All is well on the herbal homestead. After a couple of dramatic weeks with visits from a realtor and some prospective buyers life has calmed down again. Without the frequent visits from unwanted folks we have been able to delve once again into the chores & joys of living on this land.
As if sensing that calm had settled once again our horse friend Tila has returned. You may (or may not) recall that out neighbor sequestered this stray mare and kept her in his backyard for a couple of months. Whether they ran out of grass for her to eat or she was simply too unrully I don't know but, we are very glad to have her back and she is really enjoying her freedom.
From the garden I spy Tila weeding the herb spiral that is currently choked with grass and spanish needles. She grazes here all day before crossing the creek to hang out with her two horse friends who live just om the otherside of a fence. Except for the garden and indoors she is free to roam and helps us greatly to maintain short grass and keep the weeds down. Hopefully she stays a while!
As for herbalism activities there is plenty to do before I make my annual pilgramage to my home country. And as it is fall I am doing my last round of gathering until citrus season arrives following the winter solstice. Most important of all the herbs is the preservation of fresh echinacea roots.
These plants have been growing in this bed for three years. Echinaea should be harvested only after reaching the age of three as the immune system supporting properties are most strong after a few years. I left about half of the roots to continue growing there which I can harvest as needed.
I shook off the dirt then left the roots in a little stream so that the tiny pebbles and remaining soil can wash away before taking them to my work space for chopping.
Very often I include the entire plant (roots, leaves, and flowers) in the alcoholic tincture as all the plant is medicinal. But, I have found that the leaves impart a very strong, almost spicy flavor and as this batch is meant for sale I only included the roots this time.
Due to the rainy weather the hawthorn berries I collected a few weeks ago aren't drying as quickly as I had hoped so I making them into a heart healing tincture too.
With the lid securely on, these vodka tinctures will be kept in a dark cupboard during 6 weeks time which is exactly the length ot my trip to California! Everything is working out harmoniously and I do hope it continues to.