Everlasting Gardener’s
Improving Your Herb Know-How

Publisher: Joanie Lapic      Volume Number 2      Issue Number 3      Date: February 1, 2009

“Then God said, ‘I give you every seed-bearing plant on the face of the whole earth
. . . And to . . . Everything that has the breath of life in it I give
every green plant for food.’”                    Gen.1: 29,30
 

If you have questions about any information in these articles, or if you
need any supplies or products, please contact
Joanie Lapic, Everlasting Gardener
Phone -- 724-846-4787
e-mail -- joanie@everlastinggardener.com
Following this link to my website may also help you find what you are looking for:
http://www.everlastinggardener.net
 

FEBRUARY DRAWING
ENTER TO WIN !
Your choice of three Pocket Therapies such as Breathe Free,
Calming, Trying To Remember.
You may see all of the Pocket Therapy line, including
ingredients, by following this link:
http://everlastinggardener.net/specials_at_everlasting_gardener.htm
Enter the Drawing by visiting Joanie’s website and sending her a
message via the Contact Us page:
http://www.everlastinggardener.net/contact_us.htm
before 11:59 pm, February 28, 2009.
The winner’s name will be announced within 5 business days.
 

Upcoming Appearances, Workshops and Classes
For complete list of classes visit Everlasting Gardener Website

Joanie makes another appearance . . . .
 
February 15, 2009
at the Home of Nathalie Kuffer
Joanie will be giving Foot Reflexology sessions
for the Moms of the attendees
at Nathalie’s daughter’s Birthday Party.
This will be a relaxing and healthful time for the Moms
as well as the young ladies.
Aromatherapy is included in this afternoon of pampering.
Contact Joanie to schedule a Pamper time with YOUR friends.
http://everlastinggardener.net/contact_us.htm
 

Aromatherapy  Workshop
 
Wednesdays, February 11 and February 18, 2009
 
At Dr. Richard Visone’s Holistic Healing
376 Main St., Wampum, PA 16157
6:30 p.m.  ---  content is the same for both classes
Fee -  $35.00 per person     Class length - about 2 hours
Each class participant will . . . .
1. Learn how Aromatherapy works, and sample and
 identify many essential oils
2. Study Methods of application, dilutions and carrier oils, and  basics
 of the complimentary bodywork therapy, Reflexology
3. Receive recipes for many therapies (including Skin Care), and
 the “Basic Care Kit”
4. Receive printed material and make & take an Aromatherapy project.
 You choose one from ~Custom-made Perfume or Aftershave
 ~ Bergamot and Lavender Bath Salts
 ~ Bubble Bath - scented with real therapeutic essential oils
 ~ Room Spritz - for Mood-Uplifting, Memory-Enhancing and Alertness
  Or virus control
5. Receive discounts on essential oils
Learn more about healthful, aromatic Essential Oils at:
http://everlastinggardener.net/essential_oil_price_list.htm
To reserve your place at the Aromatherapy Workshop,
your deposit of $17.50  must be left with Dr. Visone’s Secretary, Chasidee,
or received in Joanie Lapic‘s mailbox, 888 Tulip Dr., New Brighton, PA  15066
by Monday, February 9, 2009

 

Act 48 Continuing Professional Education Courses --

Joanie is offering classes for educators, for their Act 48 credits.
Each of Joanie’s courses gives ONE Credit.
The following two courses are held at the Midwestern Intermediate
offices, in Grove City, PA
---   Nature’s Medicine: Herbs and the Curriculum II
There is no prerequisite for this course
Dates/Times: Saturdays, February 14 & 21 / 8:30 a.m.- 4:00 p.m.
---   Healing Plants: Herbs and the Curriculum III
There is no prerequisite for this course.
Dates/Times: Saturdays, February 28 and March 7 / 8:30 a.m.-4 :00 p.m
Please use the following information to sign up for these 2 courses
through the Midwestern Intermediate Unit.
To obtain registration forms and info, please contact:
MIU IV Continuing Education Department
724-458-6700 x 209, for Gail Myers, Program Secretary
gail_myers@miu4.k12.pa.us
OR x 238, for Lorinda Hess, Program Director
 

Herbal Highlight
 
HERB OF THE YEAR

BAY

(SWEET BAY/LAUREL)
Laurus nobilis
Bay is a tender perennial, flourishing indoors in high-sunlight areas,
In climates where temperatures get below freezing. Brought outdoors
for the summer, it needs full sun, but some protection from drying winds
- that’s the reason some of the leaves sometimes get a little brown edging.
It’s the leaves which are used, and they can be harvested any time of the year.
A little folklore: the roof of Apollo’s temple at Delphi was made entirely of
Bay leaves in order to protect against witchcraft, disease and lightening.
That’s how the use of Bay-leaf garlands as architectural moldings came
about. A wreath of Bay leaves adorned poets and athletes of excellence,
as bay was the symbol of wisdom and glory. Laureate means “crowned
with laurels” and so came the names poet laureate and baccalaureate.
Bay is associated with Aesculapius, Apollo’s son, the Greek god of medicine,
and has been used against the plague for centuries.
USES . . .
DECORATIVE - The whole plant can be trimmed as a topiary, the leaves
for making wreaths.
CULINARY - Use in a little bag of herbs called “bouquet garni”, with other
herbs, each appropriate for stews, soups and sauces. Add bay to marinades,
stocks, potato soup, stuffing, pate, curry, game and poached fish liquid.
The leaf is removed before serving, as it is leathery-stiff and has sharp
edges, thus is capable of cutting the mouth or throat. Boil in milk to flavor
custard or rice pudding. To flavor rice, put bay leaves in its storage container.
Bay leaves, when used in cooking foods, have a positive effect on digestion
and absorption of food. Like spearmint and rosemary, Bay helps break down
heavy, fatty foods.
MEDICINAL - Make a tea to help with digestion and stimulate the appetite.
Use essential oil in a massage oil (in a very dilute 2% concentration) for
helping sprains and rheumatic joints. It also increases the circulation and
is particularly helpful for those with high blood pressure.
Make a strong tea, strain and add to the bath to soothe aches and pains.
ALL LAURELS EXCEPT SWEET BAY ARE POISONOUS.
Joanie will have many young Sweet Bay plants for sale at the Everlasting
Gardener gardens this season. They can be purchased as early as April.
http://www.everlastinggardener.net/bay_sweet_bay_laurel.htm
(some information obtained from "The Complete Book of Herbs“, by Leslie Bremness,
and from “The Encyclopedia of Medicinal Plants” by Andrew Chevallier)

 

Doctor Christopher’s Burn Ointment
 
This formula has healed thousands of burns, and is unique in that
it is not removed from the site of the injury, but is left on until the skin
is completely healed. The Wheat germ oil, Comfrey Root and Honey
literally FEED the tissue, soothing and promoting cell regeneration.
It must be made fresh at the time it is needed, as it does not store well
(turns into a blob of hard, black ‘goo’).
Procedure:  Stir equal parts Comfrey Root powder, Wheat Germ oil
and Honey together and apply liberally to the burn. Wrap in gauze to
hold it on, replenishing as necessary. Continue the treatment until the
burn is completely healed. This will likely prevent scarring, especially
if a drop of Lavender essential oil is added to the recipe.
Adapted from the Lavender Lane Forever catalog.


 

Natural health therapies prevent, heal and control
most (if not all) diseases, and you must realize that
only you have control of your health.


"We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give."
--Winston Churchill


Happy St. Valentine’s Day!
Be extra sweet to your Sweetheart on Feb. 14.