How to Tell the Quality of Dried Herbs
Learning to judge the quality of dried herbs can be tricky. It’s a skill that’s built with experience. Growing your own herbs and drying them at home are the best ways to ensure they are of high quality. Even when […]
How to Grow Motherwort in an Herb Garden
Motherwort (Leonurus cardiaca) is a favorite herb in my garden. It comes back year after year and has many different uses. Learning how to grow motherwort in your own garden is very simple. Here are my best tips! An overview […]
How to Become an Herbalist as a Career
Polite, earnest variations of “How do I become an herbalist?” are often in my email inbox from aspiring herbalists. I do my best to answer every email, but I thought it would also be fun to write an article about […]
An Introduction to Elecampane Herb
I hope you enjoy this excerpt from my new Elecampane Masterclass. I give you a little taste in this post, but the full lesson is available for free on the Teacup Alchemy blog. This $19 course contains in-depth lessons on elecampane from […]
Exploring the Herbal Uses of Holly in Global Traditions
The holly and the ivy. Winter decorations wouldn’t be complete without them, but most people don’t give them a second thought the rest of the year. This is a shame, because both have a long tradition of herbal history behind […]
Drunken Botanist Book Review (Why I love this book)
A book after my own heart, this little handbook covers history, trivia, and serving suggestions for serving up a unique botanical experience. I’ve had this book for about a year, and decided it was time to do a Drunken Botanist […]
Alcohol Free Herbs for the Home Apothecary
Steeping herbs in alcohol is a quick and simple way to extract and preserve their benefits. Alcohol-based herbal extracts are potent and have a good shelf-life, so it’s no wonder that the little brown bottles of extract have become ubiquitous. […]
A Guide to Growing Vegetables for New Gardeners
The coronavirus pandemic has me even more on edge about food security than usual, and I know I’m not the only one. I’ve always been inclined to stock my pantry well. Part of this comes from living in rural areas […]
Herbal Uses for Bee Balm
Bee balm is a native plant with a gorgeous flower. Depending on the species, the flowers may be pink, purple, or red. It’s a beautiful addition to pollinator-friendly gardens and a familiar garden plant, but most people don’t realize that […]
The Chinese Medicinal Herb Farm Book Review
Cultivation and gardening are a big part of my path as an herbalist. My introduction to herbs came from my grandmother and grandfather. They tended an enormous garden and orchard that they used to feed themselves and their grandkids, but […]