Memorial Day: Say Thank You and Hug A Soldier Today

I just wanted to pop in here for a brief moment to say a big heartfelt Thank You to all the soldiers, and all the families like mine that support and have supported them, all across America. Thank You so much, and we love you, to men like my Dad R.I.P. Army, who served in the Korean Conflict 52 -53, my brother  Joe, Air Force,  active in Desert Storm, and recently returned to the states from Korea. My Army members, brother Ted operation Iraqi Freedom, and say a prayer for safety please, currently in Afghanistan at this moment, and My nephews Brian and Larry. My Marines which include my brother Dean, My daughter Tennille, and two sons in law Kev and Bri, To ALL who stand under, behind and for our Flag, which IS the people’s flag…

THANK YOU
HUG A SOLDIER TODAY:)

This is about my Brother Ted:) SO proud of him

http://www.cjtf82.com/regional-command-east-news-mainmenu-401/2825-thinking-outside-of-the-box.html

GARDEZ, Afghanistan - Just as some look at a blank canvas and imagine art, U.S. Army Sgt. Theodore Sweet looks at a piece of metal and sees innovations.

With the creativity of a sculptor and the weathered hands of a metal worker, he uses his workshop as his studioand scrap metal as his canvas to create everything from brackets to bed frames.

His work isn’t displayed in a gallery. It is used by Soldiers everyday in the field.

Sweet is a welder with Company E, 3rd Battalion, 172nd Infantry Regiment whose inventions and repairs have been integral to the success of not only the Soldiers in his battalion, but also the Afghan National Army and special operations Soldiers.
“It seems like every day I make a new creation,” Sweet said “Sometimes it seems like they’re looking for miracles, but in the end it always works out.” 

One of his more famous inventions includes a mount for an M-240B machine gun that he engineered for an all-terrain vehicle for special forces soldiers. The vehicle, similar to a common four-wheeler, had no weapon system before Sweet got his hands on it.

It turned out to be an effective tool aiding special operations soldiers during a fire fight.

“It definitely enhanced our capability to maneuver on the enemy,” said one Soldier, who didn’t give his name for security reasons.

Another of Sweet’s inventions include an improved ammunition box for an Mark 19 Automatic Grenade Launcher. The weapon is mounted in the turret on top of  Mine-Resistant Ambush-Protected vehicles, which Soldiers use every day to travel around Afghanistan and is one of their first lines of defense against attacks on their convoys.

Normally, the Soldiers can expend about 50 rounds of ammunition before they have to reload.

With Sweet’s invention mounted in the turret, they can fire three times as many rounds before having to reload. This invention has also been tested and proven in combat by Soldiers, Sweet said.

Sweet is also asked daily to invent or replicate tools and hardware that are normally made by industrial machines.

“I just give him a drawing and he makes it work,” said Gerard Pantin, a civilian contractor. “Any type of welding we want he comes up with the design and executes.”      

“It’s like molding clay,” Sweet said.

Sweet has only been a certified military welder for about two years. As a traditional National Guard Soldier, this is not his full-time occupation.

At his home in Burke Ny., Sweet is a Clinton County corrections officer. His background in welding came from growing up on a farm, restoring old Mustangs, and working in a junkyard.

Sweet also knows first-hand the importance of effective equipment in combat. In addition to his civilian experience, he also draws on his combat experience from his first deployment where he served as a tanker in Ramadi, Iraq from 2005 to 2006.

“There’s not much we can give him that he can’t fix,” said Chief Warrant Officer Larry Grace, the support maintenance technician supervisor for Company E.

Through his ingenuity, Sweet has proven that it is possible to not only think outside the box, but take that box and weld it into a life-saving innovation.

GARDEZ, Afghanistan -- U.S. Army Sgt. Theodore Sweet, a welder with Company E, 3rd Battalion of the 172nd Infantry Regiment of Burke,NY., holds a piece of hardware that he welded May 18. Sweet welds this and many other pieces of hardware from scrap metal that would normally be made by industrial machinery at his metal shop onForward Operating Base Lightning. (Photo by U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Whitney Hughes)

GARDEZ, Afghanistan -- U.S. Army Sgt. Theodore Sweet, a welder with Company E, 3rd Battalion of the 172nd Infantry Regiment stands behind a mount for an M240B that he created for an all-terrain vehicle, May 18. The mount was used during a fire fight by special forces Soldiers recently. Sweet, of Burke, Ny., welds this and many inventions from scrap metal that would normally be made by industrial machinery at his metal shop on Forward Operating Base Lightning. (Photo by U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Whitney Hughes)

Harvesting Persimmon Leaves Today

I had to take a break, so I figured it was a good time to get in an update here. Some day  people may actually find this blog:) 

Today I have been outside harvesting persimmon leaves, so this pause in my work would be a good opportunity to go over some of the benefits research, and thousands of years of use, have indicated may be gained from this particular natural herbal remedy when used in tea blends.

For example in a study conducted by the Deptartment of  Food Science & Nutrtion, at the Catholic University Of Taegu-Hyosung, Hayang 712-702, in Korea, it was found that "Persimmon leaves, which are a good source of important dietary antioxidants, such as vitamin A & C, and flavonoids, have been widely used as a tea in oriental countries. In particular, several tannins and flavonoids isolated from persimmon leaf were recently found to have antihypertensive, anticarcinogenic, and antimutagenic actions" .  It is the tannins and flavonoids in Persimmon leaves that provide the anti-hypertensive, anti-carcinogenic, and anti-mutagenic properties.
Persimmon leaf, which contains astragalin, when taken orally, acts as a natural antihistamine and may help reduce allergic reactions as well.Efficacy tests of the lipid-lowering actions of persimmon leaves indicate whole persimmon leaf tea could prove beneficial for regulation of lipid metabolism.  


Now of course the corporate view, and the reason the majority of these studies are conducted are to process the natural leaves. Take the good ingredients, available  in their natural state, and produce them in pill, or liquid form. I say why, When you can use the unaltered natural form? Do you want to trust science to make it better? They have done such a great job within the food industry over the past decade haven't they? (Insert sarcasm here).

The fact remains that cultures from various parts of the world, over the test of time, have used persimmon to treat a number of ills.  More importantly, like many of the natural herbal remedies nature provides us, persimmon leaves can be beneficial as a preventative to illness, by strengthening our bodies natural defenses. 

Like most teas, persimmon leaf tea originated in the Orient. For thousands of years it has been a traditional tea in Korea. It is believed to be superior in preventing and curing diseases of the blood and circulatory system. Persimmon leaf tea contains  more than 3.5~20.8 times the vitamin C content than green tea.

I need to return to finish spreading my leaves into one single layer. 
Which is More time consuming than you may think:)

  Here, once spread the Persimmon leaves will stay in a darkened, well ventilated room, fluffed daily, until fully dry.

Gathering St. John's Wort Today

Hey just got back in from gathering some of my St. John's Wort, it is just coming into bloom. I have tied them in small bunches, and they are now hanging to dry. This is one of the ingredients in the tea blend I call Attitude Adjuster. It has been said that St. John's wort blooms from late May through September, and some say that it blooms on the birth day of St. John the Baptist, June 24 - hence the name St. John's wort. Mine is a little early I guess, but since it originated in the EU, and I live down south the hot climate here probably is responsible for that.

The major active ingredients in St. John's wort include hypericin and other dianthrones, flavonoids, xanthones, and hyperforin. Today, like many natural herbal remedies available, commercialism is all about extracts and pill forms of this herb. St. John's Wort has been studied for it's effectiveness to treat depression for quite some time now. Research has suggested that extracts of St. John's Wort may exert their antidepressant actions by inhibiting the reuptake of the neurotransmitters serotonin, norepinephrine, and dopamine. This action may be due to hyperforin. St. John's wort's may work as an antidepressant, by making more of hyperforin (a neurotransmitter) available to the brain.

This herb has been used for medical purposes for thousands of years. According to an article on Web M.D. " St. John's wort is continually being studied to try to validate its alleged mood-improving benefits. More than 30 clinical studies have been conducted over the past 22 years to evaluate the effectiveness of St. John's wort.
Due to the strength of these concentrations some have said that there may be contradictions when using this herbal remedy while taking other medications, but these concerns are misplaced when the herb is used in its natural dried state as an herbal tea, or infusion. One must keep in mind when purchasing pill form extracts as supplements that the commercial process is targeting specific components of the plant to extract. For  example individuals suffering from depression may be prescribed 500-1,000 mg per day of St. John's extract per day.

This is far beyond the amount of hypericin and other dianthrones that would be available in a soothing cup of tea, but as always I would recommend that anyone who is on medication for treatment of any conditions, such as high blood pressure for example should  consult with their physician.Also keep in mind that ST. John's is not intended for long term use, but is generally taken for 2- 3 weeks.

The Web MD article states that typically St. John's wort is taken three times a day for several weeks, or It may also be taken twice a day as a tea made with 1 to 2 teaspoons of the dried herb.

My Attitude Adjuster blend is a mix of ST. John's, Mint, Lemon Balm, Stevia, and chamomile.

Herbal Wisdom says of St. John's :

Properties:
Strengthens the nervous system and speeds healing. Analgesic (pain relieving), Antidepressant, Antiviral, Anti-inflammatory, Antispasmodic, Diuretic (increases the flow of urine), Emmenagogic (Promotes menstrual flow), Nutritive tonic

Uses:
Hypothyroidism
Neuralgia, sciatica and back pain
Pain from deep wounds
Mild depression (not severe depression)
Shingles, cold sores and herpes
Spinal problems
Joint pain
Aging
Trauma
Eczema

Indicated for:
Stomachache, colic, lung congestion, insomnia, anemia, headaches, jaundice, catarrh, Carcinoma (type of cancer), bedwetting, melancholy, uterine cramps, menstrual problems, antidote for intestinal worms. Source of hypercin which may counter the HIV virus.

I do Not Come Up In Searches

Have not been posting as regularly lately. There are a couple of reasons for that though. Number one I have been so super busy with my herbal tea preparations, but also because NONE of my blogs or the website storefront to buy my teas shows up in any searches. Very disappointing:(

http://debslooseleafherbaltea.yolasite.com/

Getting Your Website or Blog Listed In Search Engines

Talk about frustrating! I am not even sure if I have accomplished a successful meta whatever yet,lol. I have been trying to get this blog, and my Deb's Loose leaf herbal Tea yola site up and running. If I can't do a search and find them in google or bing when I type the "exact" words in the title, then of course no one is going to pull them up in a random search. I am starting to see why people end up paying someone to make their websites.

I realize there are a vast number of sites related to the topic of cancer, and the subject of herbal loose leaf tea benefits, but like I said, if I enter the name of the blog, or the name of the web site, it should be there. Did the google webmaster scene, but apparently it can take WEEKS before they "crawl" over your site.
Bing, and Yahoo both had super simple links to get added:

Here is yahoo site submit
and here is Bing and google, in case anyone has had trouble locating it can be found  here 
for google you can also go to webmaster tools, and follow directionsfor meta tag search
Hope this helps someone else, but as I said, it can take weeks to get in and start getting hits.

Getting Lost in the Herbal Tea and Cancer searches

Wow I never knew it was so complicated to create a web site, which you need first before you can create a storefront. All this confusing stuff about Html codes and dreamweaver or frontpage software and blah blah blah. I feel like my ideals, opinions and intentions are going to get lost in translation before I am actually selling anything. Of course the economic situation is not helping much either. For me it would be like a dream come true to be able work for myself, with the earth and my hands and actually earn a living to pay those darn pesky bills that my husband and I are constantly worrying over. I have even considered going back into painting again.

It has been a long past year battling cancer and we have just about depleted every saved penny, and I am still not ready to return to full time work. With the blessing of my Higher Power I survived cancer, but I fought for it, and my body is still healing and recovering. I used to be 5'3 125 lbs of solid muscle, now I am 5 2 1/2 and 97 lbs. I miss my muscles:(

I am just a simple country girl, raised on a Dairy Farm in New Milford Ct after being adopted by two of the greatest people in the world, God Bless em'. My four brothers and I roamed all over those 100's of acres, we helped "up the barn" and we helped Ma tend the gardens each year as well.

You didn't run to the store at the drop of a hat nowadays. Back then a trip to the store to go shopping was an event that occurred once every two weeks. We went shopping outside all the time. That garden was just a starting point to find good eats. Instead of candy bars in our fists we were more likely to be walking around crunching cucumbers. Seasons for various nuts and berries came and went, and kept us well supplied. There was never any telling what might get cooked up, or made into a sun tea brew. Living close to the land is more than a lifestyle choice, it's in your blood, it's a way of life that for me is as natural as breathing my next breath.

Plants, animals, the weather,spiritual moments, family... these are the things I like to think about, and occupy my time with, not figuring out computer stuff.

Well okay I'm glad I at least got to vent anyway, even though no one reads any of this it still feels good. Hopefully, maybe someday if I manage to figure out how to market my tea, and we are doing better financially this blog will help people understand where I came from. Yes, yes I do need to earn an income, but for me this is about a lot more than just making money, it's about more than making a cup of tea with good stuff in it...

It's about helping others develop a desire to experience the wonders of mother nature, the cycle of life, getting outdoors, demanding accountability from giant corporations like the one that starts with M, who shall remain nameless because they like to sue everybody. It's about right and wrong and good and bad, preserving ideals and ideas from past generations, and worrying about what we will leave to our future generations.

I'm not a scammer or a planner, I'm not greedy trying to rake in a million, I am just one of many Americans being true to my roots.

Persimmon Leaves for Loose Leaf Tea

So I have been experimenting to find the best drying process for larger quantities of the persimmon leaves to obtain the highest quality brew. As I have noted earlier, all of my blends could be considered green teas, because I only pick and dry the leaves.

The persimmon leaves must be harvested in June, after June the leaves will start to get splotchy black spots. I have seen this happen year after year, and I believe this natural occurrence happens  as the astringent fruit ripens.

I have read multiple articles regarding a forced wilt period of 6 hours, flipping leaves midway. This is to be followed by final drying and curing in a dark airy space .

For my dark airy space, since I have an empty nest at this point, I have been using multiple large closets I have available, as well as rolled out brown packing paper in every space available. I keep the blinds drawn in the rooms, and have the herbs spread on screens, on racks. I keep the closet doors open, and the ceiling fans always on. This arrangement has been working out wonderfully.

With the persimmons leaves I have so far been most satisfied with a compromise of 2 hours in warm air outside, on sheets of brown paper, shaded from the sun. This brief forced the wilt, is  followed by final drying in the "dark and airy space". The leaves have retained color very nicely in this manner with almost zero oxidation.

The tea itself has a rather strong taste, but personal taste will be able to manage this with steeping time, and the stevia definitely takes the edge off. It could give coffee a run for it's money. As a matter of fact in colonial times the large seeds were harvested and used as a form of coffee, although the leaves are naturally caffeine free.

Okay, kind of late getting off now.

Just Popping In

I have therapy today, so it kind of throws me out of my rhythm for the day. I am also irritated because I can not get my camera to work. The video screen is just all white. Grrr. Guess I am just grumpy.

Herbal Tea Ingredient Find of the Day

Awesome! Today I went out in search of chamomile. As I posted earlier seek and ye shall find is oh so true in so many aspects of our lives. I went out with the specific intention of finding chamomile, I mean this plant is an absolute must for all herbalists gardens. So far every year I have gathered at a friends house where a reliable patch comes up, but I wanted my own, right here. I Found Some! I have clipped quite a few choice blooms, and dug up two very nice large vibrant patches and already transplanted them into the garden.

Sorry I forgot to bring my camera, but the two clumps that I transplanted into the garden proper should hopefully take well, and I will have pics up within the next few days. I like to post pictures of my sources, for a couple of reasons. Number one to assure anyone interested in purchasing the herbal teas I package that I am knowledgeable, and very careful in selection of my herbs, that it most certainly is what I tell you it is. Number two it is so that others may see what the plants under discussion look like. You would be surprised how many people realize they have a naturally abundant and sustainable source of nutrition or vitamin growing in their yard or on their property. I have even spoken with people that treated them like the enemy, considering them to be pesky weeds to be eradicated at all costs.

Anyway, I have a number of errands to accomplish today, vehicle and trailer registrations for one thing, lol, but I will get back on later. Of course besides pictures there will be a post dedicated to the benefits of chamomile tea to follow as well.

Persimmon Tree Pictures

Here is one of the persimmon trees




















Here are a few of the tiny yellow blooms
















I also put in more Stevia plants today.

















Gathered a few miniature roses as well.

Persimmon Tree Leaves Beneficial in Tea

I am always surprised and so thankful for the way our Higher Power works around us. I mean seriously, seek and ye shall find is a literal suggestion. Just look at how many beneficial natural remedies and preventative herbal medicines are all around us. I just love going out picking and then coming back in to experiment with different flavors, especially flowers.

The persimmon tree leaves have received a lot of scientific attention lately. The persimmon leaf is noted for its use in China, Japan and Korea, for centuries and centuries, thousands of years, to brew a body beneficial tea.
According to multiple sources the Chinese Academy of the Sciences found that this particular tea contains a large variety of Vitamin C, tannins, flavonoids, rutin, choline carotenoids, amino acids. In addition, the tea were found to contain 10 elements: Magnesium (Mg), Manganese (Mn), titanium (Ti), calcium (Ca), phosphorous (P), and more. These elements are found to aid to healthy bodily functions. Compared to other teas, persimmon leaf tea contains a higher level of health and nutritional benefits. Analysis has shown persimmon leaf tea contains up to 10 times the amount of Vitamin C, tannins, flavonoids, rutin, choline and essential amino acid(Study conducted 1980. CAS). A Korean Study concluded that persimmon tea contains 3.5~20.8 times more vitamin C than green tea!

The ripe fruits are really good and super sweet too, but I was interested in the leaves. You see my 2 camellia's (which were here when we bought the property over a decade ago) are the wrong kind for tea leaves. How can an herbal infusion be considered a tea as well without "tea" leaves:)

Well guess what? Last year we purchased the 2 wooded acres that join our property on one side, it was just before the cancer diagnosis, after which I got really sick. As I have mentioned I am currently recovering from radiation and chemo treatments (PET SCAN CLEAN!), and I am getting out and about more. Today we decided to walk the woods and see what the Lord may have naturally blessed us with there ( I plan to get some ginseng going this fall). Well, lo and behold we have not the 1 right on the border (which I have picked from in previous years), not 2, but 3 very nice, and blooming right now, PERSIMMON TREES! Can You Believe It? This is so absolutely GREAT!

Persimmon definitely adds a kick to the cup. It is not a tea to sit and gulp down in a rush, but something you sip delicately, and savor. When I first started adding the leaves to my brew it seemed to me the persimmon could actually give coffee a run for its money. Sans Caffeine.

You will find over time that you develop the ability to identify the leaves of the different plants in your dried natural herbal tea mix by their colors and textures. That is one of the reason my favorite part of enjoying a cup of loose leaf happens. Each and every cup will in some way prove to be a unique and pleasing experience.

Herbal Teas taste depends on a number of variable factors. How much water, how long it steeped, did you take a bigger or smaller pinch of blend, or did you choose to put in more of one leaf than the other.
As long as you have safe, correctly identified herbs to experiment with, have fun, I say " It's All Good" :)

Loose Leaf Tea and Stevia

Hey all, still sore from therapy, and had to do my exercises 2x today myself. Brings on some wicked headache bouts, but I want to try to get a blog post up for each of my favorite loose leaf tea ingredients; this one is about Stevia.

Stevia is important because for the past few years now I have included it with every blend I create. As I noted in an earlier post, the media has really hyped up public interest and awareness regarding this native of Paraguay and areas of South America. Stevia is estimated to be 30x sweeter than sugar, has zero calories, and does not promote tooth decay, and does not affect blood glucose levels of diabetics either. How is that for reasons to add it to your tea and herbal infusion mixes?

What is wonderful for me personally is that I can actually still taste the sweetness of the Stevia. As I have mentioned in earlier post I recently completed treatment for cancer which included radiation and chemo. As many cancer patients will tell you these treatments can play hell with your taste buds. Since my radiation was directed at my throat I have unfortunately lost sense of taste as well as my ability to produce saliva. I can put a whole teaspoon of sugar in my mouth and taste nothing. But, I can taste the sweetness of stevia, thank goodness. I have never been big on sweets, but when you can not taste things you really treasure finding something to have in your mouth that is pleasantly stimulating. Many foods I eat only because I Must maintain nutrition, and there is little enjoyment to be had. I have hopes that in the future these problems will resolve themselves. The best thing I can do right now is continue trying to intentionally stimulate my taste buds and salivary glands, wake them back up. I was lucky enough to be acquainted and familiar with Stevia prior to becoming ill.

Stevia is not just a no cal no tooth rot sweetener either, it does have other positive aspects as well.The plants leaves contain vitamin A and C, as well as proteins, carbohydrates, iron, potassium, zinc, calcium, magnesium.

Also, as far as ease growing and hardiness I would rate this plant a 9 out of 10. It does wilt a bit when the sun gets strong, but it made it through record low temperatures last year, and is doing awesome. This is like the 4th year since I started mine with only three plants. It returns each year and sets out new shoots. My area in the garden devoted to Stevia has enlarged considerably, and I will happily give it a little more each year.

Had To Go To Therapy Today

SO yes the radiation treatments destroy a lot of tissue, and muscle, and could even involve the bones.
I am so absolutely whooped. I feel like I had my butt kicked today. So Sore. SO Tired.
Good Night
Tomorrow is another day:)

More Ingredients for a Great Herbal Tea

Today I gathered more honeysuckle blooms, and I am very happy at the quantity I have drying at this point. With limited days remaining to continue to increase my bounty I am feeling confident that I will have enough Honeysuckle to make a large quantity of my loose leaf blend, which is the only way to make it worth pursuing this loose leaf tea marketing project. I will be adding dandelion blooms to the dried honeysuckle though. Both of these yellow flowers are great detox cleansers, as well as immune boosters. By combining the two I will be assured of enough yellow blooms from the cleansing benefits family.
I have also been gathering white clover heads today, which is classified as Trifolium pratense. While I do not find that they contribute greatly to the taste of the blend, research has never the less shown that they contain anti cancer agents. White clover is also widely reported to be beneficial in the treatment of conditions such as psoriasis, and as an anti-inflammatory. Sufferers of gout and arthritis have used teas for relief. It is also said to be useful for people with bronchitis, and sinus conditions. During the great depression white clover heads were dried to make flour, and used to prepare desperately needed bread. It was called Angel Bread. So yes I have been using clover in my mix as well.
OK Gotta boogie.

How To Market A Great Loose Leaf Tea

So it is very late and I am still up. I have been having such a good day, much more energy, I can't help but wonder if it wasn't all the honeysuckle blooms I ate while I was picking.
My son came over, and we spent time working with the horses. Then we spent a little time in the kitchen trying out some new herbal tea ideas. The Stevia is awesome because you add enough and there is no need to add sugar at all. No calories, no tooth decay, okay for diabetics even.
Then I was online, still searching for the right marketing approach, and I came across the Local Harvest site. I was already a member, and had been growing garden produce in previous years; I just forgot about them. I forgot a lot of things from my life before cancer. I was so sick, and it was a struggle to make it through treatment.But anyway... Yes, this is the link for Local Harvest, it is a really cool tool for finding local grown produce in your own state or area. http://www.localharvest.org/farms/M22280?ul
All right just about 2 am, so I gotta get to bed. Later.
5/14/2010
Still looking for input or ideas from anyone who knows how to market my herbal infusion.
It is Deb's 2010 Better Body Blend. A detoxification aid containing peppermint, lemon balm, stevia, honeysuckle and white clover. A light, no calorie, no caffeine, green tea like drink. A tea with benefits.

After the PEG Tube

Hey just popping in for a sec, I said I would post the pictures of after the PEG tube was YANKED out, lol.
No that is not my belly button.












Here is my belly button.

Herbal Tea; Is Honeysuckle a Good Ingredient

Honeysuckle, which is sometimes called woodbine, happens to be one of the oldest herbs recorded in medicinal history.
In traditional Chinese medicine, honeysuckle has been used for thousands of years. Numerous sources quote the first known and documented reference to honeysuckle as a medicinal plant as the Tan Ben Cao. This was a Chinese text that was written in A.D. 659.
The Chinese considered honeysuckle to be one of the most important herbs for releasing poisons and toxic build ups from the body. It has also been reported to be useful as an aid for asthma symptoms, and reducing fever. The flower buds themselves, prior to opening are highly prized, and the Chinese call them Jin Yin Hua,






That is why I like to start picking early in the season, so I get a lot of Jin Yin Hua, like the ones I am holding at left.
















All of my herbs and blossoms are very carefully handpicked, and laid out to dry. No production line here.
I gather using small flat trays, because I do not want them to pile up deeply and compact overly much.












Then I move them to drying screens. I do a partial, highly supervised, sun drying phase for the first 3 days after picking. I do not want them to burn, or dry too quickly. The screens are moved from inside to outside, as necessary, to properly dry and seal in the flavor, aroma, and color. This is the same process used for all of my ingredients.











You would not believe how heavenly it smells when you open the door to the room where they are final drying.

Working at Gathering One of My Tea Ingredients Today

Hey, Happy Mothers Day to all you Moms:)
I have been outside gathering honeysuckle blossoms for my natural herbal tea mix I plan to try marketing. Each of the ingredients has it's own season to pick, and right now it is honeysuckle season. I usually just gather enough to sun dry and fill a large mason jar, for myself, but if I am going to be serious about trying to sell my tea, it is of course going to take a lot more gathering and production. The vines are just slam packed and easy picking, and there is no better smelling chore I dare say.
Each of the ingredients for my tea has its own special properties and benefits, and brief research will show that honeysuckle is useful for anything from asthma to urinary tract infections. The main reason I chose to add it was the delicate scent and sweetness it brings to the table, as well as its abilities to detoxify the body.
When I was a kid my brothers and I used to suck the nectar out of flowers. I still remember that. Then again we would try anything as I recall, we even sampled hardened pine sap for gum. Today I guess most kids would prefer running to the store and picking out a candy bar, rather than the time and effort outdoors in the sunshine under a blue sky sampling the oh so delicate sweetness of natures candy.

Not Much of a T.V. Reality Show Person.... But

I have never been a big television or movie watcher. You know I have friends that recite these hysterical or deep thought key punch lines from movies, and know all the popular actors names and such. Not me. I used to be lucky if I sat long enough to watch a whole 2 hour movie, never mind wait week by week for the next episodes of any of the popular series or reality shows. But, while I was sick, and on into my recuperative period I confess I have gotten much better at watching TV.
I very recently found this channel called Bravo. They have got some of the funnest, and most absorbing reality shows. By absorbing and fun I mean once you start watching you are sucked in. I guarantee you will find yourself either smiling; a dumb smile you do not even know is there on your face, or outright laughing. Some episodes may leave you shocked at some of the main characters actions. You are just like, oh no they did not just say that. I can't believe it, but I am really enjoying a few of them.
Today I watched a few episodes of one I have never seen before, called 9 By Design.
http://www.bravotv.com/9-by-design/season-1/about
I really really like this couple. They seem so real, and oh I don't know... I couldn't handle the city setting and living, but they kind of remind me of the hippy side of myself. They are down to earth, awesome and so in stride with style, along with their 7 children. Give it a look see:)

Busy Busy Me

Really been feeling whooped lately, Might be overdoing things a bit. Past couple of days it has been more of a chore than usual to complete my daily chores.
You know feed the horses, and turn them out, feed the chickens, the dogs, the cats, my parrot, and of course water for everybody, including the greenhouse and gardens. Just the usual, and then at night feed them all dinner, and put them to bed, so I can get up to do it again tomorrow:) In between these things I keep house, cook and clean etc... Today I feel a little better though, so hopefully I will be on an upswing for a bit. That would be nice.

Natural Loose Tea It Will Be

Okay, so cancer has slowed me a bit, the economy and jobs market is really tough right now (Especially for an aging babyboomer, borderline hippy recovering from cancer like me), so how can I make a substantial living?
I have my little farm, (emphasis on little), I have a creative head on my libran shoulders, and a deep abiding love and respect for nature, there must be some niche in the market out there. Some way to market a legitimate, honest product that I personally believe in.

The business proposition I would like to pursue is marketing my tea blend. Made with my own naturally grown, never seen a chemical herbicide or pesticide plants that I have been growing here for over a decade.
Being a down to earth, country living and loving individual I have always had nature at my beck and call. Not to mention I listened well to the old timers as I grew up. Elderly and passed on friends and relatives who passed on tips from their parents and grandparents over the years.
I have always experimented and brewed teas of various herbs and plants over the years, sipping a cuppa now and then when the fancy took me. Mostly mints, and lemon balm, sometimes a little St. Johns Wort, and over the past few years my Stevia plants, honeysuckle and rose hips, oh there are so many good things good for you.
I only grow naturally, always have.
Now I just need to find a way to advertise, to market my high quality product, and sell it.

And for the record Of course I am not claiming that my tea will guarantee anyone a better survival rate if they are in a battle with cancer as I was. That would not be right because I do not know if it is true, I only know I was at stage IVb, and as I progressed through treatments, chemo and radiation, there was not much that I wanted, and it was difficult to stay hydrated, and I did drink a lot more cups of tea. And I continue to have at least one cup every day.
Some may even say if you are such a big tea drinker, then how did you get cancer to begin with?

To that question I would say I am mostly to blame for developing throat cancer due to decades spent as a painting contractor in the construction and remodeling business, as well as being a heavy smoker since I was a teenager. Add to these two factors the genetically modified foods of all kinds that we consume daily, combined with poor water and air quality and I say it is a wonder we are not all walking around with cancer.
Maybe teas are the answer to reducing or removing bad toxins from our bodies.

I have time over the summer to work out all the details, as the gathering and drying process will of course in large quantity be quite lengthy. The Honeysuckle blooms will be gathered, dried and stored throughout the early summer, I will start this week. The honeysuckle will be mixed with dandelion blooms, both blooms having cleansing qualities. I have the cutting and drying of the mints, Stevia and lemon balm. Then of course the Rose Hips which I will mainly gather in late September. In June the persimmon leaves are to be harvested. This Better Body Blend Tea is intended as a detox and immune booster, and since the leaves are minimally handled, only picked and dried, I considered it a white herbal tea.
Even though I do enjoy fresh loose leaf teas year round, to package and sell, each individual plant must be properly dried, so realistically I am looking at most likely end of summer before I will have a packaged product ready for release.

Looking forward to the project, and as always I would welcome any input, or even advance orders for Deb's 2010's blend.

Watch for the release of Deb's Better Body Blend; Mint, lemon balm, stevia, honeysuckle & Dandelions mix, white clover, miniature roses and persimmon leaf.

Also working on ratios for It's Supposed To Be Bedtime; chamomile, St. Johns Wort, Stevia, persimmon, and lemon balm.