Blazing Star Herbal School

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!

 

New Class: Creating a Wildcrafting Calendar

Sunday Feb 19th,  2012    ASHFIELD MA       

Wildcrafting is the practice of collecting plant materials from the wild for food, medicine, and craft.  In the past this was how people provided for their families. We can continue to provide for our families by harvesting such goodness as moss, ginseng and other medicinals, natural dyes, mushrooms, wildflower seeds, berries, and saps such as maple, pine or birch. Opportunities for wildcrafting are not just found in the countryside, but in suburban as well as urban settings..

By wildcrafting we can harvest the bounty of each season and should always approach collecting with respect and thankfulness. In this class we will learn the Art of Ethical Wildcrafting, what to harvest and when and how to process results into nourishing and vital medicine. Then we will hand-craft this information into beautiful calendars.

 

Sunday Feb 19th,  2012    10am-2:30pm

Location: ASHFIELD MA          $50

 

                                                                       

You can register using the above paypal button or you can drop us an email 

blazingstarclinic @ gmail (dot) com

and send us a check: BSHS Po Box 154 Ashfield MA 01330

 

New Class: Stocking the At-Home Apothecary

Have you dreamed about a home medicine cabinet stocked with home made remedies for you and your loved ones...

Sunday Feb 5th,  2012   

10am-2:30pm 

Making your own herbal remedies is a cost-effective, creative and empowering way to take control of your health care and helping your community. This class is perfect for the gardener who wants to use what they grow for healing,  the nature lover who yearns to identify and sustainably wildcraft indigenous herbs, and the DIY the crafter with the desire to turn the dried herbs from the farmer’s market into medicine, the mother yearning to take care of her families ailments or even the chronically ill patient who needs a regular supply of remedies.

We will learn how to set up your at home apothecary using your own low tech kitchen lab! We will learn how to use herbal remedies safely, responsibly and effectively for individual and family health care, we will select a handful of herbs that are necessary for “kitchen witchery!” to profile and learn methods of medicine making both simple and some less common methods. 

 Sunday Feb 5th,  2012 

  10am-2:30pm

 $50

         ASHFIELD MA      

                                                                                   

You can register using the above paypal button or you can drop us an email 

blazingstarclinic @ gmail (dot) com

and send us a check: BSHS Po Box 154 Ashfield MA 01330