Young Greens - Also with the rains come young greens to adorn your salads, blend into pesto or freeze for the coming winter.  

Here are a few greens to try:

 

Bittercress (Cardiamine oligosperma)
Chickweed (Stellaria media)

Dandelion (Taraxicum officianale)

Plantain (Plantago spp.)

Sheep Sorrel (Rumex acetosella)

Yellow Dock (Rumex Crispus)
 

Autumn Roots 

Stock your herbal pantry with the medicinal roots of Fall!      

Blackberry Root (Rubus  fructicosus)

Yellow Dock (Rumex crispus)

Aralia Root (Aralia californica)

Dandelion Root (Taraxicum officianale)

Comfrey Root (Symphytum officianale) 

And so many more!

To process: Dig up the roots and gently clean them being careful not to scrub off the outer skin.  While the root is fresh and soft, chop to desired size. Dry in a warm, dark place and check everyday until they are 100% dry (or they'll mold when you store them).  Store in air-tight containers (ideally a glass jar out of direct sunlight). Enjoy for months to come!

*Now is a great time to harvest your herbs for winter cooking!  Remember: If you don't have the time or accessibility to harvest your own herbs, check out your local farmer's market, herb shops or Pacific Botanicals can ship you fresh herbs and roots (www.pacificbotanicals.com)*

Recipes to Boost Your Immunity for the Cold-Weather & Holiday Season!

Respiratory Re-hab Honey

1 part Aralia root

1 part Elecampagne root

1 part Marshmallow root

1/2 part Cinnamon bark

1/4 part Ginger root

3 - 4 times as much honey as herbs 

Fill a quart jar 1/4 full with your herbs, cover with honey and allow it to infuse in a sunny window (or near a warm woodstove) for a month. Strain, store and enjoy!

Holiday Sweetness Honey

  1 peel of a small orange

1 cinnamon stick

1 star anise

1 cup of honey

Place herbs in a mason-type jar and cover with the honey.  Close tightly and allow the mixture to infuse for a month.  Strain out herbs or leave them in for an attractive look, store and delight in the sweet deliciousness throughout the season!

Elderberry Syrup

1 cup fresh or 1/2 cup dried elderberries (Sambucus nigra) 

3 cups water

1 cup honey

Place berries and water together in saucepan and bring to a boil.  Reduce heat and simmer until volume is reduced to half (about 30-45 minutes).  Mash up the berries and strain

Green Power Powder

A wonderfully nutritious home-made addition to replace store-bought green powders. Pick young healthy leaves of several species of wild edible greens(dandelion, chickweed, watercress, plantain, etc).  Dry and powder.  Use as a highly nutritious, mineral and vitamin rich sprinkle on your food.

Astragalus-Apple Tea   

Apple cores and/or bruised apples-a couple of apples per quart  

1 part Astragalus root (Astragalus membranaceus)

1/4 part Ginger root (Zingiber officinale)

1/4 part Orange Peel (Citrus spp.)

Combine 5 teaspoons of herb mixture and a couple of chopped apples to a quart of water and simmer for 30-45 minutes. Strain.  Enjoy hot or cold!  Store any left over in fridge.   

Herbed Vinegar 

Reuse a tamari or salad dressing bottle and fill it with your chosen herbs; either from the store or from your own garden is fine! Slice up a few garlic cloves and cover with good organic apple cider or rice vinegar.  Let sit for two weeks to a month.  Shaking is appreciated.   

When using fresh herbs I usually leave herbs in bottle, while with dry herbs I strain them.  Vinegar strengths will vary greatly depending on the quantity of the herbs used. Enjoy your vinegar on steamed vegeta­bles, in salad dressing, etc.   

Some suggested herbs to use alone or in combina­tion:  

basil (Ocimum basilicum), rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis), garlic (Allium sativum), cayenne (Capsicum frutescens) pods, oregano (Origanum vulgare), thyme (Thymus spp.), marjoram (Majorana hortensis)

     For more concentrated vinegars prepare as with tinctures.  1:5 herb to vinegar for dry plant material, 1:2 for fresh plant material.  Strain after 2-6 weeks and bottle.  A sprig of fresh herb can be added for aesthetics

You can also use any of the following herbs in combination with Brown Rice Vinegar or another lightly colored vinegar to create beautifully colored vinegars.  The natural lightness of the vinegar really helps the color stand out!  

Opal Basil - Lovely purples

Nasturtium - Awesome autumn oranges

Pineapple Sage and Chive Blossom - Beautiful pinks  

Enjoy with all your favorite dishes!

Fall Cleansing  

Root It Out Tea   

1 part Burdock Root

1 part Raw Dandelion Root

1 part Roasted Dandelion Root

1/2 part Yellow Dock Root

1/2 part Licorice Root 

1/2 part Cinnamon Chips

1/4 part Clove buds

Combine ingredients and simmer 5 hearty teaspoons of the mixture in a quart of water for 20-30 minutes for a deliciously detoxifying tea!

Body Polish

½ cup salt or sugar

2 oz of your favorite herbal oil or skin oil 

5 - 10 drops essential oil

Shower Tip - During your shower, alternate between hot and cold water for 2-3 cycles making sure to end with cold to improve circulation and vitality and enhance your natural immunity!