Sip This

Making a tincture is very simple.

You fill a jar with herbs of your choosing, cover them with your choice of alcohol (vodka or rum works), put a tight cap on it, store it in a dark cabinet, shake it up once in a while. Low and behold, a month later you will have a fine elixir awaiting your palette. Strain the herbs and keep close by for when you need some healing.

The better the alcohol, the better the final product (obviously).

Mix it up with a few complimentary herbs or keep it simple with just one.

KNOW YOUR STUFF: Be sure you do your research about the herbs you choose before brewing your tincture(s) as to be aware of the recommended dose(s) and side effects of what you're working with. Herbs are powerful! Treat them as such. (I must remind myself, too!!)

A tincture is to be respected, savored and enjoyed consciously. 

Lemongrass

Orange peel

Rosemary, lavender, and culinary sage

-B. Pearl

Givin Thanks

Autumn technicolors 

Lushness filling sparse spaces

Huichol tobacco still commanding it's presence 

Green zebra tomatoes fruiting

Birds of paradise sayin heyyy

Nasturtium flowers kissing the sky 

Mysterious fuzzy orange blooms

Aloes dazzling with psychedelic shoots

Digestive system workin overtime

Realizing that the holidays,
However commercialized, overrated and irritating,
Are all about
Celebrating life in the essence of love

Yes yes... GRATITUDE.

I would love to know what this is (plant ID, anyone?)

Thanksgivin pickins!!

-B. Pearl

Dherbs

This Los Angeles-based company goes above and beyond to educate folks about health and nutrition while offering plenty of products/services to keep you going strong. I support them fully in their mission. They keep it real and have a sense of humor. Read about their philosophy and wander through their pages. I guarantee you will find something that speaks to you.

-B. Pearl

Baby Melons

I planted my heirloom melon seeds late. Nonetheless, I'm as proud as a momma to present my baby fruits rendering sweet white flesh and a small batch of seeds for next year.

-B. Pearl

That Smell in the Air

Yep, fall's here.

-B. Pearl

Nasturtium

I love flowers. I especially love when I get to eat them. It's like infusing my body with their majesty. What a gift!

Nasturtiums caught my attention back in late spring, while spending a delightful week in Marchelle Renee's presence down in San Diego. At the time she lived right on the cusp of a beautiful canyon filled with wild eats. One of those delicious yum yard treats was nasturtium and though I had read about it, I hadn't quite connected with this plant personally. The canyon was just spilling with this stuff; I had to take advantage of the bounty.

Native to South America, nasturtiums are seriously good for you, in many ways. Just be aware: consuming these in large quantities, as well as leaving them on the skin too long, can cause some bodily discomforts. Go here to find more information on this fabulous (and potent) plant entity.

Trippy leaves: this variety is Alaska Variegated

Happy flower noshing :)

-B. Pearl

Take a Moment and Just...

Breathe.

What's For Dinner

Sister's cookin...

Homegrown herbal garnish...

Beauty.

-B. Pearl

Poppin

These tender mixed baby greens just couldn't wait for winter to pop... probably the easiest greens I've ever grown.

-B. Pearl

Super Greeen

Want to blow your own mind? Drink a green smoothie. Don't be scared, it's just fruit + dark leafy greens. It's actually quite tasty when you get a feel for proportions and your own taste buds. There's no right or wrong way to blend one up. There is, however, a fine line between a deliciously frothy beverage and a swamp in a cup. I say go for it. Either way, you're in for a treat.

Suggested reading: Green For Life by Victoria Boutenko. This is the book modern medicine would rather you never find out about. Healing thy self is amazingly simple!

In this smoothie:

1/2 mango

1 small peach

1 banana

2 purple figs

Slice of cantaloupe

Slice of watermelon

Slice of lemon

Handful of kale

Three leaves of aloe vera (clear gel inside, sliced out)

Few sprigs of lemon mint

Few sprigs of basil

A piece of fennel

Two sprigs worth of rosemary leaves

Pinch of cayenne pepper

Dash of cinnamon

Try this in place of your morning coffee. Your body will thank you for it.

-B. Pearl

Winners

Just some of the many immaculate visions popping out at me lately...

Herby bath:)

Lemongrass = current fav

-B. Pearl

Problem...

No outdoor growing space?

Solution:
Have a window with some light?

 I love using chalkboard paint on just about anything. It looks cool and it great for easy and changeable labeling.

-Marchelle Renee

Lechuga

Favorite thing growing right now

Bright and delicious flavor.

Poached egg on top, yolk as the dressing. Lovely.

-Marchelle Renee

Long Love Eggplant

My approach to preparing this beauty was rather informal, no recipe required (like most of what I prepare). Here is what I used, enough for two people to enjoy comfortably:

One Japanese long eggplant (of course)

One Roma tomato

One fourth of a yellow onion

Two cloves of garlic

One Shishito Japanese sweet pepper (also from the garden)

A couple big pinches of salt

A few grinds of white pepper

A hearty dash of curry powder

A lil water to give the dish some juiciness

A cup and a half of brown rice, already cooked

A bundle of fresh basil leaves, chopped for a fresh garnish 

'Shishito' Japanese sweet pepper plant

Shishito pepper fully ripened

-B. Pearl

Sunrise and the Rise of New Life

Yesterday, I awoke early enough to witness the break of dawn.

I spent the morning doing deliciously tiny things, like this...

Thrift store pot: $1. Plants: priceless

I fell upon a marvelous website totally worth sharing (http://www.urbangardensweb.com/). Full of awesome ideas from cinder block gardening to sustainable fashion design (featuring a wedding dress fashioned out of recycled paper embedded with wildflower seeds, crafted by Tessa Zeng).

Emerging bedroom garden

I brought the outdoors in. Wow, what a difference.

Being indoors inspired me out again at dusk... 

Huichol tobacco seedling

Psychedelic nosher 

-B. Pearl