Blazing Star Herbal School

Ash Basket Making

(this is a reprint of a post from my old blog "the herbal way" june 2007- due to popular request!)

 

To an ash grove we went. Selected a fast growing ash tree, 18-24 years old, and gave thanks!

We measured, scored and removed the bark. I was suprized by how cool and mucilagenous the tree was once the bark was removed. It came right off.

Then back in the shop we scored and folded (same shape/pattern as McDonalds fries) and laced up the sides with soaked hickory laces and reinforced the top. Finally we made loops to attach the straps. 

Even Zoe (then 3 1/2) made her own basket! I drilled holes in pieces of Ash Bark and she laced the soaked hickory.

 

And here is a picture of Kate Gilday at the Inkle Loom weaving straps for her basket.

This was part of a workshop taken up at Woodland Essence with Kate Gilday and Don Babineau....herbalists, basketmakers, woodsy folf extraordinnaire! 

 

The Solstice Special- 2 for 1

Here we go again! Offering quality herbal education at prices you cannot resist!

Blazing Star Herbal School offers several programs for the long distance student. Whether you are in Europe, India or the next town over you can now study herbalism through us.

Our most popular series is the :

 Do-it-Yourself Herbalism Series

                         ...practical, thrifty and fun! 

These courses are written with the homesteader in mind,  looking to integrate nourishing herbs and herbal medicines into their lifestyle to improve their health and increase their self reliance while connecting with all the land around them has to offer. 

Here's the Solstice Special, 2 of the DIY Correspondance Courses for the price of 1, Summer and Winter! Celebrate the opposite poles, the shortest day and longest day with 4 weeks of seasonal medicines and plant exploration.

 

 

Course 1

Summer Remedies and First Aid

In this hands on medicine making course the focus will be on creating  an at home first aid kit for summer maladies.  We will address the following conditions (and others):

    Topics Include:

            Cuts and scrapes

           Burns (sun and fire)

           Bug bites, (ticks, mosquitoes and bees)

           Muscle aches (Sprains/strains)

           Bleeding and Bruises

           Poison Ivy and Poison Oak rash

           Dehydration (sun poisoning) 

           Seasonal Skin Care      

           Seasonal Allergies(chronic and acute treatment plans)  

      - 4 weeks of Reading, Assignments, and    Medicine Making. 

Course 2

 Optimum Winters Health 

 Topics Include:

                       Immune System Overview

                       No Fear Flu

                       Building Immunuity

                       Cooking for Winters Health

                       Understanding Anti-Virals  and Anti-Bacterials

                        Medicine Chest of Winter Recipes

                         Supplies Lists

                     - 4 weeks of Reading, Assignments, and  Medicine Making.  

                      8 weeks of individualized at-home herbal study 

 

* Both Courses for just $150 * 

Register here

                                                                               

We also accept personal checks and money orders mailed to

Blazing Star Herbal School

Po Box 154, Ashfield MA 01330

                                                                      Happy Solstice to you all!

20 Mins of Vital Viewing interview w/Vandana Shiva

Green on Green, another way to eat Spring Greens!

Mugwort Soba! Jade Green pasta who can resist it! It is a treat! and today we topped it with another treat a green cashew creamy sauce. 

2 Cups of cashews (soaked over night)

2 Cups of Cashew soaking water

2 limes (juice)

1/2 bunch of cilantro

1 cup of basil leaves

1-2 cups of Dandelion greens

1 cup of Nettle Greens

1 cup of apple cider vinegar

A little seasalt

All together in the blender!

Put a generous helping over a generous helping of mugwort soba. (Parmesan optional) and a side of maple ginger glazed kale to balance out the greens! YUM!

 

 

 

 

The Perfect Spring Dinner!

Wild Mushroom, Ramps and Fiddlehead Rissoto!

-1/2 cup ramps, finely chopped

 - 8 ounces bacon, sliced and chopped

 - 1-2 cups of mushrooms ( we used shitake, maitake, oyster)

 - 1 cup wild greens (we used dandelion)

- 2 cups parboiled fiddleheads, coarsely chopped

- 1 bunch of scallions

- 1 tbsp olive oil

- 2 or more ounces butter

- 18 ounces arborio rice 

- 1 glass white wine

- 6 cups of chicken stock 

 - 2 ounces grated parmesan cheese

 

1) In a heavy bottomed pot, saute the ramps, mushrooms, greens, bacon and fiddleheads in the oil and butter for a few minutes

 2) Add the rice and heat for a minute or so  stirring gently to prevent burning. Add the wine and let it evaporate.

3. Cup by cup add the warmed stock and stir occasionally to prevent sticking. Keep risotto at a gentle simmer throughout the cooking. As the stock is absorbed gradually add more. Continue to add the stock as required until the rice is cooked. The risotto should be runny but not liquidy. Toward the end of this process still in the parmesan!

 

Enjoy! No photos it was eaten to fast.

 

The remaining ramps and dandelion greens were made into pesto with some basils, lemon juice and cashews! Now to get over to Whole Foods to buy some Mugwort Pasta!

 

Seaweed Love, Introducing "She Sells Seaweed" and a Giveaway!

I am a huge fan of Seaweed!. It provides us with unbeatable nourishment, medicine, beauty and an opportunity feel  so alive spending time at the ocean. My love for seaweed is not subtle for I have it tattooed all the way down my right arm! When I was at Pats Tats, in Kingston NY (BTW- she is the best tattoo artist) getting my seaweed arm she said that it is the medicine of the tattoo fan too as it helps eliminate heavy metals from the body and as much some of us herbalists love  permanent body art we all  know that the inks are not so great for us. 

You may remember last year the article that I posted by Dori Midnight, you can click here to read it again  "A note on self/community care in these uncertain times" her first recommendation was "Eat More Seaweed!" in order to protect your self from excess environmental radiation. 

I would like to introduce you to Kacie Loparto from "She Sells Seaweed"

Enriching our food culture! 

Gathering seaweed is both meditative and adventurous work that immerses one into the water element according to the cycle of the tides followed by long hours of drying and sorting under the baking sun. Drying seaweed rather than delivering fresh is much more economical because it can be done in bulk quantities and it stores well for many years. Seaweed can be easily soaked, re-hydrating the plant into a highly nutritious food- enjoy toasted as well.

When you integrate seaweed into your kitchen you are greatly enriching our food culture. Seaweed is a balancing food, and one that can be added to a daring or simple menu. 

Here are some of the wide variety of locally gathered wild edible seaweeds that Kacie offers. She has both Pacific and Atlantic seaweed in stock. 

Below you can read a short description of each seaweed. 

Bull Whip Kelp- bright green and flaky. Salty flavor with a bit of sweet from the spore patches. Great ground into a furikake mixture with sesame seeds to shake on rice, eggs, popcorn and more. 

Kombu- Sweet, smoky flavor. Best added to a pot of beans to tenderize, flavor and aid digestion. Highest in iodine. Detoxifying as a broth for miso soup. 

Sea Palm- Toast for a crispy snack- toss with roasted almonds or cashews. Soak to reconstitute and use as a noodle. Complimentary to mushroom dishes. Unique texture. 

Wakame- Soak to reconstitute. Taste reminiscent to chicken bouillon. Tasty in soups and with stir fried or steamed veggies especially carrots. High in vitamin C and calcium. 

Nori- Strong ocean flavor. Best toasted or deep fried and eaten like a chip or crumbled into a variety of dishes. High in protein. 

Dulse- Beautiful deep red hue.  Versatile. Needs minimal cooking, just add to sautéed greens and soups just at the end of cooking. Fry and eat like chip. 

See website for descriptions of Atlantic varieties.

Visit  www.shesellsseaweed.com to place an order. Try her Sea to Sea variety Pack or her Atlantic Variety Pack. Or, order bags of individual varieties.

You can check out some of these articles recipes from "she sells seaweed"

http://plantspeople.blogspot.com

She Sells Seaweed Recipes

The Energy Times Seaweed Article

 and now for the Giveaway!

 

Kacie will be sending one reader 2 oz packet of her Soup Seaweed Mix which is a flaked combination including atlantic kelp, kombu and wakame! All you have to do is leave a comment with your favorite seaweed recipe! and don't forget to wander over to She Sells Seaweed and support the amazing work that Kacie is doing harvesting amazing seaweed for us! We will choose a winner on April's New Moon Sat April 21st 2012.

 

 

* * * 

 

 

And the winner is #4 Nathalie Lewis!! Congratulations you will be sent a bag of soup mix seaweed! from She Sells Seaweed!

Thursday Plant Walks and Hikes are here!

Starting Thursday April 26 Join us for a weekly plant walk and hike exploring some of the great trails in the Hilltowns of Western MA.

Destinations and meeting times will be posted here and on our Facebook Page  (please like us if you don't already!)

Most hikes will be moderate 2-5 miles long and will start around 10ish !

Look forward to seeing you!

 

These hikes are open to anyone interested in exploring the hiking trails of Western MA and learning more about trees and plants!

Early Spring Madness! The 2 for 1 special, 1 week only!

Spring has graced us early this year, the sap has almost stopped running, there are buds on the trees and shoots beginning to poke up......It has been a week of outdoor glory.

To celebrate this I am offering a 2 for 1 special!

"Spring Tonics and Wild Foods"  and  "Summers Remedies and First Aid " 

click here for more details on the courses

8 weeks of individualized at-home herbal study 

* for just $150 * 

                                                                                 

you can sign up through paypal right or send in a check

 

(Offer Ends Tuesday March 20th Spring Equinox)

 

 

 

March Special! Spring Tonics and Wild Foods (a 4 week distance learning project)

"Spring Tonics and Wild Foods" is the 2^nd course in a series called:

 

Do-it-Yourself Herbalism Series

                         ...practical, thrifty and fun! 

A popular series for the long distance student that is ready to explore the world of Herbalism focussing on a seasonal connection.

 

Topics in the "Spring Tonics and Wild Foods" include:

Topics Include:

   Traditional Spring Tonics (Homemade Root-Beers)

   Nourishing Herbs

   Herbal Vinegars, Honeys and Syrups

   Ethical Wildcrafting

   A Wild Edibles Calendar

  Remedies that support Liver Health

          - 4 weeks of Reading, Assignments, and Medicine Making. 

               This course is offered from March 21 to May 30th 

 

And now for a limited time this course is offered for just $99 dollars! That's right friends! Just $99

                                                                                

                                         Spring Tonics and Wild Foods Course 

                                                                              

If you prefer to pay by check just email and we will get back to you!

 

 

 Join us for these herbal medicine correspondence courses and begin an adventure into the deep, magical and nourishing world of herbalism. Sign up for all three or start of with one. For more information on the rest of the DIY Distance Learning Programs click here!

 

 

 Join us for these herbal medicine correspondence courses and begin an adventure into the deep, magical and nourishing world of herbalism. Sign up for all three or start of with one.

 

February Specials! The Complete DIY Herbal Distance Learning Series! Practical, thrifty and fun!

At this time half way between the Winter Solstice and Spring Equinox, a time when we light Candles in honor of Brigid's Day,  Goddess of the sacred hearth flame and the patroness of poets, healers, and crafters.  We seek inspiration, to light the spark of passion.

So for this months Special  I offer to you the luxury of studying herbalism at home affordably and at your own pace. You will save $100! by buying these courses as a bundle!

The complete Series of DIY Herbalism , Practical, thrifty and fun! an adventure into the deep, magical and nourishing world of herbalism.

The courses:

 

Creative, Tasty  and Nourishing Medicine Making for the Beginner Student

 Optimum Winters Health

Spring Tonics and Wild Foods

 Summers Remedies and First Aid

For more info on each course click here!

Save $100! by buying these courses as a bundle!

Buying individually it would cost $700 you can now buy for just $600

Register for this deal below

If you prefer to pay by check just email and we will get back to you!