We have had an unusually warm November. Many of my plants can still be harvested. Juniper, rue, lavender, marigold, sage, mugwort, motherwort, oregano, mint, nettles, feverfew, horehound and hyssop. Plants that are resinous, unwanted, strong of taste, or high in essential oils that are still hanging on as we approach winter, Many of these herbs have a strong energy and are common in many cultures for healing at the spiritual level. Work you resort to when nothing else has helped. I often use them as in formulas for incense, ritual powders, liniments, and special oils. Other than sage butter or (condiment) or tempura, I don’t use sage much in cooking. I was delighted to find a desert recipe that called for fresh sage. Bonus in that it used up some of our bumper crop of pears that we had in storage.
Gluten Free Pear, Sage, and Hazelnut Bread
WET INGREDIENTS
2 TBSP of walnut oil
2TBSP of Sage Butter
1 tsp of almond extract
1 TBSP of rice syrup
1 cup of milk or substitute
2 eggs lightly beaten
2 cups of shredded pear
DRY INGREDIENTS
1 cup of almond flour
1 cup of brown rice flour
1 cup of buckwheat flour
2 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp baking soda
1/4 tsp smoked salt
1/2 tsp ground cardamon
1 cup of toasted hazelnuts, skins removed and cut in half (best you can)
3/4 cup of rolled oats
line and oil a round springform pan
preheat oven to 350
mix wet ingredients in one bowl, dry in another. Add dry to wet bowl. Stir until well combined
bake one hour or until a toothpick comes out clean when inserted.
Sage is a shrubby perennial that is native to Europe. It grows well and overwinters even in my climate. In any garden that I have had it establishes itself as a “mother plant”. The stems are square, woody, long, finely haired and often leggy. With time and age my plants become less attractive but more productive in leaves. This herb can be sensitive. If you offend it, neglect it, damage it when harvesting-you may not see it the following year. The downy, oval shaped, crenated, opposite arranged leaves have a “sage” green color. The flowers are purple (sometimes white) tube shaped, two lipped, and grow widely spaced on terminal racemes. High in aromatic essential oils and botanical features clearly place it in the mint family.
Salvia is thought to be good for stress, depression, vertigo, hot flashes, digestive issues, gas, diarrhea, headaches, flu, congestion, menstrual problems, arthritis pain, blood clots, fever, and staph infections. She is a wonderful gargle for laryngitis, gum disease, bad breath, and sore throats. If you need to clear phlegm in any organ this plant is a good choice. As a bath Sage has been used externally to address eczema, insect bites, wounds, acne, rashes, and poison ivy/oak, dandruff, and vaginal discharge. There is a long history of using this plant as a symbol of wisdom, clarity, longevity, purification and protection. I like hanging bundles of the fresh herb in my house, washing the floors with the tea, or burning dried leaves to clean out energy from a space.
Parts used: Leaves
Energetics:bitter, dry, pungent, warming
Element:air
Spiritual/Emotional Uses-to remove negative energy, disturbances and bad luck. Helpful when one is struggling with the natural process of aging.
Contraindications:Large does in pregnancy. Do not use while nursing as it may dry up your milk supply. Do not use in therapeutic doses long term.
Blackbird's Backyard Pharmacy 