Thyme with Andrea

03/22/2024

Yesterday, I cut the grass for the first time this season and it felt good. The labyrinth really needed to be cut and the bricks exposed.

01/10/2024

This morning I’m turning to my long-standing plant ally Thyme to ward off a cold and soothe my respiratory system. For a full pot of tea, I measured six heaping teaspoonfuls into a t-sac teabag and steeped it for 15 minutes. I’ll leave the teapot on the warming burner and drink four or five cups throughout the day.

12/16/2023

Here’s my tincture of the fresh Echinacea roots. I’ll strained after it macerates for a month. I use it to support my immune system and add it to my homemade cough syrup.

12/10/2023

There’s still lots to do in the garden even in December. Last week, I dug up echinacea roots and crabgrass in the front bed and filled the wheelbarrow with grass and a basket with echinacea roots. The two have been competing for years. Since echinacea’s root medicine is strongest after four years, it was a good time to w**d and harvest. Echinacea is used to fight viral and bacterial infections and several studies have shown that it can shorten the duration of viral illnesses if taken at the onset.

08/04/2023

06/13/2023

And if only it would rain.

Life's not about waiting for the storm to pass it's about learning to dance in the rain ✨

❤️

05/03/2023

Self-care is the theme for this garden tour and labyrinth walk. Ticket includes a Lemon Balm plant, fresh tea making demo and herb walk.

04/30/2023

What do you see?

04/21/2023

We’ll be in booth 72 selling herb plants and garden products. Will you be there?

Earth Arts Fest is TOMORROW! 🌎🎨

🤔 Here's what you need to know...
-This is a "pay what you can event". We suggest $5 a person, but the amount is up to you!

-You can win a door prize! For every $5 donation, you will receive 1 ticket to enter our door prize drawing.

-This is a rain-or-shine event! Be sure to dress appropriately for the weather.

-There are timed activities! Check the schedule in advance here: https://www.annmariegarden.org/annmarie2/node/245

🛍 Here's what you need to bring...
-A reusable water bottle! We will have a water refill station available.

-Comfortable clothes and shoes! There are Try-It! Sessions of yoga, outdoor and indoor activities, and other artsy fun, so come prepared to be active.

-Bring your old books! You can donate or swap your books at our Book Swap.

-Bring your creativity!- We need your creativity to help with the art installations, crafts, and other artsy fun.

-Be ready to learn!- There are many wonderful organizations and activities with information on how to live a more sustainable and healthy life. You’ll leave enriched, empowered, and inspired to jumpstart change and practice healthier habits for you and the Earth!

It's going to be a day full of artsy fun and inspired learning! We'll see you there!

04/09/2023

The Good Earth has fresh aloe leaves in stock!

04/02/2023

This is a great opportunity to learn about the wellness services in SOMD. Look for me at The Good Earth table. I'll be sharing info on the store and my herbal consultation business.

We can’t wait for our FREE 2nd annual community event. Join us Friday April 14th from 3pm-6pm at SPICE Studio along with these other local organizations and businesses 💕

03/26/2023

This first quarter of 2023 has definitely been all about chickw**d. Here’s a photo of me in January harvesting chickw**d in a friend’s garden—he had a very early and abundant crop. As I prune and w**d, I am still finding new chickw**d plants. I harvested so much last week that I made another batch of chickw**d oil. I am grateful for my relationship with Stellaria media. Read more about it on my blog at https://ah2os.com/blog/f/getting-to-know-you-chickw**d.

03/20/2023

Love this concept: Bloom where you're planted!

Lessons from the plants...

One of the lessons that plants can teach us is about trust. How do we trust where we're at in the world right now? I think about plants, who have no choice oftentimes in where they land. And yet, wherever they land, they're going to thrive and grow the very best that they can.

May you thrive and grow where you are. 🙏🌿✨

02/22/2023

I walked the labyrinth to celebrate the New Moon in Pisces Monday and then set fire to a copy of my new moon intentions. Dropping the blazing sheet of paper on the dried asparagus stems in the burn pile, I enjoyed a small bonfire. Pisces is the last sign of the zodiac calendar and the time to dream, according to astrologers. I dreamt of an abundant harvest as the rotting plant stakes burned. What are you dreaming about this season?

02/14/2023

Here’s the finished grapeseed oil infused with fresh chickw**d. I love the olive green color! I added .5 percent of vitamin E oil as an antioxidant, labeled the jar, stored it in a cupboard away from the light and will let it settle until I’m ready to make the salve.

02/12/2023

Chickw**d is one of those herbs that is best used fresh when extracting her medicine. I use a low-heat method to infuse the oil and release as much water from the plant material as possible without burning it. The less water, the less chance of rancidity or mold. Notice how clear the grapeseed oil is at the beginning of the low-heat infusion; the oil will turn dark green when it’s ready.

02/07/2023

I harvested chickw**d (Stellaria media) in the labyrinth last week to make salve, and then sat on the front porch to garble the basketful. Garbling is a very meditative and relaxing practice of sorting through one’s herbs, fresh or dried, to remove leaves, clumps of dirt and other unwanted bits before using it.
I rinsed the chickw**d tendrils in cold water then let them wilt overnight to reduce their water content before infusing the chickw**d in grapeseed oil.
A few choices pieces were added to a salad since chickw**d is high in nutrients including calcium, phosphorous, magnesium, potassium and vitamins A and C.