At last I have finished the fundraiser for Parkinson's UK and to date, before Gift Aid, I have raised in excess of £840.00, which I think is pretty darn good! I still have a few pledges outstanding so will give you the final total in about a month when it is all processed. I won't pretend it was easy, but I am so pleased I did it now, for many reasons.
We finished just in time as the weather is not good now, and I am glad I don't have to go out in it. We're back to strong winds and heavy rain almost all day long. I have just listened to the Countryfile weather forecast for the week ahead. "Heavy and frequent downpours" seem to feature for the first half of the week at least! Sighs . . .
Moving on. I now have made several herbal remedies or tonics. For the introduction I studied Nettles, Dandelion and Rosemary. Last month, the first of the full year we looked at Cleavers aka Goosegrass, and Hawthorn. We reviewed Nettles as there is much to learn about them. They are one of the most valuable herbs that grows. We learned about making herbal vinegars and how to use them for different purposes. This month we are discovering the properties of Elder, Plantain and Comfrey. We are learning how to make herbal infusions with different oils and methods of preparation, and again how to use them in a variety of ways according to need.
I have already made Nettle Vinegar, Rosemary Vinegar and a Dandelion Vinegar along with an infusion of seeds of Sweet Cicely in runny honey. That is still steeping. Now I am preparing to make infused oils. As the weather is bad and isn't good for harvesting anything, so while I patiently wait for a dry day for the harvesting, I am preparing everything else so I will be ready when I need to be.
I have decided I will be using the warm method of extraction, and I will be using my "dirty pourer" that I no longer use for tea. In fact, I was surprised I still had it as I thought it had gone to the charidee shop long ago!
Now that it is ready, I am drinking the Nettle Vinegar as a general tonic. Vinegar tends to catch in my throat, but I have overcome this by adding a brown sugar cube and topping up a glass with fizzy spring water. I find it is quite palatable. I wish I had made more.
I am also making a cold water infusion of Cleavers every evening, which is found in my water bottle daily. It has a refreshing, green flavour and I find it delicious!
I have purchased some British organic Rapeseed oil and some organic Almond oil to make infused oils as soon as the weather allows me to pick my chosen blooms. I am hoping to use some of these rose petals.
Finally, this is how the mysterious flower spike on the Aloe Vera is coming along.
Until next time
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