This is written by Margaret- mother and mother in law to Davyd and Jenny. Grandmother to little Gwyn.
It is spring at last! I am wandering now different paths and looking more closely at what's growing along them, most recently seeing that Stinging Nettle is popping up. You want to be cautious about this spring herb because it - well, stings. You have to have gloves to pick it.
The early arrival of this herb sets the clue as to its use. In olden times herbal lore was common knowledge. You looked to what first came along for your spring tonics- the feel better after winter cures. In winter the body naturally slows down, yet our life never does. Cold weather shut down is part of our close affinity to the animal kingdom. Essentially we need to curl up by the woodstove fire, or in a man cave den, or somewhere- a lady cave- but we can't! Not allowed!
The best way to snap into action in spring is to put on the gloves and pick nettle.
It is spring at last! I am wandering now different paths and looking more closely at what's growing along them, most recently seeing that Stinging Nettle is popping up. You want to be cautious about this spring herb because it - well, stings. You have to have gloves to pick it.
The early arrival of this herb sets the clue as to its use. In olden times herbal lore was common knowledge. You looked to what first came along for your spring tonics- the feel better after winter cures. In winter the body naturally slows down, yet our life never does. Cold weather shut down is part of our close affinity to the animal kingdom. Essentially we need to curl up by the woodstove fire, or in a man cave den, or somewhere- a lady cave- but we can't! Not allowed!
The best way to snap into action in spring is to put on the gloves and pick nettle.
Nettle plant
I grow it in my garden because I am rather lazy about trying to figure where it might grow wildly in Maine. In Ireland, Scotland or England it is abundant everywhere, in all pastures and meadows. My father when we hiked over there used to say, Hey Marg, pick those plants! But I was smart. i first put on gloves. That was in April with the glory of an English spring. Here, I pass it too quickly by because it belongs to the past when Maine was settled by Europeans who brought with them this herb, planting it by kitchen doors which are mostly now in ruins, off in fields, a story of yesteryears. It is harder here to find nettle.
So- Nettle tea. You can buy it at Robins Flower Pot in Farmington and plant it in your garden. Easy! And then- With a scissors, gloves on hands, small saucepan, gather nettles, a cup will make a tea.
Nettle Tea Directions:
Once you have this cup of lovely green stinging leaves, pour two cups of water over it in the saucepan. Bring to a boil over your stove. Turn off heat, let stand for a few minutes, strain out leaves and put liquid into cup. Flavour with honey.
I like honey in my tea. This herb is full of minerals for getting your body back into gear. Sip slowly. If you demand another cup, follow the same process. One cup fresh herb to two cups of water, bring to boil, turn off heat, Enjoy.
I will try to share with you the restorative properties of all the different herbs. This will inspire me to also follow my own advice. I once studied herbalism at the Emerson College of Herbology in Montreal. And, I grew up with a family that used all natural remedies - never an artificial one. Well, rarely. There were exceptions. I was a tomboy. I was a kid who jumped into ice water streams and caught pneumonia very easily, sick for weeks with a prescribed drug from the neighbor doctor who convinced Mama I had to have it. but I knew that I would have made it without it.
My bedroom in our old farmhouse was high up on the third floor, tiny, but there i read during being sick to my heart's content. Then up would come Dr. Berkowitz followed by Mama and Dado, and the three saying, take your medicine, you have to get back to school. I was maybe twelve years old when I started swimming early in the creeks the end of March.
Nettle tea as a spring remedy. And closely followed by violet tea. Mama would bring up the herbs once the good doc descended the staircase.
Drink your tea! See you soon! MBCollinson
So- Nettle tea. You can buy it at Robins Flower Pot in Farmington and plant it in your garden. Easy! And then- With a scissors, gloves on hands, small saucepan, gather nettles, a cup will make a tea.
Nettle Tea Directions:
Once you have this cup of lovely green stinging leaves, pour two cups of water over it in the saucepan. Bring to a boil over your stove. Turn off heat, let stand for a few minutes, strain out leaves and put liquid into cup. Flavour with honey.
I like honey in my tea. This herb is full of minerals for getting your body back into gear. Sip slowly. If you demand another cup, follow the same process. One cup fresh herb to two cups of water, bring to boil, turn off heat, Enjoy.
I will try to share with you the restorative properties of all the different herbs. This will inspire me to also follow my own advice. I once studied herbalism at the Emerson College of Herbology in Montreal. And, I grew up with a family that used all natural remedies - never an artificial one. Well, rarely. There were exceptions. I was a tomboy. I was a kid who jumped into ice water streams and caught pneumonia very easily, sick for weeks with a prescribed drug from the neighbor doctor who convinced Mama I had to have it. but I knew that I would have made it without it.
My bedroom in our old farmhouse was high up on the third floor, tiny, but there i read during being sick to my heart's content. Then up would come Dr. Berkowitz followed by Mama and Dado, and the three saying, take your medicine, you have to get back to school. I was maybe twelve years old when I started swimming early in the creeks the end of March.
Nettle tea as a spring remedy. And closely followed by violet tea. Mama would bring up the herbs once the good doc descended the staircase.
Drink your tea! See you soon! MBCollinson
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