November Blessings

By Catherine Love of Still Room Herbs

Happy November Renegade Farmer Friends! 

As I write this post, the cold wind is blowing outside my window, spinning the few leaves left on the tall Sycamore tree round and round like dancing ballerinas.  Jack Frost made his first visit last night, leaving behind his tell-tale sparkles on the grass.  This is the first real cold weather we’ve had in my part of the world.  The forecast of near-freezing temperatures necessitated bringing the tender plants indoors, and now my sunny west-facing dining room windows are adorned with a lemon tree, bay laurel, rose-scented geranium, and rosemary.  The remaining container herbs are hardy enough to withstand the cold temperatures and will remain outdoors through the fall and winter.  Though many will die back, come the first warm days of spring they’ll once again start sending out green stems and leaves.  In the meantime, I’ll enjoy tending my indoor herbs and using the dried herbs I’ve stocked in the pantry. 

November begins the holiday season in my home.  We’ve decorated the house with the colors of fall- brightly colored leaves, tiny pumpkins, and dried corn.  This is a season of baking and simmering spicy herb-laden soups and stews for our dinner.  Herbs play a big part in both of these-  cinnamon, cloves, allspice, ginger and such add warmth and depth to the breads, muffins, and other baked goodies; herbs like thyme, bay, rosemary, parsley, marjoram, and of course garlic, make the soups, stews, and other dishes delicious and flavorful. 

In this season of giving thanks, I am indeed thankful for the herbs that bring not only fabulous flavors to our food, but are so helpful for health and healing as well.  It is comforting to know that I have a whole pantry of helpers at my fingertips to bring relief when illness strikes and to help keep those yucky cold and flu season bugs away.  With a few staple herbs such as peppermint, ginger, elderberry, Echinacea, slippery elm, linden flower, and chamomile; along with my assortment of essential oils, including lavender, rosemary, eucalyptus, peppermint, tea tree, and geranium- I am prepared to take care of most common ailments this season.  A cup of peppermint/ginger tea does wonders for stuffy sinus headaches.  Slippery elm and linden added to the tea soothes a sore throat.  Peppermint and ginger are excellent at soothing an upset stomach.  These are just a few simple herbal remedies that will make you or your loved one feel better and are truly good for you.  Essential oils really are an essential item in my herbal pantry.  I use them on a daily basis- for cleaning, adding to an herbal steam to open up a stuffy head, in the bath to relax tired muscles, in a spray bottle to freshen the air, in a bit of oil as perfume ... their uses and benefits are almost endless. 

What herbs are you particularly thankful for or do you consider essential in your home?  Please share what herbs you use most this time of year with us!

November Blessings,

Catherine