HedgeRing Herbal

08/17/2025

Keep kids entertained with a DIY that will encourage summer reading, and possibly even drum up some excitement about back-to-school season!

✂️ Supplies:
- Fresh, non-toxic botanicals
- Paper towels or wax paper
- Cardboard & heavy books (or a flower press)
- Bookmark base (Heavy cardstock works best!)
- Mod Podge or clear glue
- Paintbrush or sponge brush
- Ribbon

🔖 Instructions:
Collect a handful of herbs, plants, and flowers.

Then, press them between two pieces of wax paper or paper towels using a few heavy books as a weight on top. They should be dried and fully flat in about a week.

Once they’re ready, arrange and glue them onto a heavy cardstock bookmark and seal with Mod Podge.

Optional: Hole punch the top and add a ribbon for a lovely flair.

06/26/2024

Lightning bugs are a magical part of summer. But that magic is fading... many species are endangered. It's believed that light pollution, human development/habitat loss, overuse of pesticides and climate change are to blame. So, let's all do our part to preserve these amazing little creatures!

1. Turn off outdoor lights and close blinds or curtains at night. Light pollution affects mating. If you must have an outdoor light, consider a motion activated light or a warm-colored LED bulb/bug lite bulb.

2. Leave the logs. Some firefly larvae need rotten logs and other tree litter.

3. Add a water feature such as a small fountain or pond. Fireflies thrive around water. Treated swimming pools don't count. Lightning bugs feed off smaller insects and snails that do not exist around chlorinated water.

4. Avoid lawn chemicals and pesticides: these affect firefly larvae and the insects they eat. Fireflies consume pesty insects, so by protecting fireflies, we reduce pests.

5. Mow less: Lightning bugs spend their days in the grass and frequent mowing may disrupts the population. Consider creating a small prairie or section of long native grasses into your landscape.

6. Plant native trees. Pines are especially beneficial to fireflies.

01/01/2024

01/01/2024

01/01/2024

Happy New Years Eve!

Remember, your thoughts are like the architects of your reality. In the coming year, let's consciously choose thoughts that align with our highest vision, dreams, and the limitless potential within.

🌍💙

01/01/2024

From all of us at SAF - we are wishing you a very Merry Christmas ♡

09/11/2023

07/29/2023

10/03/2022

Canadian grocery store grows its own organic veggies on rooftop: https://returntonow.net/2021/06/18/canadian-grocery-store-grows-its-own-organic-veggies-on-rooftop/

09/20/2022

I found this small Mullen plant hiding in the grass in Vermont. Had apparently the intention to grow, however it is clear from the cut leaves, growth is a challenge in this place and time. Perhaps it will grow again next year, adding another crown of leaves as it pushes its roots down deep.
Most of us see this creature in bloom along side the road. It’s tall central spike full of yellow flowers. These spikes stay tall and turn brown.
The mid summer flowers, however, macerated in olive oil and garlic make a good ear tonic for earache in the winter.
The fuzzy leaves can be collected and dried. As a smudge, will open up lungs that are tightly congested. It doesn’t last long, but then, the purpose is to open the way for more profound healing. And another smudge can easily be made. Another nudge to determine why your breath is hard to move.
The root, harvested in winter, I am told is effective for back pain. The whole structure of the plant from root to crown imitating a backbone.
The large dried wands of Mullen can be dipped in wax and used to light the way.
But this wee creature is in the middle of a mown walkway near Chester, Vermont. She is considering whether she will stay or move to a place where she can grow and bloom freely.

09/20/2022

Good Morning! Sharing an incredible trip to pick up and process organic elderberries.