002011-03-22T11:32:27.995-04:00

Today is World Water Day.It started in 1993 to raise awareness of the importance of access to and conservation of freshwater around the world.In the West, especially in Canada, we tend to take water for granted, assuming that we have an abundant, inexhaustible supply of safe, treated drinking water. It's easy to forget the massive amounts of water used in tar sands oil production, and the

Amberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14504083012497351241noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6094253214225998105.post-70293494845639471252011-03-21T11:00:00.000-04:002011-03-21T11:14:28.117-04:00

I was able to partially uncover some of my mushroom logs the other day. I've got three shitake and three oyster mushroom inoculated logs. Half of them are in the backyard and the other half in a friend's backyard nearby. They've been under burlap all winter.The process started a little over a year ago with a trip to a friend's family woodlot where his father and brother culled some oak trees.

Amberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14504083012497351241noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6094253214225998105.post-17727573086302198412011-03-19T19:38:00.006-04:002011-03-20T02:13:34.293-04:00

O.k. I know that technically this does not count as a true phenological event, but I'm marking the roasting of beets in my sun oven on March 19, 2011 as a 'first of the season'.Not surprisingly, this moment has tended to occur around the vernal equinox the last three years. It always feels like a high holy day to me and something worth celebrating!

Amberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14504083012497351241noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6094253214225998105.post-62447577818673142052011-03-13T12:01:00.004-04:002011-03-13T12:30:11.801-04:00

More on Willow from the 2003 revised edition of Potter's Herbal Cyclopaedia:"In the body, the glycosides are hydrolyzed to salicylic acid and this was until recently considered to be the active principle. However, it is now known that effective dose levels of Willow bark produce lower blood levels of salicylic acid than would be expected to be active, and the side effects on the gastrointestinal

Amberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14504083012497351241noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6094253214225998105.post-26721923909092417302011-03-08T10:54:00.004-05:002011-03-08T13:38:57.346-05:00

A reader asked a question in the comments about what I was going to use my willow tincture for. After the internet ate my response, which I had spent some time crafting, I decided if I was going to put the time in again, I might as well make a post of it!The short answer is that I will use the tincture for pain relief. Willow contains salicylic acid, which is anti-inflammatory and analgesic.

Amberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14504083012497351241noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6094253214225998105.post-25316544378556693182011-03-01T08:00:00.000-05:002011-03-01T08:05:03.453-05:00

I found this sweet NFB short film by way of You Grow Girl."In this short film, Halifax gardener Carol Bowlby harvests a mouth-watering crop from her small backyard plot. In considering soil quality, lack of space and a short growing season challenges rather than obstacles, she offers a wealth of practical growing tips for urban gardeners. By heeding Bowlby's advice, bountiful organic gardens work

Amberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14504083012497351241noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6094253214225998105.post-19952078731660822172011-02-27T16:23:00.004-05:002011-02-27T16:43:14.368-05:00

It's overcast and gray outside, but inside there are plenty of colours to brighten up my day.Dandelion wineNine day old willow tinctureChamomile tinctureFreshly washed bottlesHomemade almond milkRed and white sauerkraut fermenting

Amberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14504083012497351241noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6094253214225998105.post-49944931456892332502011-02-21T16:57:00.006-05:002011-02-21T18:53:15.441-05:00

Getting in under the wire for the Urban Homesteader's Action day, here's what I've been up to on my urban homestead this weekend.It was crazy mild on Friday, so I biked to the garden to check things out. Here are two of our plots.And the other two. Everything is still under a blanket of snow, but it won't be long before things are lush! We sheet mulched as many beds as we could last fall,

Amberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14504083012497351241noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6094253214225998105.post-74851379245270739902011-02-18T07:51:00.000-05:002011-02-18T11:00:39.847-05:00

"The yellow leaves of the flowers are dried and kept throughout Dutchland against winter to put into broths, physicall potions and for divers other purposes, in such quantity that in some Grocers or Spicesellers are to be found barrels filled with them and retailed by the penny or less, insomuch that no broths are well made without dried Marigold." ~The Countrie FarmeI grew and dried a lot of

Amberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14504083012497351241noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6094253214225998105.post-43896778580276802202011-02-17T15:15:00.005-05:002011-02-17T16:38:45.995-05:00

While the ADG is geeking out at the Game Summit this weekend (*cough cough nerd! cough*), I plan to geek out to some of the 100 Botany blogs listed here. Here are some promising looking ones:Tree Notes Ten Thousand TreesGet Your Botany On!Learn Plants Now!The forecast for the weekend sounds decent, so hopefully I'll be able to get out 'in the field' too!What nerdy things do you like to geek out

Amberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14504083012497351241noreply@blogger.com2