Freshly picked Rosemary from my herbal garden for Back to Basics Herbal Shampoo, Hair Rinse, Scalp Oil and Hungarian Water. Rosemary is most often used as a spice to season food but it is also has great value as an effective hair treatment that is used to slow the progress of premature hair loss by stimulating the hair follicles, relieve dandruff and dry, itchy scalp. Even if your hair is perfectly normal, rosemary leaves it soft and shiny. 

MAKING FLOWER ESSENCES TODAY WITH MY DAUGHTER LILY IN EDDIE FORSIE'S MAGICAL FAIRY GARDEN. "A flower essence is the vibrational imprint of a flower that has been transferred and stabilized in water. Flower essences can help us recognize, resolve, or release different conditioned ways of perceiving the world and can help us experience greater well-being and harmony in our lives. By creating harmony within us, we often notice distinct changes in ourselves physically, emotionally, and spiritually." (The Alchemy of the Desert, Second Edition, page 37) Edward Bach, a British physician, homeopath, bacteriologist and spiritual writer, introduced the Bach flower remedies, a form of alternative medicine inspired by classical homeopathic traditions in the early 20th century. In his tradition Lily and I worked with Moth Mullein today.
 

TIME TO HARVEST ROSE HIPS. Rose hips have been used since the stone age. They are high in vitamin C. Just one tablespoon of the rose hip pulp satisfies the daily need of vitamin C for one adult. Drinking rose hip tea supports the immune system. The tea also benefits the skin. The high vitamin A content commonly referred to as the "skin vitamin" helps to regenerate skin cells. It also helps with the elasticity of the skin and prevents wrinkles. Its astringent properties help to rehydrate the skin. I went out this morning to harvest a batch and now some are sun dried for tea and I also sun infuse rose hips in oil for a skin regenerating serum, salve and soap. 

Bunches of dried Lemon Balm ready to be worked  into my Good Night's Sleep Tea mixture.

This morning's Lavender harvest for Lavender, Lavender-Rosemary Soap and Sachets.

From garden to table in less than an hour for maximum nutrient density. Steamed red beets with onions, dinosaur and purple basil, dressed with sun infused chive balsamic vinegar and olive oil, whole wheat pasta with carrot top pesto, roasted rutabaga with fried onions, garlic and marjoram. Jack's home made Kombucha. Cheers to your health. Guten Appetit!

Sewed LAVENDER SACHETS this afternoon and filled them with the PROVENCE LAVENDER which grows in our garden. They smell heavenly. Lavender is calming. Slip one or two sachets in your pillow case for better sleep or rub them over your pillow. Rub your temples if you have a headache. Give your linen closet, shoe closet, ugly drawer or car a nice scent. Lavender is also a moth repellent. Or best of all, just hold the sachet, smell it and be happy. $6.00 each. Look for them under the store tab.

Have you ever looked at the beautiful carrot greens which come with the carrots you bought at the farmer's market and farm stand or even grow in your own garden and were wondering if you could cook with them? I made a delicious pesto with the greens today. Carrot greens from 2 organically grown carrots removed from main stem, 1/4 cup roasted organic sun flower seeds, one freshly pulled garlic bulb, 1/4 cup parmesan cheese, dash of black pepper and 1/4 cup virgin organic cold pressed olive oil. Blend all ingredients. I served the pesto on swedish Knaeckebrot and sprinkled calendula blossoms on top. Added benefit to boost the immune system. Or use the pesto as whole wheat pasta topping.

First PEA SHOOTS FROM THE GARDEN for dinner. Pea shoots are delicious and nutritious. High in vitamin A, C and folic Acid. These ones I will saute in sesame oil with garlic and sprinkle them with toasted sesame seeds. Pea shoots are easy to grow. If you never did this it is the perfect time of the year to get started.

Finally the sun is out in Cohasset and I can start sun infusing oils. My favorite herbs to infuse are Calendula, Jewelweed, Lavender and Rose. Yesterday I started with Calendula which I dried from the 2013 harvest. Among the homeopathic herbalists Calendula is also called "Mother of the Skin". Its properties are anti-inflammatory, anti-bacterial, anti-fungal, antiseptic, it brightens the skin and protects from blemishes. 
Its overall healing properties are known since centuries. The sun heats the oil up to almost 100degree Fahrenheit and the medicinal properties are so slowly extracted from the plant material into the oil. The jar sits for 3 weeks daily in the sun and will be exposed to the full moon as well to soak up its energy. Then it will be worked in a nourishing Calendula Soap which will be ready at the end of June. Watch out for it on line. It will be a limited quantity only. To be on the safe side I take pre orders as well.