Winter Sunshine...

Sunshine Tea-- In sickness and in health. I formulated this tea for my grandchildren as a substitute for soda drinks and that stuff with red dye! They love it. I always think I’ve made plenty and I always run out. These ingredient descriptions will give you an idea why my Sunshine Tea is a favorite with aduls and children.

INGREDIENTS:
Catnip Nepeta cataria

Catnip is a bushy herb native to Europe but now very common in America and Canada. It's name reflects the inability of cats to resist its aroma. Our kitty, Professor April McGonnagal, loves it when it's time to harvest the catnip! I grow plenty--enough for me and the neighborhood cats. For the feline population catnip elicits feelings ranging from frisky to euphoria and may include sexual stimulation. In many parts of the world it is used as bait to trap wild cats. It has the opposite effect on humans giving us that wonderful alert calmness. The essential oil sesquiterpee lactones is chemically similar to those found in valarian root which is also a sedative herb. Traditionally catnip has been used for insomnia, indigestion, nervousness, flatulence, coughs, colds and fever. High in potassium, it helps to replace valuable minerals lost in sweating during exercise or fever. Catnip/mint tastes mild and is safe for children.

German Chamomile Matricaria recutia

Chamomile was one of the best known herbs during the Middle Ages its use common and widespread. Native to Eurasia, Egyptians revered its curative powers and dedicated it to their gods. Today it is widely cultivated and with its little sunshine-like flowers that have a mild apple taste it is the most popular tea flavor in the world. Aside from its use as a medicinal herb, it is also used as flavoring in a variety of foods and alcoholic beverages such as vermouth, in hair products and used as a hair colorant. Chamomile is studied extensively and most of its folk uses have been chemically verified. Chamomile is anti-inflammatory, anti-septic, anti-spasmodic, anti-thrombotic, anti-bacterial and anti-fungal especially against gram positive (staph) and candida. It is an excellent nervine and carminative (good for those nasty tummy upsets). Chamomile has a wide nutritional profile: is very high in niacin, high in magnesium, phosphorus, riboflavin and also contains vitamins A and C. I love to stroll through my chamomile bed just to smell it. Chamomile is safe for children. Caution if you suffer seasonal allergies.

Lemon Balm Melissa officinalis

Definitely one of my favorites, I grow massive amounts of Lemon Balm. Its lemony fragrance and taste lends itself to many applications in culinary circles. Lemon Balms carminative and anti-spasmodic qualities relieves digestive spasms and flatulence. It's wonderful for the nervous system relieving stress reactions and tension and is one of my best herbs for anxiety induced migraines, insomnia and palpitations. It works almost magically between the digestive tract and the nervous system calming both in tandem. Its diaphoretic action makes it an excellent choice during cold and flu fevers. Lemon Balm causes mild vasodialation so is good for helping lower blood pressure.

Sunshine Tea or the individual herbs can be prepared hot or cold. ICED: Pour one quart of boiling water over 3 Tablespoons herb(s), steep covered for 10-15minutes. Add lemon and/or honey to taste. I cut up a whole lemon in the pitcher…yummm. HOT: Especially good this time of year and wonderful just before bedtime. 1 tsp per cup hot water, steep 3-4 minutes covered. Add lemon and/or honey to taste. If you must use sugar, please don’t use the white processed kind.

My herbs are grown with no herbicides, pesticides or chemicals of any kind.
Sunshine Tea is available at www.GBHfarm.com

Herb Garden

Well, my poison ivy has at last run its course. Still red. Still itchy. But, not spreading and not blistering. There have been SO many folks at market with pi or know someone who has it. One customer said her doctor has encountered more pi cases this spring than in his entire career. My neighbors both have pi yet they have none in their yard. The conservation commission says the urushiol oil is getter much stronger and by observation, I see it is getting much more proliferate. A fellow farmer at market said her husband took their backhoe and scooped up an entire load of pi where none had been last year. So, BEWARE!

Take a look at some of the herbs growing here at GBH Farm.

Valerian

Valeriana officinalis

--isn't she beautiful? This plant is two years old and stands as tall as I do boasting her queenly status to the entire garden. I tincture the root (www.GBHfarm.com )for its famous nervine and antispasmodic qualities. Valerian is the first herb ever recommended to me by my first herbalist many years ago. I can still feel the remarkable effect it had on my female system.

Burdock

Artium lappa

Beautiful, luscious GIANT leaves. This photograph was taken last week and already the leaves are considerably larger. I will make tincture from first year roots this fall that I use to draw out fliuds--any fluids--such as sweat, urine, even menstrual flow. Burdock is great in salves for drawing out inflammation and infection. The roots are good in the spring for soup, but I don't dig any as I want to save them for medicine. Burdock root is a nourishing tonic and supplies optimum nutrition to our immune and glandular systems...it's good for so many things is it any wonder I cultivate this "wild weed" in my herb garden.

Lemon Balm

Melissa officinalis

One of my staple herbs, lemon balm smells heavenly! I use copious amounts of Melissa in my tinctures, teas and cosmetic preparations. I formulated Sunshine Ti (available at www.GBHfarm.com) especially for my grandchildren as an alternative to that red stuff! In addition to being a nervine and antispasmodic Lemon Balm is a carminative--good for digestion. Makes a marvelous "lemonade" for the summer!