Happy New YEar

New Year's greetings!!  There are exciting times ahead of us and plenty of opportunities to use our creative juices to help folks get well and stay well.   As teachers and students at Healing Leaves Center come together to brainstorm in the next few weeks, there will be more ideas and projects that we can choose from than we will be able to accomplish.   At the same time in the synergy of working together, we will be able to come up with the best we have to offer.   As the Director, that is exciting for me.  As part of our online community, I want to remind you that you are part of who we are and what we become.  So feel free to offer any observations or ideas for consideration in this next year.  Just because we haven't done it yet, doesn't mean it's beyond the realm of our accomplishing it.

A few things that I can say will continue to take place are the Intermittent Fasting and Fat Burning Protocol coaching; mini video series on "The New Millennial Diet" and other herbally centered topics both in video format and hands on in person.  We will have more topics and information in the next month's blog as we meet together.

Meantime, the plant and seed catalogs are already coming in.  Here in Vermont it's in the single digits and very snowy.  This is a good time to plan ahead for garden space, tools, supplies, layout, soil, and most importantly, the seeds or plants you want to establish.  Vegetables gardens are always fun and the old Victory Garden of WWII fame may just be an important part of your yard, whether formal veggie space or small raised beds.  As the threat to our food sources becomes more questionable and expensive; it may be more beneficial to grow, preserve and provide the freshest, nutritionally viable foods right in your back yard.  Grow and preserve the things you use the most throughout the year and you won't have to wonder where you might find them come the next winter season.

Growing culinary and medicinal herbs in your backyard can be just as satisfying and secure.  There are many that are easy to grow in good average soil and can provide your "go to" in emergencies.  Plants like Echinacea (purple cone flower), lemon balm, oregano, sage, thyme, parsley, rosemary, valerian, scullcap, nettle, comfrey, peppermint, raspberry, horseradish can be used in small spaces, integrated into perennial beds, as well as your garden plot.  The first goal, if you're just starting out is finding the ones that address some of your family's general health issues and start growing those.   You will be relieved to have them on hand when a health issue comes up and not have to run to the local pharmacy or health food store.  It's fun, it's easy and it saves time and money.  We at Healing Leaves Center are all about teaching lay people to help themselves.  If there are specific herbs you are interested in learning about, whether growing or preparation, we are interested in hearing from you so that we can provide the information you need to become self sufficient.

So here's a hearty cheers to the New Year and all that can be accomplished together!

Blessings,
Cathy Dodge

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