Tuesday, September 20, 2011

Got Thyme?

Here is a quick hint for the swift help of something in your pantry, when a sore throat or cold and flu symptoms strike.

Pour 1 cup of boiling water over 1 tsp of dried thyme, and steep for 15-20 minutes.

Add lemon juice, cinnamon and honey and drink hot or warm. (I recommend making 4 cups at a thyme, to have more on hand when you feel the downward slide taking you with it. Some folks like to add a bit of brandy to the brew, to add to the sleep/antimicrobial/enjoyment factor.)

Note: You may even gargle with this for an effective sore throat antidote.

Any thyme is good thyme!

Monday, September 19, 2011

Good Ideas for a Small Planet

Buy Fresh, Buy Local

Have you found yourself perusing a local farmer’s market in recent years, delighting in the variety of fragrances, colors, shapes and tastes? Do you seek out restaurants that serve up local seasonal foods from your area farms? Are you happy to find fresh brown eggs from free-range chickens, sweet basil by the fistfuls and newly pressed cider from just-picked apples? Then you are part of the growing movement of citizens making sustainable choices as “Locavore s”. All over the world, people shop for daily meals in local bazaars and markets. Today American’s are awakening to this ancient and sustainable practice. Here are just a few good reasons to Buy Fresh, Buy Local.

You will conserve our precious resources. The typical item in a grocery store travels 1500 miles to its place on your plate. On average, each of us consumes 400 gallons of oil per year for our grocery-store foods. (Modern Agri-business uses about 17% of our nation’s energy use.)*
For food –related fuel economy, consider this: If each of us ate just one meal a week (any meal) of foods from local and organically raised meats and produce, we would save 1.1 million barrels of oil each week! *
Fresh sun-ripened fruit tastes much better! Vegetables contain sugars that begin turning to starch & nutrients that begin to degrade immediately after being picked from the plant. Freshly picked = more flavor & more nourishment.
You will strengthen your local economy and support endangered family farms. Each dollar you spend locally circulates in your community. Of each dollar spent at the grocery store, 15 cents goes to the farmer, and 85 cents goes to the middlemen.
Getting to know your farmers helps build understanding and trust, the foundation for a strong community.
You will have better chance for good health. Local farmers are less likely to use chemicals, growth hormones, antibiotics, & genetically modified foods. Buy food from local farmers you can trust.
You will protect the environment and your own backyard. Less fossil fuel & chemical pollution, less local development. Small farms that remain profitable are less likely to sell to developers.
When you vote for local, fresh food with each dollar you spend, you assure that healthy, flavorful food will be available for future generations.

How to find a farmer’s market or local direct farm to consumer:

www.localharvest.org; www.csacenter.org; www.buylocal.org; www.ams.usda.gov/farmersmarkets.

Thank you for choosing to Buy Fresh and Buy Local.

* excerpted from Animal, Vegetable, Miracle; Barbara Kingsolver

Thursday, September 15, 2011

Market offerings 9/17/2011

Market offerings 9/17/11 Changing with the seasons & Honoring requests

Since you asked...A new batch of Comfrey Salve is now available. Excellent tissue repair for preventing scars, healing wounds, fractures, broken bones, torn tendons, carpal tunnel, arthritis, hemorrhoids, swellings, varicosities, bruises, burns, sunburn, eczema, psoriasis, wrinkles, pregnant bellies, diaper rash, sore nipples, etc.

Just in time for Cold & Flu season….

Flu-less In Berryville: A child –friendly liquid formula that is sweet yet powerful, to prevent the flu and colds with anti-viral, anti-bacterial, immune boosting herbs.

Breathe Easy: A child’s yummy formula for helping with stuffy noses, itchy eyes and annoying coughs.

Liquid Gold: The adult version for preventing the flu, colds, sore throats and upper respiratory infections, named by one of Geo’s clients who can’t live without it!

New Herbal Teas are on the way…

Apres Dinner Digesteaf = a full bodied after dinner tea, to aid in digestion and relaxation, spicy, rich and warming for autumn and winter.

Flu-less in Berryville = The tea version of the child’s formula, this is serious tea…. “no namby pamby, isn’t this pleasant?” Rather this is a medicinal tea that has notes of elderberries, lemon, peppermint and thyme. Very potent when you need it most!

Geo’s soon to be famous Super Sassafras Tea. Makes great root beer- flavored popsicles! Free tastings….with a smile.

We now have “The Rejuvenator for Her”: A sweet-tart flavored adaptogen that enhances energy, mood, metabolism, memory, immunity, weight loss, stamina & sleep. Also supports thyroid, kidney & liver function, + respiratory and nervous systems.

Geo is Still Jammin! Again we have a variety of Organic Fruit & Herb Jams sweetened with Honey & White Grape Juice! Varieties include: Peach Pie, Ginger-Peach, Green Pepper Jelly, Red & Green Hot Pepper Jelly (made with sugar).

Organic Produce: Autumn Delicata Squash, great for stuffing and easy to cook, plus Yellow sweet bell peppers, Kung Pao Red Hot peppers, Suyo Asian Burpless Cucumbers, Heirloom Tomatoes, Heirloom Green & Dragon Tongue beans, Malabar spinach.

Back by popular demand: Itches, Ouches & Stings all purpose salve for all summer skin injuries.

As requested, we have a new batch of “The Rejuvenator for Men”: A sweet tonic used to enhance strength, endurance, adaptation to stress; offers protection and repair of liver/endocrine organs, cooling emotional reactions, enhances overall vitality and vigor! Free tasting samples….

Herbal Salves & Digestive Bitters, which make believers out of skeptics of natural medicines. Kid-friendly natural medicines.

Now taking special orders at market for natural medicines! For those of you who have placed them, I will bring them along this Saturday.

Thursday, September 8, 2011

Market offerings 9/10/11 - Changing with the seasons

"Elderberry - Sambucus Nigra"

If raining, Geo will stay home. Special orders can be picked up here, or dropped off at Midas Touch, FYI.