Revival!

This blog has layed dormant for too long so I think it is revival time!! I originally thought I would move this and combine with my other blogs somehow, but it is too much work to re-organize, has not been done and I am lazy. So I will be back on a regular basis with some writings and information soon!!

Tiptoeing through the....mint patch!

We seriously have the largest mint patch I have ever seen in our backyard! It's so awesome. This pic was from a few weeks ago so it is much more overgrown now as well!

Now to try to utilize it beyond year round tea supply (which we take full advantage of). We have made ice cream, chocolate dipped mint leaves, mint choco cookies, syrup and more! But I also know there is more we could do with it! I am thinking foot scrub, shampoo,foot soak, foot butter, foot mask, lip balm, chest rub, toner..hmmmm..the possibilities are endless and I really just want to roll around in mint today! :)

Herb Tuesday- Week #4

Just a few things from this week..

-studying materia medica

-made insect repellant in class

-worked on garden master plans & medicine wheel

-map of community garden

-contacted a local herbalist in my town. hoping to connect soon!

-tulsi is the shit!

-we had our herbal ally feast! it was so awesome!

-birthday cake! yay!

-tea, infusions, tisanes,etc. on the brain..i'm a little obsessed and have many jars brewing and icing, etc. LOVE it! Next up, water kefir and ginger beer..(again!!)

Herb Tuesday- Week 3

This week was long. Tuesday's are definitely like my little haven of serenity! Sorry I have no pictures this week.

What I did;

-Worked in the gardens a little everyday. I have been working on digging new flower beds and herb beds and I've also decided I want to make a medicine wheel with herbs. I can't wait, but alas it will have to wait until next summer, but I will get the spot ready now.

-Made a list of activities to do with my plant ally (Lady's Mantle) . Still looking for more ideas.

-I'm putting together herbal baskets for my clients (new moms) & Etsy shop. So I've been rying to figure out what I want to make and then will be experimenting with concoctions and finding testers to try them. (Are you a new mom? Want to try some herbal goodies for free in exchange for feedback on my products? Email me at aprilmoonflower@gmail.com )

-Restocked my menstruum supply and quickly used it all up making more things!

-Harvested st johns wort and processed oats in class today.

There's more but I'm exhausted tonight! I will add more tomorrow if I remember anything!

Herbal Tuesdays- Week 2

This week I spent more time in my gardens..planning..dreaming..getting to know the plants even more that are already there.

Otherwise I feel I could have gotten more done this week. Had a little accident involving a broken plate. (I'm ok just cut up!) But it slowed me down this weekend for sure.

Things I did this week;

-Harvested & dried more plants

-Planted tulsi, tea tree and wormwood. (Thanks Tony!)

-Made Kava Honey, next up is chamomile honey!

-Made a list of all the plants I want to grow. Next a list of growing and start times, then where in the gardens I want them. I seem to have alot of seed that needs cold stratification..

-Bee Balm is starting to bloom and I have a tray of bee balm seedlings going in 3 colors!

-Calendula is growing and meadowsweet and scullcap are sprouting up.

-Found a patch of lavender mint up in the herb hill beside my house and transplanted some into the lower gardens. Heavenly! Also transplanted 15 lemon balm babies!

-Made various tinctures and elixirs- I'm also experimenting with using vodka, whiskey and brandy.

-Dug up plants to share with my class (more lemon balm babies!)

-Researched my ally some more

-Spent too much time on Steepster (my vice!)

Otherwise I had a lemon balm roundup publishing but it was all wonky so I had to revert it back to draft for now until I get a chance to fix it. My html is also major rusty and for some reason that is the editor on my blog, so that's coming soon!

Herbal Tuesdays- Week 1

I've decided to start writing more about my personal herb week on Tuesdays in honor of my apprenticeship!! (It will be a simple and completely random bullet list.)

My hope is by posting weekly I will update here more often as I often cycle out of touch with my blog and I really want to post more consistently!

So, I'm really enjoying my apprenticeship thus far! It's been really awesome and I am learning a lot. I am feeling much more connection with my surroundings as well. Looking forward to whats to come!

Things I've learned & done herbal related this past week;


-There are many, MANY umbel shaped white flowers.

-Lemon balm continues to be my favorite plant in my personal garden for the second year in a row. We have a huge stand of it in the herb garden and I've been harvesting and drying it daily and trying to find as many ways as I can to use it! Thus far I've made tea, lemon balm pasta with a cheese sauce, vinegar, pesto, lemon balm berry pie, elixir & honey! Plus there is more to make. My next post will be a roundup of lemon balm recipes I've collected!

-Rose honey is addictive. So is handmade cocoa/rose lip balm!

-Plants I discovered in my yard this week; rosa rugosa, valerian (lots!), evening primrose, wild indigo, mugwort, a hidden red raspberry leaf patch, cinquefoil, goutweed and wood betony.

-Plants I harvested and processed this week. Rose, oregano, lemon balm, sage, thyme & lady's mantle.

- I long for more gardens and specifically a women's health and wellness themed garden, a garden for nervines and also an immunity and children's section. But I am just not there yet. Doing a little at a time though. I'm so glad I have the space here!!

-I started an herb blog for kids. Well really for MY kids but I thought it would be fun to share. They are really into "helping" so we might as well make it into a learning experience just for them & maybe share ideas, right? I am just starting it really, so stay tuned!

-Planted some more seeds. Yes, even though it is late June. Crazymaking I tell ya! ;)

- I'm wishing for a greenhouse this fall. Hoping to pull that together money and time permitting.

-Registering for Botany 1 this fall.

-Made a list of herbal & food galactagogues.

-Harvested and in the midst drying a small batch of red clover.

-Studied marshmallow, elder, elecampane, meadowsweet & vitex.

-Tried my first herbal Ghee! MMMM!! (Putting on the must make list!)

-Made a supply list. Need to buy a stash of alcohol, bulk honey, containers, etc. as I have used up every last drop of menstruum's in the house this past weeked! Of course there's much, MUCH more potions and goody making to be had this summer! I also need a couple of random things like another blender, large glass jars and a new cutting board. A sun hat and a harvesting basket for treks through meadows & woods is also on the list among other random items!

-Made a reading list of herb related books I want to read for the duration of my apprenticeship.

25 Medicinal Uses for Lemon Balm

I really can't get enough of lemon balm these days! I'm so thankful to have a huge stand of it in the garden! It's really such a versatile plant and there are so many ways to use it.

Here are 25 uses for lemon balm medicinally;

1- Anxiety
2- Mild depression
3- Colic
4- As a facial steam for dry skin & stubborn acne
5- As a galactogogue to increase a nursing Mother's milk supply
6- Hyperthyroidism
7-Promotes menstruation(good for bringing on a cycle)
8- Analgesic (good for painful periods, headaches, general aches and pains)
9- Nourishing
10- Allergies
11- Fatigue
12- Relieves stress & hypertension
13- Nightmares
14- Indigestion & digestive issues caused by stress
15- Heart palpitations
16- Mildly sedative (good for sleep issues)
17- Herpes sores (both oral and genital)
18- Nausea
19- Has memory improving qualities
20- Wound repair and insect bites
21- Stimulates the appetite
22- Flatulence
23- Coughs, colds, flu, bronchitis, laryngitis asthma (antiviral)
24- Fevers (promotes sweating)
25- Grief