Working on my combo Elderberry/Wild Cherry Syrup today. It also contains ginger root, cinnamon and cloves. Sure wish I could upload the aroma. It smells wonderful in here!
I’ll let it simmer until it’s reduced by half, then mix with raw honey and a little brandy. Yummiest medicine you can find! The leftover cherries are “getting happy”….
They skipped the other steps and went right into the brandy to infuse for a while. The holidays will be here before we know it after all!
Well, it’s time to gear up for that cough that seems to go with cooler weather and the need to start heating the home. The Wild Cherry trees are full of fruit this year, which excited me, as there were absolutely NONE to be had last year at all! While the bark contains the medicinal properties, the berries taste great, so I love to use them in my syrup. Thinking I may try an elderberry/wild cherry combo this year…..
Believe it or not, it’s still summer here in New England! Fall was trying to make an entrance, and there’s some color in the trees, but the days have been HOT and we are still swimming! I spend a lot of time devoted to herbal teas, but have failed to mention how refreshing and healthy infused waters can be. Today, I am enjoying some nice cool water infused with lemon and lime. Delicious!
Have you heard of Teasel Root (Dipsacus sylvestris)? If you’ve been diagnosed with Lyme Disease, you probably have. Teasel Root is said to be a powerful herb against Lyme. Teasel was used in the “old days” to card or “tease” wool fiber. Note the tall, impressive thistle head.
But it is the root of this plant that holds the most medicinal value. According to herbalist Matthew Wood, Teasel Root “promotes the circulation of the blood and removes pain and stiffness in areas that have been bruised.” It is said to be excellent for chronic inflammation and is also used for trauma and inflammation of the joints and muscles. Its current, most notable, use is as a remedy for Lyme Disease. There are many testimonies by people who swear by this herb against Lyme. Teasel Root is also noted in helping osteoporosis (a good herb for the bones) and reducing Candida (fungus) overgrowth.
In my opinion, Teasel Root is a pretty bad tasting tea. That may be why, most often, it is taken in tincture form, at a very minimal dosage. (3 drops, 3x per day) Even that small amount can cause enough bacterial die-off to create what is known as the Herxheimer Reaction, a (usually) short-term increase in discomfort related to the detoxification your body is experiencing. It’s important to understand this reaction and deal with it accordingly by reducing the amount of the tincture and drinking more water. Detoxifying is not something to take lightly!
Read more about the benefits of Teasel Root here and a testimony (with helpful links) on Teasel and Lyme disease here.
I carry both Teasel Root (wildharvested in the U.S.A.) and Teasel Tincture (made here at Cottonboro Farm) in the shop.
I’ve always been drawn to Yarrow (Achillea millefolium). It grows all over my yard and in my herb garden. It’s clear it has some powerful properties by the way it makes me feel when I pick it. I’ve been doing a bit more in-depth study on it and its amazing benefits.
Yarrow in my Garden
Yarrow is most widely known for its ability to stop bleeding, whether it be on wounds or internally. It can also help in instigating blood flow, such as menstruation, or for moving stagnated blood. Yarrow has been hailed for all types of blood disorders. It is said that putting it under a person’s nose can bring them out of a coma. (Take a big whiff, and you’ll see why!) It’s also been used to help relieve burns, including those in cases of radiation treatment.
Learn more about YARROW here
and here.
In the shop I carry fresh cut Yarrow (seasonal), Dried herb (cut and in bundles), tincture and tea. As a tea, I find Yarrow delicious. Slightly spicy with a heady aroma. It is one of the base ingredients in my Cough Killer Tea for it’s anti-spasmodic and expectorant components, as well as its ability to stimulate the mucosa of the respiratory tract. It is also anti-inflammatory and a great herb for overall health and well-being.
Yarrow should not be taken during pregnancy due to it’s stimulating effects on the uterus. (However, it is a great herb postpartum to tone the uterus.) If you are allergic to ragweed, you may be to yarrow as well. As always, use herbs with caution and respect.
(Updated Aug. 10, 2018)
Okay, one more day to prepare. Opening on Wednesday, June 27th. So want everything to be perfect, but clearly it won’t be. The business side of things takes way more time than I expected or enjoy – but that’s life!
That said, I am so excited to finally just be opening! I gave up on ever being “ready”! I’ll make product depending on what my customers need and want and build from there! Stop in and check out what I offer. If you are looking for something different – That’s Cottonboro Farm! I want to make my shop a special place for you, where you can explore your options, be empowered in your own health and have a local place to help with that! Hope to see you Weds. and thereafter!
I’ll try to get some pics posted tomorrow. It’s been raining (very much needed), and I have been straight out, trying to get ready for opening, so haven’t posted much. So sorry for the neglect!
So we had a hen who decided she didn’t want to be part of the pack. We thought she’d gotten “snagged” by a fox or something, but then she’d show up every so often. I said, “Maybe she’s sitting on eggs”, but we could never find her. Our son went to use the wheelbarrow. WHOA! There she was, with a dozen eggs and off she went. But the eggs were cold, and therefore not hatchable, so we were confused. Then a few days later, she shows up with 11 chicks – outta the woods.
On another note, we had a broody hen we separated with 6 eggs. Kept her in a dog kennel. she hatched four of the eggs. (One left unhatched – don’t know what happened to the other egg.) Went out today, Kev helped, to move the dog kennel into the chicken yard, to “adjust” the hen and chicks to the outdoors. found one chick, the biggest one, dead in doing so. Ugh. Why???? No clue what happened, but kicking myself I didn’t move them out yesterday, but they seemed content and wanted other eggs to hatch. But hen and chicks were so happy to get out today. I’ll remember that. Anyway – got lots of little chicks wandering around. 11 + 3 = 14. They are soooooo cute!
