blackbirdsbackyard

Herbal Calamine “Lotion” (chamomile)

The weather is just starting to get nice. Plants and insects are making their appearance to coincide with more time spent outdoors. It is good to be prepared for things like bug bites/stings, poison ivy/oak, acne, boils, and itchy rashes of all kinds. This lotion contains ingredients to soothe, heal, draw out, prevent infection, andContinue reading “Herbal Calamine “Lotion” (chamomile)”

Salmoriglio (Oregano)

What is salmoriglio? Is is a condiment from Italy that is used as a marinade or sauce. Thinned it can be used in a dressing, thickened it can be used more like pesto. The base is olive oil, lemon juice, salt, garlic and fresh herbs. It can be used to tenderize meats/seafood/protein before grilling, toContinue reading “Salmoriglio (Oregano)”

Hops Culinary Oil

Last summer I harvested a bumper crop of hops. I was never a fan of this herb until I grew my own. My dried hops is nothing like what I have purchased in a store or on-line. Because I timed the harvest just right and dried the cones properly, I ended up with a productContinue reading “Hops Culinary Oil”

Using Card Decks to Study Herbal Medicine

I bought my first oracle/tarot deck when I was 12 years old. This coincided with when I planted my first backyard herb garden. I wrote my own tarot card book in my 20’s. Did the entire Major Arcana and some of the Minor Arcana as photographs for an exhibition in college. Doing readings for myselfContinue reading “Using Card Decks to Study Herbal Medicine”

Green Bean Salad with DILL

It feels like spring when asparagus or green bean are fresh and plentiful in the grocery stores. If you live in a climate where dill overwinters or you have a “mother” plant that has come back once again in even greater size and glory, you might have something to harvest now. Let this post inspireContinue reading “Green Bean Salad with DILL”