Early spring newsletter 2018

Early Spring Greens (pictured above Sisymbrium altissimum)
​Despite our erratic weather spring is here! Nature wants to thrive and a short walk around the neighborhood reveals that it is! Our early Spring plants grow in cracks, sidewalks, along fences, in the most inhospitable corners of backyards, basically where sun, gravel and protection meet.  I walked around the Milagro Store building on 5th St. and found numerous early Spring edibles and medicinals.  Mostly dominated by Mustard family plants (Brassicaceae) this is a typical scenario.  Fern leaf and wide leaf, they are standard native growers. And the strong, spicy and bitter flavor in the leaves fits our Spring need for clearing the Liver, while removing toxins accumulated over the last 6-12 months. Mustard greens are eaten throughout the world when the leaves are young and tender, raw or lightly steamed. Throughout the Mediterranean mustard greens are a staple to bring out flavor and bring in nutrition. You might know the Mustard family for many of our cultivars such as arugula, cabbage, and many vegetables used in Chinese cuisine. ​

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Early Spring 2018 Newsletter View this email in your browser 1500 5th Street Unit #6, Santa Fe, NM (505) 820-6321 Medicine Circle Newsletter Early Spring Newsletter April 2018 Early Spring Greens (pictured above Sisymbrium altissimum) Despite our erratic weather spring is here! Nature wants to thrive and a short walk around the neighborhood reveals that it is! Our early Spring plants grow in cracks, sidewalks, along fences, in the most inhospitable corners of backyards, basically where sun, gravel and protection meet.  I walked around the Milagro Store building on 5th St. and found numerous early Spring edibles and medicinals.  Mostly dominated by Mustard family plants (Brassicaceae) this is a typical scenario.  Fern leaf and wide leaf, they are standard native growers. And the strong, spicy and bitter flavor in the leaves fits our Spring need for clearing the Liver, while removing toxins accumulated over the last 6-12 months. Mustard greens are eaten throughout the world when the leaves are young and tender, raw or lightly steamed. Throughout the Mediterranean mustard greens are a staple to bring out flavor and bring in nutrition. You might know the Mustard family for many of our cultivars such as arugula, cabbage, and many vegetables used in Chinese cuisine.  Known in Latin America and Spain as "mostaza", Mustards are revered and gathered for salads and seasonal dishes.  Mustard typically draw up nitrogen and sulphur from the soil, giving them the signature bitter and spicy flavor.  As in many wild edibles, it is best to eat small to moderate amounts of the greens at one time, as the sulphur content may cause stomach upset and nausea. That may be due in part to our lack of eating them and of their strong flavor; we just aren't used to ingesting strong flavors like our ancestors.  Previously known as the Cruciferaceae family due to the flowers having a cross-shape, in other words, four petals, each opposite the other.  The seed pods have an upward pointing bean pod look. We have many and they grow quickly in the Spring, flower, set seed and dry up by May.  As productive annuals mustards work hard to ensure their reproductive viability by getting their seeds out before the more intense heat arrives in June. So if you walk around and see flowers in a wayward spot, stop and take a look.  If you are sure that you have found a mustard, taste a small bit of the leaf to connect. The older the plant the more bitter the constituents, but there is some cosmic assurance that Nature again has provided us with a seasonal friend for beauty, food, and medicine. CLASSES AT MILAGRO HERBS Herbs in the Field Camping Experience - Jemez Mountains (June 1-3, 2018) Join Stefan Link as he leads the group in an exploration of early Summer medicine Besides plant identification and their medicinal uses we will also explore: ethical wild-crafting, herbal first aid, collecting, plant care and processing as well as medicine making in the field. Students should have a basic understanding of herbalism and be comfortable and self-sufficient camping with minimal amenities. A "what to bring list" and ride sharing will be available upon registration. Cost: Herbs in the Field Experience:  $225.00 + tax (Limited to 12 participants) )   Six slots remain so book now! Great Book, DVD, and Seed Giveaway!  Join us on May 1st - May Day - for our first annual Herb Giveaway.  Stop by Milagro Herbs Store on 5th street starting at 11 am until 5 pm. We have been blessed with donations of herb-related books, DVDs, and herb/flower seeds. This is our way of connecting to the community, giving back, and supporting Earthly abundance. Come early because these items will go fast. Foundations of Herbal Medicine Class Full! We are blessed to have 12 new eager herb students for 2018.  They are going to be a great part of our ongoing community that promotes Earth-based education, Earthly health, and connection.     PRE-REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED FOR ALL CLASSES For more information or to register, contact Milagro Herbs at (505) 820-6321 or www.milagroschoolofherbalmedicine.com Also in the planning for this Spring are classes on: Making Spring Tonics, Building Raised Garden Beds for Herbs, Intuition and Plant Medicine.  One of our goals is to continue to build a herbal community in New Mexico and that includes native food potlucks and herb walks!  NEW! NEW! NEW! DoTERRA ESSENTIAL OILS We now carry over twenty (and counting) DoTerra essential oils, including several of the oil blends DoTerra has made famous. These include: Balance (for calming and grounding), Breathe (for respiratory health), Aromatouch (soothing and relaxing), Citrus Bless (Uplifting), Serenity (great for relaxing massage), Digest Zen (soothes the tummy), and Serenity (Peace and Well-Being). Please visit our retail store to purchase DoTerra or you may order directly from our website (which includes a much larger selection of oils as well as many other body care products and gifts). Go to www.mydoterra.com/MilagroHerbs. Select join and save, then join DoTerra. Select "wholesale customer" or "wellness advocate" (advocate is for those who wish to sell DoTerra themselves). Then enter their information and payment info.  On Sale Now at Milagro Herbs! Prickly Pear Cactus Syrup - $19.95 for a 5 oz bottle (Regular $22.95) For use in drinks, on pancakes, in muffins, or just to sip straight up! The Ethnobotanist Beat New Herb Books To Read... Hydrosols - The Next Aromatherapy by Suzanne Catty The Way of Herbs by Michael Tierra.  Newly Updated, a classic. School of Natural Healing by Dr. John Christopher (15th Edition) A must have for herbal protocols by a Master folk herbalist Invasive Plant Medicine - The Ecological Benefits and Healing Abilities of Invasives (plants that is) by Timothy Scott And for getting out in the field... Medicinal Plants of the Mountain West by Michael Moore Medicinal Plants of the Desert and Canyon West by Michael Moore Both the above books on sale at Milagro Herbs! Copyright © *|CURRENT_YEAR|* *|LIST:COMPANY|*, All rights reserved. *|IFNOT:ARCHIVE_PAGE|* *|LIST:DESCRIPTION|* Our mailing address is: *|HTML:LIST_ADDRESS_HTML|* *|END:IF|* Want to change how you receive these emails? You can update your preferences or unsubscribe from this list *|IF:REWARDS|* *|HTML:REWARDS|* *|END:IF|*