The bee colonies continue to collapse across our nation, and our hive was no exception.  But the good thing is that I can make salves.  I had an exceptional amount of lemon balm this summer, and made tincture and infused olive oil.  Lemonbalm, like so many herbs, is wonderful for the skin.  

It makes me laugh when you listen to foragers talk about the benefits of these plants many have referred to as weeds, because they are cure-alls.  Especially when it comes to skin conditions.  Now think about the number of ads you see on TV about ecsema and psoriasis, and so many other unsightly skin conditions.  Well these weeds cure them all!

So I had a great time making salves with our bees wax.  One part infused olive oil, one part coconut oil, and a few grams of beeswax to give it the right consistency. It is so amazing, I experimented with every scent I could imagine.

But I think, the lip balm is the best of all.  Have you ever looked at the list of toxins in your average tube of lip balm.  Yuck.

Hope to make some with the kids at our new location this summer at the Art Garage. 

I love February because it means I get to start planting again.  I love to start with potato chits that I have saved from the year before.  When you grow potatoes, there are lots of these little ones that become seed potatoes.  No need to buy seed, just put the little dudes in an egg carton in a dark cool area and then in February you are ready to go!

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We made it through 2025, and it was filled with lots of ups and downs.  It looks like we will be moving to a new location in the new year, and so we will be bringing new garden boxes with us on the journey.  

This new location, Anaprana Healing Studio is focused on healing body, mind and spirit. What is more healing to the body, mind and spirit than nature?

Our programming will come full circle with greater focus on our roots.  The Art Garage!  OK, that may not have much to do with our gardening world, except that there are so many ways we connect artistic activities with nature.  

All I know is I am excited for what this new year will bring.  

These little guys are raring to go.  Our first Zinnea seeds have been planted.  A little leggy at the moment.  Hopefully they will fill out.  These were saved from the plants in front of the Community House on Sheridan, and so they have a little warm spot in my heart.  Like taking a bit of the life that place shared with the community into our new (old) location.  

Life is like that.  One place may be torn down, and paved over, but the seeds can travel, sometimes far and wide.  Remember, one dandelion stem contains over 100 seeds.  Those seeds can fly far and wide.  So remember, you may think your impact is insignificant, but remember the dandelion. So under-rated.  This plant is a medicinal and nutritional giant.  

​We love the underdog here at the Community House.  Hooray for the Dandelions!

My stomach has been all jacked up lately, and I am ready to do a juice fast. I need to get my gut microbiome in order. Probiotics are my friend.  Plants also need probiotics to help them stave off disease and molds. So, I am going to try and make my own Lactobacillus for our plants this year. 

We have used neem oil in the past, but either I didn't do it right, or we got to the plants too late.  The lactobacillus can be applied twice a week just adding it to their water, and if mold and disease starts to break out, spraying it on the leaves. 

Since we are also considering a greenhouse soon, the practice of making and using probiotics will be that much more critical.  

I am paritcularly sensitive to molds, and so what good is it to try to eat healthy fruits and veggies when you are also consuming large quanitites of mold.

Step 1.  Rice Starch Water.
To prepare this, simply add 4 cups of water to 2 cups of rice and stir.  I did this for about 5 minutes, stirring on and off.  This gave me a nice milky liquid which I strained off.  Then keep the liquid in a cool dark place, covered with a cloth so it can breathe, and let the bacteria chow down on the yummy starch.  

​More will be revealed, when we come back with step 2.  

During these long winter nights the anticipation mounts.  Only another month and we will start to sow our seedlings.  I really can't wait.  Last year we planted some Zinneas and so I collected hundreds of seeds from the flowerheads.  

We finally completed the Revised Mission Statement for 2025 and one of the new items on the agenda is our Neighbor In Need program. This was in fact inspired from our New Year's Day event when we shared what we wanted to create in 2025.  Kev said he wanted to help beautify the neighborhood by helping people with their lawns.  

Something lit a spark!  Absolutely.  It was so disheartening to have to leave behind our beautiful community garden at the 2223 house, but we can spread some of the love and garden boxes around to our neighbors.  Starting with helping with lawncare, we can also encourage those who want to, to plant some flowers and even veggies.

I am so excited, I can hardly wait to get my seedlings going.  Funny enough, we already have one volunteer tomato who had popped up in an old planter.  I am not sure what I was trying to grow in there, but I know it wasn't a tomato.  Anyway, we will see if this early bird will make it to spring.

One thing I know for sure, if my Zinnea seeds are good, 2025 will be the year of a Zillion Zinneas!

Goldenrod is so ubiquitous you would never believe how magical this plant truly is.  It flowers in late summer, and the beginning of fall and so is a perfect end of the year harvest.  Both the flowers and the leaves are a great antioxidant, diuretic and astringent.  It has been shown to be beneficial in treating Urinary Tract Infections, which I can attest, are extremely painful.  

Instead of sitting and drinking endless amounts of cranberry juice, why not brew a strong cup of goldenrod tea? 

Collect both leaves and stems.  If you are using them right away you can make your tea with fresh leaves and flowers, no need to dehydrate them.  However, if you want to make sure you have some on hand for when winter hits, or even next summer, rinse them and put them in the dehydrator.  Once dry, crumble the flowers into a jar.  You won't believe the incredible spicy and delicious odor these blooms produce. 

Keep them in your cupboard out of the sun, and use when needed.

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Most people know about sassafras root.  That is because it makes a delicious tea or "rootbeer".  But you can also harvest and use the leaves.  The leaves when dried and ground into a seasoning called File.  The create the distinctive flavor of cajun dishes.

What I love most about the Sassafras trees is how beautiful their leaves are in the fall.  I harvested these leaves a little early, but as you can see some are already turning bright red. 
The fragrance of the leaves is like a lemony, earthy smell, it is best to add just before serving to avoid bitterness.

Fresh or dried sassafras leaves can be brewed into a tea. Sassafras leaves were used by Native Americans and early settlers for their anti-inflammatory and diuretic properties. A poultice made from crushed leaves was traditionally applied to wounds or insect bites to soothe irritation and reduce swelling.

When brewed as a tea, the leaves were used to aid digestion and alleviate symptoms of colds or fevers. While the root bark and oil of sassafras contain safrole, a compound with known health risks, the leaves contain significantly lower levels, making them a safer option for occasional use.

If you’re foraging for sassafras leaves, look for the tree’s distinctive three-lobed, mitten-shaped, or oval leaves. Harvest them in spring or early summer when they are young and tender for the best flavor and medicinal potency. Wash the leaves thoroughly, and if making filé powder, dry them completely in a single layer before grinding them into a powder.

Bees Galore.  Our new hives are doing great, and I couldn't help but take time to enjoy watching them buzzing all around these purple sage flowers.  I have had sage in my garden for years, but this is the first time I have seen it bloom.  What a wonderful experience.  Nature never ceases to amaze me.

​Sage is an amazing plant, it is actually part of the mint family. The word Sage comes from the Latin word “salvare” (“to heal”).  Medicinally, sage has calming properties.  Great in teas, it can help to reduce stress and promote relaxation. It is also good for enhancing memory and focus. Sage has anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties, and can soothe sore throats, aid digestion, and even alleviate menopausal symptoms like hot flashes. Its flowers, like the leaves can be eaten in salads or used as a spice.

Sage also seems to have special spiritual significance.  Historically Sage symbolized wisdom, clarity, and purification. When we think of a wise person, we think of a sage.  Think about how people also use sage in purifying their house through smudging.  

Sage really is amazing!

I love my sage.  It comes back year after year and unlike so many other perrenials, it survives despite my not so green thumb. 

As my bees attest, Sage is also a great pollinator.