There are few things more satisfying than a large glass of cold lemonade on a hot day. One of my core childhood memories is visiting the lemonade stand at the Saturday Market here in Eugene. Fresh lemon juice, water, sweetener, and optional fruit compotes; all shaken up by hand and served ice cold and sweet. At that time in life, the way they mixed these simple ingredients to create something so delicious seemed like an especially magical type of alchemy to me. There were multiple fruit options, but I was always a die-hard strawberry lemonade fan. Even now, I can vividly remember the way the bits of strawberries came slurping up through the straw and the way their fruity sweetness mingled with the tangy flavor of lemon. As an adult, I still love strawberry lemonade, and even though it is hard to improve on perfection, I have also discovered the joy of practicing my own kind of alchemy with it, namely by adding different herbal allies. Herbs are a beautiful way to add both depth of flavor and health benefits to a lemonade recipe. With local strawberries beginning to appear at the farmers market, it felt like the perfect time to kick off some summer lemonade crafting.

Stop me if you have heard this one before. You wake up enervated after not getting good or enough sleep the night before. Even though you rise to greet whatever the day brings, a part of you can’t help but look forward to the moment when your head will hit the pillow at the end of it. The day passes, and at last the moment arrives, you are snuggled into your blankets, the lights are turned off, and all that remains is to close your eyes and await a visit from the Sandman. But suddenly you don’t feel so tired; in fact, your brain is lighting up with thoughts. Maybe you are rehashing the day’s events, remembering that task you forgot to do, agonizing over what you could have done differently, or planning for the week ahead. It is like a nonstop parade of should-haves and could-haves trumpeting through your head at the worst possible time and creating a vicious cycle of unrest.

Have you ever noticed how your body reacts the moment something hits your tongue? Most people can tell you their favorite flavor without thinking twice, sweet, salty, maybe something spicy. But very few have ever stopped to ask, what does my body actually need more of? Even fewer realize that what we crave can sometimes reflect what the body is seeking.

Oxymels, a type of sipping vinegar,  make for a delightful and healthy way to incorporate the benefits of herbs into your daily routine. These tangy concoctions, made from a blend of vinegar, honey, and herbs, can support digestion and promote healthy skin. Whether you’re adding them to mocktails, cocktails, or enjoying them on their own, oxymels offer a unique and versatile addition to your diet. With spring in full bloom, it’s the perfect time to use fresh, seasonal plants like dandelion, nettles, burdock, sage, and oregano to create your own homemade sipping vinegar.

I love the peace of knowing that I have both the skills and stock on hand to thrive in most of the situations life throws my way. I can confidently rely on my resourcefulness and forethought to help me whether I can’t get to the grocery store for a bit, need to pinch some pennies, or just ran out of laundry soap. The efforts that I put into this lifestyle are also in line with my sustainability goals and significantly reduce the waste generated from my household.

Creating a nighttime routine isn't just for those who have trouble with sleep. Calming evening rituals are excellent ways to prepare the body for restful sleep filled with exciting and inspiring dreams! There are even traditions in which herbs are used during sleep, not only to bring about a peaceful slumber, but also to evoke vivid, lucid dreaming landscapes sure to bring happiness, rather than grogginess, to your waking state.

Let’s talk about the elephant in the room for a second. 

Every year, a lot of us say we want to eat better. We want to use more herbs. We’ve read the articles,  seen the posts, and we already know herbs are good for us. And at the same time, there’s a quiet voice in the back of your mind saying, this probably isn’t going to stick.

I relish my morning cup of tea; sometimes, the thought of it is the only way I can get myself to leave the cozy warmth of my bed. That first sip is always just the thing I need to start feeling like an actual person that can function in the world. Would it be too dramatic to say that your first sip of tea is the most important sip of the day? Not only is it the thing that gets me out of bed, but it also sets the tone for the day and gives me a little opportunity to treat myself. Because of this, I like to switch up what I am drinking to keep it fresh and exciting.

There’s a plethora of wonderful herbs that we can grow for health, beauty, and overall wellness. Some offer several culinary uses, and many of them attract pollinators and other beneficial insects into our gardens. There are herbs for every gardener, and for the most part, herbs are forgiving and easy to grow. You might start your gardening journey with simple herbal starts, like peppermint and calendula, purchased from a local greenhouse. After a few seasons and a little more experience under your belt, you might feel inclined to heighten the experience and try growing herbs from seed. I think this is the most rewarding avenue—planting a tiny, precious seed and caring for the plant throughout its life until harvest. While most herbs are still easy to cultivate this way, there are a few plants that are considered a bit more advanced. These more advanced herbs might require cold stratification, scarification, or may be more finicky about climate.

Growing our own medicinal herbs can be fun and rewarding. At times, it can also be challenging. Luckily, there are plenty of wonderful medicinal herbs that are easy even for the most novice growers to succeed. If you’re new to herb gardening, this article is for you! Then, as your confidence grows and your thumb becomes greener, challenge yourself to cultivate more advanced herbs, and before you know it, you’ll have a thriving and diverse herb garden ready to provide fragrant and healing harvests for every need.

If you live in the Northern Hemisphere, you are likely familiar with the descent into the colder months of the year. Meeting colder temperatures is a humbling experience for any living being. Cold is a teacher—it shows us how to keep warm through connection, through acts of love that warm the heart. It also teaches urgency. Think of woodland animals scurrying as temperatures drop, gathering what they need to prepare for winter or hibernation.