by Brendan Kelly
In my experience as an acupuncturist and herbalist, it’s very possible to address a significant diagnosis like cancer by waging peace, rather than the more common western medical approach of waging war on the condition. For Chinese medicine, an underlying issue with cancer is the diagnosis of heat which causes an over-proliferation of unhealthy cells. Rather than looking only at the symptom itself, in Chinese medicine we look to where the symptom is coming from. by Patrice Green
You can feel it: the earth’s pent up energy just waiting to burst forth. Now is the time to put the introspection and new ideas of Winter into action. When we shift from survival mode to truly living we also tend to take stock of our surroundings with a clearer vision, so it is apropos that this time of year is also a time of cleaning, or getting rid of the old to make way for the new. There’s often a deep desire to nest, simplify and purge that which no longer serves. by Jenny Hauf
My hands, each of its creases and wrinkles illustrated in fine germination mix, hold the tiny promises. We cradle hundreds of them in our palms, keep thousands in vest pockets. Tenderly, carefully, we lay down the thick stubs of echinacea, the slivers of arnica, and the many shades of mad dog skullcap brown. Like all promises, not all of the potential within this myriad of seeds will be realized. However, I sow them and dream of the future that I’ll give to those that sprout. In this season of spring, as buds are slowly bulging and I am shown my first blooming snowdrops, the birds are singing again. My day is filled with the sweetness of sounds and discoveries which, like some favorite words, I always forget until they sneak up on me and thrill me with their textures, their singular tones, the richness of their meanings. by Debra Bluth
On the brink of the spring equinox in the Northeast, we’re hovering at a thaw. It’s cold, there’s still lots of snow, the ground is hard. It’s not easy to imagine the roots of the plants under there, gathering energy in the darkness in order to push their way through to the light, but they’re there. They know what to do and they do it, unfailingly, every Spring. Soon enough, we’ll see the green world peeking through, exquisitely ordinary and miraculous all at once. by Patrice Green of Green Aromatics
The miracle of herbs and plants is that when taken responsibly and respectfully they do not deaden the emotions. As gentle, loving, supportive allies, plants help us work through the lessons we are here to learn. In particular, roses do this beautifully. by Jenny Hauf of Muddy River Herbals
The snow doesn’t give a soft white damn whom it touches. —E.E. Cummings Snow. If you live anywhere close to Boston it’s everywhere. It surrounds your car, hems you in as you walk the sidewalks, and is piled so high that you need to hurry through the street, dodging drivers and the soupy ridges of slush. by Michael Blackmore
Come, gather round everyone. Don’t be shy. Come, sit by the fire and forget the cold and snow. I have good news to share with everyone. I know it has been a hard, harsh time this winter, but something magical is coming. A change that promises to bring a joyful feeling swelling in all our hearts… No, not the oft dreamt of springtime – Praise Be the Spring, May It Come Soon! Instead, I’m talking about the fact that Herbstalk is coming in just a few months! That’s right, the Boston area’s own herbal festival is nearly here. Happy New Year, everyone!
As we look ahead to 2015, we also reflect back on all that 2014 brought to Herbstalk. It was such an amazing year in many ways: we held our first Linden Celebration in May to celebrate the Herbstalk plant-of-the-year; we installed several herbal container gardens around Boston, thanks to the support of Allandale Farm and several local businesses; our June event was our biggest and best yet; and in November we hosted our first-ever Wintergreen Holiday Market! We are proud, grateful, and happy for all that we were able to accomplish in the past year. This year we’ve put together a little holiday gift guide, featuring some of our favorite botanical and herb-inspired gifts. Check out these local crafters to find something for everyone…
1. FOR THE BUSY BEE Burning the candle at both ends? Wind down and relax with this lovely blend of herbs that supports a restful night’s sleep. We had a grand time this past weekend at our first-ever holiday event. Thanks to everyone who participated in our Wintergreen Herbal Market! We had 25 lovely vendors, 5 free herbal demos, and 2 live brass bands. It was a wonderful start to the holiday season, and will keep us inspired until next June’s full Herbstalk event.
Here are a few photos from the day… |
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