This week as I've been starting into the holiday season, I find I've been finishing a lot of the bounty from the growing season.  The snow peas, so carefully frozen in June are now all gone.  The shelled peas suffered the same fate a few weeks ago, and the blueberries....well, they didn't even make it into September.  Each time I come to the end of a bag, or a jar, I have to sigh a little bit.  Not only for the deliciousness that I won't experience again until the next growing season, but for each memory tied to that particular food or medicine. 

So much of the world has lost this kind of meaningful connection with their food.  I feel so very grateful to my CSA, Riverland Farms, for working incredibly hard to feed the people of my community.  They have nourished our bodies and our souls! And truly, it gives real meaning to the celebration of the harvest.  Hope your holiday is full of gratitude, and butternut squash!

Be Well,
Kristin

p.s.  Find a CSA near you!  Sign-ups are happening now for the next season.  Check out LocalHarvest.org and change your life!

I just got back from the American Herbalist Guild Symposium.  Even though I had a nine hour drive to process the weekend, I'm still spinning!  So much incredible knowledge, support, and love surrounding these amazing herbalists. 

I spent three days in the lovely Fall cloaked mountains of PA, taking classes, gathering knowledge, and becoming inspired.  Truly.  There were times my heart felt so full I was afraid it would spill right over into the lap of someone sitting next to me.  I am confident I would have been in good hands if it did. 

The Symposium wasn't just about learning new techniques to treat various chronic and acute diseases naturally (although there were plenty of enlightening talks on these topics).  It was about making connections, finding our place in the world, and changing the way we view medicine and how we incorporate it into our lives. 

But really, it all comes down to the same thing.  Changing how we relate to our medicine.  Growing or getting to know some of the plants that can change our health and change our lives.  It doesn't matter if it is an entire farm of medicinal plants or a window box with kitchen herbs like rosemary, thyme, and basil (all powerful medicine by the way).  It is simply taking the time to connect with these plants. We nourish them and help them grow, and they in turn do the same for us.  As we care for our little plots of land, we become all the more aware of the interrelationship of everything.  And trust me.  That, will fill your heart.

Be Well,
Krisitn

Permaculture. 

Perhaps you've heard this word before.  Perhaps you even know what it is and how it works.  For those of us who don't, here's the definition:

per·ma·cul·ture/ˈpərməˌkəlCHər/
Noun: The development of agricultural ecosystems intended to be sustainable and self-sufficient.

This includes culinary herbs.  This includes food.  This includes homegrown medicine.

It all sounds good in theory, but how does this actually work in the real world?  Below is a video that does a great job of showing just how permaculture works, and how it can bring beauty and inspiration to a community.  And......your viewing will help bring funding to local schools for their own permaculture gardens.

Watch.  Be inspired.  Enjoy!