Water Reflections

here is a little bit of peace for you, this is the river where we have been living for the past 5 months, trees are being reflected

Moving to Maple Leaf, Ontario

I am moving to Maple Leaf, Ontario. My boyfriend and I have bought a 25 acre farm, house and large forested acreage near the lovely little town of Maynooth, close to Algonquin Park and Bancroft. We are so excited to be working hard over the winter creating a permaculture design for the land. We have so many ideas at the moment for what we will be doing there. I will continue to offer natural health services in my home.

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Permaculture Training

Back from Vermont. We were there for a Permaculture Design Certification training. The name of the course was EAT - Earth Activist Training, and it was a truly life changing experience. Very excited to do a full permaculture plan for the property in Ontario that we are getting close to purchasing. Lots of great ideas going into the future, including educational weekends and permaculture gardens.

Summer is winding down, and the trees are beginning to turn here near Owen Sound. The farmers markets are full of lush food. Stay present to the season of the moment, and enjoy it for all it is! Here is a song we learned at EAT:

We give thanks for unknown blessings already on the way (repeat)
We will not look back in anger, or forward in fear, but around in awareness (repeat)

Summer Under The Apple Tree

Here we are at the Earth Bound Gardens party, under an early apple tree. They kept falling on me, so I tried one, they were yummy! If you are in the Red Bay area, just past Wiarton, The Green Hearth products are now available at Earth Bound Gardens.

Just a note, we are sold out of stock at The Williamsford Mill location, new batch coming next week.

In a week we are leaving for an intensive two week training in permaculture in Vermont with Starhawk. Will fill you in on the details! Enjoy your weekend!

Garden Party July 14th

On Wednesday July 14th find The Green Hearth at Earthbound Gardens. Join us all for a Garden Party, $10, near Wiarton, Ontario.

Earthbound Gardens is committed to conservation, preservation and living an integrated lifestyle. They support organic practices, use xeriscaping and permaculture techniques and recycle diligently.

The Green Hearth will have products for sale, with a special Garden Party price.

Interested in learning more about botany? I recently purchased this exciting book, used by beginner botanists and herbalists alike. Brush up and learn about what makes a plant, a plant.

The Williamsford Mill, where I'm at:)

The Durham Herb Fair

Thank-you to all who attended. The Williamsford Mill, along with a couple of other to be announced locations, will be carrying the herbal and essential oil products featured at the fair plus more! Please allow me a couple of weeks to get them in store as I go on a well deserved camping trip:) I am working on a great July Newsletter, full of recipes and interesting natural health information.

If interested in any of the products you saw at the fair or my services, please email me marta(at)thegreenhearth(dot)ca and I will get back to you when I return. Enjoy the beautiful weather and these glorious days of your life!

New Location and Event

Hi folks, I am setting up shop slowly in Williamsford, Ontario. On June 12th I will be a vendor at the 30th Annual Durham Herb Fair. Come on out if you are in the neighbourhood. I will have herbal products for sale, and we will also have used herb and gardening books for sale from Great Books and Cafe at the Williamsford Mill. Lots of great specials!

Wow! Newspaper Search

This is great everybody... try searching for various things in Google News Archives. I entered the term "herbs". You can then see all these great recipes and news throughout time. Try selecting a time range.

May Energy Regeneration

Stressed? In a major life transition? Looking for deeper healing on a long standing health issue?

Many of the people who come to visit me leave feeling calm and with a new perspective, as if a weight has been lifted off their shoulders.

For the month of May I am offering my holistic Reiki treatment PLUS TWO SPECIAL GIFTS for $75. Read on to find out more. 

Reiki is a Japanese holistic, light-touch, energy-based modality. My Reiki sessions combine traditional Usui Reiki with a head and hand massage and an intuited guided visualization based on your natural, unique energies and needs. Your Reiki treatment ends with a clearing using sound and herbal smudging. Come for relaxation, leave feeling nourished and renewed.

Reiki's Benefits:

⁃ relax the mind and body

⁃ release and balance emotions

⁃ increase energy

⁃ promote creativity

⁃ support positive changes in your life

FREE GIFT: Special sneak preview. Receive a package of the first tea in my herbal tea line! A Happy Belly is a Happy Mind tea, perfect to calm your digestive rumbles and ease your aggravation.

BONUS!: I will custom make an essential oil blend to use during your treatment. Reaching deep into the olfactory sense, essential oils are powerful catalysts for transformation. 

I am located in the Dundas and Ossington area, Toronto. To discuss if my services are right for you, contact me.

Spring Cleansing

We are in the midst of spring cleansing season. If you haven't yet done a spring cleanse, here are some tips. The spring is a natural time to cleanse as we leave behind the winter and enter a new season of growth. The fresh shoots of spring greens brought a welcome relief historically from eating preserved food and winter vegetables.

* If you haven't cleansed before, get educated. There are so many. At your local health food store you will find herbal packages. You could also put together your own herbal teas. Some people do The Master Cleanse. Others simply omit all except for organic vegetables and fruit for a week or so. Water fasting may be a bit extreme if it is your first time.

* Make sure that you get lots of sleep and take time to rest when cleansing. Your body will be going through changes, and may need to lie down at times to process the release of winter gunk, toxins, emotions, old thoughts... whatever may be coming up for you.

* Be careful with herbal laxatives. Go with cholagogues instead (such as yellow dock) that stimulate bile production instead of laxatives which may make you dependent.

* To help the process of cleansing, remember to drink lots of clean water, with lemon if you can (rinse your mouth with water after having lemon drinks to prevent the citrus eating away your teeth).

* At this time, clean your home, go through the basement, filter your files, go through your clothes and give some away to 2nd hand stores... your outer environment is a reflection of your inner environment: what needs to shift?

* If you feel really ill and have only been drinking vegetable juices for two days then you CAN slow down your cleanse, remember you are in control, and if you are not into torturing your body, then slow down. Make a green smoothie (the fibre will slow down the detox) or add some ground flax to your juice or have some fruit.

* Cravings may arise during your cleanse for a variety of things. Breathe and count to 25... have some fruit. Keep going.

* Add solid food into your diet slowly afterwards, or your tummy may feel bad!

* Take an enema or get a colonic - this may help a lot of digestive distress, headaches or aches & pains.

* Dry brush, give yourself facials with honey or avocados, take hot Epsom salt baths, take hot/cold showers.

* Go for long walks in nature and stretch/ practice yoga.

* Whatever you do, listen to your body, and make adjustments as necessary.

And reward yourself at the end of your cleanse. You have just done something great not only for yourself. You have become more clear and focussed, and can bring that clarity to whatever your purpose may be (now go and save the planet!).

Stop! And smell the flowers...

We have heard this said. And on walks I will often slow down and smell the blossoms on trees, or newly opened flowers. But recently I have been realizing that this old saying means so much more!

Are you busy checking off your To Do list? Do you feel overwhelmed by all the items on your list, and all the things you are not getting to in your life? If you are constantly rushing to get things done then stopping to smell the roses may be just the thing for you. When was the last time you made time to enjoy the moment, fill your senses with delight, and REFLECT ON ALL THAT YOU HAVE ALREADY DONE!!! Yes, you have already 'accomplished' so much - you have been given and given yourself so many gifts. A gratitude journal comes in handy here, or simply a weekly list of 12 accomplishments.

Take a moment every day, in all areas of your life, and reflect and review. Doing so will give you a wonderful feeling of wealth. Reflect on all the ways that you have loved and been loved, all the scrumptious dishes you have made and adorned, all the poems you have written, all the songs you have sung. Think of all the money and resources that have poured through your life!

Often just reviewing this way may give you inspiration for your next project, and that sense of accomplishment that will propel you to the next plateau of your journey.

Next time, I will be writing about Spring Cleansing (since it is the season:)

Daily Morning Routine

I still wait to reveal my surprise. As all is handled behind scenes and the wheels of bureaucracy turn, I am compelled to continue writing into The Green Hearth blog. I have a list of topics that I have been asked about, and blog entries on these topics (ex. migraines, raw food, menstrual cycle pain and heaviness, skin problems, etc) will follow in the upcoming weeks.

For today I thought I would include my morning routine. This is what I do every morning for my whole being health. I may take a couple days off during the week, but honestly I feel best when I stick to it. The whole routine takes me about 2 hrs, some days longer, some shorter. Here she is:

~Wake with the sun (I am working towards this;)
~Big glass of water
~Bathroom necessities
~Green smoothie
~Raw vitamins and herbal teas
~Dry brushing
~Shower
~Daily yoga (my own routine after years of yoga classes and workshops)
~Dance DVD's (1/2 hr or so routines)
~Strength exercises (I do Pete Cerqua's 90 second strength training)
~Salve and essential oils on my injured knee
~Journalling (part of my daily writing too)

And then my day continues, and I feel like gold. I highly recommend making your health a priority, especially first thing in the day. Then you can do what you need with your day, the most important person is taken care of : YOU! If you are not feeling great, what do you bring to your work, your relationships, your life?

Make your new morning routine today, and be gentle with yourself adopting it, it takes time, especially if you are switching from addictive and unhealthy habits (like too much coffee, fatty and nutrient deficient breakfasts, lack of movement and flexibility). I look forward to my whole morning routine growing and changing to best support me. I would love to incorporate a walk in the park in now that the weather is turning. Go for it! Make your mornings a joy.

News

I haven't posted lately, but soooooo much has been happening.

I just can't wait, but will have too:), to share it with you. For now, check out the blog my boyfriend and I started regarding our raw and living foods journey.