Green Botanicals

Ira

2011-01-29T11:24:00.000-08:00

Today marks the day Terry's dad passed away, it was 3 years ago and Ira lived well into his 90's.
He never lost hope and that is the thing I will always remember about him, his kind gentle spirit that never gave up and never lost hope. Rest well Pappy, we will miss you forever.

hope

2011-01-29T11:19:00.000-08:00

Hope is the thing with feathers
That perches in the soul,
And sings the tune without the words,
And never stops at all,

And sweetest in the gale is heard;
And sore must be the storm
That could abash the little bird
That kept so many warm.

I've heard it in the chillest land,
And on the strangest sea;
Yet, never, in extremity,
It asked a crumb of me. Emily Dickinson 1861

Salve Making 101

2010-08-17T12:46:00.000-07:00

Salve Making 101
by Cynthia Schell of www.greenbotanicals.com
Dry itchy skin has plagued humans since the dawn of time, and we humans have always looked for solutions. 120 years ago, the town doctor would also have a garden to create the medicines,while people alone in the wilderness,away from towns and Doctors would have to know how to make their own recipes. For everyday health problems the homemaker would have to know how to make a salve. To this day the monastic tradition of medicine making continues in Poland and other countries.We all descended from medicine makers, our ancestors had to create medicines with the plants available in order to survive, thankfully some of them had to be fairly accomplished at this task. You may be able to ask some of your grandparents or great grandparents about their family history of making salves.Many of the old farm remedies were made with lard, it was a readily available substance and when gently heated with plants it could easily become a salve. It would cool to a gel and was easy to use. Today most salve makers are using plant based oils that are hardened with bees wax.it is very easy to create your own healing salve. One of the most popular products made by the Amish today is a very simple Plantain salve. Plantain, it is easy to find and makes a great base oil. Gather 20 leaves, wash with water, then dry. Place in a small pan,add a cup of olive oil. Gently heat over a double boiler. Your temperature of the oil should not exceed 130 degrees. You can let the infusion sit for a few days, heating then cooling until the oil begins to absorb the plants properties. Plantain is a very mucilaginous plant, you will find the oil will absorb the same properties. Drain the leaves out of the oil, then thicken with bees wax.You can also add essential oils to increase the healing properties. Start with small batches, and infuse a number of plants, then test to see what combination is good for you. There are many books on the subject of plant medicine making, my favorite "The Family Herbal" by Rosemary Gladstarr.
cynthiaschell@yahoo.com 08-17-10

Green Botanicals and WISE

2010-07-23T06:00:00.001-07:00

Our herbal work has been delayed this year due to an unexpected kitchen remodel. I am happy to report that we are finally up and running again. We will be announcing the products we have in stock and let you know when they will be shipping.
Our herbal classes are running on the first Tuesdays of the month, we are going to work on systems of the body but the class voted to continue on our normal path of spontaneous herbal studies and herb walks. So what ever your level of herbal studies you can feel free to join us.
During this down time I have had a number of requests to start our WISE program again.
We had a lot of success running WISE a few years ago and I will be working with people on an individual basis during the fall and possibly offer the weekly class again in January, in Central Square or Cicero. I am going to try to post ideas here on the blog - so that people I am working with can get encouragement and maybe even post their ideas and thoughts. So watch for posts and let us know what you think.

Green Botanicals and WISE

2010-07-23T06:00:00.000-07:00

Make your own laundry soap

2010-01-18T19:02:00.000-08:00

You may not think about it, but every week you spend around $5. on laundry soap. I used to and then I started thinking about it and made my own! As a soap maker, I have lots of soap scraps left over. I created my own recipe for making it. I also made this recipe available with my natural stain remover stick. You can find it at one of our shows or watch for it to be on my ETSY Green Botanicals
Here is an e-mail from a happy customer
"Hi Cynthia,which one of your soaps did you use in the laundry soap? I'm going to need to get some. I couldn't believe how wonderful the laundry detergent recipe is. I don't have to tell you how much I love all my cremes.Thank you,Karen"
So watch for it or check us out at a show soon!

Winter is no picinic for your skin!

2010-01-16T13:25:00.000-08:00

We live in the cold Adirondack region of New York State, it can snow 3 or 4 feet overnight!
We tried lots of different skin creams for our skin but nothing would heal the cracked fingers we get up here in the north country! When we tried your winter salve we were amazed! It worked miracles on my husband fingers,he is a logger and out for hours in the cold every day! Thank you Green Botanicals for making a product that really works! You were right - the 2 ounce jar really lasts for a year! A great value and great product! Thanks, Martha M. Old Forge NY
PS Send me 2 jars and a lemon balm lip balm - another great product!

Our happy customers can tell you this product really works!
If you have never tried it, e mail me @ green_botanicals@yahoo.com and we will send you a sample one for free along with our great lemon balm lip pot- you pay the $2.50 shipping.

Cracked Winter Skin

2010-01-06T04:14:00.000-08:00

This time of the year the cold weather is so rough on our skin and now even our friends in Florida can benefit from using our wonderful Winter Salve - if you have never tried it now is the time! What is a salve? It is the base of thickened oils that all organic skin creams are made from, to turn salve into cream you need to add alcohol. So avoid the drying effect of alcohol and try a salve.
We make our salves from our own Adirondack herbs such a peppermint,plantain and comfrey that help treat the cracks .The herbs are infused in organic olive oils, thickened with pure raw bees wax and organic essential oils that are anti fungal, anti bacterial and vaporizing.
Thousands of happy customers in Central New York use this product and believe us - we know how to treat winter skin! Try a large jar of our Winter Salve and will will also send you a free lemon balm lip treatment made with the amazing lemon balm herb that helps prevent the out break of cold sores and chapped lips! If you have never tried our Winter Salve, click on the free sample and just pay the shipping we will send you a sample to try.
Visit us on the web at www.greenbotanicals.com

Lilac Flower Recipes

2008-05-07T14:50:00.000-07:00

We have had such a difficult winter and spring, both of my husband Terry's parents passed away.His dad on Jan. 29 and his mother on April 19th. The stress of this has made it difficult to concentrate on our herbal work. So here is my first blog in an effort to honor their love of this season.
We have been blessed by the wonder and beauty of Spring, it gives each of us a reminder that life goes on and we need to celebrate each day that we have here on this glorious earth.
In honor of Mother's day and Spring we want to share some wonderful Lilac recipes that you will need to make in the next few days, so go out seize the moment and cut the lilacs!

Lilac Sugar
Flower sugars are an easy way to transform plain sugar into a pleasing, fragrant addition to cakes, cookies, custards, whipping cream and all sorts of sweets.To prepare scented sugar, use a clean pint jar with a tight-fitting lid. Fill the jar about one-third full with sugar; scatter a small handful of lilacs (already unstemmed and bug free) or other flowers. Cover the flowers with sugar so that the jar is two-thirds full, add another small handful of flowers and cover with sugar to fill the jar, leaving about 1/2 inch head space. Put on the lid, shake the jar, and place it on a shelf in a cool, dark place. The sugar will be ready to use in 2-3 weeks, but will become more flavorful with age. As you use the sugar, add more to take its place; it will take on the fragrance in the jar.

Lilac Jelly

4 cups lilac flowers
2 cups boiling water
steep flowers, by covering and
allowing to sit for 24 hours
For each 2 cups of liquid add
juice of one lemon,
1 pkg pectin
boil
add 1 cup sugar
allow to boil for 5 minutes
place in small jars and refrigerate
This can also be used for violets
roses
sweet peas
& lavender

Lilac Syrup
You also can make lilac syrup to use on pancakes or sip when you need a breath of spring,
Make a simple syrup with one cup of sugar and one cup of spring water,heat until the sugar is dissolved,add one cup of lilac flowers and a few blueberries for color. Cook on low for 15 minutes, drain through a sieve and store in a jar for two weeks in the refrigerator. You can store it in the freezer in plastic containers for use next winter. To can it I add the juice of 1 lemon and can in 1/2 pint jars - follow all canning instructions on the pectin package.

We hope you enjoy! Be sure to stop by our website and click on the newsletter page to join our mailing list. If you are in the Central New York area schedule an Herbal home party with us! Each one is different and you never know what fun products or plants we will bring along!
www.greenbotanicals.com
questions? e-mail us or comment here on the blog Hugs to all, Cynthia

Almost Spring

2008-02-29T11:30:00.000-08:00

Honestly - as I sit here at my computer it is 10 degrees out and it does not feel like spring will ever come but I know it is just around the corner. I have been working on my herbal class schedule. A number of people have e-mailed and called to check on our schedule so with real hope that spring will soon arrive, I am planning on our first class for Wednesday April 9,at 6pm. This year will start with going out into the field in search of fiddle heads,wild onions and more - they are a gourmet treats for us to harvest as a class - and then cook in the kitchen! As usual bring boots,shovels and your love of wild herbs!
We have been working on the web site and have an area for you sign up on for the mailing list it is http://www.greenbotanicals.com/mailinglist.html
You also will be able to check out more of our class schedules in the coming days. Questions? Call us @ 315-598-1066

St. Johnswort & Seasonal Affective Disorder

2007-12-20T04:37:00.000-08:00

SAD - the medical name for what most of us call the Winter Blues. Here we are so close to the big holiday season, and many people are really not so jolly. I have been there - and I do understand. For at least twenty years of my life, it was a really difficult season. I would find myself dwelling on losses instead of blessings. If you are in this state, you really need to address it. Some of this may be "SAD", if you can, try to sit in a sunny window for at least 20 minutes a day or get out in the day light and take a walk.
Here in Central New York it is rare that we have 20 minutes of sun everyday, so you need to be more proactive, try a light box, and if you are in really SAD condition see a Doctor or N.D..
Visit your herbalist or health food store and find a good herbal remedy.
When I became an herbalist I started making my own tinctures of St.Johnswort. The sunny little plant grows wild all over the Adirondacks. Many people have said that it did not work for them, but I believe they were not taking it in the correct form. Herbalist Michel Moore says that it works best in tincture form, and I agree with him. It also has to be taken for at least six weeks before you begin to see a difference.
In our herbal classes we take students on an herbal journey and teach them the correct methods of tincture making, make it part of your New Years resolution to join us in 2008.
Watch for our 2008 class listings on our web site @ www.greenbotanicals.com
or e-mail us @ green_botanicals@yahoo.com
Have a Happy Holidays, and watch for our post next week in Neti Pots... cynthia

Ginger Recipes

2007-12-18T05:11:00.000-08:00

Merry Christmas to all,
So many people call me looking for pain relief and I aways tell them about Ginger. It is used for head aches and stomach problems in the orient. It really should be on your weekly grocery list. Once you try some of the homemade recipes we know that you will be reaching for the ginger ale instead of the aspirin! Visit our website @ www.greenbotanicals.com for more natural living ideas.
So many of you said that you lost these recipes, so here they are again,
My favorite Ginger recipes,to buy fresh root - check for the freshest looking - it should have a soft skin like a new potato,be sure to peel it before using.

Ginger Ale
8 ounces fresh ginger root
peel and finely chop
add to 1 gallon fresh water
Bring to a full boil, then simmer for 3 to 4 hours (the water should reduce by 1/2)
Strain out the ginger and save for tea or cooking.
Add 6 cups or natural sugar or honey.
Bring to boil again and then simmer for another hour. Cool, and store in the refrigerator. Use 2 tablespoons per 8 ounces of seltzer.
Enjoy!
This is great to take when fighting a cold, ginger is known for it's anti viral properties, it is also great for upset stomach!

Molasses & Ginger Cookies "Ice box cookie"
Bake @ 375
3 cups flour
1/3 cup bran (wheat or oat)
1/3 cup brown sugar
2 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. ginger powder
or 2 tbl or fresh grated ginger
3/4 cup butter (1 1/2 sticks) softened
2/3 cup molasses. Sift all dry ingredients
Cut in butter with pastry blender,add molasses
Mix together,knead well, divide into to rolls, wrap in wax paper and chill for 3 hours or more.
Slice 1/4 inch thick, place on un greased cookie sheet, garnish with raisins or nuts,or make a thumb print and add jam. Bake @ 375 for 10 minutes. Can also be rolled out for gingerbread men.
Tomorrow's post ...SAD - seasonal affective disorder - our herbal remedies

Herbal Beginings

2007-12-17T05:12:00.000-08:00

I always have a lot of questions about the world around us. This natural curiosity led me into the herbal world. Did you ever ask the question "How did they ever come up with the idea to use an herb a certain way?" I am aways amazed as I study the herbal world to find out many of the histories behind herbal remedies. Through this blog I hope to give you some of the insights I have gained along the way.
I am an herbalist and an herbal product creator. I enjoy the creative part of the business. Most of the products I create have been made for me or my family members. Only the ones that have been tested and proven to work end up on my website @ www.greenbotanicals.com
I have had hundreds of happy customers and students along the way. I hope to share some fun herbal living ideas with you.
My herbal journey began one day when I bit into an apple and broke out into hives that lasted six months. It was very stressful not knowing when my hives would flare up. It made my life miserable.My Doctor, who is from an apple farming family told me that the sprays on the trees had been changed to a sulfate based chemical and that they were causing the hives. He suggested that I try to eliminate sulfates from my diet and switch to natural soaps. So I decided to make my own soaps. That was seven years ago. Along the way I began studying herbs and their remedies. My first salve I made was Winter Salve, I created it for my dad's cracked heels. It worked so well that I began selling it. I sold out of it at the first craft show I took it to. The next show I made twice as much and had many of the same people show up to buy it for their friends. Here in Central New York State we have some of the most rotten weather on the planet, so people here really need a product that protects their skin from all of the damage Mother Nature can inflict. So if you have not tried this product we hope you will. We offer free shipping inside the Continental U.S.. Tomorrow I will post a few recipes using one of my favorite herbs, Ginger.