July 22, 2026 Happy Herbal Wednesday (er...Thursday), Reader! Sorry my weekly note's a day late. It's unbelievably busy in the garden right now! I'm swimming in medicinal herbs that need harvesting (calendula, echinacea, hyssop, bee balm, marshmallow, coriander/cilantro, dill, and SO much more)---like the usual veggies---I almost forgot about them in my excitement over my medicinal herbs, LOL. But what to do with all these things? My favorite solution is to ferment them...especially in summer...
6 days ago • 5 min read
July 19, 2026 Happy Sunday! I want to tell you a story. Anna is "everywoman," and I say that because I was once her long, long ago, and I've taught thousands of women who were like her, too. It's a story of frustration...and the best solution. Anna had enough herbs in her cupboard to make a small apothecary. Unfortunately, she had no idea what to do with most of them. There was nettle she’d bought after reading about how much calcium it has, lemon balm she’d grown and dried herself, a bag of...
10 days ago • 6 min read
July 15, 2026 I just got the best couple of notes from a student and a reader, and both today! Here they are, as I hope they help you, too. I'm keeping these anonymous out of decency. I really love when I get these kinds of notes...they keep me going, doing what I do.... The first note..... "Thanks be to God, my teeth are growing back!!! I had one especially terrible cavity where the nerve was exposed and the entire top had rotted away and now the root is covered and continues to heal. I...
13 days ago • 4 min read
July 8, 2026 Life has a way of throwing all kinds of things at us, doesn't it? First off, there's the "normal" to-do list that's just always there. It never goes away, and for me, anyway, it's always way too full. This used to cause me to feel depressed, anxious, and honestly, like a failure. However, I've shifted that thought. Now I look upon my massive to-do list as a blessing. How fortunate I am that I get to keep my home clean and beautiful (and that I even have a home to call home). How...
21 days ago • 5 min read
July 1, 2026 Happy July 1st! It's time to start using your cooling essential oils for the summer heat (if you're in the Northern Hemisphere, that is). But...maybe you're like I used to be before I truly understood essential oils? One thing I see all the time is that many essential oil users feel a little nervous and overwhelmed, even if they have technically been using oils for months or years. They may have a handful of bottles in the cupboard, a diffuser on the counter, and a few favorite...
28 days ago • 8 min read
June 24, 2026 I came across a woman (actually one of many over the years) who attributes all things good to Nature (note the capital 'N'). Honestly, I don't disagree with this. But there's a bit of VERY important nuance missing, and here's my take: God made all things good for us. For our food, our health, our healing. And nature contains all of these things! So much goodness we have, and at this time of year, when my herbs are growing, and I've already begun harvesting some of them....when...
about 1 month ago • 5 min read
June 17, 2026 Do you ever have those days when your mind feels like it has too many tabs open? I'm there today! Yikes! And...I apologize for being a day late with my note this week.... When you have too much on your brain, it feels like you're in a place where you're not exactly sick or falling apart. But you’re scattered, tense, a little overstimulated, and maybe even a bit snappy with people who don't deserve it. This is one of the reasons I love aromatherapy so much. Not because essential...
about 1 month ago • 5 min read
June 11, 2026 Hi, there! We’re getting close to the end of our Family Herbalist (Ditch the Drugstore and the Family Herbalist Certification program) enrollment window, and I want to ask you something as kindly and honestly as I can: Where do you want to be six months from now? Do you want another whole season to go by with the same herbs sitting in the cupboard, the same saved recipes you haven’t quite trusted enough to try, all the little essential oil bottles gathering dust because you're...
about 2 months ago • 3 min read
June 10, 2026 Happy Herbal Note Wednesday! Today's note is going to be a pretty passionate herbal chat. Because what I’m seeing right now is a flashing red warning light… and too many people are ignoring it. We always think we have more time than we do. The problem nobody wants to talk about.... Drug shortages are still happening. And supply issues aren’t the only concern. The prices of medication are skyrocketing. Did you know that almost 100% of the ingredients or complete medications for...
about 2 months ago • 7 min read