herbalism, foraging, Community Health, & mutual aid.
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Moving Past the Zombie Apocalypse
For a long time, the zombie apocalypse was my ice breaker for trainings and workshops in first aid and disaster response. But really, I think the zombie apocalypse is stale. We’re already there. Because scrolling creates zombies. Behind the onslaught of images lives an algorithm that feeds you whatever gets you to keep scrolling. Instagram.…
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Herbal First Aid – Using Echinacea and Plantago
Ooooo beautiful Echinacea! It might be very important this winter, so I collected flowers for tea. I’ll dig up some roots a bit later after I collect a small amount of seeds for replanting and medicine making. I use Echinacea liniment, salve, and oil in first aid remedies. At the Elderberry School I was taught…
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Hanging with Medusa + Community Medics
Do you ever wonder if that plant emerging from the sidewalk can share its resilience? Or if that pesky weed can teach you something about being grounded and nourished? Even in urban centers plants find ways to break into cracks and thrive. Some plants are more resilient than others, and their chemical constituents, medicinal properties…
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What if I don’t feel resilient?
Do you ever wonder if that plant emerging from the sidewalk can share its resilience? Or if that pesky weed can teach you something about being grounded and nourished? Even in urban centers plants find ways to break into cracks and thrive. Some plants are more resilient than others, and their chemical constituents, medicinal properties…
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Cultivating Resilience
Do you ever wonder if that plant emerging from the sidewalk can share its resilience? Or if that pesky weed can teach you something about being grounded and nourished? Even in urban centers plants find ways to break into cracks and thrive. Some plants are more resilient than others, and their chemical constituents, medicinal properties…
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Cookie Cutter Herbalism
And other problems with herbal information Does anyone remember the horrible, teeth cracking yellow dock cracker recipe? I tried it. It was terrible. And it was the only recipe I could find. All search hits for a yellow dock cracker recipe gave me the same terrible recipe. Did anyone actually try this recipe? Did they…
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Fire & Ice
Dusk falls. I walk down the path. Looking up at the first stars. I turn, look across the woods to see fog hovering like an apparition. The embodiment of water coming off heat from the last days of summer. The particles condense, preparing for the ritual of morning dew. I take a deep breath of…
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A sojourn in consensus reality
I’ve gone there and back again. The year 2020 promised so much, then turned very quickly into an alternate reality. I took a job at the local arts center and after two years, I’ve stepped down. Now I’m slipping into the liminal space of keeping time by the angle of the sun and measuring the season by…
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Possessing Teff in NE Ohio
Did you know that possessing teff might get you in trouble? I guess I need to start at the beginning… for instance, what is teff? Teff is a grain that is native to the Horn of Africa. It is used as food, fodder for livestock, and as a building material (probably as a binding agent…
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A Story of Hawthorn
“There are only two things: energy and its direction. One needs both energy and a direction, the direction is the dream you have, and you have plenty of energy – knowing you. So “Never Give Up!” for me is to continue to attempt to build the dream, the love life, the Path with Heart. I…
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Do Herbs Really Work?
Well, I’ve learned that many people have experiences that lead them to believe that herbs don’t really work that well (if at all). As a person who continually sees (and experiences) amazing results in those who are willing to infuse a little herbalism into everyday living, I can’t help but ask the question, “what is…
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Green Blood
The breath of life rises green from the earth. I imagine ancestors rising at dawn to witness the sun marking their ancient calendars. Giving them hope for the seasonal dawning of new life. Giving them hope for food, medicine, the materials for shelter, and the melting of snow and ice. Watching the nascent buds and…
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