Hello again! Kelsey here.
As the massive, uncontrolled fires up and down the west coast continue to burn and fill the air with smoke, I thought it would be a good time to share some ways to support the respiratory system with herbs.
Smoke is very drying, and tending to the mucus membranes of the respiratory tract is key. I have been using steam to help hydrate my airways and bring medicine directly into the lungs. I use a couple small handfuls of fresh, aromatic herbs like Rosemary, Thyme, Lavender, Sage, Chamomile. Place the herbs in a medium metal or glass bowl, and pour hot water over the herbs. Put your face at a comfortable distance over the bowl and a towel over your head, and breathe deeply for 15 minutes.
If you still have your Grace Cold Infusion tea blends from last year, this would be a great time to be drinking a quart of it per day! Cold infusions of Marshmallow root are very hydrating. If you, like me, ran out months ago, I recommend making tea with the leaves of the Marshmallow plant! They have a similar, but more mild demulcent quality. Combine with fresh Lemon balm, Chamomile, and Tulsi for a soothing, anti-inflammatory beverage. (You can find all these plants in the fields, even though some are starting to wane.)
Adding honey to your warm beverages is nice right now as well, as it also helps to sooth irritated tissue.
That’s all for now. As always, feel free to reach out with any questions!
Nothstine Dent Corn
We harvested the dry corn yesterday! Each ear is a treasure. We are excited to be able to offer cornmeal again this winter.
As well, we brought in winter squash and onions! We are grateful for a beautiful harvest of both.
The strawberries appear to be taking a well deserved break but we will have more in the future. There are flowers and green fruits on the plants.
We have one more planting of sweet corn in the field. It should be ready next week we think!
We ate through all our delicious new potatoes and are now waiting for the storage potatoes to cure to harvest them. We should have them again in a few weeks.
This week’s pick list:
Eggs
Rhonda Beets
Yaya Carrots
Ailsa Craig Sweet and Monastrell Red Onions
Farao Green Cabbage
Summer Squash: Dark Star, Yellowfin, and Cocozelle
Cucumber: Summer Dance, Silver Slicer, Sweet Marketmore, and Addis Pickle
Diamond Eggplant
Sweet Peppers
Heirloom Tomatoes: Gold Medal, Cherokee Purple, Jaune Flamee, Sarah Purple
San Marzano Paste Tomato
Hakurei Turnips
Calypso Celery
Lettuce (On Tuesday only. The rabbits have been feasting on it. We have covered the next planting and it will be ready next week or the week after.)
Ruby Red Chard
Champion Collards
Rainbow Lacinato and Old Growth Palm Kale
Basil, Cilantro, Dill, and Parsley
Hot Peppers: Bastan Poblano, Czech Black, Jalapeño, Aji Crystal, Serrano
Melons and Watermelons
Sonora or Rye Flour
Pick your own: jade and dragon langerie bush beans, padron and shishito peppers, ground cherries, cherry tomatoes, and tomatillos.
Along with the flowers, there are shiso, purple and thai basil in the annual field.
Saltonstall Olive Oil
Revolution Bread
Mandan Bride Corn