Baltimore Herb Festival This Saturday!

We will have our vending tent set up at the Baltimore Herb Festival this Saturday!  This is a really wonderful outdoor herb fair around a shady loop road in beautiful Leakin Park.  Wonderful plants, herbal products, garden art & herbal crafts.  Live music all day, delicious food, even a few interesting talks.  Come see us!

Want to Be a Garden Apprentice?

For quite a few years, I have taken on Garden Apprentices from Spring thru Fall. I haven't taken any for the past two years because my garden schedule was too unpredictable, but am ready to accept a few this year. We will work in the garden for a few hours most Mondays (with some flexibility for weather & travel) doing whatever needs to be done. We will plant, weed, prune, harvest & make medicine. I will teach by talking about what we are doing, what we encounter & by answering questions. No money changes hands. You will receive herbal experiences & deepen your plant knowledge; I will receive the help I need in the garden. It is an arrangement that works well for all... Tomorrow morning at 10, I will be in the garden. If you think you might be interested, let's talk...

Labyrinth Walk on Saturday, May 4

Saturday, May 4th is the 5th annual International Labyrinth Day. My garden labyrinth will be open for walking from 11am until 3pm. Allow at least half an hour to walk.

This will be a silent, meditative walk. Please enter the garden in silence and maintain the quiet space as long as you are here.

Please bring a stone to add to the labyrinth - anything from the size of a grapefruit to the size of a loaf of bread will fit in perfectly!

Creamy Nettle Soup Simmering on the Stove Today

I'm feeling the need for some deep nutrition today, and I as luck would have it, I have a nice bagful of fresh nettles.  Here's my recipe, tho I'm sure I'll stray from it, since I usually don't really follow soup recipes closely.

A friend of mine sent me a version of this recipe from the West Country of England, & I think it's fabulous!  This should be made with young, tender nettles, early in Spring.  To avoid being "stung" by the nettles, you might want to wear clean gardening gloves for harvesting, washing & chopping.  If there is any sting, it will be gone by the time the nettles are wilted.  It is quite possible to handle nettles without being stung, but it takes a brave heart and unwavering attention!

Olive oil
1 cup chopped onion
3-5 cloves chopped garlic
3 Cups young nettles (use only the top few inches), washed & chopped
2 pounds potatoes
2 Tablespoons  butter
2 quarts chicken or vegetable stock
1/2 cup dulse flakes, kelp or raw sea salt to taste
Black pepper to taste
1 cup plain yogurt

Wash the nettles and chop coarsely.  In soup pot, saute chopped onion in olive oil until clear.  Add nettles and simmer for about 10 minutes, until limp.  Meanwhile, cut potatoes into thick slices.  Add stock to the nettles, heat & add potatoes, Dulse flakes & pepper.  Simmer on low until potatoes are soft.  Cool slightly & puree with a stick-blender.  Stir in yogurt & serve.

Copyright 2005, 2006, 2013 Sarah Preston

Moth Away Sachets

We're making the transition from Winter to Spring this week, and that means washing blankets, comforters and sweaters & putting them away for a few months.  To keep moths out of our sweaters, we use herbal Moth Away sachets - cedar shavings, lavender flowers and lemon peel.  Simple, safe, effective and good-smelling.  And we're making enough to share some with you!  

We Are Carrying the Full Line of FES Flower Essences!

I have long loved the FES flower essences, and have used them personally, as well as with clients (and the animals they live with). And for years, we have offered a limited selection of flower essences through our shop in Lancaster.  We are very excited to have the full line of 103 essences now!  Stop in and browse through them, referencing the Flower Essence Repertory for deeper insight if you like.  And if you can't come to the shop, they are all available through our web site.

Flower Essences are liquid, potentized plant preparations which convey a distinct imprint, or etheric pattern, of a specific flower.  FES Essences are made through careful orchestration of the four elements of Earth, Air, Fire and Water, as well as environmental and astronomical indications.  The blossoms are hand-collected at the precise peak of blossom in carefully selected wild habitats or in their biodynamic gardens.  They are infused with pure water that is derived from the same habitat as each flower, and made in the open, undisturbed air with the gentle fire of the morning sun. 

Let's Make... Fresh Cheese!

Let’s Make

Fresh Cheese!

Sunday, April 21, 2013, 2-4pm

In this class, Susan Hess will teach us to make fresh soft cheese with cow or goat milk and culture.  We will go through the simple processes of making a fresh cheese like Chevre’ or Fromage Blanc.  Unlike cheese that needs to be aged and carefully tended for months, fresh cheeses are ready to eat with a day and can be easily incorporated into any kitchen routine using basic kitchen equipment.

This class will be held in the home kitchen of Herbs from the Labyrinth, 1053 Wheatland Avenue in Lancaster.  You will have a chance to explore the labyrinth garden during the cheese-tasting at the end of the class.

$ 50.00, in advance for the class.  A variety of cheese-making supplies and books will also be available for purchase after the class.

To register call Radiance, 290-1517, or stop by the shop at 9 W Grant St, in downtown Lancaster, right across the cobblestones from Central Market. 

Susan Hess is a therapeutic herbalist and native weed wrangler who resides in northern Chester County, PA. Since 1997 Susan has grown a fine line of handcrafted herbal products through her business “Farm at Coventry”. She enjoys sharing her experience and knowledge through community herbal education workshops and her twelve month “Homestead Herbalism” course and teaching gardens. Her website www.FarmatCoventry.com showcases Susan’s photography as well as her herbal product line and educational offerings. In her spare time, Susan enjoys researching traditional healing methods, photography, writing, gardening, quilting and cheese-making.