In case you’re not signed up to receive my bi-monthly Lunar Letters, I thought I’d share a recent letter with you so you can get a feel for what they’re like. This is the type of content you can expect to receive from me every couple of weeks. If you wanna get more of an inside glimpse into my life, get some extra seasonal living and herbal tips and recipes that can’t be found on the GUH blog, sign up here. You’ll immediately get a Welcome Email and a free ebook, and you’ll get your first letter on Sunday, December 23rd.
“I love snow for the same reason I love Christmas: It brings people together while time stands still. Cozy couples lazily meandered the streets and children trudged sleds and chased snowballs. No one seemed to be in a rush to experience anything other than the glory of the day, with each other, whenever and however it happened.” — Rachel Cohn
Hey, friends!
We’re supposed to get a good bit of snow (12-14 inches) over the weekend which means there’s a chance we’ll get snowed in here on the mountain. And while that may sound horrible for some, it’s got me excited.
We’re heading to the store tomorrow to stock up on groceries and water. Dean’s moving one of the cars to the bottom of the mountain in case we need to get out. We’ll probably also try to rent some Christmas movies, assuming the power stays on. If not, we’ve got plenty of candles, good books, art supplies, and games to keep us busy. And of course, there’s always going out to play in the snow!
So tell me? Do you mind being snowed in?
In this week’s letter, I’ve got some great things for you! I’m sharing a recipe from a blogger friends new book, there are new blog posts for you, and I’m telling you how you can learn all I know about making herbal ointments, salves, and balms and get access to some of my personal favorite recipes with you!
Much love,
Meagan
Fermented Red Onion & Thyme Honey
Today I have a special recipe for you! It’s from my friend Colleen Codekas new book, Healing Herbal Infusions, and I want to share this specific recipe with you for a few reasons.
First, cold and flu season is here, and this recipe can help support your immunity when used regularly. Secondly, fermentation is something a lot of people are hesitant to try because they think it’s hard and complicated, but this recipe makes it super easy. Lastly, if you’re looking for a holiday gift for someone who’s interested in herbs, healthy living, and DIYs, Colleen’s book is perfect!
Okay, so the recipe below is for fermented red onion and thyme. Garlic is a well known antimicrobial herb, but did you know that onion is a cousin to garlic and it too has antimicrobial properties? It’s true. And then there’s thyme. Thyme is a powerhouse antimicrobial herb, and most everyone has thyme in their pantry, growing in their garden, or can find it fresh in a local grocery store.
Fermented Red Onion & Thyme Honey
Reprinted with permission from Healing Herbal Infusions by Colleen Codekas, Page Street Publishing Co. 2018. Photo credit: Colleen Codekas
Ingredients:
- 1 cup (130 g) sliced red onion
- 1/2 cup (4 g) loosely packed fresh thyme springs
- 1 1/4 cup (300 mL) raw honey
Directions:
- Place all ingredients into a pint-sized (473 mL) jar. Cover with a lid and invert the jar a few times to coat the herbs in the honey. Loosen the lid a bit to allow gasses to escape as fermentation takes place. Set your jar in a dark, cool place.
- Each day, tighten the lid and invert your jar to coat the herbs in honey. Be sure to loosen the lid once you’re done. Do this for 1-2 weeks.
- You’ll notice little bubbles forming in the jar and your honey becoming runnier after a few days. This is fermentation happening! Your honey will be fully fermented in a month, but you can begin to use it at any time during this process.
Dosage:
Take honey, or eat a few slices of onion, whenever you feel sickness coming on, up to 3 times a day. It can also be taken 1-2 times a day as a preventative measure and to boost overall immunity.
- Adults: 1 tablespoon
- Children: Ages 3-7 take 1/4 teaspoon, ages 8-12 take 1/2 teaspoon, ages 13-18 take 1-2 teaspoons depending on size and weight.
Notes:
- This recipe is best with fresh thyme, but if you only have access to dried thyme, that will work. Just reduce to 1/4 cup for dried thyme.
- Do not use for children less than 2 years of age.
- You can use the honey and herbs as a yummy glaze or marinade for meats and veggies!
New on the Blog
THE MAGIC OF WINTER
While each season is enjoyable for its own reasons, winter is one of my favorites because it’s so full of warmth, magic, and meaning.
In this post, I’m sharing my thoughts on winter and why I look forward to it each year!
Read more here:
https://growingupherbal.com/magic-of-winter/
OUR 2018 “12 DAYS OF CHRISTMAS” HOLIDAY COUNTDOWN
Each year, I try to put together an Advent calendar for the boys in an effort to celebrate the season and do something fun together. Instead of gifts or candy, though, we do special activities together. But this year, I got behind and missed the December 1st start date because life happens… right? So instead, I decided to stray from the traditional 25 day Advent calendar and try something similar, yet different. This year, we’re incorporating our Advent activities into a 12 Days of Christmas countdown instead.
Read all about it here:
https://growingupherbal.com/12-days-of-christmas-holiday-countdown
HOW TO APPROACH EAR INFECTIONS NATURALLY
Because ear infections are a common occurrence during childhood, I consider myself very blessed that not one of my four kids has ever been diagnosed with one. Any time they’ve complained of an earache, I immediately approached the situation as if it were an actual ear infection — only from a natural perspective.
In this post, I want to talk a bit about acute ear infections, how you can approach ear infections naturally at home (including several DIY recipes), and when it’s time to go see a doctor.
Learn more here:https://growingupherbal.com/approach-ear-infections-naturally/
DIY Ointments, Salves, & Balms To Stock Your Natural Medicine Cabinet or Gift To Friends & Family
These days, a quick internet search will reveal a plethora of methods, advice, and how-tos for making herbal ointments, salves, and balms. This amount of information is not only confusing to someone who’s new to using herbs and making DIY preparations, but it can be frustrating as well!
One of my goals at Growing Up Herbal has always been to make using herbs and living naturally a bit more doable for you, and this, my friend, is one of the reasons why I’ve written this how-to guide.
Making Herbal Ointments, Salves & Balms: The Ultimate How-To Guide was written as a teaching resource for those looking for detailed information on making and using these types of preparations… start to finish.
By the end of this guide, you will not only know the difference in herbal ointments, salves, and balms, but you’ll know how to make and use each of these preparations, how to source quality ingredients, how to store them, and what you can do to extend their shelf-life.
CLICK HERE to learn more about this Ultimate Guide.
And that’s not all! I’m also sharing 12 of my personal herbal ointment, salve, and balm recipes with you in order to help you get started making and using these kinds of preparations as quickly as possible. These recipes are used over and over again in my home, and they are my family’s go-tos for healthy, natural living!
Never before have I shared the full list of recipes included in this guide, but that changes today.
In this ebook, you’ll learn to make:
1. GOOT Sore Throat Ointment (perfect to rub on throat, chest, and back when coughs are present)
2. Arnica Bruise Ointment (erases bruises like magic)
3. Warming Sore Muscle Ointment (my husbands favorite sore muscle salve)
4. Under-Eye Wrinkle Ointment (bye-bye crow’s feet)
5. Antibacterial “Neosporin” Salve (a must-have for the medicine cabinet)
6. Black Drawing Salve (my go-to for embedded objects or potentially infected bumps)
7. Lemon Mint Lip Scrub (polishes dried, flaky lips)
8. Baby-Safe Vapor Rub (safe, gentle, and effective for babies)
9. Nourishing Honey Lip Balm (my favorite lip balm!!)
10. Little Lady’s Solid Perfume (perfect for young girls who want to smell nice)
11. Scratch-No-More Bug Bite Balm (my kids use this constantly)
12. Firm Hold Hair Pomade (a natural way to get that spiked up look)
Learn how to make herbal ointments, salves, and balms, from start to finish, plus get 12 easy DIY recipes for only $8.99.
CLICK HERE to get your copy today!
Enjoy friend, and here’s to living life naturally!
Meagan
4.5
I’ve been living off of honey fermented garlic this winter, I’ll have to add in some onions and thyme and try it!
That’s so interesting. I’ll be trying this recipe! Thank you!