The Green Hearth

-this blog is now inactive-

2011-05-19T22:00:00.000-04:00

~please follow www.thegreenhearth.ca to find out what is happening! thanks, marta~

Maple Leaf Farm

2011-02-27T21:05:00.000-05:00

My last post was in November. Since then we have moved to our new home on the farm and begun our new ventures. Please visit us www.mapleleaffarm.ca

My energy has been being poured into the farm and our b&b and retreat business. Transitioning to living outside of Toronto was hard (we lived near Owen Sound in the country for 6 months), and further transitions have occurred since we moved to the Algonquin area. I have been reading tons of homesteading books and learning all I can! I am most excited to start planting little seeds and have been planning our garden for this year. Country living is wonderful, folks, lots of quiet and lots of space. I have missed some things about city life, like the nightlife and getting dressed up;), but am recognizing my changing self and embracing parts of myself that I had put on hold before. My nightlife is full moon fields and the dancing we do around the farmhouse now, with the odd community dance and get together.

One of the best things for me has been taking the time to address my long standing knee and back pain and inflexibility. I now see a chiropractor twice a week, and have a daily practice of home sauna, my own yoga practice, hot salt and essential oil baths, trampoline, yoga swing, dry brushing, nettle tea and more. What have you been putting off that you *know* will bring you relief in an area of your life that is painful or uncomfortable? Perhaps it is time to follow your intuition and experiment a bit. Often it is just a matter of movement!

Water Reflections

2010-11-10T16:03:00.002-05:00

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

2010-11-09T16:31:00.007-05:00

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.

Follow us on Facebook!

Permaculture Training

2010-08-23T13:15:00.003-04:00

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

2010-07-16T12:38:00.001-04:00

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

2010-07-09T15:12:00.003-04:00

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:)

2010-06-27T12:02:00.001-04:00

The Durham Herb Fair

2010-06-14T09:48:00.005-04:00

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

2010-06-05T18:56:00.002-04:00

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

2010-05-14T16:55:00.003-04:00

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

2010-05-01T11:21:00.008-04:00

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

2010-04-24T15:02:00.008-04:00

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...

2010-04-13T19:42:00.005-04:00

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

2010-04-05T21:58:00.006-04:00

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

2010-03-06T20:35:00.005-05:00

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.

The Green Hearth September Special

2009-09-02T12:50:00.008-04:00

September. A time to begin transitioning into the cooler months ahead. It may also be a time of stress as Summer vacations pass, and the business of work and school begins. Come and experience relief from your worries with a balancing Reiki treatment.

Read on to find out about a special gift handmade for you to help with the seasonal change!

Reiki is a Japanese holistic, light-touch, energy-based modality. My Reiki sessions combine traditional Usui Reiki with guided imagery 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: Included with your Reiki treatment this month is a week long supply of Three Root Tea plus directions for doing a gentle cleanse. As the season turns is the perfect time to let go of old stuff and clear your body for new nutrition and experiences. Three Root Tea includes Burdock Root, Dandelion Root and Yellow Dock Root. The Three Root Tea is deep acting and excellent as a blood purifier, for lymphatic congestion, kidney and bladder problems, liver and gallbladder function and more. The directions call for a very easy and simple cleanse so that you can continue with your daily life.

BONUS!: You will receive a Harvest Bundle. Included in the Bundle is a Harvest Prayer, and supplies to carry out a small yet potent Harvest ritual, honoring the season that has passed, and bringing in the Autumn.

One session, with all gifts included, is $75. Sliding scale depending on income available, please let me know. The September gifts have a retail value of $25 but are yours FREE with your Reiki treatment. While quantities last. Reserve your appointment today! Book three treatments for the price of $200 and receive the September gifts + a surprise bonus gift.

Feel free to forward this to anyone who may be interested. Daytime and evening appointments available. Allow for 1 1/2 hours for each appointment. I am located in the Dundas and Ossington area.

To book your appointment, call or e-mail.

Marta: 416.433.4915 or bastinboots@gmail.com

Late August Report

2009-08-25T14:15:00.004-04:00

What an exciting month it has been. I am freshly back from the New England Womens Herbal Conference, and had an amazing adventure there, attending workshops on Depression and Anxiety, Roseroot and Holy Basil, Reading the Body, Mushrooms, Herbs for a High Energy Life and more more more!

One of the Thirteen Indigenous Grandmothers, Floredemayo, graced us with her visit, blessing and stories, and sang to us a lullaby. We also listened to stories and a call to action from Diane Miller of the Health Freedom Coalition.

I am excited to incorporate many of the teachings and be able to share them with you.

I'm So Excited!

2009-07-30T23:05:00.004-04:00

I will be attending the New England Womens Herbal Conference in a few weeks.

August Special

2009-07-30T22:49:00.004-04:00

Summer is here and we'd all like to relax a little. Your vacation has finally arrived but you find yourself in a cycle of anxiety and stress. And, to top it off, you feel run down. The problem may be more than physical. This August, whether your vacation lasts two weeks or a long weekend, allow for a gentle, rebalancing Reiki treatment to help you transition into relaxation.

I love to give you more than expected. Read on to find out about a special gift handmade for you!

Reiki is a Japanese holistic, light-touch, energy-based modality. My Reiki treatments combine traditional Usui Reiki with a guided meditation 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: Included with your Reiki treatment is a handmade herbal salve. A salve is an ointment used to soothe body surfaces. August's Salve is made with calendula flowers infused in olive olive, beeswax and essential oils. Use for the nicks, cuts and the sun touched lips of summer, as well as after gardening on your hands. Perfect for cuticles, to rub into feet after a foot soak, dry knees or elbows and itchy skin. Antifungal and antibacterial.

For the month of August you can get the Reiki treatment for only $60 (regular price $75).

BONUS!: When you arrive for your appointment, a herbal foot soak will be awaiting your tired feet. Includes a salt scrub. While you enjoy the soak, I will massage your hands and your Reiki treatment will begin!

The August gift has a retail value of $20 but is yours FREE with your Reiki treatment. While quantities last. Reserve your appointment today! Book three treatments for the price of $150 and receive the August gift + a surprise bonus gift.

Feel free to forward this to anyone who may be interested. Daytime and evening appointments available. Allow for 1 1/2 hours for each appointment. I am located in the Dundas and Ossington area.

To book your appointment, call or e-mail.

Marta: 416.433.4915 or bastinboots@gmail.com

Happenings

2009-07-07T21:32:00.003-04:00

I thought I would share some of the happenings in my life.

~In June I had a very powerful experience at a Tony Robbins event. He had us in peak state for hours, and I walked on fire near the CN Tower, with my limp and all. I felt so empowered afterwards, and relieved;) My life has truly shifted since that weekend and me and my boyfriend have signed up for more Tony Robbins events. Next stop, Arizona in December -> Date with Destiny~

~Since May I have been going every Tuesday evening to the community gardens in High Park to work on a herb garden with a Toronto herbalist. My awareness of herbs and of the plant world has grown tremendously. In the Fall we will continue with harvesting and creating foods and medicines, such as fermented food and salves~

~June also marked the end of the classes I was making up at the Transformational Arts College. I am officially finished my classes for my Certified Natural Health Practitioner certification (ok, fine, I have a few Spiritual Healing classes to do over the summer, but no homework from those:). AND I am almost finished my case work for the program, and super excited to offer you extended services as soon as I am licensed~

~My garden is growing all lovely, with heritage tomatoes, baby greens, sunflowers, pumpkins!, plums, pears, grapes and oh so many herbs:) I am particularly happy to be growing quite a few herbs that I can make medicines out of, as well as dry to make smudge (herbs that are burned for purification)~

I truly hope everyone is having a beautiful summer, and getting outside into nature as much as possible. Till soon, XO

July Special!

2009-07-01T12:34:00.009-04:00

Hello! I am having a special for the month of July. Come & enjoy a one hour long Reiki treatment (perfect for stress, anxiety & chronic illness) for $60 (Summer price) + receive a lovely gift of handmade herbal concoctions.

Included in the gift is a glass amber bottle of The Queen of Hungary’s Water, handmade by infusing various herbs, such as lemon balm, roses, lavender, calendula & more, in organic apple cider vinegar. To this I add rose water, witch hazel distillate and essential oils for a truly special water. Use for: mosquito & insect bites, skin conditions, aftershave & facial toner. The Queen of Hungary’s Water is said to be one of the first European perfumes, and has been used as a cure-all for centuries in various fashions.

Also included in your gift are sachets of Vision Tea, formulated by me using herbs and trees. The Vision Tea is perfect for brewing up on camping trips and sipping under the night stars or when you require spiritual clearing and access to your inner vision. Comes in individual, biodegradable tea bags.

The July gift has a retail value of $20 but is yours FREE with your Reiki treatment. While quantities last. Reserve your appointment today! Book three treatments for the price of $150 and receive the July gift + a surprise bonus gift.

Reiki is a Japanese holistic, light-touch, energy-based modality. My Reiki treatments combine traditional Usui Reiki with a nourishing guided meditation that I create specifically for you 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.

Daytime and evening appointments available. I am located in the Dundas and Ossington area. To book your treatment contact me:

Marta: 416.433.4915 or bastinboots@gmail.com

Cabbage Poultices

2009-05-15T18:23:00.005-04:00

You're probably saying WHAT? Yes, CABBAGE. I love my cabbage poultices. A poultice can be made with many plant materials. In the past few months my knee has been sublexing (the patella has been shifting). Now we believe there is a meniscus tear as well, the MRI I am scheduled for will tell. In the meantime, I wrap cabbage leaves around my knee at night.

From last night's poultice the swelling and fluid retention went down at least 50%. I was overjoyed to have the increased mobility this morning. Try it for your inflammations, joint swellings, and much much more. Wonderful on your liver during a liver detox.

The wonderful cabbage astounds me. Raw, juiced, cooked, fermented - awesome in so many ways. Raw cabbage juice is a key element in healing ulcers.

Here are directions!

(thanks net_efekt on Flickr for the pic)

Herbalism

2009-04-06T00:15:00.003-04:00

I just had an interesting time clicking though all the links in the Wikipedia article on Herbalism.

Fever

2009-04-03T16:07:00.005-04:00

I have run into so many people in the past while who have been ill recently. There seem to be various colds and strains of flu circulating. In fact, just last week I went through a flu, having caught it by taking care of my boyfriend. I found myself alone during the fever part of the sickness, and my first impulse, as probably strikes many people, was to take ibuprofen and make the pains and chills and heat go away. I tried it, but this time around it didn't help.

I have often read that the best way to get through a fever is to actually allow the fever to run its course. So alone, my mother calling me and my boyfriend chatting with me online, I decided to allow the fever. If the fever gets extremely high, especially in children, make sure to bring it down in whatever way you can. However, if you can handle it, try some of these recommendations.

1) First, cancel all your plans. No meetings, no homework, no work, no school, no socializing, no shopping, NOTHING. Just you and your bed. You need to rest and sleep and that's it. If you have contact with people, you will most likely get them sick. Let it end with you.

2) At the first signs make sure you have food in your fridge to get you through the next few days. You will usually know a day or so before being ill. Order through an online food delivery service if need be.

3) On a regular basis stock some of the following dry herbs in glass, amber bottles in a cool, dark place. Herbs include: sage, thyme, yarrow, boneset, elderberry. As soon as the fever begins start drinking strong infusions of herbs such as yarrow or boneset to help induce sweat. Diaphoretic herbs help the body sweat, and you want to support your fever, it is your friend! Your fever will help, for lack of a better word, kill the virus or infection and it will cool you down.

4) Tinctures I have found useful include this one from St. Francis Herb Farm. I pour hot water over it and it is so soothing on any inflamed tissues in your throat, sinuses, or chest.

5) Try hydrotherapy. There is the old practice of using wet clothes on the forehead and neck to help moderate the fever. This really helped me the second night I had my fever. I had a horrible headache and just kept laying on a cool, water soaked cloth all night long. It was a life saver for me. Also, wear wet cotton socks, this will bring the heat down from your head and cool you down. A lukewarm bath will help too.

6) Remember to drink lots of water, tea, ginger tea, ginger ale: lots of liquids.

My fever took 48 hours to pass, and it was up and down throughout. At one point I dreamt I was being burned by the sun. I'm really happy I used all the above remedies for the fever, I feel like I allowed the fever to do it's job. Remember the best remedy of all: REST & SLEEP.

Herbs for Teens Workshop

2009-03-07T12:23:00.005-05:00

Herbs for Teens
Do you like lavender, chamomile and mint? Come out for this fascinating workshop and learn about the world of common herbs, including how to use them in your daily life in teas, skin care and more. Boys and girls welcome. $3 fee will cover the purchase of dried herbs that you get to take home!

Mississauga Central Library
301 Burnhamthorpe Road W.
Meeting Room CL3 (Administration Wing)
Tuesday, March 17, 2009
2 p.m. - 3 p.m.

Fee: $3 (Pay on day of class)
Ages 12Y and up

Space is limited.
Please register in advance by calling 905-615-3200 ex. 3544.

Raw Food Comments

2009-02-04T00:10:00.008-05:00

quick post: one of my fav things about online articles is the comments feature, there is some interesting raw food debating in this piece but i'm not sure how long this will stay up!

Mullein (Verbascum thapsus) in Winter

2009-01-11T22:09:00.019-05:00

So of course it happened. I booked some time away from work and I got sick. It started as a hoarseness in my chest and progressed to laryngitis like symptoms (I lost my voice for a couple of days) and ended with my sinuses all plugged up. The worst part was (and this keeps changing in my mind) the tiredness. Although it was hard to sleep, I somehow still managed 15 hours a day at least. That was over a week ago and I am still pooped. I would wake up late, see only 3-4 hours of light, and it would get dark again.

I didn't take any drug store drugs or antibiotics. From the beginning I focussed on herbs, hydrotherapy and essential oils. It still took time for it to move through my system, but I think I am better off afterwards not having filled my body with any drug store drugs. I covered my chest and upper back with a peppermint gel I made, did hot steams with eucalyptus and tea tree essential oils diluted in apple cider vinegar, took hot essential oil baths, drank mullein and sage tea, ate lots of soup, and took an immune herbal tincture daily (I really loved taking a tincture that had cayenne and organically grown goldenseal (don't get wildcrafted goldenseal, it's in danger in the wild), I would pour hot water over the tincture and it felt so good in my throat and in my chest).

Also, I had some mental problems during my sickness. My mind kept wandering and I felt down. Looking back over the past week I feel like I shed a lot, and cocooned myself in a chrysalis. Right now I feel like I am emerging, as one friend put it, coming back from the dead. And strangely much in my life has shifted. I realized that the symptom of losing my voice was a very clear sign telling me that somehow I have lost my way a bit in life. Somehow I have lost a say on where I am in life, and the forces of existence are controlling me, instead of me shaping my own destiny, having a say in what is going on. And I saw how much of my lack of say is rooted in past experiences and fears.

I am glad I got sick on my vacation. It gave me a chance to actually slow down, stay in one place, get grounded in my new home. Gain insight. The next time you are ill, take a look inside. What are your symptoms attempting to communicate?

The Holly and Ivy

2008-12-17T15:10:00.006-05:00

When this time of year comes round, I usually go through a period of being overwhelmed by all the holiday (Hollyday:) parties, shopping for Christmas gifts, trying to make plans for the holidays that fit everyone's schedule and more. At the same time, I *LOVE* the evergreen boughs, the holly with it's red berries in my backyard, the two beautiful rosemary bushes that seem to be flourishing in my kitchen, and all the beautiful Solstice celebrations. It has taken me a few years to learn how to juggle everything, this year has been a bit too much, but also balanced out by the slow ways in my life.

My question for you this year is: Do you really need to eat all those cookies and all that candy? Do you really need to go to all those parties? Do you really need to drink so much alcohol? What are your excesses? Pulling back into yourself even a little can have marvelous benefits this time of year and help balance out the seasonal insanity. The longest night of the year invites not only celebrations of light and rebirth but also a time to be more introspective, to practice your slower and more yin yoga, to drink herbal teas and get a little bit more sleep. It is time for reflection and has the potential of being one of the most peaceful times of the year.

During the winter, I love root teas. Right now my favourite is burdock. Simmer 3 tsps. in 3 cups of water for 20 minutes and sip throughout the day. Burdock has so many healing qualities. I have also been drinking Ojibwa tea, which is more commonly known as Essiac. Burdock is one the the four herbs in this tea. Floressence is based on the traditional Ojibwa tea but has been formulated with 8 herbs, it is widely available and a great daily detoxification tea.

Apple Cider Vinegar and Magnesium

2008-11-16T20:44:00.008-05:00

two things that have helped me a lot. the first is apple cider vinegar, raw, with mother, available at most health food stores ~ a few weeks ago i started drinking the vinegar in a glass of water with a bit of honey three times a day (warm or cool water works); i also started bathing in the vinegar (you can add some lavender essential oil to the vinegar before adding it to the bath to improve the vinegary scent); the reason, you ask?

my main complaint was being overly acidic, which produces a variety of symptoms. within a week, my body was back in balance. i first heard of apple cider vinegar as a cure years ago from reading the book Folk Medicine by Dr. Jarvis, here is an article about his life. he also recommends adding lots of seaweed (saying that many of the minerals from our fields have run off into the ocean) to the diet, the apple cider vinegar correcting the ph balance of the body and the seaweed adding essential minerals: he likens the human body to soil, and writes that just like soil needs to have an ideal ph balance and nutrients in order to be healthy, so does our body, you can read more about ACV here.

the other thing i wanted to mention is magnesium, i have recently started supplementing with magnesium citrate to help with my leg cramps at night. the first night after starting my leg cramps were about 80% better! magnesium is excellent for cramping and spasming muscles. i tried both a generic magnesium citrate and also a powder called Calm that you can mix into a drink. be careful, magnesium acts like a laxative if you take too much. start with less and see how your body reacts. epsom salts are magnesium, that is why epsom salt baths are recommended after working out or strenuous activity.

Ginger Tea

2008-11-03T21:08:00.008-05:00

it's warm in Toronto for the next few days, but the cold weather is coming; here is a tea i love to make

ginger lemon rose hip tea

piece of ginger (about the size of your thumb)
2 cups water
agave or honey
a couple of teaspoons of rose hips or rose hip tea in tea bags
1 lemon

slice the ginger and put the water and ginger in a pot; bring to a boil then reduce and simmer for 20 minutes; if you have rose hips add them too, or you can add rose hip tea bags near the end to give the tea a pretty colour; strain the ginger and rose hips and add the juice of the lemon, 2 large teaspoons of agave or honey; in the summer i let stalks of fresh mint infuse in the hot tea in a large mason jar and then cool the tea for a nice pink ginger lemonade (pink from the rose hips:); adjust the lemon and agave/ honey to taste; you can also use a hibiscus tea or berry tea for colour

ginger is perfect for cold weather as it helps with circulation and warms the body, it is also good after the heavier meals of winter as it aids in digestion; rose hips are high in vitamin C ~ if you are sick and feeling brave add crushed shredded raw garlic to your tea, or try adding some crushed flax seeds when the tea is simmering for a soothing drink (more info here)

Natural Vitality and Juice Feast Blogs

2008-10-26T14:11:00.008-04:00

hey there; i wanted to share this great blog and hub; this woman is the vital force behind the dvd 'crazy sexy cancer', her website tells you more about her journey

since we are on the topic of juicing, check out steve pavlina's blog - he is about to go on a juice feast, for the next three months drinking only juice; this may be a bit extreme for most of us, but it will be interesting to see how he makes out

there are great links leading away from both their blogs - i love the web!

Local Eating

2008-10-21T19:49:00.011-04:00

Two posts in one day! I have lots of things I want to share, I will have to pace myself. I am in the middle of listening to the book Animal, Vegetable, Miracle by Barbara Kingsolver (it comes in an unabridged cd format, check your library!). Have you been to their website yet? There is a great list of resources on many aspects of food, local food, and health. The resources are mainly for the States, but look for counterparts in Canada. Also, The 100-Mile Diet website has lots of resources. This book was awesome too. I read it earlier this year. So inspiring, I am planning my garden for next year NOW.

Peasant-y Soup

2008-10-21T19:23:00.015-04:00

I'm slowly working on such things as a business plan and vision for The Green Hearth. Till I am ready to launch, I thought I would fill this blog with recipes, links and information that I find yummy or interesting.

I LOVE this soup. I don't make it the same way twice, but every time I make it it comes out even better than the time before.

Peasant Soup

Cut up & saute some onions, carrots, celery, a medium butternut squash, 2 sweet potatoes with some olive oil and add spices such as mustard seeds, coriander, cumin, turmeric, anything you have around that you like. The mustard seeds and coriander seeds can be toasted first in the olive oil to bring out their taste. I recently tried not peeling the squash and once cooked and blended it is just fine.

Add 1-2 cups red lentils and enough soup stock to cover everything, bring to a boil, add some kombu (a hard seaweed that adds a saltiness and helps with gas).

Cook until all soft, remove kombu if you like, blend with a hand blender and then add thinly sliced collard greens (I like lots), kale or chard and simmer until still green but cooked. Season with salt, cayenne pepper, garlic, ginger and add a splash of apple cider vinegar to round out the taste. Fresh chopped parsley and cilantro are great. A variation would be cooking everything with a can of organic tomatoes or tomato paste (add a teaspoon of honey or sugar to balance the acidity of the tomatoes).

Perfect autumn/ winter food served either on it's own, with rice or grain, yogurt on top or with a rye or pumpernickel bread. Yummy.