You know, sometimes the hardest part about being a herbalist; a healer: is watching people poison themselves with food, swallow sickly emotion, feed off the negatives of life, complain without action, cling to ridiculous habits, be a prisoner of their own small thoughts and live in such fear of change. Change is hard. But it's only hard because we say it's hard. It's not hard. What's hard is to say it's their path not mine... and watch them live in their burdens. That's the hardest part. 

 Be Well
~Jessica Morgan

Connect with me: 
Follow me on Twitter - MorganBotanical  

Follow me on Pinterest -Jessica Morgan

Fan me on Facebook - Morgan Botanicals

View my photstream on Flickr! - Morgan Botanicals

Copyright 2013. All rights reserved. Jessica Morgan, Morgan Botanicals.

Disclaimer - The information provided in this article is for informational purposes only and is not intended as a substitute for advice from your physician or other health care professional. You should not use the information in this article for self-diagnosis or to replace any prescriptive medication. You should consult with a health care professional before starting any diet, exercise or supplementation program, before taking any medication, or if you have or suspect you might have a health problem, suffer from allergies, are pregnant or nursing. 

??? Waste areas, roadsides, and meadows...my gardens, that's where you'll see the Tansy Fairy. My common 'vulgare' friend and her petal-less humble yellow buttons with tattered leaves and pungent humor have adorned many of my gardens and roaming paths since I could remember. And she always will. Because she's immortal. She's tall, strong, feisty and youthful.....and sometimes very pushy.  She goes where she wants. She spreads out and leaves a trail.  She tells it like it is. She magical and likes to mingle....and her clean, camphorous scent has followed me to all of my gardens. And to my neighbors.

I must say, Ol' Bitter Buttons is one of my favorite plant fairies to have around, as she likes to live amongst the humorous Cucurbits, you know, the cucumbers the squash, those juicy melons and those gourds. Oh and the feisty bramble: those roses and the berries because of course she gets along well with the thorns and the prickles. They are best of friends. Companions really. She likes to play with the bees and the caterpillars and tell them all her stories, but if you watch, she's quite snotty to the ants and beetles and squash bugs, oh and the flies....oh well. We cant get along well with everybody now can we? 



Be Well
~Jessica Morgan

Connect with me: 
Follow me on Twitter - MorganBotanical  

Follow me on Pinterest -Jessica Morgan

Fan me on Facebook - Morgan Botanicals

View my photstream on Flickr! - Morgan Botanicals

Copyright 2013. All rights reserved. Jessica Morgan, Morgan Botanicals.

Disclaimer - The information provided in this article is for informational purposes only and is not intended as a substitute for advice from your physician or other health care professional. You should not use the information in this article for self-diagnosis or to replace any prescriptive medication. You should consult with a health care professional before starting any diet, exercise or supplementation program, before taking any medication, or if you have or suspect you might have a health problem, suffer from allergies, are pregnant or nursing.

Our storm took down half a juniper at the old church on the corner, so needless to say, I've been busy dragging sweet juniper boughs home across the snow this beautiful Sunday morning. I give thanks to the church, the Juniperus gods and the mighty storm..... shake off snow, kiss the sky and drag.... I'm always grateful when my old friend calls to me. Seems like a good pristine day for making juniper hydrosol. And probably juniper some-of-this and juniper some-of-that!

Morgan Botanicals Summer Herbal CSA memberships are now open for registration! Enjoy 3 months of homegrown and wildgathered handmade herbals such as teas, tinctures, syrups, oils, creams, oxymels, incense, flower essences, hydrosols, essential oil blends and other herbal miscellany. Monthly payments are available, please inquire. www.morganbotanicals.com

Morgan Botanicals is very excited to continue offering year-a-round Herbal CSA Memberships! Enjoy fresh seasonal herbals that are homegrown, wildgathered, handmade and delivered to your door! For those who have supported our Herbal CSA in the past, we Thank You and hope you have enjoyed our herbal offerings. New herbals are being added to the share every season so we look forward to sharing the abundance!

This is a wonderful opportunity for local and not so local herb enthusiasts to be a part of our monthly herbal offerings program. We have created an Herbal CSA Program  for those who would like to subscribe. It begins each season, offering homegrown and wildgathered handmade herbals to each subscriber. Each month herbal offerings such as teas, tinctures, syrups, oils, salves, vinagars, jellies, incence, flower essences, hydrosols, essential oil blends and other herbal products will be available.

Our seasonal Herbal CSA's run for three months and the fee for the entire subscription (once a month pickup or delivery) is $160.00 for the Small Herbal CSA and $240.00 for the Large Herbal CSA, each payable at the time you subscribe. **Monthly payments are also available, please inquire.  Members will be able to pick up their herbals the first Saturday of each month, or your box can be mailed out to you (free of charge).

Morgan Botanicals Herbal CSA membership is a great way to build your own home supply of herbal medicines, natural bodycare products, artisan herbals, learn more about how to use local and medicinal plants, and explore new ways of taking charge of your own health and well being.

By purchasing a share you are also helping to support the plant work we do: growing and processing herbs, turning them into herbal medicines that nourish the body and increase vitality as well as our training programs that teach children about foraging, plant identification, how to grow their own food and medicine garden, health and nutrition and the basics of cooking and medicine making. If interested in our Junior Master Gardener classes please send inquiry to Jessica Morgan at herbalist@morganbotanicals.com and we will send you information on this program.

 

There are two separate Seasonal Herbal CSA Programs available:

Large Seasonal CSA Herbal Program ~ $240.00

Season runs for three months and includes six handmade herbals each month as well as a full color newsletter filled with herbal lore, tidbits, plant ramblings and herb use. Large is suitable for a family of 2-3, or to share among a group of friends. This is a total of 18 handmade herbal products.

Small Seasonal CSA Herbal Program ~ $160.00
Season runs for three months and includes four handmade herbals each month as well as a full color newsletter filled with herbal lore, tidbits, plant ramblings and herb use. Small is suitable for an individual or a family just beginning to learn about herbs. This is a total of 12 handmade herbal products.

Monthly Baskets can be picked up at Morgan Botanicals on Designated Pick-Up Day or will be shipped (shipping cost is included).

Summer 2013 Pick Up/Shipping Dates (Saturdays from 3pm-5pm)
June 1st
July 6th
August 3rd

How it works….
Each month members receive a package of herbs prepared as tinctures, loose teas, salves, honeys, vinegars, syrups, etc, and information about how to use them. Once you are signed up, you will receive confirmation via email or phone. We will contact you again via email or phone one week before your share is ready to be picked up or is being shipped.

A typical monthly share will include some of the following:

Delicious Tea Blends
Single Tincture or Extract
Salve, Cream, Butters or Herbal Oil
Herb Infused Honey, Electuaries or Jams
Medicinal or Culinary Vinegar or Oxymel
Elixir or Syrup
Herbal Scrub, Bath Blend or Bath Salt
Fresh or Dried Culinary Herbs & Blends
Smudge Sticks and/or Incense
Flower Essence, Hydrosols or Essential Oil Blends

 

To sign up or for more information, please contact Jessica at  herbalist@morganbotanicals.com or visit www.morganbotanicals.com

Monthly payments are also available.Here's how monthly payments work. You choose a CSA size and we split it into three equal payments, all which need to be paid prior to the start of your Herbal CSA season.  If you make payments there's a small additional 20% fee split up between payments, or pay in full and save money!

I will then send out a Paypal invoice, or you may send a check on your specified payment due dates.  You will then receive your herbal goodies for the three months; June, July and August!

As always, please email any questions to herbalist@morganbotanicals.com.

Connect with me:

Follow me on Twitter - MorganBotanical 

Follow me on Pinterest -Jessica Morgan

Fan me on Facebook - Morgan Botanicals

View my photstream on Flickr! - Morgan Botanicals

Copyright 2013. All rights reserved. Jessica Morgan, Morgan Botanicals.

Disclaimer - The information provided in this article is for informational purposes only and is not intended as a substitute for advice from your physician or other health care professional. You should not use the information in this article for self-diagnosis or to replace any prescriptive medication. You should consult with a health care professional before starting any diet, exercise or supplementation program, before taking any medication, or if you have or suspect you might have a health problem, suffer from allergies, are pregnant or nursing.

Jessica Morgan, Herbalist

Do you notice you feel better when you walk barefoot on the Earth? That it makes you feel good? Like when you're hosing down your feet in the wet grass after you've been gardening all day. Well there is no question that walking barefoot is healing and ancient healers believed Earth's energy could be easily absorbed through our skin and through the soles of our feet, thereby stabilizing the electrical environment of our organs, tissues, and cells.

We know that throughout most of evolution humans walked barefoot and slept on the ground, and through this direct contact the ground's abundant free electrons were able to enter the body and help keep it grounded. You see, when the body looses contact with the Earth it can carry a positive voltage and since our modern environment is full of a spectrum of electromagnetic radiation we are disrupting the trillions of subtle electrical communications which are a vital part of the function of our body's systems.  By ditching the rubber shoes and being grounded to the Earth we greatly reduce the levels of these induced voltages. We are electrical beings, and the Earth's surface is electrically conductive.

I think this is Earth medicine at its finest and plays a vital role in preventing dis-ease. Some call it body earthing, or earthing, some call it grounding, but by reconnecting our bodies with the free electrons that flow through the Earths surface we can lower blood pressure, improve respiratory conditions, improve circulation and digestion, reduce stress, reduce sleep problems, aid in pain relief and boost energy levels, our immune system and aid in the harmonization of the body's basic biological rhythms. Sounds good huh. It is, and it is as simple as it sounds. So toss your shoes and walk barefoot on wet grass, river mud, moist soil, beach sand or any beautiful Earth available to you. Go wild, see how good it feels.

As always, please email any questions to herbalist@morganbotanicals.com.

Connect with me:

Follow me on Twitter - MorganBotanical 

Follow me on Pinterest -Jessica Morgan

Fan me on Facebook - Morgan Botanicals

View my photstream on Flickr! - Morgan Botanicals

Copyright 2013. All rights reserved. Jessica Morgan, Morgan Botanicals.

Disclaimer - The information provided in this article is for informational purposes only and is not intended as a substitute for advice from your physician or other health care professional. You should not use the information in this article for self-diagnosis or to replace any prescriptive medication. You should consult with a health care professional before starting any diet, exercise or supplementation program, before taking any medication, or if you have or suspect you might have a health problem, suffer from allergies, are pregnant or nursing.

Jessica Morgan, Herbalist

I'm very excited to share another interview. I was recently invited to be interviewed by the sweet folks over at HerbMother~ herb'n play for kitchen, craft and spirit. Thought I'd post it so you can read it, or you can find it here. http://herbmother.com/2012/07/herbmother-sponsor-morgan-botanicals/

Enjoy!

Jessica Morgan

HerbMother Sponsor – Morgan Botanicals

Today’s spotlight highlights the hilarious, snail-loving herbalist Jessica Morgan creator of Morgan Botanicals. I was first drawn to Jessica’s sharing because of her fun, *playful* approach while being wildly knowledgeable about plants. Get to know her a bit, and check out the giveaway below.

Morgan Botanicals is owned and operated by Jessica Morgan, a life long lover of plants. She is a community herbalist and environmental horticulture and crop science graduate, garden coach and consultant, a certified CA master gardener, junior master gardener instructor, snail whisperer, forager, plant tickler, joke teller, wild foodie, teacher and writer and reader of all things interesting. Jessica offers medicine-making workshops, children’s classes, plant walks and talks, garden and crop advice as well as handmade herbals and custom blends. You’re most likely to find her roaming the wilderness oohing and awing and botanizing, wildcrafting, twig collecting, tree climbing, plant pressing, plant tickling, brewing and photographing, teaching in her food and medicine garden surrounded by children or crafting herbals in her herb shop.

What inspired you to go in the direction of the work you do/start your business?
I’m a lover of life and I’m all about happiness, and I’m happiest when I’m mingling with the plants. I’ve been around the plants my whole life and found my self tumbling into job after job in plant work. I worked in many nurseries and greenhouses, pushed paper work for large Ag fields like Grimmway, did field biology work on endangered plants for Cal State, and for fun I liked to dye cloth and yarn with plants and make live plant wreaths and crafted and sold my herbals. It was easy to see my direction…so I went with it.

How do you balance work/life/family/play? 
Funny thing is, my work seems to be my play! My family is my life and together we work hard and play hard. From weeding to wildcrafting, or making herbals to selling herbals, I let my kids help when ever I can. They are pretty good little foragers and weed munchers, and in the shop they help hang herbs to dry or fill the drying racks. A typical day of hiking easily becomes a picnic and river splash or bird watching, plant photographing and harvesting day. My husband and I set forth a goal a long time ago that life was going to be free and easy, simple and fun….even with our four kids. We strive to teach our kids balance and that our life’s work should be fun, and if we do what we love it will never really be ‘work’.



What words of encouragement would you offer someone walking on the path toward their dreamwork?
You have got to do what you love. All the way. When you live and breathe and work what you love, you will see and feel and breathe success. I’ve learned not to constantly seek out the answers, I like to set my goals and then just go with it. I wholeheartedly trust my instincts and intuition. I listen. I never know how something is going to end and that is exciting….a project, a trip. I don’t like to live for the finish line. I like to live the day and see where it takes me. It’s all about the path. The path to your dreamwork.

I also think it’s important to try everything once. Learn to say Yes! Learn to fail. Don’t be afraid. I always try to remember that if you can change something, don’t worry about it, if you can’t change something, why worry about it!  Learn to respect the ebbs and flows of life and seek out the lessons and by golly~do what you love.



What is your favorite part of what you do?
It’s always different…that’s my favorite part. One day I’m plucking chamomile blossoms from the garden and the next day I’m hiking up a mountain looking for the perfect rosehips and currents or sloshing along the river looking for horsetail and stumble upon some feisty catnip, or a three hour exhausting root-dig-wrastle with sand and mud in places you never thought sand and mud could get! Or a week in the kitchen putting up a harvest or experimental brews….it’s a wild life, peaceful and fulfilling. I love the ever-changing, always inspiring path of plant work.

What is your favorite herbalicous treat?
Hmm, that is a super tough one. I could no easier pick a favorite plant or star. Or snail. I recently made some elderflower churros with sweet cardamom and rose petal dust that was out of this world. I will make them again, forever! I love good ol’ herbaly teas and I love leafy and seaweedy and rooty soups. Hand plucked, fresh herb tea right from the earth really gets my happy strings singing. Or anything with cinnamon or turmeric or cayenne and cloves and such. I like experimenting with fermentation and have been currently delving into homemade herbalicous beers and meads and kombuchas and yogurts and yumminess.

*Todays Giveaway: A Happy Foot Hug Set – Includes 3 foot-loving products*
‘Dancin’ Feet’, a wonderful herbal foot soak
A Soothing Heal-All Balm
A Cool-It herbal foot powder
To enter tell me something that you think looks wonderful from her e-shop (click here to see it) in the comments below before midnight PST on Sunday July 22th. Winner will be announced on Monday July 23rd.

The Winner of the Happy Foot Hug Herbal Goodies set is: Karen who loved “The infused oils! I make alot of my own and Morgan Botanicals has alot that I haven’t tried! Infused oils carry the best that the plants have to offer and are so wonderful to use!” Thanks again to Jessica for sharing your your world with us.



Thanks so much, Jessica, for hanging out with the HerbMama folks!

As always, please email any questions to herbalist@morganbotanicals.com.

Connect with me:

Follow me on Twitter - MorganBotanical 

Follow me on Pinterest -Jessica Morgan

Fan me on Facebook - Morgan Botanicals

View my photstream on Flickr! - Morgan Botanicals

Copyright 2012. All rights reserved. Jessica Morgan, Morgan Botanicals.

Disclaimer - The information provided in this article is for informational purposes only and is not intended as a substitute for advice from your physician or other health care professional. You should not use the information in this article for self-diagnosis or to replace any prescriptive medication. You should consult with a health care professional before starting any diet, exercise or supplementation program, before taking any medication, or if you have or suspect you might have a health problem, suffer from allergies, are pregnant or nursing.

Jessica Morgan, Herbalist

I had been listening to the sound of the plums bouncing off the street for two days. Plop and roll....

They were jumping out of the tree by the pound and collecting in the gutter of the little old lady's house across the street. The side walk was squished red, well plum colored from two days of pitter pattering plum dropping madness. It was driving me wild.  Oh and the sweet and sticky hot plum juice smell had been seeping into my windows at night tormenting me. Tormenting me good. I've been dreaming of plum everything. Plums. I love plums.....

A month back I noticed that the over flowing, drooping branched juicy red cherry laden tree friend fifteen steps away from my eyeballed plum tree went utterly unnoticed, except by the birdies of course. And I just couldn't bear to watch one more plum get squished. So I asked.

I just simply wondered right on over there and asked her if I could collect any usable fruit ....which of course was rolling on over to me anyway. (I like to think these plums were eyeballing ME just the same.) She told me to pick all I wanted and the ladder was around the back, and while I was at it.....to go right on ahead and glean her apricot tree!

Holy yummness huh!

I already had my bag in hand too. One must listen to the plum tree when the plum tree is throwing it's plums at you. They were dropping on my head and I barely had to but shake them into my bag.

 So here you have it, my street/tree foraged plum motherload! Now dreaming of cardamom plum jam, plum and rosewater fool, plum chutney, plum sauce, plums in honey syrup, plum leather, plum upside-down cake, roasted plum and pistachio frozen yogurt! Plums. I love plums......

 

So I fondle them. I pick through them. I wash them. I dry them. I polish my little fruit jewels right up! Everyone does this right?

Plums are perfect. They're complicated and juicy and tart and firm and yummy. And I just adore them.

Over the last week I've been experimenting with several batches of plum preserves - some with more success than others. But my favorite so far is the deep ruby red cardamom plum jam....and so I must share it with all of you. It's quite simple really.

Deep Ruby Red Easy Cardamom Plum Jam

I made about 6 half-pint jars

You need:

• 4 pound juicy ripe plums, pitted and chopped
• 2 cups of delicious honey
• 2 tablespoons freshly squeezed lime juice
• 1 tablespoon freshly ground cardamom seeds
• 1/2 cup approx water

Over low heat warm the honey. Then add the chopped plums, and let them cook for about 8-10 minutes, tossing them over to evenly coat them with the delicious honey.

Bring the mixture up to a boil over low heat, stirring frequently. Add the lime juice, water and the cardamom powder and mix well and continue to let it boil for a few minutes longer. Simply remove any foam that forms at the top of the jam while cooking. When the mixture appears soupy and slightly thick, your jam is ready. As it cools down, it will get a little more sticky and thick, but not solid since this recipes doesn't use gelatin. I like it chunky, but if you prefer your jams without skins just pass the fruit preserves through a sieve or colander.

Your jam is ready to put into sterilized jars and then into the canning pot. Or you can just eat right out of the pot!

***Half of the first batch of jams went to the sweet neighbors who so lovingly shared their harvest with me.

As always, please email any questions to herbalist@morganbotanicals.com.

Connect with me:

Follow me on Twitter - MorganBotanical 

Follow me on Pinterest -Jessica Morgan

Fan me on Facebook - Morgan Botanicals

View my photstream on Flickr! - Morgan Botanicals

Copyright 2012. All rights reserved. Jessica Morgan, Morgan Botanicals.

Disclaimer - The information provided in this article is for informational purposes only and is not intended as a substitute for advice from your physician or other health care professional. You should not use the information in this article for self-diagnosis or to replace any prescriptive medication. You should consult with a health care professional before starting any diet, exercise or supplementation program, before taking any medication, or if you have or suspect you might have a health problem, suffer from allergies, are pregnant or nursing.

Jessica Morgan, Herbalist

I've been slowly adding photos to Pinterest....and learning a bit. It's all brand spankin new for me over here, but fun is happening!  I'll be adding it to my new website too, so go on over and let me know what you think.

I've pinned lots of goodies that I like, so here's a way to get to know me a bit better. Check out my pins and boards and likes and such!

You can find me here:

Pinterest~ Jessica Morgan, Morgan Botanicals

As always, please email any questions to herbalist@morganbotanicals.com.

Follow me on Twitter - MorganBotanical 

Follow me on Pinterest -Jessica Morgan

Fan me on Facebook - Morgan Botanicals

View my photstream on Flickr! - Morgan Botanicals

Copyright 2012. All rights reserved. Jessica Morgan, Morgan Botanicals.

Disclaimer - The information provided in this article is for informational purposes only and is not intended as a substitute for advice from your physician or other health care professional. You should not use the information in this article for self-diagnosis or to replace any prescriptive medication. You should consult with a health care professional before starting any diet, exercise or supplementation program, before taking any medication, or if you have or suspect you might have a health problem, suffer from allergies, are pregnant or nursing.

Jessica Morgan, Herbalist

 

My gardens are my legacy. Somehow or another I've wandered. I have to wander. I have to give. I get antsy and dreamy. I love excitement, new land and change and growth. Barefoot and barehanded from the ground up, I build a new garden. It's what I do.  It's a gift to myself and my kids and the community for those here now and those to come. I like to start gardens and play in them for a while and pull people into them. Show them the miracle.  That's what I love....and then I move on. I leave this beauty for those wandering in after me.  I'm a vagabond gardener and I guess I'm ok with that. I leave a bit of my heart in the land where ever I roam...it's my gift.

I can picture each and every garden I've tickled, or has tickled me...

From that old neglected acre of fruit trees in my high school Ag class, to the mini alfalfa garden for the fat little guineapigs, or my own little food and medicine gardens that tend to get bigger each and every year, and the community gardens that I give my heart to and ask nothing in return and all the gardens of friends and loved ones I've dug my hands into and beyond. Heh, I even dream of new ones waiting for me. Each unique. Each very special. Each stuffed with food and medicines and those lessons that can't be found anywhere else ever. Tons and tons of lessons. Lessons for those who wish to learn....

There is hard earned sweat and joy. Disappointment. Patience. Oh and those blackberry claws that reach out for your attention, and the spruces that wanna braid your hair and those milk thistle pokies arguing with you over their trusty seeds. And callouses....lots of callouses and mud filled finger nails. Smiles. Good health. Muddy sweat smeared foreheads. Hose drinks and tears. That big ol silly raven turd on the one flower you waited all damn season to get a peek of or the green nibblings stuck in your teeth that only another garden nibbler would tell you about. Bounty and reward. Abundance. Giggling kids and the neighbors' recommendations and stories and those dandelion warnings. Questions. Once you get someone in the garden, they see the miracles. And they don't wanna leave.

I like to build gardens and memories and give them away....

I like to take a piece of dry, un-loved, dusty cracked dirt and breath my life right into it, water it with my sweat, tears and spilled cups. And feed it silly plant jokes and childlike laughter. Well, and probably some animal poo or two...and some comfrey tea.  I like to introduce myself to the land, give to it and let the land introduce herself to me. She gives me a garden to love and to learn from, and then we pass it on.

Sometimes I get a little sad. I'll sit and recall past gardens and green-spots and lush flowery nooks and just long to revisit them, like I long for a long lost childhood pet or old friend. I know some grew into other earth caring hands and some were neglected and some probably turned into happy wild thriving green motherwort, tansy and lemon balm beasts by their own will. Nature does have its way of doing what she wants. I suppose some have even been destroyed, but I created them, it's my keepsake and that's good enough for me.

My life is my dream, my dream is my work, my work is my gardens, and my gardens are my legacy. Each day I wake and want to share my world. I want to excite children and really big children about the soil and the worms and the veins or hairs on a leaf and the free and wild foods and medicines. I want to make a whole new playground for the moths and the snails. I want to see my hair up there in the birds' nests. It might be a tiny domestic garden or the earths wild gigantic garden but I want to share all about it, teach about, squeeze hug it and pass this love on. I want to grow more intriguing garden eyes.  I want to share the miracles.

I've been enjoying watching my life unfurl and spiral on. Seeing where it goes and what I accomplish and learn. The lives I'm lucky to wander into and the children who constantly remind me to live fearlessly and in awe. And to leave a trail....a trail of bird seed that always spouts up free gorgeous orange safflowers and yellowy sunflowers and pink and purple thistles galore. And that one must leave a trail of muddy toe prints through the kitchen in order to get to mommas icy mint tea. Because all toe tracks are cute. And to chomp those juicy tomatoes and peaches and munch the pineapple weed and blow those dandy seeds to the sky. And that all gardens need a watering hole. And a mud hole. And I will remind them to leave a trail....a trail of amazingness. And a garden.

And I've come to find that with each new home and each new place, that I rarely walk into a garden made by someone else. No I don't. So I build one because that's what I do. The bare lonely soil likes to seek me out. It pulls me to it. It tells me what to do and what to grow and what to just watch grow. It teaches me balance. It tells me that the lamb's quarters and purslane are just as beautiful and remarkable as the calendula and roses and that they taste even better..... and that the yarrow fixes dang near everything. And that cayenne will stop bleeding in two seconds and make your homegrown yummy pinto beans better. And by golly, everything likes to be tossed into soup! And that trees are perfect shoulders for hammocks and give their free shade and food and medicine. And the malva....it taught me to never neglect. Everyone should love the malva. She's gonna grow whether you like her or not anyway. I like to be a gentle pushing reminder of these things and I will continue down my mossy green path and toss little food and medicine gardens here and there until I can't anymore.

So I do, I'm a vagabond gardener and I guess I'm ok with that. I leave a bit of my heart in the land where ever I roam...it's my gift.

And here I am. Starting over again. Working the land, working on my next garden, my next legacy. Tickling it and letting it tickle me....one I know I soon will leave. But the neighborhood kids play in it. The birds and the bees and the squirrels sing in it. The mailman passes it each day with a smile. It's got my trusty yellow sprinkler and my piggy watering can and my foot prints embedded in it.  And it's small and it's wild and it's frugal... but it gives. Just like me.



As always, please email any questions to herbalist@morganbotanicals.com.

Follow me on Twitter - MorganBotanical 

Fan me on Facebook - Morgan Botanicals

Copyright 2012. All rights reserved. Jessica Morgan, Morgan Botanicals.

Disclaimer - The information provided in this article is for informational purposes only and is not intended as a substitute for advice from your physician or other health care professional. You should not use the information in this article for self-diagnosis or to replace any prescriptive medication. You should consult with a health care professional before starting any diet, exercise or supplementation program, before taking any medication, or if you have or suspect you might have a health problem, suffer from allergies, are pregnant or nursing.

Jessica Morgan, Herbalist

Fall and Winter Herbal CSA's are already filling up....they won't last long. Two different shares available and too many awesome herbals that you don't wanna miss! Sign up at www.morganbotanicals.com

 Morgan Botanicals is very excited to continue offering Herbal CSA Memberships! Enjoy fresh seasonal herbals that are homegrown, wild-harvested, handmade and delivered to your door! For those who have supported the Herbal CSA in the past, we thank you and hope you have enjoyed our herbal offerings. New herbals are being added to the share every season so we look forward to sharing the abundance!

This is a great opportunity for local and not so local to be a part of our monthly herbal medicines program. We have created an Herbal CSA Program (or rather CSH-Community Supported Herbalism) for those who would like to subscribe. It begins each season, offering homegrown and wildharvested handmade herbals to each subscriber. Each month herbal offerings such as teas, tinctures, syrups, oils, salves, vinegars, jellies and other herbal products will be available.

Our seasonal herbal CSA's run for three months and the fee for the entire subscription (once a month pickup or delivery) is 140.00 for the Small Herbal CSA and 200.00 for the Large Herbal CSA, each payable at the time you subscribe. Members will be able to pick up their herbals the first Saturday of each month (delivery option is also available), or your box can be mailed out to you (delivery option is also available).

Morgan Botanicals Herbal CSA membership is a great way to build your own home supply of herbal medicines, learn more about how to use local and medicinal plants, and explore new ways of taking charge of your own health.

 ~Here's what came this month in the June Large Herbal CSA~

By purchasing a share you are also helping to support the plant work we do: growing and processing herbs, turning them into herbal medicines that nourish the body and increase vitality as well as our training programs that teach children about foraging, plant identification, how to grow their own food and medicine garden, health and nutrition and the basics of cooking and medicine making. If interested in our Junior Master Gardener classes please send inquiry to Jessica Morgan at herbalist@morganbotanicals.com and we will send you information on this program.

There are two separate Seasonal Herbal CSA Programs available:

Large Seasonal CSA Herbal Program ~ $200.00

Season runs for three months and includes five herbals plus an “extra”. Large is suitable for a family of 3-4, or to share among a group of friends. This is a total of 18 handmade herbal products.

Small Seasonal CSA Herbal Program ~ $140.00
Season runs for three months and includes three herbals plus an “extra”. Small is suitable for an individual or a family just beginning to learn about herbs. This is a total of 12 handmade herbal products.

Monthly Baskets can be picked up at Morgan Botanicals on Designated Pick-Up Day or will be shipped (shipping cost is included for those purchasing online).

Pick Up Dates Saturdays from 3pm-5pm

How it works….
Each month members receive a package of herbs prepared as tinctures, loose teas, salves, honeys, vinegars, syrups, etc, and information about how to use them. Once you are signed up, you will receive confirmation via email or phone. We will contact you again via email or phone one week before your share is ready to be picked up or is being shipped.

A typical monthly share will include three to six of the following:
1 - 2 oz single tea (in tea bags)
1 - 2 oz tea blend
1 - 1 oz tincture
1 - 2 oz salve, cream or herbal oil
1 - 1 oz bag of dried seasonal herbs

One additional “Extra” Item will be chosen by Morgan Botanicals and included in your monthly basket based on seasonal availability a may included:

Herb Infused Honey, Electuaries or Jams
Medicinal or Culinary Vinegar or Oxymels
Elixirs or Syrups
Herbal Scrubs, Creams or Salts
Fresh or Dried Culinary Herbs & Blends
Smudge Sticks and/or Incense

Here is an example of a typical monthly newsletter and what to expect in your monthly basket.

To sign up or for more information, please contact Jessica at herbalist@morganbotanicals.com.

You can also find info or order from the drop down menu "Herbal CSA". I will be accepting Memberships until the month befor the season starts, so sign up now!

Thank you for your support, and Happy 2012!?

Jessica Morgan?

Morgan Botanicals

As always, please email any questions to herbalist@morganbotanicals.com.

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Copyright 2012. All rights reserved. Jessica Morgan, Morgan Botanicals.

Disclaimer - The information provided in this article is for informational purposes only and is not intended as a substitute for advice from your physician or other health care professional. You should not use the information in this article for self-diagnosis or to replace any prescriptive medication. You should consult with a health care professional before starting any diet, exercise or supplementation program, before taking any medication, or if you have or suspect you might have a health problem, suffer from allergies, are pregnant or nursing.

Jessica Morgan, Herbalist

I wait and I wait. And I patiently wait, until out of thin air, the little brown paperbag-like sheathes slough off the tips of the branches and float away.... revealing the new little spruce needles that are the most beauteous little tender chartreuse new born tips of deliciousness. Seriously. They're like little slightly sour lemony chewy gumballs. Not as astringent and definitely more palatable than the more aged needles. I'm not certain I can even describe it correctly. It has a piney/balsamic character with a sweet almost fruity lemony woodsy-like under

tone. They some how remind me of the little yellow sour grass flower forest, (Oxalis I think they were) those clover blossoms that grew all over the side yard and I would pluck them by the handfuls and chomp and suck the sour juices from their stems. Kinda like that but not as sweet and juicy. And I guess not so puckery. Well, they have a wild, sour-wood flavor all of their own.

But, I am certain you will like them. These guys are nothing like their grown up, tough cookie, poky stabby goofy parent arms either. No they're not. They're tender

and tasty! Ok, the big guys aren't 'mean' poky stabby....they just like to reach out and pull your hair, err, play with your hair. They are silly creatures.... those Spruce.  I naturally see them as tall and spiffy, jaunty, spruced up, you know, "a good-looking man; spruce and dapper" except they're not really tidy but they do stand tall and proper and are very charming. Boy, they are charming, they are silly hearted, tactfully honest, broad spectrum, full of dirty dry humor and absurdity kind of trees. My kinda trees. The kind that want you

to crawl in and hang out under their leaf littering poky branches and drink beer and shuffle around sifting through their needles looking for lost treasures while they try and crack you up with their foolishness. They're perfect.

And when you're in there, or climbing their arms, these are often the kinds of thing you might here from the Spruce....

So, clear the throat and in your best old man voice:

"Have you heard about the superhero 'Wood-Man'? He has an Alder ego - known as Spruce Wayne."

Or, "Did you hear the one about the redwood? It's tree-mendous!"

You have to listen though...they don't tell jokes to just anybody.

One of my faves...."Why was the cat sooooo afraid of the tree? Because of its bark!"

Hmmmm. And they laugh and laugh. Listen. Listen to the Spruce. They have lots to teach.

Anyway, a while back I was reading up on Picea and its food uses and came across syrups and beers and I've made those and elixirs and oils, and then there was this balsamic. I heard these tender tips make a pretty damn good balsamic!....A 'poor man's balsamic' so to say. So this is simply a must. Seems I work so hard to stretch my coveted bottles of yumminess and try my best to make them last.....and I admit it's tough for me to share, so I'm making some. Poor Man's Balsamic it is!

Gathering the tips is, well, like gathering anything that you have to gather one by one. It's a dance. You skirt around the tree gently plucking them from high and low. Being sure to not pluck to heavily from one spot. Or one branch. Or one side....This is important because the Spruce will slap you, or pull your hair...I'm telling you. They don't like that. Here and there, circle the tree, get a handful, move to another tree.

And don't forget to notice the cones, peek in and poke around...they don't bite. Fiddle the pollen. Smell the bark. Talk to the bugs. Nibble a needle. Explore your senses...that is why we have them after all.

P.S. This is when they start with the humor bits too. Oh it's so good.

 

So this balsamic is a go.  But what else, well, we've made spruce beer, spruce tip simple syrup, spruce infused honey, evergreen massage oil, of course I had to make something boozy... I whipped up a spruce tip/hawthorn berry cordial, and my kids' favorite wild and free evergreen tea! It's kinda like té de canela with a pile of evergreen needles and honey tossed in.

I must tell you, as my balsamic is doing its thing, the syrup is every bit as amazing as it sounds. I think the word amazing pretty much covers it too. It's like eating a sweet forest. Think every amazing foresty word smushed together...that's how it tastes! On pancakes, over vanilla ice cream, stirred into lemon verbena tea, in gin....goodness. I made a few different syrups and found that as a simple syrup, just plain raw organic sugar really allows the pure evergreen flavor to shine. I like to combine fir tips and spruce tips though.....you'll just have to experiment too.

Spruce Tip Vinegar, aka, Poor Mans Balsamic

Makes as much as you want!

You will need:

• 1 part spruce tips, I used a couple different spruces
• 1 part apple cider vinegar or red wine vinegar
• small handful of pepper corns, like 6 or so
• a blob...or dollop of honey (I think it adds that smidgen of sweetness that real balsamic has)
• big wide mouth jar with non metal lid
• could probably add in other spices that appeal to you if you so wish

To process:

• Pick through the tips and remove any of the sheathes that may still be clinging to the tips. I like to plop them all into a wide shallow basket and pick through them, swirling the basket and blowing away the sheathes in the wind...like I'm panning for gold or something. This method works really well with milk thistle seeds too by the way....
• Roughly chop the tips and toss them into your jar, cover with vinegar, add peppercorns and honey blob, cover, shake, rattle and roll. 
• Leave at room temperature for a week or so. Give the jar a shake each day. Strain into a sterile bottle. Drink? Hmmm, splash or dribble on everything? Drink.
• Oh, by the way, I'm thinking it's gonna be pretty damn good over all that asparagus out there right now too...

 Have you ever tried it? Are you going too? What's brewing or fermenting or cooking up in your kitchen?

As always, please email any questions to herbalist@morganbotanicals.com.

Follow me on Twitter - MorganBotanical 

Fan me on Facebook - Morgan Botanicals

Copyright 2012. All rights reserved. Jessica Morgan, Morgan Botanicals.

Disclaimer - The information provided in this article is for informational purposes only and is not intended as a substitute for advice from your physician or other health care professional. You should not use the information in this article for self-diagnosis or to replace any prescriptive medication. You should consult with a health care professional before starting any diet, exercise or supplementation program, before taking any medication, or if you have or suspect you might have a health problem, suffer from allergies, are pregnant or nursing.

Jessica Morgan, Herbalist

We're having a BIG SALE over at Morgan Botanicals! Spring Cleaning and re-arranging and additions all at the same time.  So much to do.....Tidying, dusting, singing. Moving a few things out, marking a few things down, making room, making herbals. Hanging hooks, hanging the drying racks, hanging herbs.....got some sale items in the shop and on the site.... www.morganbotanicals.com or come by and say hi!

You can visit www.morganbotanicals to see if your favorite herbals are on sale.  We've got a whole hodgepodge of herbals on sale right now from loose leaf teas, salves and herbal baths to all the footsie stuff!

 And of course .....FREE SHIPPING on all orders over $50!

 Just have to share this beautiful quote I came across today......

"The Wise Woman Tradition is the world's oldest healing tradition. Its symbol is the spiral. The whole is greater than the sum of its parts. Life is a spiraling, ever-changing completeness. Disease and injury are doorways of transformation. Each one of us is inherently whole, yet seeking greater wholeness; perfect, yet desiring greater perfection. Whole/healthy/holy. Substance, thought, feeling, and spirit inseparable, intertwined." Susan S Weed

As always, please email any questions to herbalist@morganbotanicals.com.

Follow me on Twitter - MorganBotanical 

Fan me on Facebook - Morgan Botanicals

Copyright 2012. All rights reserved. Jessica Morgan, M. H., Morgan Botanicals.

Disclaimer - The information provided in this article is for informational purposes only and is not intended as a substitute for advice from your physician or other health care professional. You should not use the information in this article for self-diagnosis or to replace any prescriptive medication. You should consult with a health care professional before starting any diet, exercise or supplementation program, before taking any medication, or if you have or suspect you might have a health problem, suffer from allergies, are pregnant or nursing.

Jessica Morgan, Herbalist

[Read More]

My boys kept me super warm last night with their perfectly running fevers and kept me up with their irritating coughs. So I'm off to give hugs and make soups, and syrups, and herbal pastilles and sleepy teas and probably some kinda cookies, maybe big soft ginger molasses cookies....because you've gotta have lots of herbaly goodness and hugs and kisses and cookies when this kinda madness goes down.

Herbal medicine is the medicine of the people,and plant medicines are not only simple, but safe, effective, and pretty much free. Our ancestors used plant medicines, and our neighbors around the world use plant medicines, and you can use plant medicines for healing just the same. It's super easy and super fun and I even let my littles help sometimes.

Syrups are really quite simple to make and whether you need it now or next month, you'll be happy you had a jar in the fridge waiting when the time comes.

I tend to grab a little of this or a little of that, typically whatever I have on hand or in the pantry or available outside. Today I roamed around the kitchen, the herbal pantry and out to the trees; I used wild cherry bark, slippery elm bark, marshmallow root, licorice root, elderberries, ginger root, spruce tips and orange peel. And of course honey is the magic ingredient in this yummy and soothing cough and sore throat syrup.

That makes my cough better just looking at it...... and I don't even have a cough!

Those who know me, know I'm terrible with herbal specifics and recipe amounts so this is approximate amounts....but here's what I like to do. Use what you have or, some favorite cough herbs are, elecampane, wild cherry bark, fennel seed, slippery elm bark, marshmallow root, valerian root, licorice root osha root, elderberry, ginger, thyme, yerba santa, coltsfoot, rose hips, sage, horehound, pine, fir, spruce, citrus peel, garlic, etc.

 

MAKE AN HERBAL SYRUP
To make an herbal syrup you will need the following supplies:

    •      2oz of herb (weight, not volume)
    •      A quart of water
    •      Measuring cup
    •      A heavy-bottomed medium-sized saucepan
    •      1½ cups honey
    •      A sterilized jar
    •      A little whiskey, brandy or vodka (optional)
    •      A label and pen

Simmer your chosen herbs in water for about 20 minutes. Cook this down to about 2 cups. Remove from the heat and strain out the solids, stir in honey (and or alcohol), then allow to cool. Pour into a sterilized bottle. Label.

 

Don't forget to label your jar! I like to keep a refillable smaller jar too. Take 2 tablespoons, as required, to soothe coughing. Keeps for quite a long time in the refrigerator. Sometimes I add a bit of whishey to mine, to keep it fresh and viable longer. And to...well you know.

 Homemade herbal Cough Syrups are wonderful tasting & great for everyone, including the kids. They are great for coughs, sore throats, dry throats, colds, flu, fever and are even delicious! I like to protect myself and my family from the ickies  with traditional healing and preventative herbal medicines....stuff I can easily make at home, and syrups are definitely one of them.

When I first tried the new herbal cough syrup, I really had no idea what to expectorate. :D

As always, please email any questions to herbalist@morganbotanicals.com.

Follow me on Twitter - MorganBotanical 

Fan me on Facebook - Morgan Botanicals

Copyright 2012. All rights reserved. Jessica Morgan, Morgan Botanicals.

Disclaimer - The information provided in this article is for informational purposes only and is not intended as a substitute for advice from your physician or other health care professional. You should not use the information in this article for self-diagnosis or to replace any prescriptive medication. You should consult with a health care professional before starting any diet, exercise or supplementation program, before taking any medication, or if you have or suspect you might have a health problem, suffer from allergies, are pregnant or nursing.

Jessica Morgan, Herbalist

I've always liked to make my own Valentine love letters....all handwritten and colored with leaves and sticks and twigs and rocks and plant dyed spots, or whipping up my own chocolatey and sticky and sweet confections, and irresistible luscious liqueurs....but this year, I'm stringing wild jewels too. A little something special for my girls. They're easy enough to be a children's project but I'm keeping this one a secret because I'm making these ones for my Valentine girls. I will say though, that my fingertips didn't go without the occasional needle poke so some children my need help with this one.

Personally, I'm not one for store bought jewelry like gold rings or trinket laden necklaces. I have a lustful eye and a heart for the treasures gifted and hidden amongst Nature. I do love sea jewels and shells and seed pods and gems and stones and twigs and precious metals and such and I , especially like to find these treasures myself and make my own jewelery with wild jewels.

Nature is amazing in her ability to provide us with nourishing foods, plant medicines, and even wild plant jewels if you look closely enough.  And, if you can't get that close, you can still look on your kitchen counter or in your cubbies or pantries and find plenty of useable jewels for making bracelets, necklaces, hair-clips and such.

For my Valentine necklaces I chose to string juniper berries, clove buds, lycii berries and rose hips, but there are so many other wonderful and easily assessable  jewels that can be used. I like raisins, cardamom pods, orange and lemon peel, dried cranberries or blueberries, cinnamon sticks, cottonwood buds, gourd seeds seed, cones from spruce, currents etc.....I'm sure there are tons of beautiful jewels right outside your doors.

To make your Valentine Love necklaces or bracelets all you'll need is heavy duty thread, (I used Button and Carpet Thread as I find it holds up better, but you can use fishing line to) a long, thin sewing needle and dried wild jewels. Any hard wild jewels like clove, cut roots, barks, and peels need to be soaked for a bit to soften up. Just place them in a mug and pour boiling water right over the top, cover and allow to cool, then they will be string-able. Some may need to be boiled a tad longer to soften.

There's really nothing to it, you'll want to tie a knot in one end or add a clasp or button and thread on your wild jewels singly or in a pattern. I like to just tie them together when it's to my liking so that the amazingness in uninterrupted. If you're making hair-clips you can easily just hot glue your wild jewels on.

**A quick reminder that small objects are not suitable to children of choking age.

Here are my completed Wild Jewel Valentine necklaces I made for my girls. From left to right I made a solid juniper (bottom left) solid rose hips (top) and a pattern of cloves, lycii berries and juniper berries (bottom right). I made matching bracelets as well.

 

 Do you think my girls will like them? I hope so!

As always, please email any questions to herbalist@morganbotanicals.com.

Follow me on Twitter - MorganBotanical 

Fan me on Facebook - Morgan Botanicals

Copyright 2012. All rights reserved. Jessica Morgan, M. H., Morgan Botanicals.

Disclaimer - The information provided in this article is for informational purposes only and is not intended as a substitute for advice from your physician or other health care professional. You should not use the information in this article for self-diagnosis or to replace any prescriptive medication. You should consult with a health care professional before starting any diet, exercise or supplementation program, before taking any medication, or if you have or suspect you might have a health problem, suffer from allergies, are pregnant or nursing.

Jessica Morgan, Herbalist