Foraging Friends Inc.

09/04/2025

happy that the Bees are still here and are busy feasting, and pollinating so we can all exist. in Nature. Pure

09/03/2025

On behalf of all the flying insects and , I want to THANK those of you who were committed to not spraying pesticide. They continue on and we can too, Knowing we can breathe a little better and have !😘🙏🏾

09/02/2025

Hello Foraging Friends,
I am adding photos to the newsletter for Autumn and if you’d like to share any photos with Foraging Friends in the newsletter. It can be about what you foraged and how you use it. Share your experiences. PM me with your small JPEG photos and any info you’d like to share. After filling out a waiver, I’ll add it to the appropriate  sections.

Be mindful of the critters when you harvest
Thank you.

08/24/2025

Here’s an opportunity to get more confident with Mushrooms.

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1C3TZMb8LK/

Join Brian Scott of Deep Hollow Forest Farm for a Mushroom Hike at Detweiler Park to learn more about its unique fungi! 🍄🍄‍🟫

Sun. Sept. 7 | 1PM - 3PM
Cost: $2 per participant
Register at https://bit.ly/4fwTzzV

08/19/2025

Hello hello Foraging friends,
Cooling plant number three…

Lemon balm- Melissa officinalis. The first time I heard the scientific name I knew I’d recall it. Maybe because it sounds melodic. 🤷🏾‍♀️
It is the first herb I grew successfully in the juglong soil that I am blessed with. 😁

What are the key components? and, Citronellel with these two being first, gives way to knowing nothing is a mistake, all the plants…no matter if you like them or not. All is on purpose. They have a purpose, an open mind will help us all gain so much understanding. Seriously!
Anyway citral is the compound found in plants that have the lemony smell like, lemon grass for instance. has the lemony scent that also repels insects.. well maybe not enough to deter spiders 🕷️ I rarely find anything else troubling lemon balm.
It doesn’t stop me from brushing my hand across her bushy leaves just to get a whiff of those lemony compounds. All is well after that.
Other components are tannins, bitters, , vitamin C which is why this relative of the mint family doesn’t block or inhibit iron, , , catechin( this type of flavonoid has antioxidants) resin, and other flavonoids.

✋ ; It’s a inhibitor. Consult your practitioner if you have hypothyroidism or low thyroid activity.

The actions when having in teas or infusing are relaxing of the nervous system. After a day of pushing and pulling to accomplish our living. Reach for lemon balm fresh or dried.
Just like mint it is calming to the digestive system as well.

… lemon balm.
and … lemon balm.
and …lemon balm.

Rosemary Gladstar says” Lemon balm makes one of the sweetest tincture”

I made a ginger and lemon balm tincture with a few calendula. When I tell you on the 4 week it smelled so sweet and delightful! I forgot I had used 80 proof vodka and had to pour it back and wait two more weeks!

I want to try glycerine and I will start with lemon balm. Even though glycerine is still alcohol. Maybe I’ll add with calendula, rose hips and something else. 🤷🏾‍♀️ who knows! When your feeling blah due to flu or cold a couple drops and you’ll feel the mind release it’s grip so you can sleep. Especially if you remember you have it in your apothecary.

As with all food and medicine don’t overdo it, here there but not everywhere! 🙂‍↔️ Everything in moderation. Or it is said to have the reverse effect.

I love the ability to use herbs as I or my family will consume them and how our solar energy home runs.
Such as having lemon balm in a fruit bowl 🥣, in coconut smoothies, as 🫖 or vinegars works well for us.

If you have , I hope this post encourages you to do more with it. If you don’t have lemon balm as someone who couldn’t grow mint and was teased about not having a green thumb. Study and learn about lemon balm and your environment. Then give it a go.
I would rather have tons of lemon balm than cannabis anyday.

08/17/2025

Thank you to everyone who shared, liked and commented on the content I post lately 🙏🏾😊. I highly appreciate you spreading the love and knowledge about Foraging👏🏾🙌🏾.
If you live in the Shamokin area and surrounding areas of PA, consider joining The Foraging Friends community group🎉
I also accept people I have met. Just remind me in the Q&A.

08/12/2025

The beautiful flowers 🌺 🌺 of the became a symbol of Hope to African enslaved ancestors because hibiscus was originally from Africa. Having this familiar bush was symbolic of home and freedom.

08/12/2025

Hello Foraging Friends,
Let’s continue our Series of cooling plants to forage on the trails or in your own back yard /garden, which was the case last week, when I was invited to forage Hibiscus @ SusanWard’s, of Community Gardens and Far Better Together. She also tasted the tea for the first time! Thank you Susan for your willingness to try it and being such a generous hostess sharing your garden with me. I hope you enjoy the lemon balm and other plant, I foraged from my garden as well. That’s what Foraging Friends are for🎶

Let me tell you a little about Hibiscus.
, the flowers vary from round to heart shaped, it can show several colors Yellow, Orange, Pink, Red and Mauve and mixes of these. In the picture below is an ornamental one that has double petals (photo by me at Mother Cabrini)
The leaves are oval or lanceolote, which means similar to a spear head. They have Fussy feeling.
The stems are green, some have purplish streaks, hollow and fussy similar to the leaves.
Let’s not forget the environment and habitat, which can be bushy, bramble or tree like.

In the African , The beautiful medicinal flower bush became a symbol of Hope to enslaved ancestors because hibiscus was originally from Africa. Having this familiar bush was symbolic of home and freedom.

Hibiscus is also one of the beverages served on because of its red color(symbolizing the blood of enslaved ancestors and the cost of their freedom).

The enslavers called it Guinea Sorrel Naming the place of origin. Guinea being the name they gave Africa.

Because of its native habitat, loves tropical weather and we get a bit of that here in July - August. But the plant goes dormant here in the Winter.

In depending on the areas, tea ceremonies look different than here in the US. There is a lot of time set aside and purpose to some tea ceremonies, depending on which part of Africa is represented.
Imagine if you’re invited to a friend’s house and time stands still. There is no hurry or rush to be anywhere else. This is a key practice with medicinal teas. You must slow down and set intentions, offer a prayer, less the automatic situation plays on in the body and mind. Not addressing the root issue. Stress maybe Diet. Forgive. Relax 😌 and enjoy fellowship and the property does the work.

Lastly there have been Clinical trials that give the particulars about how Hibiscus can help manage prehypertension and mild hypertension.
(https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0378874198001573 #:~:text=sabdariffa%20tisane%20(hibiscus%20tea)%20consumption,for%20people%20with%20these%20conditions.)

Considering you have none of the contraindications with hibiscus it is a lovely tea. Consult with your physician or herbal practitioner and know of any allergies and do your own research for your individual needs.

https://www.seriouseats.com/hibiscus-african-diaspr

The hibiscus flower, the key ingredient in sorrel, evokes a legacy of joy and survival. This feature tells the story of the history of hibiscus drinks in the African diaspora.