Herbs – Page 2 – The Herbal Hare Tomestead and Animal Sanctuary

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A Saturday Weed Walk

May 22, 2023May 22, 2023 Lisa Burbank

“The Lord is my chosen portion and my cup; you hold my lot. The lines have fallen for me in pleasant places; indeed, I have a beautiful inheritance.” (Psalm 16: 5-6)

This one is live! As in, in-person…my first!

To say that I’m not feeling a bit of that “Imposter Syndrome” would be a lie. Yes, I am a certified herbalist…and a Master Gardener. Yes, I do know how to use herbs and make medicine, health & beauty aids. I know how to use herbs for scent and I have at least a rudimentary knowledge of how to make dyes with some. And, yes, there are certain ones I can readily identify in the wild.

However, a recent walk through the nature trail that I will be working from at this live event revealed there are a lot of plants I don’t know. And, in this particular setting, there wasn’t a huge variety of plants…outside of some invasive species. That being said, I identified enough that I can put together an interesting walk.

At least I hope so…

Again, “Imposter Syndrome”–I am plagued with doubts. However, if I was too cocky and sure of myself, that would be the road to failure. A little nervousness is to be expected and, like all things, the more often I do this, the more comfortable I’ll get with it…and, in the future, I’ll make it a point to plan more “weed” walks through abandoned lots and sunny meadows rather than deep woods and dappled sunlight since most of the herbs I’m most familiar with are typically grown in sunnier locales. ;o)

Despite my nerves, I’m looking forward to the challenge of creating a fun and interesting experience for everyone who decides to join me on the walk.

If you live in northeastern Connecticut, the “weed” walk is part of an event being hosted by the Brooklyn Middle School in Brooklyn, CT between 10:00 a.m. and 12:00 p.m. on Saturday, June 3, 2023. Wear your walking shoes because the terrain is uneven, rocky in places, full of roots ready to trip you up, and steep in some areas.

May God bless you & keep you!

Animals, Christianity, God/Jesus, Healing, Herbs, Holistic Health, Homesteading, illness, Nature, Plants

Wednesday Weed Walk – Oils & Salves

May 17, 2023May 17, 2023 Lisa Burbank

“Then God said, ‘I give you every seed-bearing herb on the face of the whole earth and every tree that has fruit with seed in it. They will be yours for food.” (Genesis 1:29)

Another way you can use herbs is by decocting them in oil. This can be for culinary purposes to dress up some salad greens, or used topically to help heal cuts and scrapes, and moisturize the skin.

A few weeks’ ago I talked about using the double-boiler method to decoct herbs for medicine. Here we will use the same method but, instead of covering the herbs in the top pan with water, as we did in the previous post, we will cover them with some sort of oil.

Please do NOT use canola, sunflower, safflower, corn, or vegetable oil for this purpose; ditto for Crisco. All burn too hot and risk scorching the herbs, rendering them useless. The idea is to gently warm the oil, not fry the herbs. Olive, sweet almond, and grapeseed oils work best for this.

For those who may have missed the earlier post, if you don’t have a double-boiler, using a pair of sauce pans where one is slightly smaller than the other will suffice. You fill the larger pan about 1 1/2” – 2” with water then nestle the smaller sauce pan inside. There should be enough water in the bottom pan that the smaller sauce pan floats, but not so much that any water comes over the rim of it. You then measure your herbs into the smaller pan and, in this case, cover them with your oil of choice. Put a lid on it and slowly simmer for approximately 45 minutes, taking care that the oil doesn’t evaporate too much and the herbs do not scorch (as can happen even with these lighter oils); feel free to give them the occasional stir while they simmer, taking care to put the lid back on them as soon as you’re done. The medicinal properties will escape with the steam if the lid is left off.

As with a regular decoction, we also don’t use Teflon-coated pans, or cast iron, when making oils or salves. Both can leach into the final product. Teflon, if I remember correctly, has carcinogenic properties. It also flakes and chips and, even if new, there are chemicals in it that are best left out of either food or medicine. Cast iron is a great tool for cooking, but it can alter the medicinal properties of herbs, possibly changing their efficacy. I recommend either stainless steel, or enamel, when working with herbs.

If making an oil, simply strain the oil into a clean and sterile jar once it cools and store it in a cool, dark place until needed.

Herbs, such as plantain (not the banana-like fruit but the oft-mistaken-as-crab-grass) (Plantago major or Plantago lanceolata), are good for drawing out infection, slivers, and other foreign matter. Calendula (Calendula officinalis) works well for treating bruises, cuts and burns, as well as the minor infections they cause. St. John’s Wort (Hypericum perforatum) fights inflammation and has antibacterial properties; it’s also a good sunblock when used topically. Comfrey (Symphytum officinale) helps new skin cells grow, reducing scarring. Equal measures of each, simmered in an oil, and massaged into the skin before a shower, or bath, works as well as any spa treatment for combating dry skin, and even wrinkles, leaving your skin healthy, supple and glowing. The combination also works well for cuts, burns, scrapes, scratches, and rashes, including diaper rash, although you may want to take it a step further and make it into a salve, or ointment for this last purpose.

To turn your oil into a salve, once the oil has simmered for 45 minutes, leave it on low heat and melt approximately ¾” to 1” square of clean beeswax into the oil, stirring constantly to get a creamy consistency. Once the wax has melted completely, add a drop or two of vitamin E oil (2 capsules should suffice for an 8 oz. canning jar), stir, and pour it into clean jars (or tubes; you can make a great lip balm for chapped lips in winter this way, too).

A word of caution: do NOT pour any beeswax down your drain; you will stop it up. Do NOT wash any pans or utensils in the sink that have had beeswax melted in them; same reason. Take anything used for melting the beeswax outside and pour boiling water over it repeatedly until the wax has been scalded off. Beeswax is safe for the environment and will do no harm poured into the grass or dirt this way. Another thing to bear in mind is that beeswax is highly flammable. The little flame at the top of a candle is of little concern but, please pay close attention while heating on the stove. Put the phone down, avoid distractions. A friend of mine once burned his mother’s kitchen down because he left some beeswax melting unattended on the stove and went to answer the phone…back in the day when we still had push button and rotaries on the wall and were attached to a cord…(I’m showing my age…)

May God bless you & keep you!

PS You can modify the above salve to use for animals, too. Omit the calendula and St. John’s wort (they may lick the salve and these two should not be ingested by animals). Simply use equal parts of plantain and comfrey and follow the rest of the directions above. My Mom swears by it for our animals.

Calendula officinalis (Calendula) (Yahoo Images)

Hypericum perforatum (St. John’s wort) (Yahoo Images)

Works Cited

“Calendula.” Image. Yahoo Images, The Spruce, 2023. https://images.search.yahoo.com/search/images?p=images%2C+calendula&fr=mcafee&type=E211US0G0&imgurl=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.thespruce.com%2Fthmb%2Fya4XvTRXaP-lCwxTXQ89Zkmac7M%3D%2F1874x0%2Ffilters%3Ano_upscale%28%29%3Amax_bytes%28150000%29%3Astrip_icc%28%29%2Fgrowing-and-using-calendula-1402626-26-f3f6f07fcc594a79b1a792f863a4a8e6.jpg#id=19&iurl=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.thespruce.com%2Fthmb%2Fya4XvTRXaP-lCwxTXQ89Zkmac7M%3D%2F1874x0%2Ffilters%3Ano_upscale%28%29%3Amax_bytes%28150000%29%3Astrip_icc%28%29%2Fgrowing-and-using-calendula-1402626-26-f3f6f07fcc594a79b1a792f863a4a8e6.jpg&action=click

“St. John’s wort.” Image. Yahoo Images, Premier Seeds Direct, 2023. https://images.search.yahoo.com/search/images;_ylt=AwrNPwMJs2RkeVsfr.KJzbkF;_ylu=c2VjA3NlYXJjaARzbGsDYnV0dG9u;_ylc=X1MDOTYwNjI4NTcEX3IDMgRmcgNtY2FmZWUEZnIyA3A6cyx2OmksbTpzYi10b3AEZ3ByaWQDNXcyeVpSbWhUcmVGektGYlN2OENXQQRuX3JzbHQDMARuX3N1Z2cDMgRvcmlnaW4DaW1hZ2VzLnNlYXJjaC55YWhvby5jb20EcG9zAzAEcHFzdHIDBHBxc3RybAMwBHFzdHJsAzIzBHF1ZXJ5A2ltYWdlcyUyQyUyMFN0LiUyMEpvaG4ncyUyMFdvcnQEdF9zdG1wAzE2ODQzMjEyMjg-?p=images%2C+St.+John%27s+Wort&fr=mcafee&fr2=p%3As%2Cv%3Ai%2Cm%3Asb-top&ei=UTF-8&x=wrt&type=E211US0G0#id=5&iurl=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.premierseedsdirect.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2017%2F09%2F60501429.jpg&action=click

Abuse, Addiction, Alcoholism, Animals, Brothers & Sisters, Christianity, Compassion, Exhaustion, Faith, Frugality, God/Jesus, Gratitude, Herbs, Homesteading, Minimalism, Politics, Prayer, Prepping, Proofreading, Religion, Scripture, Spinning, Weaving, Writing, YouTube

Going Forward

May 8, 2023 Lisa Burbank

“You have rejected us, O God, and burst forth upon us; you have been angry–now restore us! You have shaken the land and torn it open; mend its fracturs, for it is quaking. You have shown your people desperate times; you have given us wine that makes us stagger. But for those who fear you, you have raised a banner to be unfurled against the bow. Selah” (Psalm 60: 1-4)

The water’s out again. It’s happening more frequently these days. We’ll have running water for a few days, and then the taps will run dry for 2, 3…one time 9 days’ straight. We’ve considered that a combination of local drought, mixed with the flood we had last year, may have run the well dry—or semi-dry. That’s a scary thought but, a credible one. Of course, it could still be that I need to replace the pump, or the resident rodent population chewed a wire somewhere. At this point, we simply don’t know. And the means to find out exactly what’s wrong, and actually get it fixed, is beyond me at the moment. We could be talking tens of thousands of dollars when all is said and done.

As I said in a previous post, I am bodaciously tired of all of this. The struggle has become unbearable. Moving would be our best option. This may be home but, home needs way more TLC than I can give it to make it comfortable and safe again. The problem is my credit is toast at this point. Can I hang in here long enough to rebuild my credit before home becomes completely uninhabitable? We’re almost there now.

So many things, so many worries…I still have some juvenile felines that need spaying. The roof still leaks. Even when the water runs, there’s no hot water; the tank died a year and a half ago. We heat water for bathing on the stove…or rather the hot plate. The stove no longer works either. The house is a fright. This last because I’ve allowed depression to get the better of me. The task is too enormous and there never seems to be enough time. It’s nothing some serious elbow grease wouldn’t fix but, still, it can be overwhelming with all that needs doing and fixing. I’d love to rent the biggest dumpster imaginable and just toss almost everything in it, start anew, and less is best.

On the plus side, my friend’s little boy made his First Communion yesterday. What a cause for rejoicing! His little face was aglow as he accepted the body of Christ for the first time. Quite a lot of extended family came to church to celebrate with him, including his older brother home from college. The only downside was the low number of children making that First Communion. I praise God for the 5 who received it. However, I remember the long line of children making their First Communion when I was a child. Sad that people do not make religious education a priority today. Maybe we’d have fewer shootings, fewer suicides, less drug addiction and abuse. Maybe not but, even a tiny seed of hope planted in the heart can do wonders. That’s what Jesus does for you; He fills you with hope. When you have Him, no earthly concern can truly hurt you.

I’m also doing a weed walk next month, my first. I hope to create new business cards beforehand so I can pass them out to any who join the walk. I’m hoping to build a local following before I start uploading videos to YouTube. I want to get comfortable with the teaching aspect of it before I have to do it on camera. There’s also the whole technical learning curve before YouTube becomes a *thing* in my life. I will, of course, share the link once I finally do hit YouTube. In the meantime, there’s local weed walks and workshops…and a renewed commitment to build a brand through my blogs.

Yes, blogs…with an S.

Most who have been following me for a while know I also have an author’s page. I’m still working on the first novel but, I occasionally do book reviews on my author’s page. I am looking to get more intentional with that, too. The link is https://lisaburbank.wordpress.com

Then there’s the latest blog. This one started as a classroom assignment. We were asked to build a website for selling your product(s) and/or services online as a freelance writer. Well, I confess, I don’t sell any services as a freelance writer. Maybe in time I will. I’m pretty good at editing. And I’m gaining some experience with grant writing since becoming the director of a library. But, as a student, even having scaled back to part-time studies, the time needed to edit another’s work, or assist someone in the grant writing process, would be overwhelming. And, to be honest, when I consider selling those services, it makes more sense to me to do so through my author’s page.

However, that didn’t fly with the professor; I tried. It had to be a new website.

Now that the boring bibliography-about-nothing-in-particular is gone, I can revamp it.

Over the years, The Herbal Hare has been such a hodge-podge of *stuff*. I’m looking to get more intentional with what I include here vs. what should probably go somewhere else. For example, some years’ ago, I wrote a piece about growing up with alcoholism in the home and how it affects the whole family, sometimes for generations. I received a lot of new followers but, it didn’t have anything to do with homesteading, herbs, or prepping, and I lost a lot of those followers who didn’t like the new direction. I’ve also gotten social/political a time or two…and alienated some readers with that. I’m hoping that https://auntielisaspeaks.com will be an alternative. The Herbal Hare will remain a blog about herbs, homesteading, prepping, fiber arts, frugal living, minimalism, antiquated skills, animal husbandry and, yeah, still a bit of a hodge-podge. Homesteading encompasses a lot of ground.

Auntie Lisa Speaks will be one-part memoir, one-part social commentary, and one-part call to action to remember that no matter the issue, there’s a real person on the other end of the screen. Their thoughts and feelings do matter, and their struggles are real. Part of that call to action will also be a call to follow Christ; our country really needs God back at the center of things again.

May God bless you & keep you!

Alcoholism, Christianity, Cooking, Emergency Preparedness, Frugality, Healing, Herbs, Holistic Health, Homesteading, Organic, Prepping, Recipes, Religion, Scripture, Spices

Wednesday’s Weed Walk: Tinctures

May 3, 2023 Lisa Burbank

“And God said, Behold, I have given you every herb bearing seed, which is upon the face of all the earth, and every tree, in the which is the fruit of a tree yielding seed; to you it shall be for meat” (Genesis 1:29)

Though it is a couple of weeks’ late, as promised, this week’s Wednesday Weed Walk isn’t so much about a specific herb but, about a way to preserve the herbs for future use when not in their growing, or harvest, seasons.

A tincture is, in my opinion anyway, the easiest way to make medicine. You can tincture a single herb, or blend them. I tend to do the latter…except when I’m making my own vanilla extract (recipe below).

To tincture herb(s), you need a clean, sterile container (repurposed glass Mason jars work well!) and, preferably, 100 proof alcohol of some kind. I use 100 proof vodka to tincture my herbs but other mediums, such as rum, would also work. You can use an 80 proof and broaden the selection of spirits but, you will need a few capsules of vitamin E oil added against spoilage, as anything less than 100 proof may mold. Apple cider vinegar (ACV), also with added vitamin E oil, will work for short-term storage. With ACV, you will have to store your tinctures in the refrigerator and they will only keep for 2 weeks, at best. When tincturing in 100 proof alcohol, your tinctures remain shelf-stable for up to 2 years. However, if you, or someone you love, is susceptible to alcoholism, or for young children, ACV may be the better option for you.

Tincturing is simple. You measure your herbs into a jar and pour the alcohol, or ACV, over them until they are covered with the liquid. Then you put a lid on the jar, label it with the contents, ingredients, the date you started the tincturing, and the batch #. This last isn’t 100% necessary but, if you decide to sell herbal products, having a running batch # is helpful should any adverse reactions occur. Depending upon the medium you used, you place the tincture into the refrigerator, or in a dark cabinet (too much light will destroy the healing properties), and shake it daily for two weeks. At the end of those two weeks, you can either leave the spent-herbs inside, and strain as you use it, or strain them now, at the two week mark, into another clean and sterile jar, or dark-colored bottle.

You can use fresh herbs, or dried. If using dried, remember the herbs will have a higher concentration of medicinal properties to them. 1/3 of the amount of dried herbs suffices. So, if you normally measure 1 tablespoon of, say, fresh chamomile, you would only use a teaspoon of the dried.

Making medicine is the part I like the best but, you can also use this method to create extracts for the kitchen, such as vanilla. To make vanilla extract, you will need a dark jar/bottle of some kind (you can find online, or many herb shops will sell them), or a dark cabinet to store them if using clear glass. It doesn’t need to be a large bottle. A couple of ounces suffices. Think of the tiny bottles that vanilla extract comes in at the grocery store. Anyway, take 2-3 vanilla beans, slice them in half lengthwise, and put them in the bottle (if bottle is short, you may also need to cut them in half the other way, too). Fill the bottle with 100 proof alcohol, screw on the cap, give it a shake and let it tincture for two weeks. Once the two weeks are over, however, in this case, you will NOT be straining the liquid into another container. Instead, keep the vanilla beans in the liquid. As you use it, you can simply top it off with more 100 proof alcohol, and/or add more vanilla beans over time. Also, in this case, the ACV will NOT work. However, any concerns over the alcohol content should be unfounded as the alcohol burns off in the cooking/baking process.

This same method will work for almonds, lemon peels, etc. too.

May God bless you & keep you!

Animals, Christianity, Emergency Preparedness, Exhaustion, Faith, gardening, Grief, Herbs, Holidays, Homesteading, Tradition

Wade in the Water

May 1, 2023 Lisa Burbank

“I tell you the truth, anyone who gives you a cup of water in My Name because you belong to Christ will certainly not lose his reward.” (Mark 9:41)

First of all, I want to give a shout out to all of my Celtic, Wiccan, and Pagan friends reading this: Happy Beltane/Bealtaine! May 1st is the midpoint between the spring equinox and the summer solstice in the northern hemisphere and it mark’s the first day of summer in Gaelic Ireland. Throughout Ireland, as well as Scotland and the Isle of Man, celebrations may include bonfires, the decorating of homes with early spring flowers, and a visit to some holy wells. As with any celebration, there is usually a feast involved.

Here in the U.S., May 1st is May Day. Though I don’t know of any schools still doing this, my mother remembers dancing around the maypole as a child. I’m guessing the real meaning of the dance (to increase and celebrate fertility) may be the reason this celebration has fallen out of popularity in the mainstream. But Happy May Day, as well!

Now for my usual Monday meanderings…

On a positive note, I managed to make the last of the three trial mortgage payments last week. Now I wait and see if the mortgage company is still willing to reinstate it. The proverbial bear crept into my bearing (no pun intended). Snippy, impatient, irritated—and that’s just for starters. On top of that, our intermittent water source decided to act up. We had no running water for much of the week. Once again I wished for one of those hand-pumps like Laura Ingalls Wilder would’ve used. They’re costly to install but then, so is a new well-pump, water softener, and hot water tank—all of which we desperately need. Ditto for new electrical lines to replace the ones chewed by our latest resident rodent population. The bathroom ceiling hasn’t leaked in some time (crossing fingers) but, the basement door has rotted out; there’s a gaping hole in the bottom…hence, the rodent population’s easy access in and out (among others). We need a new roof, gutters, and the barn door needs replacing along with the basement door.

To top things off, as many of you know, I lost one of my favorite aunts recently. Two of my best friends lost their aunt yesterday; I knew Carol, loved her as almost a second aunt. They say this comes in threes; I sincerely hope not.

I came home from work on Thursday to find Felicity, one of my geriatric goats, had somehow managed to get her head stuck between the stanchion and the wall next to it. I have no idea how long she was there but, she must’ve bumped and bruised her throat a bit trying to get loose. She wouldn’t eat. Nothing appeared broken but, I had to make a run up to the local Walmart for some baby food so that I could at least get some nourishment into her body while her sore throat healed. She is now back to her usual feisty self eating solid foods again. She also polished off quite a lot of Japanese knotweed yesterday, which contains a mucilage that will help her heal even faster. Thank God! But she had me worrying for a few days. The gap between stanchion and wall has since been blocked.

And now Luna, one of our cats, has something sticky all along her left side. No idea what it is but, Mom says she came flying out of the garage-turned-barn like a bat out of hell and has been a little neurotic ever since. We checked her over. She’s not injured in any way, just sticky and matted. We’ve only been allowed to clean her up in short spurts before she’s had enough but, in time, I’m sure we’ll sort it all out.

When I say I am bodaciously tired out, I sincerely mean it. Here’s to hoping the coming week will be a little better, fewer upsets, and maybe, just maybe, I’ll get a few things done.

On some positive notes, the rhubarb we planted a couple of years’ ago is growing beautifully; I can’t wait to make my first pie out of it. The broad-leaf chives have spread further and smell divine. The Egyptian onions are making a comeback. And the apple mint is threatening to take over the front yard. These are small victories that make some of the aforementioned hardships at least tolerable. And, thankfully, the heavy rains last night didn’t knock off all of the blossoms. Below is the magnolia tree in all of its glory! I planted it as a little 12” sapling over 10 years’ ago; I love seeing it in bloom.

I sincerely hope everyone reading this had a better week last week…and will have an even better week going forward.

May God bless you & keep you!

Abuse, Addiction, Brothers & Sisters, Christianity, Faith, God/Jesus, Gratitude, Healing, Herbs, Holidays, Plants, Religion, Tradition

Monday Meanderings

April 17, 2023 Lisa Burbank

“To you, O Lord, I lift up my soul; in You I trust, O my God. Do not let me be put to shame, nor let my enemies triumph over me.” (Psalm 25:1-2)

With Easter come and gone for another year, the self-imposed dietary restrictions given for Lent have also come and gone. I lamented in a recent post that I failed to keep my vows 100% by partaking of a fortune cookie when Mom and I went out for Chinese food one night. I wasn’t even thinking of it as a “sweet”; it’s just part of the meal in my mind. But, otherwise, I did fairly well with avoiding traditional “junk” food.

I still haven’t mastered the other half of my vows: to read a chapter of Scripture each day. It’s been spotty at best. However, He’s still working in my life, still working through me and in me.

I just polished off a small bowl of Maple Kettle Korn from Bureau’s Sugarhouse in Connecticut. On Good Friday, Mom, Robert and I drove up to The Book Barn in Niantic, CT. I called ahead of time to confirm that they would be open on the holiday but, I neglected to check the time that they open. We got there about an hour beforehand. After a brief discussion, we decided to do an early lunch…and found the restaurant also wasn’t opening for another hour. We drove down the road some more and came to a place called Smith’s Acres, LLC.

What an amazing place!

It’s relatively small but they carry all manner of landscaping plants, succulents in their greenhouse, and floral arrangements. There’s a farmers’ market inside featuring fresh produce, jams, jellies, honey and maple syrup, all manner of sauces, and a refrigerator full of ice cream. If we added some herbs for growing, and homemade yarns, it could almost be the store of my dreams.

Mom found the Kettle Korn up by the register. We’ve been enjoying it since Easter and remarking how incredibly delicious it is. I didn’t realize until I went to toss away the empty bag that it was Bureau’s product.

Bureau’s Sugarhouse used to have a booth at the Woodstock Fair every year (they may still…). I worked at the Fair for several seasons (2012-2016) and, for one of my co-workers, purchasing a bag of their Maple Kettle Korn was an annual treat. After hearing her rave about it, I bought a small bag one year and fell in love with it. I haven’t had it since I left the fair.

That’s probably a good thing for my teeth and my waistline!

Where He’s working on me, is the return to “desserts” now that Lent has ended. While I’ve enjoyed the Kettle Korn, the bag of black licorice jelly beans (is there any other kind??), and a few other “sweets”, I’ve really been paying attention to my body since the return to them.

I felt better without them. I slept better, too. It’s also renewed my commitment to take better care of myself. Who knew?

I wrote about my dream homestead in my “About” section. And I’ve certainly talked about it on the blog many times. I want to be here to enjoy it. Once I’m back on my feet financially–and we’re getting there slow but sure since taking the director’s seat at the library–I believe I can accomplish that end.

I’m also learning to leave it in His hands. His plans are greater than my own. I want to be here to see that, too.

For anyone else who celebrated Lent by sacrificing in some way, what are some of the ways He’s blessed you? I’d be delighted if you’d share in the Comments’ section below.

May God bless you & keep you!

Healing, Herbs

Wednesday’s Weed Walk: Infusion vs. Decoction

April 5, 2023April 5, 2023 Lisa Burbank

“Then God said, ‘Behold, I give you every seed-bearing herb on the face of the whole earth and every tree that has fruit with seed in it. They will be yours for food.” (Genesis 1: 29)

I often get asked what the difference is between an infusion and a decoction when working with herbs. Both use hot water (not boiling) to extract the medicinal properties from the herb(s). However, depending on the strength you require, may determine which one you use.

An infusion is much like a tea. You’re pouring hot water over the herbs in your cup, or teapot. The difference is, where your bag of Lipton tea leaves get brewed 3-5 minutes, tops, the infused herbs are steeped for 15-20 minutes. You’re also putting a cover of some sort over the cup as soon as you’re finished pouring the water so the medicinal properties do not get lost in the steam wafting up.

A decoction uses a double boiler or, if you don’t have one, two saucepans where one is slightly larger than the other so the smaller of the two can nestle inside the larger. About an inch deep of water goes in the larger, bottom pan. The herbs go into the smaller, top pan and more water is poured in to just covering the herbs. Then we place a lid on it and slowly bring it to a simmer, being careful not to let the water evaporate and scorch the herbs. If that happens, we have to start all over again. Decoctions are typically simmered for 45 minutes.

I tend to think of an infusion as a sort of maintenance–like exercise, and a decoction for when you mean business in healing whatever ails you. However, that’s not entirely true. We also decoct certain tougher parts of the herbs. An infusion works fine for just the leaves and blossoms but, it won’t do much to extract the healing properties of woody stems or the inner cambric bark of something, like, slippery elm (Ulmus rubra), for instance. You can, of course, decoct all of the aerial parts together (stem, cambric, flowers and leaves).

For seeds and roots, we tincture the herbs but, that is a topic for the next post.

Note: I mentioned above that the water for an infusion should be hot, not boiled. If the water is too hot, it will destroy those healing properties. If you do bring your water to a boil, allow it to sit 5-10 minutes to cool from boiling to merely hot before pouring it over your herbs.

Also, when working with herbs, it is best to stay clear of Teflon-coated pans, or even cast iron. Teflon should be avoided at all costs. Cast iron is fine for most things but, the iron can leech into your decoction, or infusion, and alter those properties. Stainless steel, or enamel, work best with herbs.

May God bless you & keep you!

19th century, Animals, Christianity, Exhaustion, Faith, Family, God/Jesus, Gratitude, Healing, Herbs, History, Homesteading, Memories, Nostalgia, Prayer, Religion, Sleep Deprivation, Writing, Yoga & Fitness

Getting Back To My Roots

April 4, 2023 Lisa Burbank

“O Lord, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth! You have set your glory above the heavens.” (Psalm 8:1)

Sunday was Palm Sunday. I went to Mass and served as Lector, reading through Judas’ betrayal of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. It’s one of those rare moments when Mass becomes almost a play, with Father Ben reading the words of Jesus; Lectors, like myself, reading the parts of the narrator and “voice”, and the rest of the congregation reading the parts labeled “crowd”.

I sometimes kick myself for not pursuing a career in acting. I studied acting in high school and, again, in community college. I’m quite good at it. And, after several years of serving as Lector, my knees no longer knock together in front of a crowd.

But I wasn’t really thinking about acting as I stood in front of the congregation on Sunday and read for the “voice”. My mind was reflecting over the last 5 weeks of Lent. I gave up junk food, at least the more popular definition of it (candy, sweets, chips, etc.). Living with the definitive junk food junkie (Mom), it’s tough to resist. However, as a measure of Mom’s sweetness and solidarity, she also gave up junk food for Lent so it wouldn’t be so hard for me. She didn’t want to eat chips and cookies in front of me.

Less mindful after Mass, I took Mom out for Chinese food and broke that Lenten vow by eating a fortune cookie (sigh!)

I also vowed to get back to reading a chapter of the Bible each morning and focusing more on my prayer life.

I’ve failed miserably on that score.

It’s amazing how hard it is to rekindle a habit once it’s been broken. It’s also amazing these epiphany moments.

Earlier blog posts have often sung the praises of working for a living history museum. It was the dream job come true. And, in many ways, that statement was true. I learned all sorts of things that will aid me on my homesteading journey, things that have been a major blessing already. Perhaps the sin of pride, but there was recognition as a herbalist…because that was my title: Herb Garden Lead. And, in many ways, I got to act. There were “scripts” to memorize (i.e. historical facts) when interpreting for visitors to the museum. There were skills to learn so we could demonstrate life in the 19th century.

It was also a very demanding position.

Prior to getting this job, I had a habit of rising everyday at 3:30 a.m. I blogged, prayed the rosary, and hit the yoga mat. Then I headed downstairs and outside to the barn to take care of the animals. I didn’t have to be to work until 3:30 in the afternoon at the dealership so I spent late-morning, early-afternoon writing. If the dealership had been a full-time position, it would’ve been ideal for this writer. I got home at 7:30 in the evening, spent some time caring for my animals again, and then went to bed.

Living history, however, demanded swing shifts. Evening programs on a Saturday didn’t see me driving over an hour home until after midnight…only to have to get up again a few hours’ later to work Sunday morning. 3:30 a.m. and writing became an impossible dream. The rides into work each morning found me playing “beat the school bus” because every route into work seemed to be a school bus route…no matter what time I left for work. I spent my mornings literally running through the barnyard, 19th century skirts hiked up over my knees as I threw hay and feed at the animals and yelled at them to get out of my way (we had to be fully dressed in period attire walking into the museum). Even changing the animals’ feeding time didn’t help because of how late I often got home at night.

And then I got my wrists slapped a few times for what few blog posts I still managed to create. I wrote about something unethical I witnessed in regard to the animals kept at the museum. I lamented being unable to attend Mass on a Sunday morning because of a conflict of hours. I own my bad on the first but, the lamentation over Mass was simply that: a lamentation. Not a dig against the museum.

I remember coming home from one of those evening programs, collapsing in the easy chair in the living room, still fully dressed in period garb, getting up 4 hours’ later and going back in, rumpled plaid still hanging from weary shoulders. I drove home the following evening praying, telling Him how I simply couldn’t do this anymore. As much as I loved interpreting, as much as I loved wearing the period clothing and learning all of these antiquated skills, I simply couldn’t devote every ounce of my being to it, as it seemed to be required.

I slipped while shoveling snow the following Tuesday so I could go into work on Wednesday and fractured my shoulder. The rest is history.

I may not have kept my Lenten vows as well as I would have liked this year. However, this Lenten season has been a time of reflection. How did I stray so far away from all that I hold dear? Writing, herbs, animals and homesteading…the things that make me, well, me. More importantly, family, friends, and above all, faith. I feel like this has been a long lesson in the sin of idolatry.

Because I truly idolized what seemed an idyllic job. If I had lived closer, if I didn’t have farm animals and pets, if, if, if…it might’ve remained a dream job–despite the grueling work schedule. But, perhaps, it was also a lesson that I’m not Supergirl. Like every other human being, I am gifted with 24 hours each day. How am I spending them?

As I continue to reflect during this Lenten season, I’m starting to go deeper. I feel like Job, questioning the why and the how. Maybe it’s time to re-read that book from the Bible.

However, for the moment, I seem caught up with the Psalms, finding balm for my spirit in shorter verses that always seem to pack a punch. It’s a reflection on my life these days: slow and steady, short and sweet. Baby steps forward, learning to take those steps and not being too hard on myself for being unable to handle anything bigger these days; it’s too overwhelming because of how far I’ve fallen behind in, well, everything. The good habits will return, or morph into something better. The life I dream of living will become a reality…or He will mold and shape it into something beyond my wildest dreams.

Amazingly, He’s been using my work at the library to teach me this very valuable lesson in taking things one step at a time. Rome isn’t built in a day but, those baby steps make a difference. It’s time to apply them at home. I can’t twitch my nose and do it all in a blink. But, each baby step will take me that much closer to that dream life…and maybe I’ll finally have time to enjoy some of that journey doing what I love, sharing it with those I love, and above all, praising Him whom I love above all else. In short, getting back to my roots.

May God bless you & keep you!

Animals, Christianity, gardening, Healing, Herbs, Holistic Health, Homesteading, illness, Nature, permaculture, Plants, Wild Edibles

Wednesday’s Weed Walk: Wood Sorrel

March 8, 2023 Lisa Burbank

As with many of the plants I feature on this website, Yellow Wood Sorrel is often regarded as a weed (hence, the title I use whenever I write about a plant, or herb). Most gardeners consider it a scourge because the roots go pretty deep and it can be difficult to get rid of. However, as with most “weeds”, I let it stay.

Miller, “Yellow Wood Sorrel”, Pere Marquette Rail Trail Wildflowers, n.d.

Yes, you know this one. It is often mistaken for a clover because of the similar, shamrock-y leaves. Oxalis stricta, however, is in the Oxalideae family, not the Fabaceae family–or bean family–as clover is, so they’re not even cousins. Interestingly, they can both fix nitrogen in your soil so not a bad thing to have in your garden. Like clover, wood sorrel also helps eliminate soil erosion by providing a natural ground cover that helps retain moisture. Even an obnoxious “weed” has its function.

Wood sorrel’s main claim to medicinal use is its help at reducing fever and inflammation. It increases the flow of urine and is particularly effective at treating urinary complaints. It may also help externally for treating eye complaints and scrofulous ulcers (de Bairacli-Levy 166). And, while Ms. de Bairacli-Levy writes this in a herbal for animals, it has the same effect on humans.

Renowned herbalist, Juliette de Bairacli-Levy, goes on to say that “goats and sheep seek its foliage, enjoying its refrigerant properties” (166). I, too, enjoy nibbling a few leaves whenever I’m working outside on a hot summer day. Yellow wood sorrel is a wild edible. It has a tart, lemony flavor that adds a nice punch to a salad or sandwich. If you haven’t guessed by its name, yellow wood sorrel has oxalic acid in it, which gives it its tart flavor. Many of our dark leafy greens, like spinach, beet greens, and Swiss chard also contain oxalic acid. As with anything, moderation is the key. Large quantities of yellow wood sorrel is said to lead to kidney stones (Taylor 1), but the same is also true of spinach, especially in sensitive individuals (Spritzler 1). Yellow wood sorrel also has some toxic, lookalike cousins so be sure of identification before consuming (Taylor 1).

These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA. This information is for educational purposes only. It is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.

May God bless you & keep you!

Works Cited

de Bairacli-Levy, Juliette. The Complete Herbal Handbook for Farm and Stable. Faber and Faber Limited, 1952.

Miller. “Yellow Wood Sorrel.” Pere Marquette Rail Trail Wildflowers, n.d. Image. https://www.peremarquettewildflowers.com/flower/yellow-wood-sorrel

Spritzler, Franziska. “Oxalate (Oxalic Acid): Good or Bad?” Healthline. https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/oxalate-good-or-bad

Taylor, David. “Common Yellow Wood Sorrel (Oxalis stricta).” Plant of the Week, USDA, n.d. https://fs.usda.gov/wildflowers

19th century, Abuse, Animals, Appreciation, Christianity, Creativity, ecosystems, Faith, Global Warming, God/Jesus, Herbs, Homesteading, Prepping, Religion, Understanding, Writing

Two Out of Three Ain’t Bad

March 6, 2023 Lisa Burbank

“Let love and faithfulness never leave you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart. Then you will win favor and a good name in the sight of God and man.” (Proverbs 3:3-4)

I’ve been working on that third website and still questioning the wisdom of it. Yes, there’s been a desire to branch out a little, defend the innocent when it comes to abuse and neglect, defend Mother Earth, tackle those few social issues that capture my interest enough to comment. But I’ve been completely stymied by the purpose of the assignment.

We were asked to pick a subject, research it, and then use this subject to help build our brand. Not a single topic had anything to do with herbs, homesteading, prepping, animal husbandry or rescue, 19th century living, frugality, fiber arts, or faith.

That’s my brand.

I chose “social media research”. As a writer, I can recognize the importance of researching sources of information. I’m just not sure how creating multiple posts about how to fact-check and verify an article will prove interesting to anyone else on a live platform. Do I even want it to? And, while this post has nothing to do with herbs, homesteading, prepping, animal husbandry or rescue, 19th century living, frugality, fiber arts, or faith either; still, I reckon most of my readers here are used to my rambling detours by now.

As I write this, and as I continue to build the other page, I’m also struck by how He works.

I’m not exactly kicking and screaming against this other page. In fact, I can even see the merits of separation between this blog and the new one, especially if I decide to tackle some meatier subjects. But, despite the fact that I will probably take the other site down once class is over, the effort of building a new site (something I actually enjoy) has given me some ideas for this blog. As I seek to define this other site, what it will contain, what it’s about, my intention for this blog is becoming clearer. So He’s brought about a blessing even in the midst of something as mundane as “social media research”.

What are some of the unexpected blessings He’s brought to your life? I’d be delighted if you’d share.

“I come in the little things, saith the Lord” — Evelyn Underhill

May God bless you & keep you!