A Herbie Day

Well much to my dissapointment I couldn't get to sarahs workshop today, unfortunately that paper stuff is becoming harder to get hold of.
SO I had a herbie day at home, Jon Took the cherubs to the park for a few hours which gave me the chance to get out to the garden which i desparately needed, My mood had become woeful and I was in a bit of a state really. I bought some herbie seeds a couple of weeks ago and although a little early they have gone in today.
I started by letting out the chooks , they love to follow me around the garden, picking at any tasty morsels I may uncover as I potter about. I had decided to dig a couple more herb beds up by the chook run, so to work I set uncovering a few dandelions that I re-planted in a more suitable place and also a dead nettle that again was moved to the end of one of the beds. It took me a while to get most of the stones and roots out, but got there after half hour or so, It felt good to be out in the warm sun with my hands in the moist earth. comuning with nature at its best.  I had a few rather sad looking pots with mint and a gooseberry bush in so decided to transfer them to the fresh beds. Hopefully they will thrive there - I pretty rubbish at pots never remembering to water them .
Most of the seeds I bought need to wait a month or 2 before they can be planted, but The Yarrow, meadow sweet and wild chamomile went in today. I cannot wait for them to grow big enough for me to harvest them.
I also tidied a little, for some reason I never got round to tidying the garden before winter set in - so it needs doing now. I have had brocolli throughout winter that i picked as and when - these were now paet it so I pulled them up and gave to the chooks, They love to eat the leaves.  I also amazingly remembered to cover my peach tree, they are not a fan of our wet springs and tend to get leaf curl if left to fend for them selves. My fil gave me a roll of giant plastic bags last spring ( these measure about 2m long and 1m wide) 1 fitted perfectly over my peach and I plced a few stones around the base to keep it from flying off with the wind.

It really has been a revitalising day for me, I have yanked from my slum and bought fourth to the spring. I am once again a happy hippy. And looking forward to the year ahead.

Bitters

Well I guess I better start as mean to go on sharing my learning with the wide world.
My February task from sarah was all about bitters. What a wonderful way of getting top know and learn all about these wonderful herbs that are fantastic for the digestive tract.
The digestive process starts in the mouth , receptors on the tongue pick out the taste of the traditional senses which are bitter , sweet, sour and salty. It is the taste of bitter herbs that sets of a reaction all the way through the digestive tract.

The mouth, stomach and small intestine all contain glands that produce enzymes that help to breakdown the food. The mouth contains saliva which contains amylase which starts breaking down starches. The stomach contains gastric juices this contains the  enzymes pepsin and renin that breakdown protein and hydrochloric acid. It then heads to the small intestine which has pancreatic juice , this has many enzymes including tripsin , lypase and amylase. Tripsin breaks down protein , lypase breaks down fats and amylase turns startches into sugar. The small intestine also contains bile produced by the liver. Bile contains salts that emulsify fats so thay can be absorbed, it also carries ways products from the liver to the intestine so that it can be excreted from the body.
The taste of bitters sets off a reaction that increases or levels out the amount of digestive juices , thus aiding digestion and helping clear the liver of waste products.  Bitters can ease digestion, bloating and can also ease symptoms of IBS (Irratable bowl syndrome). They are wonderful cleansing herbs for the digestive system on a whole.
My first practical task (how I love these) was to make a grapefruit apertif. I have never been a lover of grapefruit until now. It was simple boil the skins of a couple of grapefruits in water and then again with the same water, then boil this until it reduces by a third then stir in equal amounts of sugar and let it dissolve. Once this mixture has cooled add the same volume of vidka and voila grapefruit apertif. It tastes absolutely amazing. I have been drinking about a shot everyday before my evening meal and have been a lot less bloated. My friends and family who have tried it have also loved it. Which is great as I now know what there birthday presents will be this year.
I also made a bitter tincture using dandelion root, ginger and citrus peel. I have only bottled this up today and its very strong although has a nice orange taste to it thankfully as This makes it palatable- but only just!

The following herbs have bitter properties.

• Ginger
• Dandelion
• Chamomile
• Horseradish
• Fennel
• Thyme
• Calendula
• Borage
• Elder
• Lemon balm

I will definately experinting more over the upcoming months as bitter greens start to appear around me with the fast approaching spring.

Hail and Welcome

Well as the title says I am a witch in the broadest sense of the term. I follow the cycles and celebrations of the year, research varius traditions and implement what feels right to me. I adore the great outdoors and walk through my local world at every oppertunity night or day, rain, sun or snow, I feel at home in nature.

I have 4 beautiful children ranging in age from 10 years to 9 months. I run a Pagan moot in A local town.

I have various interests including permaculture, reading, playing, and having fun. I love to cook.

Of course my main interest at the momment are wonderful Herbs.

I am currently studying with new vitality and intend to go onto East London Uni once I have completed this, I am also participating in a simpler apprentiship of herbs with the loveley Sarah Head. Already she has taught me so much.