Get Creative With Terrariums

Seems like terrariums are all the rage lately so a friend and I wanted to make some for Christmas gifts.

I was surprised when I looked into the "how to" at how creative some people got with theirs and decided to have some fun with mine.

The basics are pretty easy. Start with any glass bowl, I found some interesting ones at the thrift store. You can also buy a specific terrarium bowl but they are pretty pricey.

Then add a layer of rocks, charcoal, sand and/or soil depending on the plants you are using.

You can get all of these at any gardening store.

I also used pretty rocks that I have collected and some marbles 

So here they are!

This fun beach scene is for my friends that just got married in Mexico on the beach

I really liked this vase I found and picked the plants to fit. They are nestled in reindeer lichen and I got the cool shells at an eclectic store here in San Francisco.

For obvious reasons this one stole the show! I created a Star Wars battle scene for my husband

I got the figurines online from amazon and the cool "living stones" plants from a store 

on Etsy (acorndesignsource) and the black sand is from our local beach

And I squished the leftover air plant into this tiny bottle using a pencil to arrange everything

I made all of these for the same cost of buying a terrarium kit or buying an already 

made one from the store plus my friend made a couple too,

 and you can get creative and really personalize them.

They are also pretty easy to take care of just spray with water once a week 

and keep in filtered light.

So get inspired and have fun with your terrarium!

Easy Handmade Gift Ideas - Infused Herbal Oils

This Infused Herbal Oil is so easy to make and requires no cooking!

Will last up to 1 year so keep on hand for last minute gift giving.

This oil will get stronger as it steeps

You will need: Large bottle of Olive Oil, Head of Garlic, Mixed Peppercorns, Pink Peppercorns, Chili Flakes, Sprigs of Thyme and Rosemary and Decorative Bottles

First add peppercorns, garlic, chili flakes, rosemary and thyme into bottles, next fill with olive oil

Put on cap, label or wrap with ribbons, etc....

These oils will get stronger as they steep so I advise using within 6 months.

Keep away from direct heat and sunlight for a fresh tasting oil

Use in stir-fry's, salad dressings, pour over roasted chicken or pot roast, or use as a bread dip with balsamic vinegar.

I added the pink peppercorns for a festive look, all ingredients are optional and to taste.

Other flavors to consider....lemon peel and ginger, garlic parsley and sundried tomato... 

Easy Handmade Gift Ideas - Chocolate Vanilla Honey

Here is another easy homemade gift idea that doesn't cost a lot and looks and tastes great. Have them on hand for last minute gift giving. Plus you can enjoy if you have leftovers.

 Chocolate Vanilla Honey

I used 3 cups local raw honey, 1 cup dark chocolate chips, and 3 vanilla beans

 first add honey on low heat, next add chocolate chips and vanilla beans cut in half.

stir continually until melted, then pour into jars while hot.

Do not scorch or boil the honey.

Cut vanilla beans from the pot to size and add to the jars, let cool and secure lids.

Make your own handwritten labels, ribbons, etc...

Great poured over pancakes, muffins, cookies, coffee cake or in coffee.

Experiment with different flavors....Chamomile Vanilla honey great in herbal tea's or Lavender Honey

I got these cute jars online from Specialty Bottle Supply

http://www.specialtybottle.com/

Working In A Good Way, Traditional Teachings

I recently had to take a break from my work due to health reasons and a deep spiritual heartache. This proved to be very difficult as when I'm in pain all I want to do is pour myself into my work.

But all the teachings I have been given have shown me that when working with your hands and especially when working with medicine you must be in a good way, if not physically, especially mentally and spiritually and I definitely was not. Everything that is in your heart, mind and body goes into what you do. This is a way of life that I respect and try to follow.

I know you're thinking you can't just take a break from work whenever you are sick or not in a good way, but this is exactly what we must do to take care of ourselves. This kind of stress in our lives and in our bodies will make us sick in the future, maybe to the point where we cannot work at all. It has happened to me before so now I take the teachings seriously.

So as I sat contemplating my increasingly depressing situation, trying to make sense out of it I thought of my teachings and of all those women that gone before me, that have certainly gone through worse; my Mother, my Aunties, my Grandmother and so on....
I find it completely amazing and comforting to know that they have all long since passed yet they continue to teach me and guide me whenever I need them.

So I would like to share some of these teachings with you that have helped me through some tough times.

First:
- Try to keep your hands busy. Although I could not make medicine at this time I could make other things or just get caught up on sewing, baking and some general things that needed to be done that didn't take too much physical effort.

this is a headband I made out of a belt

- Clean up your work space or where you spend a lot of time, a messy home brings a messy life, is not just a metaphor, it is a traditional teaching.

 I know it may look cluttered but it's clean!

And Alphabetized! Well I was off for a whole week!

- Go out into nature. This is a big one for me, I try to get out every day even when the weather is nasty. It helps to show me my place in the world and understand that we all have a place, even if it's just to walk my dogs lol

Hard to be sad hanging around these two

Do something for someone in need. During this time I wrote a letter to the family we sponsor in Pine Ridge ND, asking if they need anything extra other than the monthly food order. Last year all the kids needed winter coats. This puts things in perspective for me, instantly grateful for my life today and remembering what it's like to struggle daily for food and shelter.

- And last but not least, talk to an elder. Again to put things in perspective. After talking to my Auntie I am always left with something to think about other than myself and usually a good laugh.

and a smile

And before you know it back to usual or even a little better, whatever that is for you!

Wopila! Many Blessings, Mitakuye Oyasin

Sweet and Savory Pumpkin Seeds

Caramelized Salty Pumpkin Seeds!

So good I'm going out to get more pumpkins just so I can make more!!!

Quick Pumpkin Seed Health Facts:

Prostate Protection, promote overall prostate health

High levels of Zinc, great for bone mineral density and osteoporosis

Natural anti-inflammatory effects for Arthritis

Contains L-Tryptophan, naturally effective against depression

Phytosterols in pumpkin seeds may help lower LDL cholesterol, enhance immune response and prevent some forms of cancer

and they're a great source of fiber so enjoy this time of the year when there is an abundance of pumpkin and squash seeds!

Here's the recipe:

2 cups pumpkin seeds

1-2 teaspoons of brown sugar

1/2 teaspoon butter or olive oil

1/4-1/2 teaspoon salt

OK so I started with 2 cups of pumpkin seeds rinsed and dried in the oven at 200F for about 2 hours, turning frequently.

Next toast the pumpkin seeds on medium heat on stove top until golden brown

Then add 1/2 teaspoon butter (best flavor) or olive oil (healthy heart), stir constantly to coat all seeds and not scorch.

Next immediately sprinkle on the brown sugar and salt so it coats the seeds, stirring constantly and allow to caramelize (about 5 minutes)

I left the measurements open to tastes...I like mine really sweet and savory so I used 2 teaspoons of sugar and 1/2 tea of salt so you might want to start with less and season to taste.

These are so good they won't last long!

Just made 2 batches...one for snacking (which is gone already) and the other batch I used in my homemade sweet and savory granola bars! So good!

You could also use these to sprinkle on salads or stir fry's, on the tops of muffins, add to your pumpkin seed brittle.

Strawberry Lavender Honey Jam

My favorite jam to make because it's Kris' favorite and I love using Lavender in cooking, and not just the flavor, I like to throw the flowers right in. If you don't want flowers in yours put them into a tea bag or strainer and just steep it in the jam for about 10 minutes.

So it sounds difficult but it's super easy to make....I try to make new recipes by the book then next time I can break the rules. 

I've been using this Pomona's pectin because you can make twice the amount of jam with 1/2 the sugar and it turns out great! I use the "cooked jam recipes" from the pectin and then slightly vary it depending on what I want or what ingredients I have

So I cut the strawberries quite small and pour the 1/4 cup of lemon juice on to help soften the strawberries before I mash them b/c even ripe strawberries are not easy to mash.

Next start cooking, throw in about 3 tablespoons of fresh or dried Lavender (to taste)

Add sugar or honey...I only had 1 cup of honey left so I made up the rest with sugar or (also to taste)

Then boil for a one minute and put into whatever jars you have just make sure your jars are sterilized.

I just happened to have some cute jars I ordered for my medicinal honey recipes :)

see the nice little flecks of lavender?

And there you go! 

Cute, organic and homemade, great for gifts and you can get cases of fruit right now for cheap!

It took me an hour to make in total and I got 6-8oz jars and 4-3.75oz jars and everything cost me $11.00

I was motivated to make my own again when I recently paid $7 at the farmers market for an 8oz jar of jam....and when I asked if there was a discount for buying multiples the answer was a quick "no"

And sometimes Kris and I make it together, which is super fun and super sticky!

Why Grow Your Own Food?

Sometimes I look at my meagre harvest and wonder why am I putting so much effort when I end up shopping at the market anyways? and when you factor in costs of soil and labour it's so much cheaper...

I certainly don't always feel like I'm making that large of an impact on global warming or feeding my family....especially now that I'm reduced to container gardening.

But there's something more that goes into growing your own food, tending to it, watering it, getting to know each plant....and actually being a part of the growing process that gives me a connection to food in a way I had forgotten.

Growing up on a farm and raising animals gave me a love of nature and also a great respect for where my food came from, my dad hunted, my mom cooked from scratch and all the kids had many chores taking care of the animals.
We moved to town when I was 8 and it wasn't long until I lost that connection especially with food.
I remember going into my neighbors yard and picking the apples and being chased off and threatened if I ever came back. I watched for the rest of the summer as the apples fell to the ground and rotted never being eaten.
From that time on we moved around so much I never really had a chance to be connected to any one place and inevitably became a city kid living on hotdogs and KD

It wasn't until I had grown up and gotten my own place that I really got back into gardening and literally got back in touch with my roots!

Yes we all have read the studies that show how working with the earth and getting into nature brings down our stress levels, and never mind all the health benefits of eating fresh grown local food, and further still all the earthly beneficials of growing plants in general for the bee's ect......

BUT there is something else that comes from connecting to plants, to animals to unci maka, our great Grandmother Earth, that is as indescribable as holding a newborn baby or being in love; a sacred connection that once made will always remain.
So yes it is not only worth the effort but vital for me now to have this connection, this relationship with something greater than myself and greater than just digging in the garden.

Chief Seattle said it best when he said "What we do to the earth we do to ourselves"