August 23, 2018
Maria Noel Groves
Homemade veggie burgers are a delicious way to celebrate seasonal produce and fresh herbs. Inspired by some delicious recipes, my husband and I now wing it with whatever is on hand. If you can, make extra to refrigerate or freeze and re-heat later in the toaster oven or skillet. They’re also perfect for wraps and…
August 21, 2018
Maria Noel Groves
Several times a week, I field phone calls and emails from complete strangers who have become so excited about herbal medicine that they’ve looked me up and want to know: How do I become an herbalist? What classes should I take? What do I need to do? Can I make a living at it? In…
August 2, 2018
Maria Noel Groves
Minor updates/additions made June 21, 2022 Anyone who claims that “there’s no scientific evidence to support herbal medicine” clearly hasn’t been paying attention. Scientists have conducted hundreds of thousands of scientific studies on medicinal botanicals, and this data complements our long tradition (several millennia) of using plants safely as medicine. But to the general public…
July 27, 2018
Maria Noel Groves
To be honest, oil is not a great solvent for extracting herbs (alcohol, water, and vinegar – in that order – tend to work better). It also has a greater potential to go bad via rancidity, mold, or bacteria, including botulism. Yet, we often use herb-infused oils for topical remedies because oil feels much nicer…
July 27, 2018
Maria Noel Groves
Once upon a time, I liked fewer than five vegetables, and corn on the cob was at the top of the list. Even though my taste buds have expanded to include a kaleidoscope of veggies, fresh-picked corn still holds a special place in my culinary repertoire. Though much maligned (and tinkered with), good corn is…
July 25, 2018
Maria Noel Groves
As an herbalist without a green thumb, I assure you, only weeds surpass herbs in ease of cultivation. Many thrive in spite of terrible soil, varying sun, and infrequent watering. Hungry critters lurking in your garden? Not to worry, most herbs rank low on the taste buds of bugs and other browsers, yet they’re utterly…
July 25, 2018
Maria Noel Groves
Gluten – the sticky, glue-like protein in wheat and its relatives as well as barley and rye (and hidden in many other foods) – is the “in” thing to avoid right now. The number of American households seeking gluten-free foods has increased dramatically over the past ten years, with 30 percent of U.S. adults currently…
July 25, 2018
Maria Noel Groves
I adore bread, potatoes, corn, and rice as much as every other American, but let’s face it: Most of us could use some inspiration to eat fewer carbs and more veggies. One way to significantly up your veg quota is to swap all or some of your standard starch for a veggie-based pseudo-carb. I’m not…
July 24, 2018
Maria Noel Groves
Forget about eating for yourself. Did you know that your body is home to trillions of beneficial bacteria, and the standard American diet is starving them out? These good bugs are part of your microbiome, a newly coined phrase that refers to your body’s ecosystem – both the human part of you and the microbial…