Straining Rosehip Honey

In Early October of this past Fall I collected Rose Hips along the Flathead River and here is the final honey product!You can start your own Rose hip honey by following my previous notes. I allowed the pulpy mixture of hips and seeds to infuse in some local honey till yesterday. The honey was then slowly drained from the pulp for 24 hours using a metal strainer and glass bowl.

The aroma was so potent it permeated the atmosphere of the kitchen and is simply intoxicating.

The leftover pulp and seeds will be spread out over my native bed in hopes some seeds sprout this spring. The seeds are quite hard and unlikely to break down in my digestive system so, to spare my diverticuli I'll spread the spent pulp outside instead.

  

The honey, not surprisingly, took on the rich color of the rose hips. Enough water from the hips changed the thick honey consistancy to more of a syrup. Due to the water- although negligible from the rose hips-I plan to refrigerate it to keep it longer. Loaded with Vitamin C this will be a wonderful addition to a winter cup of tea.  

I simply boil some water add fresh lemon and a tsp of honey and slip into bliss.

12 Days of Tea and Cookies

In honor of the changing season. We started a 12 days of tea and cookies tradition. We've been eating a few, freezing a few and mailing a few. Here's our first batch from December 13th.

Rambling Raspberry Rose Tea

1 tblsp razz leaves

3 rose hips

dash of cinnamon

slice of lemon

Combine razz leaves and rose hips in tea ball or bag. Cover with hot water in a large mason jar-sprinkle with cinnamon, cover and allow to steep for 45 minutes or while cookies are baking. Pour over sliced lemon and sweeten with local honey.

Oatmeal Banana Spice Cookies

1/2 cup butter

1 cup sugar

2 tblsp molasses

2 eggs

1 cup plain yogurt

1 banana

2 tsp vanilla

1 1/2 cups spelt flour

1tsp baking soda

1/2 tsp salt

2 tsp cinnamon

1/2 tsp nutmeg

1/4 tsp cloves

4 cups dry oats

1 cup raisins

Blend wet ingredients. Sift dry ingredients. Combine and stir in raisins.

Bake at 350 degrees for 12 minutes. Cool and devour!

Lover of Montana Winters

Chimaphila umbellata is a Winter Lover and no doubt in Montana this is the case. Temperatures are frigid here at times and this little wonder stands strong while peaking out of the snow in late fall. A wonderful plant for colds, flu, kidney stones and skin ailments the aerial parts of Chimaphila sp. can be made into a tea, strong infusion, tincture or honey extract.

Commonly known as, Pipsissewa meaning "it breaks into little pieces" it is often prescribed for kidney stones as a dissolver and post therapy associated with urethritis . It is mildly astringent, much less than Uva ursi and the constituents include but are not limited to iron, pectin, chlorophyll tannic acid and chimpaphilin. The herb is an overall lymphatic stimulant-strengthening the blood and cleansing the urinary tract.

I have found this plant coast to coast from the Mountains of North Carolina to the North Woods of Montana. Although rhizomatic it is dependent on host plants and does not transplant well. Collect leaves and flowers in the field before winters deep snow in the Rocky Mountains or throughout the winter months in the Appalachian Mountains. I like to gather from the heart of several separate stands so the growth on the periphery continues to spread without disturbance. I also pinch off only the first few sets of whorled leaves so growth develops branched and laterally with some leaves left to photosynthesize.

Wild harvesting herbs should always be practiced with respect and sustainability in mind. Never harvest the entire or even more than 25% of any stand. Any roots that are disturbed should be gently buried and recovered with material. Pipsissiwea is one of the "at risk" medicinal plants due to overharvest. Choose wisely and carefully.

Infusion Directions

Steep 1 part plant to 32 parts water for at least 24 hours. Strain. Drink up to 12 fluid ounces daily while symptoms persist.

Syrup

Combine 8 oz of infusion with 1/2 cup honey in pot over stovetop. Heat till honey is fluid. Allow to cool and bottle. Take by the spoonful or add to other herbal teas like Raspberry for a potent lymphatic boost.

Tincture

Weigh and then fill mason jar with fresh material. Add twice as much in volume of 95 percent alcohol and allow to extract for at least 3 weeks. Longer for a stronger medicine. I normally plan on at least a 6 month extract. Keeps indefinitely. Take 25 drops 3X per day till better.

Omega O'Mama

Omega 3 Fatty Acids are crucial for healthy skin, organ function and immunity. Omega 3 & 6 in a 1:1 ratio is the optimal balance. This happens in diets rich in leafy greens, grass fed chicken, bison, beef and fatty cold water fish. Studies show a ratio of 1:3 Omega 3 to Omega 6, is considered effective in preventing many types of cancer and inflammatory disease and promoting cardiovascular health. There is some quite technical information on how Omega 3 interacts with Omega 6 but I'll spare you the details. Basically one balances the other and you want the ratio to be better than 1:15 which is primarily where Western diets are at.

Quite simply, Omega 3 is found in cold water fatty fish, flax and hemp seed oil, grass fed chicken and cattle and a small amount of soy. Omega 6 can be found in all of the aforementioned food sources plus evening primrose(GLA source), walnut and safflower oils. Most people have adequate but more likely too much Omega 6 in their diets. This is primarily due to soy supplementation in a number of processed foods. Read labels and you may be surprised on all the soy derivatives.

Too much Omega 6 causes inflammation in your system and can manifests itself through the skin and organs leading to several imbalances and disease. Soy is notorious for being rich in Omega 6 and imbalanced in Omega 3. Soy's ratio is about 1:6 in Omega 3 & 6, respectively. If you eat alot of soy really look at the Omega 6 mg values and supplement with Cold Water Fish Oils to somewhat balance it out. I like Nordic Naturals Omega 3D. It has no detectable amounts of heavy metals and rich in Omega 3's of DHA, EPA and has Vitamin D. Omega 3's of DHA and EPA are readily assimilated without the liver having to convert it.

The winters in Montana can be dark with short days and lots of snow. Inversions are a wonderful remedy for winter blues and spectacular to view. Inversions are what lead to the naming of my business. Anyway, the best way to get Vitamin D is through sun exposure directly on the most skin surface area possible. With numerous cloudy days this far north we supplement with fish oils and vitamin d during the winter. Vitamin D supports a healthy immune system and Omega 3's of DHA and EPA are especially important for developing brains of young children and support brain, eye and nerve function for adults. Children that are still breastfeeding will receive adequate amounts through mother's milk that is supplemented with Cold Water Fish Oils.

Swan Range Inversion

Omega 3's found in plants are known as ALA. Our livers convert ALA into usable DHA and EPA. Food sources include two of my favorites Kale and Hemp Seed Oil. Kale is in a near perfect 1:1 ratio. Hemp a 1:3 ratio also provides additional fat and protein into diets. It is quite palatable for children and easily consumed in milk or powder form. I like Living Harvest for Hemp Milk and Hemp Powder and Nutiva for Hemp Seed Oil. All Sun Loving Baby Herbal Salves are made with Organic Hemp Seed Oil because your skin is your largest organ. In addition, Organic Hemp Milk can be used in place of recipes that call for cow's milk. Those chocolate chip cookies are now REALLY good for you.

You heard this all before, but healthy diets in children and adults(although most of us have our processed food addictions) should consist of fresh fruits and vegetables, whole grains like spelt(ancestor to wheat with minimal gluten content), brown rice and quinoa. Plenty of fluids like herbal tea of raspberry, anise hyssop, nettles or lemon balm, Alaskan salmon or Arctic Cod and grass fed cattle or chicken products and some type of probiotic. Meats, in my opinion, should not be introduced till the canines come in. This is a similar philosophy to not introducing food till they can sit upright on their own. It simply aligns with body and molar development as indicators for food introduction. Children's food beginnings will have a lasting impact on their overall health today and in the future.

Our family has limited our processed foods to organic tortilla chips and wheat free figs. Corn in the form of tortilla chips does not leach out vital niacin in your body like whole corn because it is slacked with lime. Figs are a healthy sweet treat but do create heat in your body. We no longer ingest wheat or soy. Wheat allergies can manifest itself through skin rashes, redness and indigestion(gluten intolerance). These food choices may sound so bland to most but really after committing to this a few years ago I no longer crave the usual processed salts and sugars. Well, maybe some homemade cookies, chocolate ginger cake with maple frosting (1800mg Omega 3-Believe It!)and there's hope that the occassional consumption of organic ice cream is from grass fed cattle and boosting my Omega 3's too.

Trying to limit if not eliminate soy consumption all together can prove challenging from the standpoint of a meat free diet but many other beans may provide an adequate source of protein. Soy has been linked to hormonal imbalances in young girls and boys, kidney stones and inflammatory bowel syndrome. Studies have concluded that too much soy consumption leads to earlier onset of puberty in young girls and later on in life longer periods, infertility and thyroid dysfunction. So, if your a heavy Soy consumer especially, your young children consider switching to Hemp and pick maybe one Soy item to eat daily.

Painting Snow Fairies

We had a wonderful day exploring the snow, feeding our local winter birds and a little painting. The Blue and Stellar Jay, Red Breasted Nuthatches and Mountain and Black Capped Chickadees are feasting.

For painting I use Stockmar paints as they are non toxic-no lead, safe for children and all that good stuff. They come in Red, Yellow and Blue. We can make quite a beautiful palette. Today's color wheel consisted of Red, Yellow, Blue, Orange, Green and Purple.

I like to use Q-tips for a number of reasons. They are easy for grabbing just the right amount of paint from the Stockmar Jars and with a little water running over them in paper cups we make Watercolors. The Q-tip can still be used as a more saturated color stick for drawing or applying the water color to paper. Q-tips also promote fine motor skill development as Talus has to use his pincher grip to hold it.

The adults had fun too! We both created some artwork and Talus really got into it. He progressed from stirring the cups, painting with different brushes, combining all colors into one tray and submersing both hands into the myriad of colored water. This was then followed by some dump and pouring and soaking wet pants. Lots of fun! It's always so interesting how the experience evolves.

Free Organic Hemp Lip Balm

Random Magical Place in Glacier Country

Sun Loving Baby is now on Facebook. All fans are entered to win an Organic Hemp Lip Balm everytime 25 New Fans Join.

For those of you bloggers looking for a "random drawing generator" I found a website that is super easy to use. It can formulate any number of lucky winners for you. You simply place the number of winners you want in the "random generator" box. The "integer value between" is the number of contestants for example 1 to 25. Check it out as it makes more sense in person.

This Thanks-give-a-way is my Organic Hemp Lip Balm in Tangerine. I'll annouce the winner on Sun Loving Baby's Facebook Page.

Corridor Ecology

Recent word from the Itinerant Warbler working in the Wyoming Red Desert is it is threatened yet again by energy development. Maybe you've been to this enchanting place or perhaps driven through on I-80. It is a mix of High Desert and Surreal Energy Development. Approaching from Wyoming's Snowy Range the scene is striking and impressionable. Well worth a trip, this is a place to take a moment to contemplate how the flora and fauna have come to survive.

There another charismatic species, the Pronghorn Antelope, is facing impending disruption and at odds with capitalist energy desecraters. The Wyoming Red Desert harbors one of the oldest migratory herds we have in the lower 48. There are 50,000 head and one of their paths approaches the Y2Y corridor. This specific route has been used for thousands of years by many species.

The upside is Pronghorn Antelope are quite predictable in their annual routes and use of land. Their migratory path can be narrowed down with such precision that it is possible to conserve this area in particular.

Let's give these creatures and other species in this unique ecosystem a chance. Go here to tell Wyoming's Senators you value wild places and don't want this kind of energy development.


How does this relate to Montana? Montana too is a state on the precipice of alternative energy development. We have Pronghorn Antelope and species intimately connected to the Y2Y corridor. The issues in Wyoming are stepping stones to decisions that can be made in Montana.

Population ecology can have many hidden connections. One such connection involves Grey Wolves and Pronghorn Antelope. Healthy Wolf populations benefit Pronghorn Antelope offspring. This is by Wolves keeping Coyote numbers in check. Coyotes are the greatest danger to Pronghorn Antelope fawn surviving. When Coyotes are up in numbers the Pronghorn Antelope loose more offspring, thereby decreasing the size of the herd.

Montana allows trophy hunting of both Pronghorn Antelope and Grey Wolves.


Since May of 2009 Grey Wolves have been delisted and this past fall has proven significant mis-management and limited foresight by the ruling governance of fish and wildlife . One of the major problems among, a whole gamut of other issues, is poached wolves are not included in the removal quota. Additionally, there is limited punishment for poachers and so no incentive to discourage their negligence.

A local hunter here that poached two of the individuals from the 2 North Fork packs was fined a meager $1135 and his hunting license was not even revoked. This is disturbing as the Grey Wolf, not a few months ago, was riding as an Endangered Species. The Columbia Falls hunter and and an unknown other poached a total of 3 wolves in the North Fork Area. In combination of quota and poached wolves the two packs were physically reduced by about 17%. This doesn't factor in wolf mortality that occurs by human negligence, human locomotion and age, pack dynamics or injury related natural causes throughout the year. There is a potential loss of nearly 30-40% total pack reduction this year alone when all is said and done.

FWP is patting themselves on the back saying this " couldn't of been a more scripted" wolf harvest. What?

There seems to be no respect or reverence within the managing authority for predator populations that now have limited ranges due to habitat loss, human conflict and what appears to be unrestricted hunting. These wolves had stabilized and balanced their population size long before humans thought they could do a better job. Still, we continue to disturb natural cycles of ecosystems.

A common sentiment of wolves by wolf hunters is they interfere with their elk hunting and cattle ranching. This view does not persist in the hunting of pronghorn antelope. Pronghorn are not looked on as a threat, whereas, wolves "threaten" elk populations and cattle ranchers.

Did we not learn anything from wolves keeping Yellowstone elk in check? What else would we lose if the Aspen Groves were lost? Values are poorly placed at times. Additionally, wolves are hunted within wilderness areas such as the Bob Marshall, the North Fork (should have wilderness designation) and at the edge of National Parks like Yellowstone and Glacier-not near ranches. They are indiscriminately being killed.

Corridor ecology can have dramatic implications in preserving genetic diversity within species and balancing interactions between all predators, plants and other fauna.

Apple Cider Press and Crab Apple Recipes

Ever cut an apple crosswise? What a wonderful discovery. Apples have numerous medicinal properties including relieving indigestion, a vitality booster, stomach acid neutralizer and potent quercetin source. A Modern Herbal by Mrs. M. Grieve provides an extensive historical, medicinal and culinary account of Apples and many other Plants. I think the most delicious apples are those happened upon outside. You may even have a few neighbors who leave their apples and are happy to share the crop with you the eager picker.


I recommend tasting your apples prior to picking so not to end up with alot of crab apples. Discovering this the hard way I still found a use for a 5 gallon bucket full of crab apples including: crab apple jelly and crab apple liqueur.














Even though, we are past apple harvest season in NW Montana if you were a diligent forager and picked your apples before the early October Arctic Blast and have them in cold storage-you're ready for some homemade apple cider. I, on the other hand, delayed my 2nd round of apple picking and am now gathering them for my compost-boohah (The first round transformed into copious amounts of frozen applesauce). No less my motivation for hard cider will not be deterred next year. Below are a few plans to smash your apples with. We're building the "easy jack" frame this year for next year's stash.

Beautiful but Welding is Involved

Here's Mother Earth News cider press

Easy Jack Press with No Instructions
I found another farm that has a modified cider press with jack that looks easier to build-see pic

Jack Press with A Little More Instruction

These cats also built a cider press with some wood and a jack. You get the idea on materials needed now







On to Recipes


Crab Apple Jelly

Large Stainless Steel Pot

4 lbs Crab Apples

4 Cups Organic Sugar

5 cups Water

Cheesecloth

Strainer

Bowl

• Wash and De-Stem Crab Apples (slice tops off-to speed this up)


• Dump into Large Stainless Steel Pot


• Cover with 5 cups Water


• Bring to a Gentle Boil for 10 minutes stirring frequently


• Smash Apples


• Gently Boil 1 more minute


• Pour into Cheesecloth lined Strainer and Drain Over a Bowl Overnight


• Reserve syrupy juice in the morning and compost apple mush


• Pour Equal Amounts of juice and sugar into large stainless steel pot


• Rapidly Boil 5 minutes or until sugar dissolves


• Transfer to Sterilized Mason Jar and process following your pressure canner's instructions

Apple Liqueur

Wide Mouth Mason Jar

Crab Apples

Dried Anise Hyssop or Lemon Balm

Vodka

• Fill wide mouth mason jar with crab apples leaving room for herbs


• Top with Anise Hyssop or Lemon Balm


• Cover with Vodka and Seal


• Store for 3-6months


• Strain and Reserve Vodka

Sip and Enjoy during a Snow Shower

Garlic Lemonade

For all you raw garlic fans-here's a delicous mellowed down version. Boosts the immune system is antiviral and decongests. We partake in a family glass once a week. Cheers!

Supplies

Mason Jar

Half an Oranic Lemon Juiced

2 Locally Grown Garlic Cloves Minced (more for a stronger bite)

Directions

Combine all in Mason Jar and Pour Boiling water over the top. Steep till Cool.

Want to Grow Your Own Garlic?

Read "Planting a Year's Worth of Garlic" at our Squash Blossom Farm Blog. We were blessed with amazing fall weather this past weekend and got 544 cloves of garlic in the ground!

Toddler Winter Boots Rated -25

These kickers rate down to -25. I found these toddler boots a few weeks ago for $9 brand new at a local store! They were listed at and eye popping $45. I got a size larger to accommodate socks for my 15month old. These Winter Boots feature a rubber toe and surround, wool insert and pull string adjustment below the knee. They have great traction as well. I was looking for something he could walk around through snow in until it's too deep and we break out the snowshoes.

He wore them around the house here and there and have tried them in fresh snow and frozen ground since. We had our first arctic blast of the fall in early October. Normally, the Arctic Cold Air doesn't drift down till January or later. So we tried out these little boots, with no socks, a little earlier than normal. After running around outside for more than an hour his feet were toasty warm. He can now move up and down the hill in the backyard as he's adjusted to the new soles.

Children who are just beginning to walk and even for years after should really wear soft soled shoes. This is so they can feel the earth shaping under their arches, heels and toes. I have started a line of toddler soft shoes on my etsy page. Check out the funky soles!

With the cold and snow like it is here in NW Montana-we had to compromise with a boot more rigid and less permeable to the elements.

I like them so much I bought the ladies version. The price keeps dropping for those too! This is my fourth winter in Glacier Country and I know they'll get plenty of use. Regardless, I probably should read No Logo by Naomi Klein as I've been branded.

Rosehip Honey

Well it's herbal making season in our kitchen amidst other fall harvest culinary adventures. My latest explorations are with Honey Extracts. Besides the herbal constituents that it pulls from herbs, local honey offers you allergy resistance.
This happens by bees visiting all your favorite nasal instigators (pollen). When you ingest the honey from local apiarist you are getting a small sample of exposure to your areas flowers and subsequently the pollen. This is similar to how Homeopathy works. Bees are critical to the survival of many fruits, vegetables and flowers. This is why NOT using insecticides is so important.

A Rose's fruiting body is known as the hip. Rosehips have up to 100X more Vitamin C than traditional food sources. They also contain Phosphorus, Vitamin A and Calcium. Vitamin C needs Calcium for adequate uptake in your system-Rosehips naturally carry this synergy.

The best time to collect is after a continuous frost for several days. So throughout fall and winter are ideal times to forage. There is something so tantalizing about hunting for red plump hips hanging low under the weight of fluffy white snow. Rose not only allures by smell but by sight.

Rosehip Honey Recipe

Wild Rosehips
Local Honey
2 Mason Jars
Chopstick

Fork

Forage in your favorite Fall or Winter Rosehips Retreat
Return Home and Fill One Mason Jar then proceed to Smash Berries with Fork
Pour Warmed Honey from other Mason Jar Over the Top

Cap and Store in a Warm Spot
Allow to Sit from 4wks-6wks
Strain
Enjoy

Helpful Extract Tips
*After pouring warm honey over mason jar of hips-stir with chopstick to release any air bubbles then add more honey

*I warm the honey by filling one mason jar with honey them placing in a warm water bath
*I also pluck the terminal end of the berry although this is not necessary

Add spoonfuls to your daily tea, take an exclusive spoonful or top waffles or toast with this scrumptious-immune boosting treat. If struck with illness take up to 8 spoonfuls a day to boost your immune system.

Rosehip honey rolled with slippery elm powder is not only soothing to a sour throat but irresistible candy for toddlers able to suck on candy.

Rosehip honey can also be stirred into warm tea for children over 15 months.

How to Make Elderberry Syrup to Prevent the Flu

Sambucus nigra and allied spp. are powerful plants. Studies have proven that extracts from the berries provide resistance to 10 different strands of Influenza A and B including H1N1. This happens by antivirin coating the receptors of flu viruses in your system thereby disabling them from replicating in your cells. No other plant can tout such effectiveness.



Taken throughout flu season and during illness, children and adults alike will show resistance or recover rapidly. Found throughout the United States, Sambucus melanocarpa and caerulea. (black and blue only) can be harvested during the month of September. Red Elderberry is potentially toxic and should not be harvested or used. Blue and Black berries should still be cooked down to release the cyanide in the berries. Syrups, tinctures and even jam or pies can be made in a short time.


Rich in antioxidants, bioflavonoids, anthocyanins and Vitamins A, B and C this is a vital herbal ally for our home.

How to Make Elderberry Syrup
3 cups Fresh Black Elderberries or 1 cup dried
3 cups water
1 cup local honey

Bring water and berries to a boil then cover and simmer for 30 minutes
Mash berries and boil and additional 5 minutes

Strain through a fine mesh strainer or jelly bag overnight or for at least 8 hours for Juice to develop
Add Honey to the Juice

Add Juice of One Lemon to Preserve
Bottle and Refrigerate

Adults
Take 1 teaspoon for daily maintenance
Take 2 teaspoons 4x a day when under the weather

Children 15months and older

Use a Medicine Dropper
Provide 1 drop for every 5lbs with mild cases of illness
During intense bouts offer half teaspoon for every 10lbs 2x daily (illness peaks day 3 and 4 typically)

Children under 6 months

Elderberry passes through breastmilk

Children 6-15 months

Offer Extract of Elderberry Juice without the Honey(follow recipe above including juice of 1 lemon and bottle after Juice has strained-skip the honey)

Quantity is same a Medicine dropper above

So why does the CDC and other Health Venues push Vaccines?

**I offer this information for those still riding the fence with allopathic drug use, for others making a move to more conscious ways of health and healing and for most who have little time to research. All below information and links were gleaned from the CDC, FDA and other recognized government agencies and open to the public eye. Take a look for yourself. **

Good Question-Most Likely Capitalist Economics. That's right drug companies make a lot of money from vaccines and provide monetary promotion to senators and representatives that push their products and even pass legislation (ie. Frist of Tennessee pushed (PREPA)-received over $250,000 from the pharmaceutical world prior to the ACT going through in 2006).

There is mounting evidence of the dangers and complications of vaccines for children. The September 2009 release of H1N1 vaccine is targeting-infants, children and nursing and pregnant women. The four drug companies involved state clearly on the safety sheets that they have not tested nor can validate the safety of vaccines for the above stated population. This really leaves one to wonder the full intention of vaccinating when the risk is unknown.

Furthermore, drug companies, health care providers and other associated with the development, processing and administering of all flu vaccines are released of all liability involving complications thanks to the 2006 Public Readiness and Emergency Preparedness Act . Interesting how the "Swine Flu" with mild cases in the US winter is now a "pandemic" (June 25th, 2009 amendment to PREPA) and untested vaccines including adjuvants are being administered with no recourse or accountability. Seriously, this is a real act with amendments being made continuously to protect big business from lawsuits. Read over all these government provided links on "countermeasures" during pandemics above. Those into allopathic medicine have lost all litigation rights.

The health boards recommendation and the drug companies findings are conflicting. Why are they vaccinating pregnant/nursing women and children if they do not know the long term effects. This is suspect and should Raise Much Concern Not Short of Alarm with Vaccines for H1N1 and other Influenza A and B Vaccines.

Information below is provided by the FDA. This information should be fully digested as you have no rights if you experience negative side effects thanks to the PREP ACT. Informed decisions verse blind faith is critical to you and yours health.

Novartis

CSL Limited

Sanofi Pasteur

MedImmune

Not only do they all contain thimerosol(mercury) allowable for "countermeasures" regardless of state and federal recommendations to ban mercury in vaccines.

Other issues include

1. No Guarantee of Immunity-routes of infection are through mucous membranes not dermal injection. Dermal injection typically leads to autoimmune diseases as your immune system attacks the foreign bodies at the site of injection.

2. Triggers- allergic reactions in those sensitive to eggs(the H1N1 flu virus is grown on embryo's of hens)

3. The arsenal of side effects to be expected: Guillian-Barre Syndrome, encephalopathy, partial facial paralysis, brachial plexus neuropathy, anaphylaxis, lymphodenopathy and the list goes on to include headaches, pain, rashes, inflammation, flu symptoms etc. This is all listed under the four drug companies safety sheets above.

4. Contains Squalene-an adjuvunt added to stretch the virus to make 4x more of the vaccine-associated with debilitating neurological diseases like Gulf War Syndrome and Rheumatoid Arthritis. Squalene was banned in US drugs as late as 2006 but now can be used in "countermeasure" for pandemics

Fortunately, the majority of the population has the sense to not be swayed by propaganda and only roughly 100 million people buy into a flu shot of one kind. However, the hype involved with "children not showing immunity" as this is a strain from the 70's and "children are congregating and sharing public space"etc..etc.etc-let's make sure we inject millions of young healthy children with a vaccine-untested and with materials known to cause a gamut of illness's? Seriously? 144 children have died this year from bacterial infections post flu illness. If your child contracts the flu and you are worried about post bacterial infections-follow up with antibiotics. Once the antibiotic round is through offer yogurt and probiotics to rebuild healthy bacteria.

Typically noxious bacterial levels can be kept at bay by simply offering probiotics on a regular schedule(create a competitive environment with the good and bad bacteria), eating yogurt and simply not taking antibiotics for every little illness.

Other immune boosting and treatment options include Homeopathy as well as, Herbal Tinctures and Teas. Anas barbariae also known as occillococcinium is a homeopathic nosode and (quote below taken from Dana Ullman-Homeopathic Medicine for Children and Infants)

"proven remedy effective in treating the flu. It is particularly effective if it is taken during the first 48 hours of the onset of the flu"

Echinacea tincture can also be offered to improve immunity and eliminate infection-Dosage is 1 drop per 5lbs of body weight in mild cases and 1 drop per 2lbs during intense periods. Look for a glycerine extract.

Teas of chamomile, lavender and lemon balm are quite soothing and can consumed on a daily basis and especially during illness. Even added to a bath can be relieving for children and adults. Lemon Balm is antiviral with mild sedative properties with no side effects other than peace and relaxation.

Overall, forget about siphoning through the media out there-if you are considering flu vaccines for your little one-ask your physician for the safety sheets that are linked above. Request titer test to validate antibodies were developed.

Or better yet-be confident in you and yours immune system, eat well, allow for full recovery and down some elderberry.

Further Reading

Naturally Healthy Babies and Children-A Commmonsense guide to Herbal Remedies, Nutrition and Health-Aviva Jill Romm

Medicinal Plants of the Pacific West-Michael Moore

Return Old Sigg Bottles for BPA-Free Sigg Bottles

The Woes and Worries of BPA continues. Word is Sigg Bottles produced before 2008 have a epoxy lining laden with BPA. The Good News is you can mail the bottles in(you cover the postage) to recieve a BPA-FREE Sigg Bottle for FREE of Comparable Size and Design.

You must return bottles by October 31st 2009. Follow this link for printing proper labels and instructions.

This is the powerful result of collective dissent voicing their concerns via blogging and twittering. Results were seen within one month. Just imagine what else we can accomplish on so many other civil and social spheres.

Link between Physcial Activity and Cognitive Function

Walkers, yet another parent convenient toy you can do without for many reasons but mainly because they delay walking and can even prevent crawling, are dangerous and lack mental stimulation and they've been outright banned in Canada from being sold, advertised or imported (the US AAP is pushing for the same).
What's wrong with walkers? Where do I begin. Walkers overdevelop calf and ankle muscles while doing nothing for stomach, thigh and hip muscles. This occurs primarily in the "sit in" walkers. In addition they confuse and slow the developing mind of a child who has yet to learn to crawl, sit up or otherwise scoot their way across the floor on their own. Babies need to be aware visually of how their body works. Walkers block the view of feet and legs. The walk behind or push walkers are less damaging to the muscle development but still can cause irregular development with weight not being directly applied over the hips.
Now on the other hand if your child has started walking on their own without assistance and consciously chooses items like bar stools, chairs, tricycles, boxes or whatever else they deem suitable as walkers-no harm there. Their muscles are properly developing and they are simply being cognitively creative to propel themselves through space.
It may seem harsh to deem walkers as parent convenient toys but typically walkers are for those who want to pop their little one in and merrily go on their way of doing "other" things. Did you know walkers are the leading cause of injuries of all "baby products". They are simply a false security on so many levels. A baby can propel themselves quickly toward stairs-even ones with gates and with considerable force break through. Over 75% of accidents involve stairs.
Studies have concluded walkers are not beneficial for physical or mental development. Even with this knowledge parents continue to use these devices. It's really important to think long term here as well. Feeling your child is occupied and content while in reality they are far less active in their physical motor development and mental development. They are not working on crawling, scooting or other creative ways to move across the floor. This is lost physical time. They are not discovering how their bodies can enable them. They are not "reaching" for objects with earnest physical effort. This is not the normal progression of development.
Walkers will have long term affects in the preschool and primary school years. Children who used walkers early on are less physically active in those later years. Break down your childs' day of physcial mobility and inactivity (sitting in carseat, high chair or other restrained device). The majority of their waking day should be physical with very little restraint.
In addition, the majority of walkers are large hunks of plastic. Which if you are not yet aware come from petroleum and do not break down readily. Minimize your landfill load and interact with your child at the level their at instead.
Call me crazy but really ponder the use of baby-sitter and baby-sat when screening for caregivers during the baby and toddler years. Sitting the baby in a bouncer, excersaucer, walker, jumper or tv is detrimental to their development and health. Cognitive learning and physcial activity are imperative for a balanced being. If you really want to get down to the science of learning, the same part of the brain processes learning, physical activity and music. If you are questioning learning and desks-I'm right there with you.
Anyway, give your baby every opportunity to take advantage of the early days of motor development. Try playing with water, painting, playing or listening to music, baking, gardening, swimming, baby yoga or even- you become their prop-you'll both be stronger by your chooses today.

Vinegar the All-Purpose Cleaning Warrior

How do I count the ways of Vinegar use? You can clean your house, clean your ears, wash your hair face and use on sunburns, boost your laundry, clean diapers, and pickle food. If anyone knows where I can purchase a 50 gallon drum or make my own please let know. I'm looking into fermenting apples later today and hopefully will discover how to make apple cider vinegar.

My only household cleaner is 50/50 vinegar and water with a few drops of essential oils like tea tree, lemon, eucalyptus, peppermint, lavender and myrrh. Fill in a spritz bottle and clean the counters, floor, sinks, windows(use newspaper here), handles and cupboards. I have a crawling-walking 1 year old and we can eat off the floor.

For a little extra scrubbing action and excitement use some baking soda in the tub and sinks. Besides buffing hard water stains it will also unclog drains and is fun to watch(remember those science volcanoes of yesteryear?)

Plus, it's cheap. No need to buy expensive "organic" cleaning products when vinegar will do the trick. Eliminate bleach, windex, ant-bacterial soaps and other toxic cleaners from your home. If you can't eat it don't clean with it! If your interested in learning more on common household products and their detrimental health effects read this book.

To make an all purpose ear cleaner for after swimming or even for you doggie-Mix 50/50 alcohol and vinegar add a drop of lavender or tea tree and drop into ear.

For super shiny, healthy, stronger hair-pour apple cider vinegar over a fresh jar of nettles leaves and let sit for 1 week. Strain and use 2 tablespoons per 1 cup of water as a hair rinse-If using dried leaves use 3 tablespoons per 8 oz mason jar for a strong brew.

Spray in full concentration on poison ivy-spotted knapweed and your other least favorite weeds.

Organic Plastic Food for Thought

Yes, you read right-Organic Plastic Food. How can this be? Even if you avoid canned and plastic packaged foods and buy items in glass the lids contain a "rubber like" seal made from plastic-bpa containing plastic. So here in lies the "convenient parent" dilemma. For those who purchase their baby food instead of making from scratch-your consumer options for bpa food is virtually non existent.



Here in lies the importance of making your own food- baby or otherwise from raw ingredients.



Oh the woes of the "not enough time" to make your own food-Enter the Pressure Cooker. Not only does it save



-time



-energy



-money



But you can be assured of a bpa free food experience.



I love my pressure cooker. I just add a little Super C to naturally preserve carrots, apples and other fruits and veggies if I'm not eating them right away.


Say hello to potatoes in 10 minutes, rice in 20, applesauce in 5 minutes. Plus you have to plenty to freeze, can or refrigerate for later use.



Some of you may be thinking- Come on what's the big deal about bpa, the FDA says it okay, who cares if Europe has banned it and the health nuts are just raving mad. Well take a look at your own health, your parents health and national statistics of



Cancer



Hormone and Thyroid Dysfunction



Endocrine Disruptor Health Issues



You see BPA mimics estrogen thereby increasing your estrogen hormone levels significantly. This article on baby food sights bpa level a 1ppb in a single baby food jar. That's the average, some had levels in the 7+ppbillion. That sounds pretty insignificant numerically except that natural hormone levels ride a pptrillion not billion.



Therefore, your slamming your system or your little ones with estrogen. As consumers you have the a purchase power voice. Stop buying items that contain plastic and email or write letters to companies that continue to use plastic in their products. Here's a hit list



-Baby Food Jars with metal lids



-Tetra Pak Containers



rice, soy, hemp milks, orange juice etc



-Any food or beverage product in plastic


-#7 Plastics


-canned food





Some other BPA items include your old nalgenes (this will pass through breastmilk), teflon, dental fillings, plastic children toys and rubber duckies.

Wool and Fevers

Like shorts and a tank top in the snow in June-who would think wool would keep you cool!

Yet again I am in awe of the amazing healing properties of wool. As a temperature regulator, wool acts by pulling heat away from the body when too much is radiating as well as insulating if the body is drawing heat in.

In terms of fevers wool couldn't be better to keep a temperture in check. My little one just went through a high fever of 101-103+ for 3 days. Temperatures were peaking at night as the fever worked it's healing magic. We left him undressed* at night laying on his wool pad and covered him with his wool blanket. His radiating body was kept comfortable with the wool pulling heat away from his body and keeping him drytoo.

Body temperture for youngsters needs to be monitored to minimize seizures during fevers. Wool or Hemp are ideal choices for temperture regulation and healing properties. Polyester and other synthetic fibers do not breathe and quickly overheat your body. During the daytime-merino wool, hemp and cotton clothes are a must if sick or otherwise.

We also sleep on wool beds and wool pillows. Our wool beds and pillows only require some sun and air to freshen up and sanitize. Wool does not harbor dust-mites and is naturally anti-bacterial. Both beds will likely last 50+ years without showy the slightest bit of lumpiness. The cost is substantially higher up front-but you can imagine the savings over a lifetime. Plus no old mattresses filling up the landfills. Both beds come from Northern California Sheep Farmers.

Considering the amount of time one spends in slumber-bedding should be non toxic, breathable, temperature regulating and healing. The majority of mattresses are treated with fire retardent and off gass tremendously. Both can lead to acute and chronic illness. I haven't been sick once in the 3 years we've had our bed. This is in combination of eating only fresh organic veggies, fruit and grains-and virtually no packaged foods.

*On another note. Our little one has been diaper-free since nine months including at night. I encourage establishing elimination communication with your baby as early as possible. It really provides substantial freedom in terms of laundry-traveling and daily living as well as understanding yet another of your childs basic needs. (There is a previous post on how to go about this process)

For the occassional miss in the evening we use an organic wool puddle pad. The moisture is quickly wicked from his body and absorbed into the fibers without leaking through to the mattress. Some puddle pads out there are quite toxic so do some research. They are breathing in close contact with their bedding so even a wool barrier would be beneficial. Try some diaper free nights on wool-and relish in how comfortable your baby feels.

If your child wears diapers-organic hemp or cotton are the most breathable and should be worn without a cover especially in the evenings. Dark, wet environments harbor bacteria, yeast and are definetly uncomfortable especially if they don't breathe.

During the warmer months babies love fresh air blowing on their bare skin. Leave them undressed and let them enjoy the summer air, for at least part of the day, if not all day. Fresh Air and Sunshine are healers of diaper rash, fussiness and foster giggles and calm in children of all ages..They'll spend the majority of their lives clothed-let them live a little now.

To receive an extra 10% off and free shipping on your next wool puddle pad order-just mention "Wooly Worms are Winter Weather Predicters" during check out.

Arnica Salve your Herbal Sidekick

Well Spring is finally in the mix here in Montana and the flowers are popping. One of my favorites is Arnica montana. A beautiful yellow flower full of medicinal properties. Primarily used for sore muscles, bruises and broken bones-topically it is a strong medicinal herb.

The medicinal constituents consist of

sesquiterpene lactones of the helenanolid type mostly ester derivatives of helenalin and 11,13-dihydrohelenalin

flavonoids -isoquercitrin, luteolin-7-glucoside, and astragalin

volatile oil with thymol and its derivatives,

phenol carbonic acid chlorogenic acid, cynarin, caffeic acid

coumarins umbelliferone, scopoletin

The extraction can be completed with and organic oil like olive-safflower or hemp or by tincturing with 100 proof alcohol.

The oil extraction can be rapid by simmering the fresh flower in oil for a few hours-watch that it doesn't boil. You can also pull the properties by allowing the arnica to sit in a mason jar of organic oil for a few months before using.

A little beeswax is then added to the oil to make a salve.

The alchohol tincture can infuse for several months or longer then added to aloe vera gel or foot and hand baths.

The fresh flower is best collected on a cool dry morning when the flowers have just popped. You'll want to fill your jar full of flower heads then top with oil. Shake daily for the first week, then allow to sit for at least a month.

Great for bumps and brusies and overworked muscles. If you'd like your own travel tube of arnica-for backpacking trips or quick use at home, during travels or for your little one(crawling and walking is hard work!)-I have a fresh batch up for grabs.

Natural Sunscreen-Micronized Zinc Oxide

So after some extensive searching through scientific and mother blogging(really a very accurate source of trial testers on products)I've narrowed down sun exposure safety. As one with fair skin and a youngster who didn't inherit his father's beautiful tan-I am always on the look out on how to minimize mine and his burning potential. I mean really this is a daily adventure as I Love the Sun-hence the name-Sun Loving Baby....always searching for the warms rays.

Here's some helpful tips to enjoy the warm sunny weather

-Bring a Golf Umbrella

besides being and excellent choice for sun ray filtering it can be added entertainment for the little one. a tent stake and string are crucial on windy days or just tie it to a chair if you have one.

-Lightweight Organic Cotton or Hemp Clothing

long sleeve pants and shirts will keep you surprisingly cool on a hot day as your surface body temperature isn't baking in the sun-Ideally Hemp Clothing as it wicks moisture away from the body, is naturally temperature regulating and grown without pesticides (one of the main causes of cancer and birth defects)

-Hat with a strap

keeps the sun off the face and the strap deters little hands from successfully removing it off their dome.plus the strap keeps the hat secure on windy days

-Natural Sunscreen

read labels and research every ingredient. just because it's sold in the natural marketplace does not guarantee it's safe. Go here to find your sunscreen and see how it is rated in terms of toxicity, developmental effects, bioaccumulation, cancer hazard and more. You'll likely be as alarmed as I am on how even my choice brand of Alba is really toxic as well. I always hated the way you could taste it in your mouth after applying it. Those chemicals were really soaking in. Terrible.

After digging through several sources I've concluded that Physical Sunscreen with Broad Spectrum Coverage is ideal. What this means is the sunscreen using minerals instead of chemicals to block harmful rays is safer. The minerals basically absorb then reflect UV light before it reaches your precious skin. Mineral Sunscreens with Micronized Zinc Oxide or Titanium Dioxide are in the Physical Sunscreen Category.

Micronized Zinc Oxide is the most affective at blocking UVA and UVB light. Currently the only organic brand on the market is Badger Sunscreen which is a base of olive oil, shea and cocoa butter and some essential oils with 20% Zinc Oxide. This is not Nano Zinc Oxide but Micronized meaning the particles are greater than 100nm. Their is much concern on cell damage (DNA mutation) from the nano particles penetrating several layers into the skin. Unfortunately, Burt's Bees uses Nano Titanium Dioxide among other dirty ingredients which only protects you from UVB light. Burt's Bees was also bought out by Clorox and bleach is a whole other topic on cancer and water contamination. If you go to the link on Burt's Bees above you'll find that the fragrance is really one of the worst ingredients-saturating your skin with a neurotoxin. This is where reading ingredient labels is so important instead of glazing over on a company name.

SPF is difficult to evalute and higher numbers are not neccesarily better. In my opinion 15 is probably the highest you need to go as higher numbers mean more mineral or chemical content. Too figure out how long the SPF is effective calculate

-How long till you burn w/o sunscreen-Multiply by SPF rating = # of minutes till it wears off.

For example if it normally takes 20 minutes for you to burn and your using SPF 15 then after 300 minutes you'll need another coat. Sooner if you've been sweating or in water. So divide the minutes in half.

I like to put on a layer of Organic Lotion as the Shea Butter has a natural SPF of 6 and it provides a barrier to the sunscreen risks. I'd much rather have the Organic Lotion soaking and the Sunscreen floating on top doing it's job absorbing and reflecting light. Plus if I use SPF 15 I'm basically getting around SPF 20 by applying the two layers.

My rule of thumb for all products going on the skin is to stick with true plant oils and butters and stay away from anything with

-Mineral Oil (petroleum based)

-Sulfates and Sulfites

-Dioxins

-Fragrance

-Metals-especially Aluminum (causes dementia-use your old cookware for plant containers)

Really after reviewing organic shampoos and sunscreens I am quite disturbed. It really seems in terms of sun exposure that cancer can occur if you do or don't use sunscreen. Not sure which is more rapid or severe. You'll have to decide on the lesser of 2 evils. A combination of some sunscreen and clothing and shade devices seems the best bet.

As for me-I'll be making a whole new line of hats and sunscreen sticks to survive these beautiful Montana Summers.

Growing Earth and Sun Oven

Spend the day growing your space. Things you can do on Earth Day. Isn't this pic so inspiring! Click on any of the links below for directions

-Make an Sun Oven Or Cob Sun Oven

-Build an Earth Oven

-Park your Car

-Start an Urban Garden

-Make an Urban Greenspace

-Turn Your Computer Off

Diaper Free at 9 Months

Here we are at 9 months old and diaper free! How can this be you ask? Well we started at 7 weeks communicating with our little one and have finally broken free of the cloth diaper.



Parents diagnose Sleepy, Tired, Teething, Hungry, Frustrated, Happy etc..It only made sense to include the Need to Releive. And interestingly enough the early stages of lumping all needs into the above categories were actually indicative of the urge to pee or poo.



So there's three options out there-Disposable, Cloth and Diaper Free. The later being the most eco-nomical.

Here's how you can get started by following these 3 guidelines:



Ques

Timing

Consistancy



QUES

-restlessness

-fidgety-verbally agitated

-pumping legs

-shiver/quiver

-crawling to you or potty

-motioning toward or grabbing groin

-won't latch on

-becomes still (after crawling-rolling)

-stops making eye contact

-pushes away when done nursing



**Remember the cues evolve over time and are somewhat dependent on development



TIMING

-upon waking

-every 20 minutes (0-4months)

every30 minutes(4-6 months)

every 40 minutes(6-9 months)

-before leaving home

-upon arriving

-pulls off abruptly when nursing

-before wearing/wrapping

-after wearing/wrapping



**Find a rthyme that works for your child



CONSISTANCY

-when peeing or pooping use the same verbal cue

ex:pishing while peeing/grunting while pooping

-offer potty frequently

-offer potty after you miss one

-Keep At It-it can take a few months



What my diaper bag(daypack/backpack) is filled with

Red Potty

Handful of Cloth Wipes

2 Prefolds

2Cloth Diapers

32oz yogurt container-for backup and cleanup



**My personal cue was if I blew through both diapers I was not paying enough attention to my little ones' needs



We used cloth until we we're communicating more effectively. See the side bar for the hemp diapers we like.

Cloth also makes it easier to tell when you miss a pee(soaks thru rapidly)

Cloth diapers are great "potty trainers" for parents. You will associate what happened right before you felt pee or poo. Again it's about communicating with your child and "training yourself" to understand your child's ques.



This is not a new concept. Third World countries do not have the luxury of washing diapers or buying throw-aways. They are in tune their babies needs by neccesity. Also wrapping your baby is more commonplace around the world. Wrapping makes me far more cognizent of my little one's needs than any other carrying method.



A majority of the literature on "Potty Training" has really missed the point. Most parents spend the first few months "training" their child to go in their pants. Mammals inheritently do not want to releive themselves on themselves. Parents then at some point switch teams and try to get their child to stop using their pants and move to the potty.

Ever notice you get peed on quite a lot in the the early days?



This happens for several reasons I believe

-Baby waits to releive themselves instinctually when they don't have fiber bound to their waist

-Parents are actually intuitively tuning into when the baby needs to pee

If you feel this might be alot of work. Spend a day catching pees/poos and spend a day changing diapers. The former is far less time consuming, less messy and a great way to connect with your child!

Cottonwood Salve and Snow Buntings

If your baby falls asleep in the car consider yourself one of the lucky few. My baby just so happens to be one the members of this joyous club. During the early days of spring it has afforded me the opportunity to go birding mid afternoon.

Much to my enjoyment I have taken advantage of these splendid occasion to glass the glacier country side for migrant arrivals and winter farewell birds. This includes my spot of 15+ Snow Buntings in the West Valley Region of Montana. The males were in a spectacular transition from winter to breeding plumage. Bodies representing the summer plumage and heads adorning their winter colors. They have since departed on their journey to the Alaskan Coast for the summer.

Over the weekend we went looking for Cottonwood branches. I collected the Cottonwood Buds to macerate a medicinal salve for cuts, wounds and pain. Cottonwood buds are very aromatic, like sweet cindered honey, and exude a sticky ochre resin. After several months of soaking in an organic olive oil bath, the oil will be strained and added to a little beeswax. This medicinal salve is commonly known as the Balm of Gilead and highly therapeutic. The buds were collected around the full moon so the medicinal properties are being drawn out by the moons vibration. The branches fall reticently during wind storms as was the case for our collection. This stand of cottonwoods was along the Flathead River. Branches were laying on the icy shoreline that was beginning to melt.

I give the oils a vigorous shake daily. The resin is already making it's way into the oil and smells oh so delicious. Being from the willow family, Cottonwood has antiseptic and anti-inflammatory properties, as well as, cell proliferation constituents. It is best used on painful joints, burned skin and open cuts.

Biking Bald Eagles

Melting snow and new seeds coming up make me dream of biking in the warm sun with my little sprout. I found this great bike seat attachment. The features I like

Easy to Attach

Not Bulky

Fits on the front of my Mountain Bike

Muds not flying up on your little one

Better baby view for them and for me!

We were taking a snowy walk on one my bike trails and saw 3 Bald Eagles today. Mom and Dad plus their juvenile. A raven was dive bombing one of the adults to move them out of his territory. They were all casually riding a thermal. A Red Tailed Hawk came in as well and the Raven promptly chased it off.

Eagle calls are so beautiful. Very High Pitch and Lucid. Their wing span is phenomenal-80" or nearly 6ft 7inches. They are a common site in Montana and no less majestic.

Birds are precise indicators of season and weather changes. One of our summer migrants will be arriving from Oregon and Washington---Varied Thrush---Males of most migratory species have strong site fidelity. They return to the same nesting territories year after year. So it is possible the singing migrant who visits your woods is the same male from the year before.

I love the sound of town right now. It's like walking around in a zen water garden. The water is trickling and dripping off roofs and coursing down the road. Male birds are singing and enticing females. Hearing is so heighten this time of year after the long winter silence.

Organic Baby Lotion

I've just created our Organic Lotion Line. It consists of a rich base of organic hemp seed oil, organic coconut oil, organic shea butter and infused organic lavender floral water. It is gentle enough for baby and perfect for the whole family. Goes on smooth and feels light and refreshing. Comes unscented or your choice of aroma.

Check out our whole line from the same base including Organic Bug Repellent , After Sun Therapy and Rejuvinate. All lotions come in a 4 oz blue glass bottle with black pump top. We use glass instead of plastic as it does not leach impurities into our products. The pump top is really nifty as well. Simply turn counter clockwise to lock pump in place.

In honor of this momentous occasion we'll be giving away a free bottle of Organic Baby Lotion (suitable for all ages). Simply identify this bird in the post and be the first to leave a comment.

Snowshoeing in Wool Boots

These little wonders are from my felted wool sweater project! We like to wear the felted wool sweater pants too(vibrant red sweater). Wool is so warm and moisture wicking in the winter. No need to worry about sweating in this cold weather. Just perfect dry warmth. I plan to make larger boot sizes with leather bottoms (upcycled pants). Email me your Creations from felted wool!

Winter Sugar Scrub

Spring is in the air. The Pileated Woodpeckers are whocking across territories. The little chipmunks are making tracks in the snow again and the ground is warming around the roots of trees. The day is noticeably longer at 47 degrees latitude and the sun much higher in the sky.

I'm already dreaming of sun kissed skin and mojito's in my garden hammock. This sugar scrub will surely slough those dead cells of winter away.

What you'll need

Mason Jar

1 cup sugar

1/4 cup lavender flowers dried

1/3 cup grapeseed oil-or hemp oil

10 drops lavender essential oil

1 tablespoon freshly grated organic lemon peel

Pour all contents in mason jar and shake vigourosly and allow to infuse for 3 hours or longer.

Spoon out and massage into skin. Rinse or shower off.

"A Peanut Sat on a Railroad Track"

Lunabar and Lara Bars are among the many affected products by the Peanut Recall. Good thing I choose an Organic Braeburn Apple over a Luna Bar for a quick snack the other day. Go here to review the extensive list. Remind stores to pull all these items off the shelves if they haven't already.
This further validates my lifestyle of growing my own food and limiting packaged goods purchases. Statistically stated a half acre can feed two people for a year. Of course this depends upon your seed selection and probably then some barter and trading. Tomatoes for eggs, greens for grain that sort of system. Also freezing, canning and drying to make it through the Montana Winter Months.
I've been going through and picking out my heirloom and organic seeds. High Altitude Seeds has some specific varieties from Montana. My tomatoes need to be less than 60 days to do well and ideally indeterminate varieties.
Indeterminate means they will grow unabated and continue to produce fruit throughout the season. Determinate have a finite growth rate and produce fruit all at once.
Looks like I'll be going with Prarie Fire and the Russian Sub-Artic. This will top me out at 20 varieties for the season!
Here's the list

• Tigerella
• Santiam(d)
• Thessaloniki
• Double Rich
• Burbank Red Slicing(d)
• Tomato Yellow Perfection
• Peron
• Micado Violettor
• Black Plum Paste
• Caro Rich
• Brandywine
• Roma Paste(d)
• Orange Queen(d)
• Arkansas Traveler
• Zapotec Pleated
• Chadwick Cherry
• Costaluto Genovese