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

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

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 

A Blog Worth Sharing

A friend turned me on to a most fabulous blog a while ago: Deborah Small's Ethnobotany Blog (http://deborahsmall.wordpress.com/).

Deborah explores California native plants, the various cultures who utilize these jewels, and how they go from plant to food/medicine, documenting different beautiful faces and places along the way. She also links us to classes, teachers, and organizations who work to preserve ancient ways of connecting with nature and nourishing not only our bodies but our souls. Educational, inspiring and down right delicious (check out some of the recipes)!

Stinging nettle leaves stir-fried with garlic, onions, tomatoes, and cilantro. (Photo credit: Deborah Small)

-B. Pearl

Suburban Paradise

This Northeast LA hilltop sanctuary I call home is a sacred space, ever-changing and vibrant with life, providing nourishment for all.

Two of my favorite heirloom seed providers: Horizon Herbs (horizonherbs.com) and Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds (rareseeds.com).  

This is Lynq. He likes to hang out.

Paradise pickins: homegrown heirloom tomatoes and various herbs

An urban forager's delight

-B. Pearl

Welcome to our Yum Yard

If anything we can define the Yum Yard as a collective of ladies sharing their lives through eating, gardening, drinking, and most of all simply enjoying life.

Photos by B. Pearl

An introduction to your hosts;

My Yum Yard will take you to my mothers garden where I first learned what a tomato tasted like, into my kitchen to fix up a random assortment of dishes where a recipe is rarely used but for inspiration and tomatos are never refrigerated. I want to share with you my southern Californian community where I walk past at least 3 home gardens in two blocks and farm to table joints are popping up all over. I will cater to every idea of eating whether raw, vegan, primal, carnivore or hardcore foodie critic you will find something to strike your interest or taste buds. I do hope you enjoy.
- Marchelle Renee

***

I will be sharing my experiences interacting with plants here in Northeast Los Angeles. Interwoven will be musings on life, health and ideas inextricably linked to our nourishment as spiritual beings living a human experience. 
-B. Pearl