The Garden Witch

2015-07-15T16:09:00.000-07:00

Flower offering to the Celtic Goddess Brigit, Brigid, Brighid

Here in my dining room (also called the Herb-Craft room) is the heart of my life, my altar. My husband, Jamey, and I named our big, old, built in 1922, house, Brugh na Bhride (taken from the old Celtic name of Newgrange or Brugh na Boinne, a Neolithic architectural monument and one of the most famous antiquities in Ireland.)

What activities, sacred and mundane, that we do in our home are all dedicated to the honor of the Goddess Brighid who is also known as Brid, Bhride, Breo-Sagit and by many other names. She is the triple Celtic Goddess of poetry and writing; healing and midwifery; and smithing (black-smithing, gold-smithing, silver-smithing) or the making of crafts. She is often called the Goddess of the Forge and fire (bonfires, candles and other burning things) and water (holy wells, rivers, and springs) are her sacred elements. Her main shrine is in Kildare, Ireland where her worship is centered around her sacred flame and holy well. A large center has recently been built in honor of Brighid in Kildare. I hope to go there next year to celebrate Imbolc with all the other "Keepers of Her Sacred Flame."

The beautiful vase of flowers on my altar at home is made up of flowers that I grow in my own gardens. We only have a tiny end lot on a corner in our small city, but we raise a lot of vegetables and even more herbs. I make all sorts of herbal things with these herbs and I use the dried herbs in magick because I am mainly a Hedge Witch or a Kitchen Witch.

The altar where I do my magickal workings is featured in the picture below. Above and behind the altar are my dried herbs for healing and magick that I have gathered from my gardens and from my journeys around this world, our Mother Earth or Gaia.

The statue to the left on my altar is a wonderful sculpture of Brighid given to me by my husband and soulmate this year as my Beltane gift. She is so beautiful. She stands with Celtic symbols all around her and at the bottom of by her feet and in her hands are the tools of her three incarnations. She holds fire in her hands.

I also use the stand that I have my herbs stacked upon to hold my seedlings in the spring and on which to dry my herbs in the fall when I plant my gardens and put up the harvest for the next year. Behind the row of jars on the top shelf is a line of white security candles that I inscribe, anoint and light when someone asks me to light a candle for healing energy.

Above is a better picture of the jars of herbs I have behind my altar. From these rows of jars plus the other magickal tools and implements on my altar, I form spells and incantations which I offer up to the Gods and Goddesses to help heal this world and its inhabitants, my dear friends and myself. I celebrate the eight special holidays of Wicca called Sabbats. These are Samhain, Yule or Winter Solstice, Imbolc, Spring Equinox or Ostara, Beltane, Summer Solstice or Litha, Lammas or Lughnassadh, and Autumn Equinox or Mabon. I also celebrate the full and new moons every month and honor the Old Ways and the Old Gods and Goddesses in my life.

Curry, Ginger and Cilantro Chicken Curry

2015-07-15T14:09:00.002-07:00

INGREDIENTS:

1-2 pounds of boneless, skinless chicken breasts cut into 1" cubes (non-antibiotic & additive free)
Himalayan pink salt- to taste
Fresh ground white pepper-to taste
2-1/2 teaspoons curry powder-more or less according to taste and strength of curry powder
3 Tablespoons organic olive oil or organic coconut oil-highest quality available
1-2 large, organic onions, finely chopped (sweet onions have the best taste)
4 organic, garlic cloves, minced
1 Tablespoon organic, freshly minced ginger
1-2 cups of organic or homemade chicken broth
1 Tablespoon gluten free flour
1-2 packets of Stevia white crystals
Organic Vegetables of your choice: total 3-4 cups organic fresh or frozen peas, carrots, cauliflower, mushrooms, etc. cut into small pieces
1 cup organic yogurt or sour cream
1/4 c finely chopped organic cilantro

INSTRUCTIONS:

Sprinkle the chicken evenly with about 1 tsp. pink salt, 3/4 tsp. of white pepper and 1-2 tsp of curry powder. Be sure to suit your taste, hotter or cooler with the spices.

Heat 2 T of olive oil in a large skillet over medium to high heat until just warm. Add the chicken cubes and cook, stirring until just the pink is gone from the chicken. Transfer the cooked chicken to a bowl and set aside

In a second pan, while browning the chicken, brown the vegetables just until crisp-tender in about 1-2 Tablespoon of oil.

Add the onions, garlic, ginger into the empty chicken pan and cook until onions are transparent scraping bits of chicken off the pan and into the mix.

Add 1 Tablespoon more of oil to the pan (if needed) and cook until warmed through, then add 2 Tablespoon of gluten free flour to the pan and stir with a fork or a whisk to keep the flour from clumping in any way. Slowly add the 2 cups of chicken broth to the pan, 1/2 cup at a time, stirring after each addition, until all of the broth has been added.

Bring to a boil for a few seconds and immediately shut the temperature down to simmer. Keep stirring the mixture. It should be thickened and not have any clumps of flour.

Add the chicken, the vegetables, and cilantro to the pan and simmer for a few minutes stirring well.

Add 1 cup of plain or vanilla yogurt to the mix (or sour cream if you prefer). Taste the sauce and add the stevia and/or more curry or spices if needed.

Blend the mixture until all of the yogurt is incorporated into the sauce. Keep warm until serving.

Serve over organic, brown Basmati rice.

Our garden is full of fresh cilantro, garlic, onions and other goodies. I served this over the Basmati rice with a green and tomato salad from out garden and the family just inhaled it. Absolutely incredible and so healthy too. Enjoy!

2015-07-06T13:08:00.006-07:00

How to Make Lavender Water

My lavender is going CRAZY this summer. I have harvested it twice and need to get out there and harvest it again. Lovely! There is NOTHING that smells better than fresh lavender, nothing at all, even better than most roses if you ask me! I have two large bags of it drying in the dining room and the heavenly odor fills the air every time you open the door into the dining-room which is now the herb-craft room.

Today, I am making Lavender water. Lavender water can be used used to scent linens, drawers, closets or clothing. If you still iron, a spray before ironing will freshen most fabrics with the soothing aroma of lavender. I add lavender or rosemary essential oil to my washer and dryer when I am laundering. It is also great added to bed linens. You can sprinkle it directly onto the linens when they are in the dryer, too. You can also use Lavender water as an air freshener or furniture spray. Just a spritz on your pillow at night and you will sleep like a baby all night long.

Using Lavender Flowers- (http://www.wikihow.com/Make-Lavender-Water)

" Gather your supplies. Lavender water made from lavender flowers won't smell as concentrated as lavender water made from essential oil. Essential oil is the distilled, concentrated essence of lavender made from the flowers. When you use the flowers themselves, the resulting water is very light, but still quite aromatic. Here's what you'll need:

- Spray bottle
- Funnel
- Fine-mesh strainer
  A bunch of lavender stems with the flowering heads at the top (for a total of 2 tablespoons of buds)

Strip the lavender buds from their stems. Lavender flowers grow as little buds along straight stems. To make lavender water, you don't need the stems; the buds contain the floral scent. To remove them from the stems, hold a stem over the glass bowl. Gently pinch the stem at its base, and run your fingers from the base to the tip. The buds will fall off into the bowl.
- You can also buy dried lavender buds that have already been removed from their stems. Look in gourmet food stores or herb shops.
- This is a great way to use lavender plants that may be growing in your yard.

Bring the water to a rolling boil. Pour it into a small saucepan and place it over high heat. Heat the water until it comes to a full boil. Don't leave it unattended for too long, or the water will begin to evaporate.

Pour the boiling water over the lavender buds. Carefully pour it over the buds so that the buds can begin steeping in the hot water. The heat will draw out the oils from the flower, and the water will become scented with lavender.

Cover the bowl and let the buds steep. Leave the buds to steep for a few hours or overnight. The process is similar to making tea. Let the buds continue steeping until the water cools.

Strain the buds from the water. Set the fine-mesh strainer over a bowl. Pour the water into the strainer to strain out the buds. Discard the buds; they won't have a scent now that their essence is gone.

Funnel the water into the spray bottle. Place the funnel over the opening of the spray bottle. Pour the lavender water into the spray bottle. The water is now ready to use on your linens, as air freshener, or as a tool for aromatherapy.
- If you want the water to have a longer shelf life, you can mix in one ounce of either witch hazel or vodka. Shake the bottle well to distribute it throughout.
- You may also store it in the refrigerator to keep it fresh."
- My own Lavender water is often mixed with Witch Hazel as it makes the most incredible spritzer to cool and clean your face in the summertime.
  Happy scented summertime!
  
  Sources and Citations

It's Thyme for Porkchops

2015-06-11T16:48:00.001-07:00

Ingredients
2x 1x
4- 2 Tablespoons olive oil
8- 4 center cut boneless pork chops
2- 1 tsp. each herbs and spices to taste--Himalayan pink salt, ground white pepper, minced fresh thyme and fresh minced fine garlic
1- 1/2 cup of chopped onions or shallots
12- 6 peeled and sliced into 8's fresh, ripe peaches cleaned and cut into 8 wedges
1/2-1/4 c white wine--use more if the peach mixture starts to dry out

Directions:
Heat a large skillet over medium high heat. Add the olive oil to the pan and swirl it to coat the pan bottom. Put the chops into the pan in one layer. Use a bigger pan if you cannot fit them all in at one time in one layer. Sprinkle the chops evenly with 1/2 of the herbs and spices to taste using more or less according to your taste-buds. I use more. If you use fresh thyme and garlic, don't be stingy. You can use about double the fresh than if you use the dried herbs. Add the chops to the pan and cook about 3-4 minutes on each side until the chops are done through. Remove the chops from the pan and keep warm (just warm, too hot and they will become dry and tough). Add onions or shallots, the rest of the herbs and spices, and the peaches to the pan. Cook for five minutes on medium-high and scrape up all the juices and browned bits in the pan. Add just a bit of white wine 1/4 cup to the pan and reduce the heat. Let the peaches and onions simmer for another five minutes. Make sure the peach slices are cooked through and the onions are transparent. Pour the peach mixture over the pork chops and heat just until the mixture starts to simmer. Serve the pork-chops on a platter with the peach sauce spooned evenly over the chops. Serve with a mixed green salad and fresh wedges of tomato and chopped salad vegetables from your garden. Top with your favorite all-natural dressing. I use Amy's Goddess dressing.

Yields 4-8 serving depending on whether you make a single or double batch.

These are incredible and you can make enough for a crowd if you plan ahead.

Herbal and Traditional Remedies for Clearer Skin

2015-06-08T18:19:00.004-07:00

I am at war with my skin right now. Blemishes, allergies, psoriasis, asthma and other things have made a mess of my extremely delicate skin. I found this article at http://www.ehow.com/how_5389861_make-acne-facials-home.html. I am trying several ideas from this list and I will let you know if they work. By Mabon, I hope to have beautiful skin once again...

The acne home remedies listed below have worked for many people, but they may not work for all people. All home remedies for acne are enhanced by proper vitamin and mineral supplementation. Drink lots of water. Drinking water will prevent most of your skin problems. Exercise regularly. Some forms of aerobic exercise will bring oxygen to your cells and give you healthy skin. Vitamins A and D3 will help your skin as well.

Put white toothpaste on your pimple before you go to bed. This should help reduce swelling overnight. Make sure it is the paste not the gel. This is one of the oldest, most popular acne home remedies.
Wash your face twice a day in warm, salty water. This should leave your face oil free without aggravating the acne. Also gargle with salty water for sore throats and use a nasal spray of salt and water for sinus infections. A Neti Pot which you can find at your neighborhood health store or online will also help you with stubborn sinus infections.
Apply a paste of fresh fenugreek leaves over the face every night for 10-15 minutes and wash it off with warm water. This will prevent acne, pimples, blackheads, and wrinkles.
Place strawberry leaves on the acne; the alkalinity helps to reduce the swelling.
Extract the juice of one lemon and mix it with an equal quantity of rose water. Apply this mixture to your face and let it stay on for about half an hour. Then, wash your face with fresh water. About 15 days of daily use helps to cure acne, pimples and reduces blemishes and scars.
Another method is to massage your face with the skin of a lemon before washing with lukewarm water.
Apply fresh mint juice over your face every night for the treatment of acne, pimples, insect stings, eczema, scabies and other skin infections.
Eat plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables. At least 5 servings of fruits and vegetables should be included in your diet. every day. All acne home remedies should include a healthy diet.
A couple of garlic cloves, crushed and dabbed on the face 1-2 times a day is also purported to help. This is one of the smellier acne home remedies.
Home face wash for acne: Mix together 1 or 2 milliliters each of the following: witch hazel, tea-tree and sweet fennel essential oils, adding 1-2 milliliters of essential oil of geranium for women and 1-2 milliliters of essential oil of rosewood for men. Mix with 300 milliliters of water. Shake before use, as the oils will float on top of the water during storage. Dab the affected areas with a cotton ball lightly moistened with this mixture two or three times a day. The oils will clean the skin and unclog the pores giving an antibiotic-like protection to the skin.
Apply fresh lemon juice on the affected area overnight. Wash off with warm water the next morning.
Use 2-3 teaspoons of dried basil leaves to 1 cup boiling water. Steep 10-20 minutes. Cool, and apply to your face with a cotton ball.
Grind orange peel with some water to a paste and apply the paste to the affected spots on your face. This is one of the best acne home remedies.
Clean your face with a cotton ball dipped in rose water 2-3 times a day.
Mix 1 teaspoon of lemon juice in 1 teaspoon of finely ground cinnamon powder and apply on the affected areas frequently.
Nettle Tea is another solution. Nettle tea is made with the nettle herb which has some curative powers and really helps work wonders on skin problems. Drink four cups a day to get the full benefit of one of the most powerful acne home remedies.
Aloe Vera juice applied twice a day can greatly speed up the healing of acne lesions. I grow it at home and it is one of the easiest plants there is to grow indoors or out.
Another lotion that uses bee propolis extract may also be effective. Mix eight ounces of water and 11 drops of bee propolis extract. This is an acne home remedy which has been proven effective with many people.
Some herbal acne home remedies: Burdock leaf tea, Lavender essential oil (mix 1:10 with water), Tincture of calendula flowers, Tea tree essential oil (mix 1:10 with water) and Liquefied cabbage leaves with witch hazel, strain and add two drops of lemon oil. Use as a lotion.
Ice down the acne before bed and by morning it should be noticeably less swollen. This works best on larger pimples that have not yet formed a head.
Take vitamin B5 and zinc supplements daily to strengthen the skin's resistance to acne.
Mix mint juice with turmeric powder and apply the paste on the affected area. Leave the paste on for 15-30 minutes and then wash off with lukewarm water.
Mix some vinegar and salt in a bowl. Pour a little bit in your hand and rub it on the pimples.
Or soak a face towel in the vinegar and salt mixture and dab it on the bumps. Leave it on for 15-20 minutes and then rinse it off with warm water.
Blend cucumber and make it into a paste. Apply this as a mask on your face and leave it on for 1/2 hour and then rinse with warm water. This refreshes your skin and prevents acne.
Mix corn flour with egg white and apply this paste onto your face. Let is dry completely for 1/2 hour. Dip your hands in warm water and massage your face as you wash it off. This when repeated regularly gives you smooth skin.
Mix sandalwood paste with rosewater and apply on the face. Rinse off after 30 minutes.
Essential oil face mask for acne: Use a mask base powder, such as fuller's earth or kaolin powder. Use distilled or filtered water to make a paste. Mix 1 heaped teaspoon of base powder to 3 drops of essential oil. Add approximately 2 tablespoons of the water in, to make a fluid yet balanced paste. Essential oils to add in the mask either separately or try smaller amounts together are cypress oil 1 drop, lemon oil 2 drops, or sage oil 1 drop.
Mix a paste of tender neem leaves with turmeric and apply to the affected area.
Grind some nutmeg with milk and apply on affected areas. Your pimples will disappear like magic without leaving a mark.
Make a mixture of lime juice and rose water. Dab this on your face and leave it for 15-20 minutes. Rinse off with lukewarm water.
Make a paste by mixing 3 tablespoons of honey and 1 teaspoon of cinnamon powder. Apply this paste on the pimples before sleeping and wash it off the next morning with warm water. Repeat this every night for two weeks and your pimples are purported to disappear forever.
Rub fresh garlic on and around your pimples. Pimples will disappear without a mark with regular applications.
Mix 1 teaspoon of groundnut oil with 1 teaspoon of fresh lime juice to prevent formation of blackheads and pimples.
First wash your face and then dab acne with cotton balls soaked in vinegar.
Mix groundnut oil with an equal amount of fresh lime juice and apply onto your face. leave this mixture on for 10-15 minutes and wash. It may be applied daily to prevent the formation of blackheads, acne and pimples.
Apply raw papaya juice (grind the whole papaya in a blender including the skin and seed) on swelling acne and pimples.
Apply fresh lime juice mixed to a glass of boiled milk as a face wash for acne, pimples, blackheads, and cracked skin.
Apply ripe tomato pulp on pimples and keep it on up to 1 hour, then wash.
Make a paste of roasted and powdered pomegranate skin with fresh lime juice and apply over acne, boils, pimple, blackheads and whiteheads.
Apply grated potatoes as a poultice to treat skin blemishes, wrinkles, boils, pimples, blackheads, whiteheads , etc.
Make a paste of ground radish seeds with water and apply on face to remove blackheads.
Apply a paste of ground sesame seeds with water as poultice for inflammation of the skin due to allergies, skin rashes, and pimples.
Large pores on facial skin can be treated with a paste of sandalwood powder with masoor dal.
Use an oatmeal or almond mask to thoroughly cleanse your face. Mix either oatmeal or almond powder with enough rose water to make a soft paste that spreads easily on the skin. Rub it on your skin with your fingertips, paying special attention the problem areas. Leave to dry for about 15 minutes and then rinse off with cold water. This is very good for getting rid of blackheads.
Honey is a great remedy for skin blemishes and acne because the honey kills bacteria.

2012-01-08T15:46:00.000-08:00

2012 Gardens

I am sure that 2012 is going to be a stellar year for my herb and vegetable gardens. In the front yard, the chives, garlic chives, mints, oregano, yarrow, purple cone flowers/echinacea, rosemary and lavender are still going strong and I have bulbs, roses and lilacs in position for spring blooming. There will be flowers- lots and lots of flowers. Be sure to stop back frequently to follow the progress of my garden and admire the photos of my beautiful herbs and flowers.

Right now, everything is a bit bare, but soon we will be planting new seeds and the tips of spring bulbs will be peeking out through the soil. I will be adding MORE of everything this year and expanding the herb beds into raised beds.

I am heading off to Lowe's to get materials for raised beds and sending to Woody at Lynchburg Grows for another truckload or two of compost. We have two big compost beds of our own in the back, but this will not be nearly enough soil for my new raised beds.

I have an adorable cart that rolls along and provides a nice comfy seat from which I can garden IF I have raised beds. Rather than fight the arthritis pain, I have accepted that it is there and will be gardening from my cart this year and utilizing raised beds to make life a bit easier.

In addition to all the herbs, last year we added four fruit trees and four raised vegetable garden beds to the front yard. I also have a baby rowan tree which is one of the sacred trees of the Druids. So far, no zoning committee members or irate neighbors have complained about the tomatoes in the front yard, so I am going to add even more vegetables for 2012.

Once we patch up a few spots in the cement walks and add the rest of the new plants, there should be little weeding to do. I don't plan on leaving any room for the weeds. Stop by soon to see the new progress in the Witch's garden!

Spring 2011

The Under-rated and Under-loved Winter Squash

2011-11-01T10:50:00.000-07:00

I just finished off the very best Acorn Squash Pie I ever made and it was dairy free and sugar free. For me, it was wheat free too, since I didn't eat the crust. The entire family loved it--even the uber-picky one who wouldn't eat a vegetable if it handed him $100. The humble winter squash is so under-loved and under-appreciated..

Acorn Squash Pie
Here’s a modified recipe for a squash pie based on the Ask Dr. Weil website. It tastes yummier than pumpkin pie.

Crust:

1.5 cups pulverized grape nuts
2 tbl maple syrup or honey
5 tbl apple juice
(Or any pie crust that you like really, graham cracker would work well too)

Filling:

3 cups pureed squash (I used acorn)
1/2 cup sugar (brown or white or mix of both, I used Splenda here since my Mom is a diabetic)
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp ground ginger
2/8 tsp cloves
3/4 tsp cinnamon
1/2 cup soymilk

Prepare pie crust to be filled.
Peel and cube squash. Cover in water and boil until tender. Puree the squash.
Mix squash and everything else, pour into pie pan. Bake for 45-55 minutes at 400 degrees. Chill overnight in refrigerator. Makes 1 9″ pie.

Great Winter Squash information from About.com

http://localfoods.about.com/od/wintersquashpumpkin/Winter_Squash_Pumpkin.htm

The ABCs of Winter Squash

Here's a handy guide to winter squash that helps you distinguish your Delicatas from your Hubbards, and offers tips on how to choose the perfect specimen.

See More About: winter squash pumpkins fall vegetables

How to Cook Squash

There are many ways to cook winter squash - whether you have a butternut squash, an acorn squash, a spaghetti squash, or a pumpkin. Here are a few easy ways to cook yours.

See More About: winter squash butternut squash acorn squash

Spaghetti Squash in Low Carb Diets

If you eat low carb, you'll find that spaghetti squash makes a great substitute for pasta. Find out the best way to cook spaghetti squash and how to extract the "spaghetti" strands

See More About: low carb vegetables low carb pasta cooking vegetables

Vegan Chocolate Pumpkin Pie

Never doubt that tofu can be delicious when you eat a slice of this chocolate pumpkin pie, though if you're new to tofu, be sure to buy the right kind.

See More About: dairy-free pies vegan desserts vegan recipes

Essential Oils Can Bring All Sorts of Energy into Your Life

2011-09-23T15:46:00.000-07:00

Picture from November 2011 issue of The Herb Companion

I really love the magazine The Herb Companion. So much that I had to re-post this wonderful chart they featured in the most recent issue of the magazine. I LOVE essential oils and I use them almost daily. I use mostly rosemary and lavender in my Whirlpool bath, but this chart opens up some ideas that I had never considered before. If you don't have the essential oils (which can be very expensive unless you buy them in bulk or quantities) just brew up a large pot of your favorite aromatic herb on the stove in your kitchen. Turn it down to low after it comes to a boil and let it simmer all day adding water as needed. It is a less expensive way of practicing herbal magick or aroma therapy. This is just my first post back on this blog which I started before my Fibromyalgia brought every thing in my life to a halt last Spring. I will be posting again regularly from now on while I work to increase my health quotient.

One of my followers has an incredible giveaway on her blog--check it out!

2011-03-18T08:23:00.001-07:00

Weiser Book Giveaway: For Goddess’ Sake

by Hailey D.D. Klein

There are many goddesses in every woman. For Goddess’ Sake is an irreverent, funny, profound interactive guide that helps women live joyfully by embracing all goddesses within. The book encourages women to get together and form their very own goddess groups. In these groups, they can discover and experience all of their goddess archetypes–the sexy girl, the damsel, the bruiser, the smarty pants, the solo gal, the mystery woman, and more.
Accessorized throughout with recipes that feed body and spirit, rituals to create with others or individually, and inspiration from ancient goddess lore, For Goddess’ Sake helps readers feel the power of connecting with other women/goddesses daily.
Author Hailey D.D. Klein, a self-proclaimed Aphrodite/Artemis/Cassandra/Lady of the Lake/Athena/Hecate/Persephone/Spider Woman/Hestia/St. Lucy/Lilith/Pandora, shows women how to form their own goddess groups. With the support and guidance of their groups, women explore their inner goddesses and have a lot of fun doing it. Goddesses in the group earn goddess merit badges as they discover, explore, and celebrate each goddess within. Earn your Artemis badge by truly challenging yourself–run your first 5K or join a Tai Chi class. Klein offers guidelines for creating a monthly goddess gathering–a space and place for women to meet, eat, drink, be merry or blue, ecstatic or quiet–a time and place just to be.
A truly delightful, unique book, For Goddess’ Sake helps any woman set her inner goddesses free on a fun-filled journey of self-discovery in the company of her sister goddesses.

The winner of this drawing will receive one (1) copy of “For Goddess’ Sake” by Hailey D.D. Klein.
The drawing for this giveaway will occur on Friday, April 1st around noon CST. Entries (comments on The Balanced Witch blog) must be dated before then to be counted. (Site registration is required to post as this cuts down on spam comments.)
You will receive one entry for each of the following:

Sign up for the Red Wheel / Weiser newsletter!
Follow Weiser Books (@weiserbooks) on Twitter.
“Like” the Red Wheel / Weiser Books page on Facebook.
Tweet “@balancedwitch is giving away books from @weiserbooks! – http://bit.ly/dR8KYX”
Blog about this giveaway. Include link to post in comment as entry.

One entry per comment please!
Winners will be announced on the blog and notified by Monday, April 4th.

Wildcrafting and a personal update on the blog and our gardens--

2011-02-18T13:12:00.000-08:00

While I am still editing the compost article (which turned out to be a major undertaking since most of the info was out of date,) please be patient. I am editing it live and sending out new versions daily; not a professional practice, but once I started proofing links, a necessary one. We here at "Brugh na Bhride" (which is what we call our 1920's, partially-restored, money pit, behemoth of a home in Lynchburg, VA) have been working on our magick garden planting--so far--peas, carrots, parsnips, rutabagas, turnips and watching our crocus's bloom. The daffodills are in bud, but nothing else is in bloom yet. We have tons of flowers, herbs, vegetables, strawberries, raspberries, blackberries, mulberries, apples and more on the way. We have a lot crowded on our tiny 1/4 acre urban homestead lot. Watch for pictures of our endeavors soon and some from last year for comparison. In the meantime, please enjoy these links about wildcrafting and wild edible plants. I know many of you are interested in wildcrafting and I am just starting out on this additional magick gardening path. Wildcrafting is the Goddess with her arms held out for us to enjoy Her bounty, but only if we are careful, thankful and make sure we do not take more than what She can give.

Learn all about composting at these sites near you---

2011-02-10T18:37:00.000-08:00

There are hundreds of places that practice and teach composting.The list grows longer daily. Here is a partial list of those centers. PLEASE post your local composting center's information in the comments section of this blog.

Alabama:

HUNTSVILLE: at Huntsville Botanical Garden, 4747 Bob Wallace Ave SW, just 5 blocks east of the Space and Rocket Center (256-830-4447.)

Alaska:

ANCHORAGE: http://www.uaf.edu/ces/compost/earthworks/

Arizona:

PHOENIX: Sources for Composters in Maricopa County

Location	Information
City of Phoenix Buckeye Landfill (602) 262-6598 Office	You can purchase old trash containers with holes cut into them to make composters for $5.00. They are open on Saturday unitl 4:00 p.m. Take I-10 to 19th Avenue, South on 19th Avenue to Lower Buckeye Road, West on Lower Buckeye Road to 27th Avenue, then South to the Landfill. You do not have to be a resident of Phoenix to buy containers.
Town of Gilbert Sanitation Department (602) 503-6437	The town offers free backyard composters to residents, and will even deliver. These are recycled trash containers that have the bottoms and wheels removed, and holes drilled in the sides and top.
City of Tempe (602) 350-8265	Free to residents. Composters have lids, bottoms have giant holes. Tempe will deliver.
City of Mesa (602) 644-2222	Available to residents for $5.00. Should you ever return the composter, they will credit your account.
City of Chandler (602) 786-2863	Free to residents. Chandler will deliver.

Check with your local municipal recycling or solid waste department to see if they offer composting containers.

TUCSON: Tucson Botanical Garden at Alvernon Way and Grant Road. Every Wednesday, the Gardeners of Tucson host an informative plant clinic. The Tucson Organic Gardeners have helped to create the Home Compost Demonstration Site. There are 60-70 classes and workshops offered annually on a variety of horticultural and desert environmental concerns.

California:

The Los Angeles County Department of Public Works operates 11 Learning Centers throughout the County. They are equipped with educational and demonstration materials designed for our Smart Gardening workshops. Each has various backyard and worm composting bins, and drought tolerant plants. Some of the centers also include grass recycling demonstration areas to show how easy and beneficial grass recycling can be.

1. Santa Clarita
    Castaic Lake Water Agency
   27234 Bouquet Canyon Rd
    [photo] [map]

2. Calabasas
   Gates Canyon Park
    25801 Thousand Oaks Bl
    [photo] [map]

3. Arcadia
    L.A. County Arboretum
    301 N Baldwin Av
    [photo] [map] [$8 fee]

4. Covina
    Charter Oak Park
    20261 Covina Bl
    [photo] [map]

5. Rowland Heights
    Peter F. Schabarum Park
    17250 E Colima Rd
    [photo] [map] [$6 fee]

6. Whittier
    Sorensen Park
    11419 Rosehedge Dr
    [photo] [map]

7. Monterey Park Garvey Ranch Park 781 S Orange Av [photo] [map]	8. La Mirada Community Gardens 13518 Biola Av [photo] [map]	9. Huntington Park Closed.
10. Long Beach Birney Elementary School 710 W Spring St [photo] [map]	11. Torrance Columbia Park 18721 Prairie Av [photo] [map]	12. Palos Verdes South Coast Botanic Gardens 26300 Crenshaw Bl [photo] [map] [$8 fee]

ALAMEDA COUNTY: at Shannon Park in Dublin, maintained by Alameda County. Classes in basic composting and vermi-composting offered by the Alameda County Waste Management Authority, in the cities of Oakland, Union City, Dublin, and Livermore (please telephone the Rotline at 510-635-6275 for more information).

ARCADIA: Home Garden Learning Center at the Los Angeles County Arboretum (adjacent to the community garden), 305 N. Baldwin Avenue, maintained by the Los Angeles County Department of Public Works. Compost demo site open during workshops and scheduled events only. (phone 1-888-CLEAN-LA for more information, or visit http://www.smartgardening.com .)

CALABASAS: Home Garden Learning Center at Gates Canyon, 25801 Thousand Oaks Boulevard, maintained by the Los Angeles County Department of Public Works. Compost demo site open during workshops and scheduled events only. (phone 1-888-CLEAN-LA for more information, or visit http://www.smartgardening.com .)

CARSON: Home Garden Learning Center at Victoria Park, 419 East 192 St., maintained by the Los Angeles County Department of Public Works. Compost demo site open during workshops and scheduled events only. (phone 1-888-CLEAN-LA for more information, or visit http://www.smartgardening.com .)

COVINA: Backyard Composting Center at Charter Oak Park, 20261 E. Covina Boulevard, maintained by the Los Angeles County Department Quail Botanical Gardens (Classes are held on the first Saturday of each month, and Master Composter training in the Fall. Phone 760-436-7986 for more information).

LA MIRADA: Home Garden Learning Center at La Mirada Civic Center, 13700 La Mirada Boulevard, maintained by the Los Angeles County Department of Public Works. Compost demo site open during workshops and scheduled events only. (telephone 1-888-CLEAN-LA for more information, or visit http://www.smartgardening.com .)

LONG BEACH: at the El Dorado Nature Center, 7550 E. Spring St., maintained by the Department of Public Works, Integrated Resources Bureau (workshops offered and bins offered at a discount. Phone 310-570-1745 for more information).

LONG BEACH: Backyard Composting Center at Birney Elementary School, 710 West Spring Street, maintained by the Los Angeles County Department of Public Works. Compost demo site open during workshops and scheduled events only. (telephone 1-888-CLEAN-LA for more information, or visit http://www.smartgardening.com .)

PALOS VERDES: Backyard Composting Center at South Coast Botanic Garden, 26300 Crenshaw Boulevard, maintained by the Los Angeles County Department of Public Works. Compost demo site open during workshops and scheduled events only. (telephone 1-888-CLEAN-LA for more information, or visit http://www.smartgardening.com .)

PASADENA: Backyard Composting Center at Eaton Canyon Park, 1750 N. Altadena Drive, maintained by the Los Angeles County Department of Public Works. Compost demo site open during workshops and scheduled events only. (telephone 1-888-CLEAN-LA for more information, or visit http://www.smartgardening.com.)

ROWLAND HEIGHTS: Backyard Composting Center at Shabarum Park, 17250 E. Colima Road, maintained by the Los Angeles County Department of Public Works. Compost demo site open during workshops and scheduled events only. (telephone 1-888-CLEAN-LA for more information, or visit http://www.smartgardening.com.)

SACRAMENTO: There are three sites in the area, at Fair Oaks Park (8000 Temple Park Dr., near community garden), The Safety Center (3909 Bradshaw Road, 1 mi S. of Hwy. 50, back parking lot), and at Rio Linda-Elverta Recreation & Park District Horse Arena (810 Elkhorn Blvd. near Cherry Ln.). Sacramento County and the City of Sacramento sponsor how-to programs several times a month (and a correspondence course), with free compost bins given to those completing the classes. (phone the Sacramento County Rot Line at 916-875-6799 for more information).

SAN FRANCISCO: at Garden for the Community, 7th Ave. and Lawton St.. Composting workshops and demonstrations in English, Spanish, and Cantonese are offered (phone the "rotline" at 415-285-7585 for more information).

SAN JACINTO: on the north end of the campus of Mt. San Jacinto Community College, on State Route 79 between Ramona Expressway. and Gilman Springs. Rd., maintained by Riverside County. Several workshops offered in the Spring and Fall of each year. For more information, contact Steve Lech of the Riverside County Waste Resources Management District at 909-275-4366 (email: slech@co.riverside.ca.us).

SAN JOSE: at Emma Prusch Memorial Park, 647 South King Road, maintained by Master Composters of the University of California Cooperative Extension (Phone: 408-299-4147).

SANTA CLARITA: at Castaic Lake Water Agency, 27234 Bouquet Canyon Rd., maintained by the Los Angeles County Department of Public Works. Compost demo site open during workshops and scheduled events only. (telephone 1-888-CLEAN-LA for more information, or visit http://www.smartgardening.com.)

SANTA CRUZ: at the UCSC Farm and Garden, UCSC Campus, Bay and High Streets, maintained by staff and apprentices of the Center for Agro-ecology and Sustainable Food Systems (more popularly known as the Farm and Garden). For more information, phone 831-459-3248.

SONORA: behind the County Library at 480 Greenley Road, maintained by the University of California Cooperative extension of Tuolumne County (classes are offered by Master Gardeners working out of the Farm Advisers Office, phone 209-533-5695 for more information).

TORRANCE: Backyard Composting Center at Columbia Regional Park (adjacent to the Lago Seco Community Garden), 4045 190th Street, maintained by the Los Angeles County Department of Public Works. Compost demo site open during workshops and scheduled events only. (telephone 1-888-CLEAN-LA for more information, or visit http://www.smartgardening.com.)

WEST HOLLYWOOD: Backyard Composting Center at Havenhurst Community Garden, 1351 Havenhurst, maintained by the Los Angeles County Department of Public Works. Compost demo site open during workshops and scheduled events only. (telephone 1-888-CLEAN-LA for more information, or visit http://www.smartgardening.com.)

Composting Center at Sorenson Park, 11419 Rosehedge Drive, maintained by the Los Angeles County Department of Public Works. Compost demo site open during workshops and scheduled events only. (telephone 1-888-CLEAN-LA for more information, or visit http://www.smartgardening.com.)

Colorado:

BOULDER: at the community garden site, behind the North Boulder Recreation Center at 3170 Broadway, maintained by Growing Gardens: http://www.growinggardens.org/ or 303-413-7248.

DENVER: at Gove Community Garden, 13th Ave. and Harrison St. (also faces Colorado Blvd.), maintained by Denver Master Composters (Phone: 303-922-4096).

CARBONDALE: a composting program is available for public viewing at the Colorado Rocky Mountain School. Program highlights are posted at www.crms.org/or contact the main office (970-963-2562 / email to crms@crms.org).

FORT COLLINS: at Lee Martinez Farm, 600 N. Sherwood, open Wed.-Sun. 10-5, maintained by the City Department of Natural Resources (Phone: 970-221-6264)

LONGMONT: at the CSU Cooperative Extension Office, 9595 Nelson Road, maintained by CSU Cooperative Extension (Phone: 303-776-4865)

LOUISVILLE: Louisville leads Boulder County with two sites. One is at the Louisville Arboretum, at the Recreation Center on Via Appia, and the other is at the Louisville/Lafayette Recycling Center (at Hwy. 42 and Pine). Maintained by Boulder County Master Composters and the Louisville Resource Conservation Advisory Board. For more information, contact the Parks and Recreation Department at 303-666-6565 ext. 500.

LOVELAND: City of Loveland Backyard Composting Demonstration Site, 400 N. Willson Ave. (same location as the yard waste composting site), maintained by the City of Loveland (Phone: 970-962-2529)

Georgia:

ATHENS: near the University of Georgia campus, maintained by the University of Georgia Grounds Department (Phone: 706-542-7531)

ATLANTA: at 156 Heaton Park Drive, maintained by the Fernbank Science Center (Phone: 404-378-4314 ext. 318)

ROSWELL: All the Roswell, Georgia recycling stations now have compost demonstration sites. They offer a wide variety of recycling options, including Goodwill charity depositories, tree chipping service and the backyard composting demonstration.

Hawaii:

HALEIWA: at Waimea Falls Park, 59-864 Kamehameha Highway

HONOLULU: at 151 Kapahulu Ave., maintained by the Honolulu Zoo

HONOLULU: at 2131 Makiki Hts. Drive, maintained by The Hawaii Nature Center

KANEOHE: 45-680 Luluku Rd., maintained by Hoomaluhia Botanical Garden

MAUI: a Home Composting Education project is funded by a County of Maui Public Works Recycling grant and is managed by Maui Recycling Group. One-hour workshops are available Saturdays at 10 am at Mantis Eco-Care, 2137 Vineyard Street, Wailuku. A starter bin is given to each participant. Workshops are $5.00 per person. Phone 572-6668 to register.

PEARL CITY: at 962 2nd St, maintained by the Pearl City Urban Garden Center

Illinois:

CHICAGO: in the Hyde Park Neighborhood at Nichols Park, on 53rd Street between Kenwood Avenue (1342 East) and Kimbark (1300 East). Open at all times for visitors, staffed on 1st Saturdays of the month, Spring through Fall, 10:00 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sponsored by Nichols Park Advisory Council, The Resource Center, and the Chicago Recycling Coalition (phone 312-862-2370 for more information).

Indiana:

FULTON COUNTY: located on Monticello Road. Heading north from Rochester on Old US 31 (Main Street), turn west onto Monticello Road and go approximately 1/2 mile to the Rochester Waste Water Treatment plant. Classes available. Sponsored by the Fulton County Solid Waste District (telephone 219-223-4939 for more information).

Kansas:

SALINA: at Kenwood Park,W on Greeley Ave.(left at first intersection), just across the street (SW) from the Bicentennial Center. This site is maintained by the Saline County Master Composters. For more information please telephone 1-785-826-6555.

WICHITA: at the demonstration garden at the Sedgwick County Extension Education Center, 7001 W. 21st N. (21st & Ridge), maintained by the Extension Master Gardeners. Information on composting available at the site and inside the Extension Center. Open daylight hours. Group tours and classes available. (phone 316-722-7721 for more information).

Maryland:

HOWARD COUNTY: There are five sites maintained by the Howard County Master Gardeners.

Massachussetts:

NORTH ATTLEBORO: Fred Glover, "the Compost King," maintains a site and will answer questions on the telephone. (phone 508-699-2904 for more information).

WALTHAM: on Beaver Street, 1/4 mile west of Rt. 60, at the University of Massachusetts Waltham Field Station of the Cooperative Extension Service.

Michigan:

ANN ARBOR: located at the Leslie Science Center at 1831 Traver Road. Maintained by Project Grow Community Gardens. Phone is 313-996-3169, or contact the City of Ann Arbor Solid Waste Department (313-994-2807) for further information about this education center.

LANSING: at the Potter Park Zoo, 1301 S. Pennsylvania (maintaining organization not known, phone 517-483-4222 for more information).

NOVI: at Tollgate Education Center, on Meadowbrook Road at 12 Mile Road. Maintained by the Master Gardener Society of Oakland County (phone the Michigan State Extension Service at 810-858-0887 for more information).

Minnesota:

SAINT PAUL: at Como Park, near the entrance to the Como Zoo, maintained by the Saint Paul Neighborhoods Energy Consortium. Open to the public year 'round. Free workshops offered Spring and Fall. (for more information, phone 651-644-7678).

SAINT PAUL: at Highland Park, near the picnic pavilion on Montreal Avenue, maintained by the Saint Paul Neighborhoos Energy Consortium. Open to the public year 'round. Free workshops offered Spring and Fall. (for more information, phone 651-644-7678).

Missouri:

COLUMBIA: located on Rollins Street near Hitt Street/Rollins Street, maintained by Public Works Volunteer Program. Classes and compost bins also available. (for more information, telephone 874-6271)

New Jersey:

EGG HARBOR TOWNSHIP: at the Atlantic County Utilities Authority Environmental Park, located at 6700 Delilah Road. Also at the site are an organic community garden, nature trails, and a playground constructed from recycled materials. Environmental tours available (phone 609-646-5500 for more information).

MIDDLETOWN: at Deep Cut Park, on Red Hill Road in Middletown, maintained by the Monmouth County Recycling Office (908-431-7460) and the Monmouth County Park System. Both commercially produced and home-built composters are displayed at the site, along with informational placards. Literature is available. Open year-round during daylight hours. The Recycling Office also has a Master Composter training program, and Master Composters are available to provide home visits, talks, slide shows, demonstrations, and school activities.

New Mexico:

ALBUQUERQUE: at the New Mexico Museum of Natural History & Science, 1801 Mountain Rd NW (Mountain & 18th St.), designed and constructed by the Museum in cooperation with other city and state agencies (phone 505-841-2858 for more information).

ALBUQUERQUE: at the Albuquerque Council of Garden Clubs Center, 10120 Lomas Blvd. Persons interested in Master Composter training should contact the Bernalillo County Extension Service, 243-1386 and indicate their interest.

ALBUQUERQUE: at the NE Xeriscape Garden, Spain at Wyoming NE. Persons interested in Master Composter training should contact the Bernalillo County Extension Service, 243-1386 and indicate their interest.

ALBUQUERQUE: There are also composting demonstration units at the Rio Grande Zoo and the Rio Grande Nature Center (no street addresses available at time of listing). Persons interested in Master Composter training should contact the Bernalillo County Extension Service, 243-1386 and indicate their interest.

New York:

ALBANY COUNTY: Cornell Cooperative Extension sponsors a demonstration site in Albany County. Call them for more information.

AUBURN: at Emerson Park, Lake Ave & Rte 38, maintained by Master Composters of Cornell Cooperative Extension of Cayuga County (phone 315-255-1183 for more information).

NEW YORK CITY: at the New York Botanical Garden in the Bronx (contact the Bronx Green-Up Compost Project Manager at 718-817-8024 for more information).

ITHACA: The Master Composters of Tompkins County presently maintain three compost demonstration sites in Tompkins County:

At the CCETC office, 615 Willow Avenue - Roughly a dozen different bin styles on display with explanations, costs and pros/cons to each bin. This is a working demonstration site where their office composts food scraps.
At the Ithaca Community Gardens, off the 3rd St. Extension, near the Ithaca Farmer's Market - One row of static-style bins on display, opposite a row of dynamic-style bins. There's an educational board with a beautiful painting of "Love Your Compost" on the backside.
At the 4-H Acres, Lower Creek Rd. - smaller working demonstration site that is used by 4-H clubs and groups that use the space.

NEW YORK CITY: Queens Botanical Garden, Brooklyn Botanical Garden, and Lower East Side Ecology Center all have sites.

ROCHESTER: Two sites exist in the Rochester area. One is located at the county recycling center on East Henrietta Road and another in Seneca Park Zoo. Maintained by the county's Solid Waste Department and Cornell Cooperative Extension.

North Carolina:

CHAPEL HILL: at the Community Center Park, sponsored by the Garden Club of Chapel Hill.

CHARLOTTE: The Compost Garden is located at Compost Central, run by Mecklenburg County Solid Waste Management, on West Boulevard a mile past the Billy Graham Parkway, near Charlotte/Douglass International Airport. Hands-on how-to classes available in the spring and fall; cost is $5 and participants receive wire for making a bin as well as a guidebook.

DURHAM: Durham has a demo site at the Museum of Life and Science 433 W. Murray Ave. (phone 919-220-5429 for more information). Demonstration classes are sometimes available.

Oregon:

PORTLAND AREA:

Directions to the demonstration garden sites:

Fulton Community Gardens

Intersection of Southwest Barbur Boulevard and Southwest Miles Street in the Burlingame neighborhood of Southwest Portland
Enter from Southwest Miles. Park in the Fulton Park Community Center parking lot. Disabled passenger parking is adjacent to the site, along gravel road...Visit the Fulton Community Garden site

Clackamas Community College

19600 S. Mollala Ave., Oregon City
Take Park Place/Mollala exit off I-205. Follow the signs to Clackamas Community College via Highway 213. Turn left on Beavercreek Road. Turn right on Clairmont Drive to enter campus. At first intersection, turn left onto North Douglas Loop. The center is directly across from the baseball field. Parking is next to the site...Visit the Clackamas Community College site

Leach Botanical Garden

6704 SE 122nd Ave., Portland
Take I-205 to the Foster Road exit #17. Travel east on Foster Road to Southeast 122 Avenue. Turn south and continue for three blocks to our parking lot next to Johnson Creek. A short walk across the street will take you up to the Manor House and Gift Shop. Using public transportation, TriMet bus #10 or #71 will let you off at Southeast 122 and Foster Road. A short walk south on Southeast 122 will take you directly to the Garden and Manor House. Display gardens in front and Manor House displays are accessible. Parking and restrooms are also accessible...Visit the Leach Botanical Garden site

Note: The sites do not accept yard debris from the public. Call Metro Recycling Information at 503-234-3000 for referral to drop-off locations for materials you do not want to compost at home.

Pennsylvania:

SANDY LAKE: at McKeever Environmental Learning Center, located 3 1/2 miles east of I-79 at Exit 34, on Rt. 358 (or, from I-80 take exit 3A to Sandy Lake, turn north (right) on Rt 173. At the traffic light turn left [west] towards Greenville on Rt 358 approx. 1 mile. McKeever will be on the right), maintained by Slippery Rock State University. Telephone 412-376-7585 for more information.

WEST CHESTER: near the campus of West Chester University -- the sign for the site is on High St. just outside of West Chester (Route 202 North veers off and if you go straight, you are headed into the city of West Chester).

Tennessee:

GERMANTOWN: operated by the City's Environmental Commission at C.O. Franklin Park at 7725 Poplar Pike. The demo site is just south of the tennis courts in the park, off of Melanie Smith Lane, just east on Poplar Pike from Germantown High School. For more information, contact Bo Mills at 901- 757-7387.

Texas:

CARROLLTON: The Marie Huie Outdoor Learning Center opened in 1995 at Rosemeade Elementary School, 3550 Kimberly. The site includes 15 different types of compost bins, a worm bin, and several garden areas. For more information, contact the Recycling Coordinator at 972-466-4959.

GRAND PRAIRIE: Grand Prairie plans to dedicate a new composting demonstration site in September, 1997 at Kirby Creek Park.

PLANO: A demonstration site is open to the public during daylight hours at 4120 W. Plano Parkway. Trained Master Composters will be on hand from 9 AM to 10:30 AM on the third Saturday of each month to demonstrate pile building. Information is also available from a web site at http://www.mastercomposter.com/local/plano1.html. If you would like to arrange a group visit for your organization, class, or club, contact Heather Merchant at 972-964-4111

Virginia:

LYNCHBURG: Compost Demonstration Project (in cooperation with the Lynchburg Waste Management Facility), on Concord Turnpike off of US 460, maintained by Hill City Master Gardeners (contact Mr. Don Davis, Cooperative Extension Agent, Phone: 804-847-1585).

ROANOKE: behind the Fine Arts Building lower parking lot at Virginia Western Community College, on Colonial Avenue near Towers Shopping Center. Open daylight hours. For more information, contact John Arbogast in the Roanoke City Extension Office at 540-857-7915.

ROANOKE: at Mill Mountain Zoo, near the vegetable garden. There's a fee to enter the zoo, but visits can be arranged to the compost area, and they'll send information to interested individuals. (visit http://www.mmzoo.org for more information).

Washington:

BELLINGHAM: on the corner of Lakeway Drive and Woburn, maintained by Whatcom County Cooperative Extension and used for Master Recycler Composter training (phone 360-676-6736 for more information).

BUSH PRAIRIE: at CASEE (Center for Agriculture, Science, and Environmental Education), 11104 NE 219th St., maintained by the master composters of the WSU Clark County Extension office (phone 360-254-8436 for more information).

FERNDALE: Take exit 263 off of I-5, turn west , go to the RR overpass, turn left and follow signs to Hovander Homestead. Open from April 1 to October 30 each year. Maintained by Whatcom County Cooperative Extension and used for Master Recycler Composter training (phone 360-676-6736 for more information).

SEATTLE: at Seattle Tilth Gardens, in the Wallingford neighborhood. Workshops offered. Seattle Tilth also sponsors many other educational events related to composting, gardening, and small scale agriculture. 206-633-0451 or visit their web site for more information)

SEATTLE: at El Centro de la Raza, on Beacon Hill

West Virginia:

WESTON: behind Jackson's Lodge at Jackson's Mill State 4-H Conference Center, about 100 miles north of Charleston near Interstate 79 (take exit 99 or 105 going west and follow the signs). Visitors are welcome whenever the camp is open. Site maintained by West Virginia University Extension Service Compost Committee (for information, phone 304-367-2772).

Wisconsin:

STEVENS POINT: Schmeekle Reserve at the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point maintains a composting demonstration area for the general public as well as providing programs periodically on composting/worm bins. The City of Stevens Point also provides low cost composting bins for residents.

WAUKESHA COUNTY: at Retzer Nature Center, about 3 miles west of the City of Waukesha. No admission fee. (phone 262-896-8007 for more information).

So what makes magickal gardening, well, magickal? (Part 2)

2011-02-06T11:26:00.000-08:00

The first hypothesis about Magickal Gardening was that Nature is inherently magickal. The second is that when you apply intention (or some say will) to the already natural magick of Nature, then you have become a magickal gardener. You and SHE co-create something beautiful.

Magick is finding your connection to the Earth and all that is natural, alive and moving in the universe! It binds all that exists together.

Magick is living in balance with the flow of life, and knowing that you are a vital force within that flow. Magick is everywhere! In the trees, rain, stars, and in the sea. It is the spark that quickens a seed to rise up from the soil.

Magick is laughter, joy, wonder and truth the of the world around us!

It is the subtle enchantment that reminds us not to waste a single moment of this gift that we call life! Magick is not greed, or power, or pretense...It is real. It exists. And it works.

Magick is the mystery that lies in the secret soul of the world. It is the essence of creation. What we imagine, we have the power to create!

MAGICK IS WITHIN YOU...

With it you can create your dreams, heal your world, love your life and find the peace that lives in every human heart.

Author Unknown

How to test your soil...

2011-02-06T08:42:00.000-08:00

Be certain you get a good soil sample. Take core samples from the surface to a depth of 6 inches (if you don't have a soil core sampler, cut a vertical slice into the soil with a spade or shovel, then take a uniform slice along the vertical cut from the surface to 6 inches). Take 12-20 cores (depending on the size of your area) from points scattered evenly through the field or garden you are sampling.

Take separate samples for any portions of the field or garden that have distinctly different soil types or very different management histories. Make sure to keep your core samples separate for the differing areas. Mix the soil from each of the samples thoroughly in separate, clean plastic buckets or stoneware crocks. Place a pint of soil in a sample bag provided by the testing lab, or in a zipper-seal plastic bag for each distinct area of your field or garden. Remember not to handle your soil sample with your bare hands, use rubber gloves.

Send the sample to a reputable soil testing lab - such as A&L Eastern Agricultural Laboratories in Richmond:

A&L Eastern Laboratories, Inc.
7621 Whitepine Road
Richmond, Virginia 23237

http://al-labs-eastern.com/

Phone: (804) 743-9401

Fax: (804) 271-6446

For a comprehensive list of soil testing centers for every state click HERE.

In addition to soil pH, organic matter and major nutrients (N, P, K, Mg, Ca) it can be helpful to test for essential micro nutrients, especially Boron (B) which is often deficient in Virginia soils.

When you receive the test report, find a good organic supply dealer in your area and give them the following information:

A brief history of the field or garden sampled,
Your gardening plans and objectives,
Overall description of condition of the soil itself or of the vegetation (crops, weeds, native plants) growing in it
Any other specific questions

Once you have your soil up to its best, then you can be sure your garden will be bountiful and beautiful.

So what makes magickal gardening, well, magickal? (Part 1)

2011-02-04T14:29:00.000-08:00

There seems to be two (at least) avenues of thought on this question. One is that everything in the Universe is inherently magickal. The cycle of birth, life, death and rebirth is one of the main principles of Wiccan (and some Pagan) religious philosophy. Most of us would agree that life, death and rebirth are completely magickal and totally natural all at one time. This cycle of life is what magickal gardening is all about. We sow, we reap, we process, we eat and use the products we have helped (we hope) the Earth, our Mother, to create. To our ancestors, this was big magick; this was their very survival.

Unfortunately, we have now distanced ourselves so far from our Earth/dirt/nature-centered origins that we have lost that breath of magick. Even in 2011, it is still true that survival depends on a successful harvest. Without a good grain harvest, there is no bread. Without healthy soil, there are no vegetables or fruit. We can live without meat, but we can't thrive completely without protein, carbohydrates and other nutrients, so we still depend on the land around us for our existence the same as did the ancients.

Sure, we can eat man-made "food" chemically manufactured in a pollution belching factory, sustenance nearly devoid of nature or natural qualities, but is that living? We are gardening magickally when we consciously intend to rise above living life on auto pilot and realize our connection to the food we eat, to the land we harvest it from and even more, its connection to us. When we realize the connection between every particle/atom/quark in the world--man, animal, plants, trees, factories, airplanes, good things and bad, then we realize that nature is a type of magickal force all its own. We truly are all ONE as the popular New Age saying goes. The question is: do we choose consciously to be one with a beautiful forest full of trees furnishing us fruit and nuts or a factory producing toxic waste to kill what's left of the healthy Earth around us?

Obtain every organic, Earth-friendly, heirloom seed catalog you can find.

2011-02-03T08:27:00.000-08:00

This is just a beginners list of the more well known organic seed suppliers and a few companies that feature organics. PLEASE add your favorites to the comment section and we can all benefit from your experiences. IF you had a great experience, let us know and IF you had an awful experience, phrase it tactfully and let us know that too. I really like Peaceful Valley.

Does anyone know of any "magickal" companies selling organics, heirloom seeds, organic supplies, etc? I am ordering my seeds right now and we will be planting our peas this week. We always plant our peas at Imbolc. (Does anyone else have this ritual date for planting peas? I have to check the moon signs and such before we break ground, but Imbolc is for peas, our first crop.)

We have had pretty fair weather here in the Blue Ridge Valley considering that most of you are housebound with snow and ice. This site is interactive. I want to know WHAT you are doing with your magickal gardens. We can all learn from one another.

Organic Gardens With Real Magick: - web sites and locations

Baker Creek Heirloom Seed Co.
2278 Baker Creek Road, Mansfield, MO 65704
417-924-8917

W. Atlee Burpee & Co.
300 Park Ave., Warminster, PA 18974
800-333-5808

Fedco Seeds
PO Box 520, Waterville, ME 04903
207-873-7333

High Mowing Organic Seeds
76 Quarry Rd., Wolcott, VT 05680
802-472-6174

Johnny’s Selected Seeds
955 Benton Ave., Winslow, ME 04901
877-564-6697

John Scheepers Kitchen Garden Seeds
PO Box 638, Bantam, CT 06750
860-567-6086

Nichols Garden Nursery
1190 Old Salem Rd. NE, Albany, OR 97321
800-422-3985

Renee’s Garden
888-880-7228
(no print catalog)

Seed Savers Exchange
3094 N. Winn Rd., Decorah, IA 52101
563-382-5990

Seeds of Change
PO Box 152, Spicer, MN 56288
888-762-7333

Territorial Seed Co.
PO Box 158, Cottage Grove, OR 97424
800-626-0866

The Cook’s Garden
PO Box C5030, Warminster, PA 18974
800-457-9703

Tomato Growers Supply Co.
PO Box 60015, Ft. Myers, FL 33906
888-478-7333

http://www.gardenbazaar.com/directory/cz_1L1.html - great directory of organic businesses in US
http://www.planetnatural.com/site/index.html
http://www.groworganic.com/- I have used this and these folks are wonderful. Nice name--Peaceful Valley
http://www.fertilegarden.com/
http://www.gardensalive.com/
http://www.backyardgardener.com/shed/index.html - another great site that lists all sorts of gardening catalogs
http://www.the-organic-gardener.com/ - an organic gardening website--a how-to type of thing

Invocation to Create Your Magick Garden

2011-02-02T08:43:00.000-08:00

Gracious Goddesses, Glorious Gods, Sacred Nature Spirits, Guides and Lares of this heavenly piece of Earth here on the corner of Memorial and Harper Avenues in Lynchburg, VA in the USA on the planet Earth.

Gaea, Mother Earth, I call on you and honor you.

I ask your permission and your support in this endeavor to bring to beauty and fruition a garden of herbs, vegetables and fruits for the glory of the Gods and the well-being of ALL who live here and visit here.

At this, the time of the Celtic fire festival of Imbolc, I call on Brighid, Goddess of Fire and Water to bless this endeavor, to bring beauty and great health to this land and to all who dwell here or partake in the bounty created here.

May the garden we create here be a testimony of our love of the "Olde Ways" and a representation of our independence from the money based society in which we are forced to live.

Earth, Air, Fire, Water and Spirit, I call on you to bless and protect this garden and my intenstions to create something beautiful, functional, healthful and abundant in every way.

Guide me daily as I go about the tilling and planting, sowing and reaping of this sacred space. Grant me and my fellow garden creators plenty of strength and endurance to create this beauty and abundance in a pain free manner and in ever increasing health and joy.

Flow through me into the seeds, plants and earth creating great bounty to be shared with all others who I hold dear.

Enable me to have plenty of food to flourish and grow healthy and for those that I love to share in the bounty, flourish, grow healthy and stong.

Aid me also in the development of my herb craft and my gardening knowledge and garden crafts so that I can develop a plan to share this bounty with others and bring prosperity to my life and to the life of my friends in honor of the Gods and in the Spirit of Right Livelihood.

May all who work in this garden thrive and grow healthy just like the plants that they nurture.

May this, its equivalent or better bless my life, the life of those I love and this, my sacred garden, harming none, so mote it be.

Make it your intention to dedicate your garden to the Spirit of Rebirth and the Beauty of the Goddess...

2011-02-02T08:02:00.000-08:00

First steps..mundane..I will post a future blog entry about each of these:

Obtain every organic, Earth-friendly, heirloom seed catalog you can find.
Find on-line and local organic, heirloom seed gardening clubs and join them.
Raid your local used bookstores and library for books about gardening. Anything by Rodale Press is excellent. Mother Earth News is full of wonderful ideas.
Gather together gardening tools and gardening decorations to be woven into your magick. Be creative!
Plan your garden out on paper. Graph paper works well. There are computer programs out there for this, but I like a pencil and paper myself. I feel more connected to what I am doing.
Learn how to plant by the Moon Signs. Get a good copy of a moon sign gardening chart that explains planting by the moon signs clearly and completely.
Learn about companion planting.
Scrapbook...Create a Garden Journal to celebrate your successes and document the plants that did not grow and why you think this may be. Make your Garden Journal festive and beautiful, just like your garden.
There are many different types of magickal gardens-decide which concept garden with which you would like to play and why. Think about butterfly gardens, herb gardens for cooking, herb gardens for healing herbs, Mediterranean gardens for those who love Italian cooking, night gardens full of glowing white flowers and night-blooming Jasmine. Let you mind wander and play. What can you create?
Start a compost pile. Don't waste those scraps. They can make your garden come alive.
Recycle and reuse everything you can.
Have a heart-to-heart talk with the Gods, Goddesses, and Nature Spirits around your home and get their permission to have this garden. Tell them that the garden is in their honor. Enlist their help. Give them a gift or a libation to honor them and request their support and presence. Thank them-repeatedly.
Have your soil tested. Contact your local Farming Extension office.
Have a ritual to bless the intentions of your new garden.

Welcome to my new blog about gardening with a touch of magick...

2011-02-02T07:22:00.000-08:00

Today is Imbolc, my favorite holiday of the Wiccan/Pagan year. Most who know me know that I am dedicated to the Celtic Goddess Brighid . She is my Patroness, my sister, my guide, my inspiration, my all. Today is also the New Moon. The New Moon is the perfect day to start a new project (especially on Imbolc,) a creative project like the one on which we are about to embark. New Moon workings can be done from the new moon to three days after the new moon. The new moon is for new beginnings, starting new ventures and also love, romance, health or job hunting.

My new blog, The Garden Witch, is about all of these things--health, love, fertile greenness, growth, romance, inspiration, beauty, and much more. Gardening with Magick is not tricky or difficult. It is a way to remember, honor and cherish the "olde ways" and reconnect with the Earth, our Mother. AND--it is fun! Remember this at all times! This is supposed to be fun, for you, for those around you, and also for the Gods and Goddesses you honor with your magickal gardens. Just think how wonderful it will be to have a lush garden brimming with fresh, green magickal asparagus and greens to honor the Lord and Lady at Beltane.

The best source I have found for this material is Dorothy Morrison's wonderful book entitled Bud, Blossom & Leaf. I recommend this book as the perfect accompaniment to this blog. I have found such delight in Dorothy and her ideas that I have created my own magickal garden and magickal ways which I will share to you in this blog, The Garden Witch. Imagine, fresh, red, luxurious strawberries and strawberry mead magickally enhanced to be the perfect cakes and ale for your spring rituals.

Come along with me as we weave our webs to the song of the Fae and start our own green magick gardens in which we can dance and sing all year round.

The next post will be a "how to" of getting started ideas...