What of enlightenment? When I began meditating many moons ago, the workshops and books I was immersed in promoted a concept of enlightenment. They weren’t referring to The Enlightenment with a capital E that happened in Europe in the 17th and 18th centuries, but instead a spiritual shift in perspective. Since meditation has become mainstream, the … Read more
Full Moon Greetings – July 3, 2023 Ancient Fava Beans Fava beans (Vicia faba) have been cultivated around the Mediterranean for a very long time – since at least 6,000 BCE. So you can imagine in that long history that a range of stories, myths, and opinions might arise about this plant. Some of the … Read more
New Moon Greetings – June 18, 2023 Most gardeners have heard of the Three Sisters – a plant community made up of pole beans, corn, and squash, with benefits to all three plants. The Three Sisters have been utilized by many Native American cultures for thousands of years. Although the varieties of these plants vary … Read more
Full Moon Greetings – June 3, 2023 Gifts of Comfrey Comfrey (Symphytum officinale) has just begun to bloom in my garden. But the delicate bluish-purple flowers are easy to miss. Tiny bell shapes hang in clusters under the leaves. You have to look closely to admire them because they are dwarfed by the rest of … Read more
New Moon Greetings – May 19, 2023 Garden Evolution Garden Experiments are about pushing the boundaries of what you ordinarily grow. When my children were young, I focused my garden efforts exclusively on edible plants and healing herbs. Feeding people and having plants to make my own teas, tinctures, and salves was the top priority. … Read more
Happy Full Moon – May 5, 2023 Delicate Tiny Beauty It is finally spring in Denver and my violets are in bloom. Violet plants flower early in the spring along with tulips and daffodils. But unlike their very showy neighbors, violets have a quieter energy and can be almost invisible. Violets grow naturally in shady areas. … Read more
Happy New Moon April 20, 2023 Earth Day Mindfulness Earth Day is upon us (Saturday April 22nd) and I wanted to write about Earth Day Mindfulness, but have been challenged by opposing views. Mindfulness is of course paying attention to what IS, not about closing our eyes, and pretending things are okay when they are … Read more
Happy Full Moon – April 6, 2023 Inviting Borage into Your Garden As you gather seeds for spring planting, consider adding borage (Borago officinalis) to the list. Borage is a hardy annual with vibrant star-shaped flowers, usually of blue and lavender (but there is a rare white variety). It is a wonderful companion plant, repelling … Read more
Happy New Moon, March 21, 2023 Weaving Together the Energy of Spring Equinox & New Moon This day holds an abundance of new moon & equinox energy. The new moon occurs today, March 21st, and the vernal equinox took place yesterday, March 20th. Each of these events hold powerful imagery and energy that we can … Read more
Happy Full Moon – March 7, 2023 An Origin Story There is an old Norse tale of a farmer who was given the gift of flax by the goddess Holda. While chasing after his sheep, he discovered a secret doorway into a glacier. And upon entering the doorway, the farmer discovered a cave filled with dazzling … Read more
