Gathering and Preserving the Herbal Bounty: A New Video Series

By Susan Belsinger

Greetings and Happy Autumn!

Herbal Salts are wonderful condimnts to have on hand I am writing this on the evening of the full harvest moon—it is shining bright in the night sky just over the treetops. We are also celebrating the Autumnal Equinox. I know that fall is here by the feeling in the air—cooler nights—and needing to grab that extra blanket; the smells are different—moist, earthy, and leafy; the departure of the hummingbirds since the jewelweed blooms are fading; the slowing down of plant growth in the garden and the ripening of others—herbs are maturing, flowers are showing off their last hurrahs, and many plants are producing seeds. It is time for gathering the bounty and celebrating the harvest!

I am simply delighted to share some news with you. Last harvest season, I made three educational videos featuring “Gathering and Preserving the Herbal Bounty” for members of The Herb Society of America.

These videos give…

View original post 499 more words

New Moon in Libra | Welcoming in the Blood Moon Cycle

We have officially entered the Autumn season here in the Northern Hemisphere. The days are getting shorter and colder as the earth turns more and more towards her darker months.

This New Moon welcomes in the Blood Moon cycles; a time honoring the rebirth that takes place during and after the darkest times.

This new cycle could feel a bit intense, but we will begin to feel some of the stagnant energy move forward as many of the 6 planets that have been retrograde begin to station direct.

This and the New Moon make for a potent time to create clear intentions that can help you move forward as well.

Read full article at: Spirit de la Lune ~ New Moon In Libra|Welcoming In The Blood Moon Cycle

Healing from the Trees: Spruce Resin Salve Recipe

The Druid's Garden

The completed salve!

Since moving to our new homestead a few years ago, I’ve been working to build a local material medica–that is, learning about all of the medicinal plants, herbs, and trees here on our 5-acre property. This also, of course, means growing a lot of my own herbs but also learning everything I can about the uses of the plants/trees already present on the land. This post is a follow-up to my Spruce post from a little while ago to share some primary ways of working with spruce: A Spruce Resin Salve (also known as a Spruce Gum and Spruce Resin salve) with bonus fire-starters from the process!

Many conifers produce a tarry, sticky resin or sap that has a range of uses: as a binding agent or glue, as a medicine, as gum you can chew, as incense, as a fire-starting tool, as a waterproofing agent…