Author: Amelia
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How to Eat When You’re Poor
I’ve been poor for a long time. We’re doing fairly well for ourselves right now, despite having a mountain of debt, but about seven years ago I literally had about $200 in savings and a car and some personal belongings. After my first season on the farm where I interned, I couldn’t find a better…
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Favorite Herb This Week: Black Birch!
Black Birch (betula lenta) is definitely one of my Top Ten favorite herbs of all time. And luckily for me, it’s ALL OVER the place here in Northeastern Connecticut! Black birch and it’s brother, White birch (also known as the Paper Birch) can pretty much be used interchangeably medicinally speaking, so I have been trying…
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Get out and Move!
This time of year, people are normally starting their new diets and worrying about the pounds they packed on from the sweets they ate over the holidays. You might think joining a gym is the answer to your problems, and sucking down veggie juice and smoothies will trim your waist down. It could work… But…
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Life Will Find a Way
As 2020 comes to a close, I want to share a few thoughts. This is mint growing INSIDE our basement. This window is up high, so this photo wasn’t easy to take. But right outside this little basement window is my first herb garden, in which I am fighting a yearly battle with spearmint taking…
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Hot Cocoa Could Be Healthier
My kids love hot cocoa. Pretty sure EVERY kid loves hot cocoa, at least in the Northern United States. But most of what I can find here in Northeast Connecticut is Swiss Miss or some other knock off brand that’s like 80% sugar and preservatives. Sure, it tastes good, but enough of it will probably…
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Herbal Experimentation
While I have had some herbalist education, listen to educational podcasts, and look through my herbal healing books on a regular basis, I do not consider myself an expert. I am more knowledgeable than most, and I continue to learn something new about herbs and the way they work every day. Part of this learning…
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Changing Your Outlook
Changing your behavior or your emotions is really hard, especially for anyone with a strong personality or psychological issues. You could be addicted to some substance and having a hell of a time quitting, you could have Seasonal Affective Disorder over the dark, dreary winter months, you could have lost a loved one and be…
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Steamin’ and Dreamin’
Oh man. Being sick sucks! I’ve had some kind of respiratory thing going on for over a week now, causing mucous in my sinuses to increase to disgustingly high levels. I feel like the snot troll monster from Earnest Scared Stupid. At this point, the mucous has decided to leave my sinuses alone for awhile…
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Fire Cider Time
It’s that time of year again! I was always taught that you only harvest horseradish (the key ingredient in fire cider) in months that end in an “R”, and since September was still hot and dry, I waited until early October to harvest my root crops. Unfortunately, my attempt at growing ginger this year was…
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Giant Squash 2020!
I just had to make a quick post about this. I am SO bummed that all the fairs were cancelled this year because LOOK WHAT I GREW! I think Boston Marrow winter squash are just the coolest. I have NEVER grown one this big before though. 42.4 lbs of pure enormous food! I can’t wait…