by Melanie Brown

Late summer is in full bloom as these words are being written. Life is still pulsing with the energetic pace often filling our days during this fruitful time of year. Those who are called to the sweet song of herbal medicine are blissed out at their overflowing apothecary.  Wild harvested and cultivated plants are lovingly dried, carefully infused in oils, dripping in honey, macerating in menstruum, and whatever else our wild hearts’ desire. 

Week by week and day by day unfolds a wellspring of new growth. As the lovely story of time quietly floats by, our green friends are eagerly awaiting for us to join them in their mystery so we may delve deeper into ourselves. From the moment untamed spring greens emerge from a cozy winter, and through the late summer goldenrods and thistles, right into precious root harvesting, I have savored each fleeting moment while excitedly looking forward to what is still yet to come. 

For now, as we still soak in the magic these past 6 months have given us it helps to sit back, reflect, and prepare for your next harvesting and medicine making ritual. Here in the Northeast plants are sending forth energy down into their roots in preparedness for the coming months. During those months it is also a sweet relief to know your herbal medicine chest is well stocked with nourishing and immune boosting remedies and preventatives. 

In autumn, after a period of chilly days touches the ground, we may with profound respect, go to where plant meets earth and gently spread away some leaves and dirt, dig up the roots of our favorite abundant “weeds” so willing to honor us with their life force.  As I look around my own plentiful apothecary I realize I need to restock on medicinal vinegars and oxymels! What a perfect way to utilize the storehouse of vitamins and minerals that are available to us in these fresh roots. Vinegar alone has a long history for use since the days of Hippocrates and especially in folk herbalism that most likely our grandparents used as a nourishing medicine and way of preserving safe and nutritive plants for their health. Vinegar alone in its purest, naturally fermented form is non-toxic and safe for any age. Any type of vinegar, excluding white, may be used as a menstruum for extracting certain constituents out of plants. For the purpose of these ramblings apple cider vinegar is the star of the show. A few fascinating facts about our fermented friend: it is a superb tonic for the digestive and nervous systems; it plays an important role in metabolism, respiration, and assists the body in regulating its acid/alkaline balance. On top of these attributes it also has a high mineral content. So stock up on some raw apple cider vinegar -- some herbalists prefer pasteurized, however I have only used the latter with the “mother” for I feel it otherwise loses some of its health promoting qualities. Research, experiment and ultimately decide for yourself.

​In the fall I plan on visiting my favorite side streets, fields, and family’s yards—who love that I “weed” for them--to respectfully dig up burdock, yellow dock, and dandelion roots to have on hand a nourishing, mineral based, daily tonic. Two of my favorite vinegar based combinations include dried hawthorn berries, ginger and cherries, and an oxymel made with anise hyssop, sage, and honey, and of course our beloved Fire Cider. For a detailed look at the history and preparations of medicinal vinegars I highly recommend reading The Herbal Medicine-Makers Handbook by James Green. 

Melanie Brown is a native New Englander who has had an early connection to nature and the outdoors. Together with her four year old son she gathers the ingredients to make small batch plant based body care products which you can find at her herbal apothecary, FIR&ELM. She is a graduate of Boston School of Herbal Studies and currently attending The Gaia School of Healing and Earth Education in Vermont. Her passion is to share and spread the message of community herbalism that lies right outside in our own backyards.

To help you continue your herbal education throughout the next few months we've compiled a list of upcoming herb classes being offered by our Herbstalk teachers over the fall months. 

And what a list it is! Here you go...

Lyme Disease Practitioner Training
Sept. 9, Sept. 23, Oct. 7, Oct. 22, Nov. 4, Nov. 19; 6:30-9:30pm
4 Minebrook Rd. Lincoln, MA
MORE INFO 

From the Roots Up: A Course in Bioregional Herbalism
Fall Session: Sept. 13, Oct. 11, Nov. 1
Amherst/Northampton, MA Area
MORE INFO 

Back to School: Herbal Support for Memory and Focus
September 14th 2015
Vermont Center for Integrative Herbalism, 252 Main St. Montpelier, VT
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Everyday Immunity with Herbs
September 16: 6:30 - 8pm
Davis Square, Somerville, MA
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Herbs for Pregnancy and Birthworkers
Wednesday, September 16th - 7:00pm
CommonWealth Center for Holistic Herbalism
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Awakening the Spiritual Heart Intensive
Sept. 16, Oct. 14, Nov. 11, Dec. 2 
4 StonyBrook Rd., Arlington, MA
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Fall Wild Herb Day
Sept. 20, 3:00-7:00 p.m.
Littleton, MA (address provided upon registration)
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Herbs for Pets
Wednesday, September 23rd - 7:00pm
CommonWealth Center for Holistic Herbalism
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Book Signing/Reading:The Yin and Yang of Climate Crisis
September 23, 7PM 
Phoenix Books, Burlington, VT
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Plant Walk and Herbal Tincturing Workshop
Sept. 24, 9:45-12:00
Littleton Community Farm
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Aromatherapy Certification Course
Sept. 26, Oct. 3, Nov. 7, Dec. 5; 10am-5pm
12 Pelham Terr., Arlington, MA
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Botanical Modulators for Female Endocrine Stress Relating to Infertility, Mood Disorder, and the Menopausal Transition
September 26th 9 am – 1 pm
Vermont Center for Integrative Herbalism, 252 Main St. Montpelier, VT
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Kimchi and Variations
Sept. 29, 2:30-4:45
Free demonstration at the Farmers' Market in Westford, MA
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Herbal and Nourishing Broths
Wednesday, September 30th - 7:00pm
CommonWealth Center for Holistic Herbalism
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Herbstalk Gardens' Harvest Gathering
October 4; 2 - 4pm
Southwest Corridor Garden, Jamaica Plain, MA
MORE INFO coming soon!

Creating Teas from Medicinal Herbs
Oct. 5; 1 - 3pm
Wellesley Botanic Gardens, Wellesley, MA
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Herbs for Everyday Living: Fall Series
Oct. 7, Oct. 14, Oct. 21, Oct. 28, Nov. 4; 6 - 8pm
The Armory, Somerville, MA
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Herbal Support for the Post Partum Mom
October 7th 2015 6-8 pm
Vermont Center for Integrative Herbalism, 252 Main St. Montpelier, VT
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10 Days of Real Food: A Clean Eating Group Program
October 13th - October 22nd
Online
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Book Signing/Reading:The Yin and Yang of Climate Crisis
October 14, 6PM
Shelburne Farm, Shelburne, VT
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Making Your Own Herbal Bitters & Cordials
Oct 17th, 12-2:30pm
Greenfield, MA
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Herbal Gifts
Oct. 22; 7 - 8:30pm
Massachusetts Horticultural Society, Wellesley, MA
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Intro to Herbal Infusions: Teas, Tinctures, Oils, Wines, and Syrups
October 21st 2015 6-8 pm
Vermont Center for Integrative Herbalism, 252 Main St. Montpelier, VT
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Herbal Gifts
Oct. 22; 7 - 8:30pm
Stevens-Coolidge Place, Andover, MA
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Talk on "Internal Climate Change" 
October 23, 4PM
Connecting for Change/Bioneers Conference, New Bedford, MA
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Poses & Plants: A Yoga & Herbal Workshop
October 24
Coolidge Corner Yoga, Brookline, MA
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Stayin’ Juicy: DIY Herbal Lubes for Health and Happiness
Wednesday, October 28th 2015 6-8 pm
Vermont Center for Integrative Herbalism, 252 Main St. Montpelier, VT
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Tammi Sweet: Stress, Relaxation, and the Heart
Saturday, October 31 and Sunday, November 1, 2015
CommonWealth Center for Holistic Herbalism
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Quit Smoking with Herbs! 
Wednesday, November 4th 2015 6-8 pm
Vermont Center for Integrative Herbalism, 252 Main St. Montpelier, VT
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Herbal Cordials and Wines
Nov. 5; 7 - 8:30pm
Mass. Hot Society, Wellesley, MA
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Herbal Ecology; Landscape As a Key to a Plant’s Character
November 5, 6:30-9:30 p.m. $25 (Webinar)
12 Pelham Terrace, Arlington, MA
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Herbs for City Dwellers: The WELL Summit
November 6-7
Boston, MA
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Herbs for Children and Picky Eaters
Monday, November 9th 2015 6-8 pm
Vermont Center for Integrative Herbalism, 252 Main St. Montpelier, VT
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Herbal Approaches to Autoimmune Disorders
November 10th, 6:30-8pm
Northampton, MA
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Fun With Ferments: Learn The Basics of Lacto Fermentation
Wednesday, November 11th 2015 6-8 pm
Vermont Center for Integrative Herbalism, 252 Main St. Montpelier, VT
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Mushrooms, Roots and Berries: ​Immune ­Stimulating Remedies for Winter
Monday, November 16th 2015 6-8 pm
Vermont Center for Integrative Herbalism, 252 Main St. Montpelier, VT
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Wintergreen Holiday Herbal Market!
Nov. 28; 11am - 5pm
The Armory, Somerville, MA
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Herbed Up! Winter Wellness from the Kitchen
Monday, November 30th 2015 6-8 pm
Vermont Center for Integrative Herbalism, 252 Main St. Montpelier, VT
MORE INFO

by Michael Blackmore

I have to admit during the summertime, I go a bit nuts about parsley at the farmers markets here in Boston.  Of course, it always raises a few eyebrows when they ask what I’m making with it all and I respond “Tea, lots of tea…”

Sure I cook with it a bit – I love throwing some chopped fresh parsley in my scrambled eggs – part of an awesome breakfast that those cereal commercials never talk about!  

But I mainly take the opportunity to use the summertime abundance of fresh parsley for healing aspects which it is also awesome for.

There are two main cultivars of parsley that you see in stores, farmers markets and gardens - curly leaf (var. crispum) and Italian (flat leaf) (var. neapolitanum).  Really being cultivars of the same species they are pretty interchangeable for most herbalist purposes.  Personally though, I like the flat leaf better since it more closely resembles the original wild parsley.  I like that illusion of wildness in the midst of big city urban living. ;-)

One of the first things to think about with parsley is built into its scientific name which roughly means "Rock Parsley" –- hinting to its use as an antilithic! Antilithics break up “stones” such as in the blockages known as calculi (plural of calculus) which are generally made of salts of acids or other things such as cholesterol.   Think of it as a breaking up congestion and aiding the fluid and energetic flows of the body.