Introduction to Permaculture

A two-evening course with Benjamin Weiss
Thursday January 14th & Thursday January 21st, 2010
6:30pm-8:45pm

Cost: Sliding scale of $35-$50

This 4 hour course will introduce the student to the history of the permaculture movement, offer valuable resources and connections to the community of practitioners, and present the basic framework of ethics and design principles that are the foundation of this system. Each student will have the opportunity to envision a “permaculture remodeling” of a familiar site. Students will also receive a packet of applicable information to help start them off on small permaculture designs and installations.

This is course is often cited as a prerequisite to the 72 hour Permaculture Design Certification Course.

Benjamin Weiss is an organic farmer, environmental activist, and a certified Permaculture Designer and Teacher. He has studied at The Farm Ecovillage Training Center in Tennessee, Growing Power in Wisconsin, and The Central Rocky Mountain Permaculture Institute in Colorado.

Permaculture is a sustainable design system. It is based upon a structure of ethics and design principles that have been developed organically through 35 years of experimentation, consultation, and good-natured exchange by practitioners from around the world. As a unique and highly integrated collection of disciplines, permaculture allows the designer to implement a system that supports itself, that yields resources for the surrounding community, that offers healthy alternatives to industrialization, that sustains biodiversity and nourishes the natural environment.
Permaculture can be applied to a garden, a building, a home, an organization, a farm, a city, or an entire civilization. Although the system was originally created for the purpose of designing sustainable agricultural sites, hence the name “permanent agriculture,” the insight of millions of permaculturists has skillfully transformed this system into one capable of building sustainable societies, or “permanent culture.”

Class will be held at Radiance, 9 W Grant St, Lancaster, PA 17603
Call 717-290-1517, or stop by to register.

New Product - Yarrow Mist!

For a couple of years, I've been making a Yarrow Mist as a special order for a regular customer - she says it's the only thing that's ever really helped with her acne. So, I started thinking. I LOVE Yarrow. When I studied with Matthew Wood, he taught us that Yarrow is for healing deep wounds, "cuts to the bone". This works on the physical level, and also on the spiritual plane.

Yarrow is used for spiritual protection, as well, forming a "shield" around the user. Great for public speakers, and anyone else who works with groups of people. Gives protection from environmental and workplace toxins. Actually, it's wonderful for anyone who is working at maintaining healthy boundaries.

Spray some over your head and let the mist fall around you. Feel it bolstering the strength of your aura's edges and allowing deep healing to occur.

Also a great facial astringent for oily skin. Ingredients are distilled water infused with yarrow and witch hazel, alcohol, Yarrow flower essence and essential oil. 4 oz cobalt mist bottle is only $9.95!

Wildcrafted Wreaths!

Last year at about this time, David Hofmann walked into the shop with some handmade wreaths, made with wild grapevine and bittersweet vine that he'd wildcrafted & other fresh greens. They were stunning. I bought one for my house. After the greens dried out, I took them out of the bittersweet vine wreath & added other seasonal decorations all year long. The basic wreath is still going strong.

David lives in the mountains in Virginia & has family in Lancaster. So, when he appeared last week for his annual visit & wondered if we'd be interested in some wreaths, I jumped at the chance. He brought 6 in this morning & will bring some more tomorrow morning. We're selling them for $25 each, so I'm sure they won't be here for long.

**Update: David brought in 10 more wreaths! Gorgeous!

Hurry in! They're going fast.

New Herb-A-Licious Cooking Blend

For the past couple of months, I've been working on a salt-free herbal cooking blend, testing & tweaking. As part of the process, I've given bags of each variation to all sorts of people to test for me. Today, Herb-A-Licious makes its public debut! You can see the display we've put in the corner of the shop, and you can shop for some on the web site. Each packet comes with a stainless steel mini-whisk. The delicious blend includes all organic herbs. Minced garlic, minced onion, parsley, Mediterrean oregano, rosemary, thyme, basil, sage and a pinch of cayenne. It's wonderful as a seasoning for poultry, meats, soups and sauces. It's also incredible in dips and salad dressings. Recipes are on the label. It might just become your new favorite spice blend - it's already mine! All this and no salt!

Cailleach Soup

I go through periods of inspired cooking. Fortunately for everyone around me, I am in one of those spells now. Often a new cookbook is the inspiration for my cooking enthusiasm, and when coupled with the changing of the seasons, well ... the cookbook that has me enthralled at the moment is Witch in the Kitchen by Cait Johnson. It's organized by the 8 seasons of the pre-Celtic year, and is full of good recipes made with healthful, whole ingredients. I recommend it highly!

Earlier this week, I made a soup based on a recipe Cait calls Cailleach Soup, a play on words for Kale Leek Soup. The recipe looked a little thin to me, so I added potatoes, and it was perfect.

First, a little about The Cailleach. Mara Freeman writes:

A Dark Goddess of nature, particularly in Scotland, is the Cailleach, a name that came to mean “Old Wife”, but which is literally, “Veiled One,” an epithet often applied to those who belong to hidden worlds. To this name is often added Bheur: ‘sharp’ or ‘shrill’, for she personifies the cutting winds and harshness of the northern winter. She was also known as the daughter of Grianan, the “little sun” which in the old Scottish calendar shines from Hallowmas to Candlemas, followed by the “big sun” of the summer months.

So, you see the timing for this soup is actually divine. Perhaps a perfect offering soup to the spirits of our ancestors. Now, here's the recipe:

In a heavy soup pot, heat 1 Tbsp olive oil & 1 Tbsp butter.

Add 3 leeks, white parts only, washed well to remove grit, sliced into 1/2-inch rounds.

Next add 2 cloves of garlic, chopped.

Wash and coarsely chop a bunch of kale. I used a ruffled red variety. Add to pot.

Wash & cut into bite-size pieces 5 new potatoes. Add these to the pot, too.

Finally, add a quart of vegetable stock and a quart of water.

Simmer until everything is tender. Season with some nice Celtic sea salt & serve!

New Antiseptic Spray

For years, I made an antiseptic spray to use on my own work surfaces when I was making herbal products. The formula changed a little every time I made it, depending on what was closest at hand in the moment. If someone in my household was ill, I'd use the spray when cleaning the sickroom and bathroom. Then last year, a friend asked me to make something for her to take with her on an airplane. And, recently several teachers asked for something to use in their classrooms. It seems that everyone is more "germ conscious" this year. This spray includes several essential oils well-known as antiseptics, including thyme, sage, and ravensara. It is available in 3 sizes; 4 oz, 2 oz and the 1/2 oz travel size. You can purchase it for yourself on my web site or in the shop!

Sarah's Spectacular Oatmeal

I make this extra-healthy oatmeal 3 or 4 times a week from Autumn through Spring. I include lots of cinnamon to support healthy cholesterol levels, and dried fruit for extra anti-oxidants. My grandmother would have said that this breakfast will "stick to your ribs", keeping you satified and warm all morning long. Often, people ask for the recipe, so I thought I'd post it here with photos taken yesterday morning!

In a heavy pot, put:
3 Cups of water
1/2 teaspoon of sea salt (I use Celtic Gray for the high mineral content)
2 Tablespoons of Coconut oil (medium-chain fatty acid)
2 Tablespoons of ground cinnamon (for cholesterol management) and
1 teaspoon of ground Cardamom (supports a healthy colon & protects against cancer)

Yes, that's 2 TABLESPOONS of ground cinnamon! I put the ground herbs into the water so that they are absorbed into the oatmeal as it cooks, allowing much more cinnamon & cardamom into each bowl. Imagine sprinkling a Tablespoon of cinnamon onto your already cooked cereal - yuck,too much powder. This way, you can actually ingest a large enough amount to make a real health difference. Bring this to a low boil, stirring to dissolve the herbs.

Coconut oil boils at a lower temperature than water, so you will be able to begin adding the oats a little earlier than if you were using just water. Stirring constantly, slowly add 3/4 Cup of Scottish Oats, sprinkling and incorporating a little bit at a time so that no lumps form. Reduce heat to medium.

Add 1/2 Cup raisins or other dried fruit. Blueberries, cranberries and cherries are all very nice. You can use apricots, figs or prunes, but you'll need to cut them into smaller pieces first. Core an apple, chop it up and add that to the pot.
Cook at a low boil, stirring occassionally (every minute or so)until all of the liquid is absorbed. This will take about 15 minutes. Once all of the liquid is absorbed, the oatmeal will form a soft ball in the pot. The Coconut oil has the added benefit of encouraging the cereal not to stick to the pot, making clean-up easier! Spoon into bowls, top with walnut pieces, maple syrup and milk. Heavenly! Serves 2-4.