Autumn – the time of harvest. The equinox has come and gone, signaling longer nights and more relief from the arid Texas Summer. The shift of seasons has kicked in a creative streak in me, and I have been playing around with plants and potions fit for the colder months and holiday season. New offerings coming up will include infused honeys, bath soaks and concoctions to keep you healthy and cozy. (Be sure you are following me on social media so you’ll know when these are available!)
I am also happy to report that EZ Herbs has been included in the carefully curated selection of botanical remedies available at Earth Commons. This space feels open, grounded and oh so good PLUS they have a shop doggy! EZ Herbs products couldn’t feel more at home here. Earth Commons has a very special vision of how they would like support their surrounding community. Through gatherings, classes, private consultations and stewardship of the land, they make it “easier for people to navigate their own wellness and to build a supportive community.”
The product lineup they brought in includes 5 formulas: Think Plus, helpful for keeping you sharp while we muddle through these new school and work days. Better Bitters, to keep your digestion up to par as the seasons and the foods we consume change. Peaceful Spirit, a blend of herbs that keep your heart light and your spirit calm, letting your parasympathetic nervous system reign. MenopEZful, a tincture made from plants known to help smooth the ups and downs of this major life transition. Black Salve, a topical formula that works wonders on stubborn infections, spider bites and skin growths. If you’re local to Austin, I highly recommend dropping into their space to say hello and peruse the high-quality and often handmade goodies on their shelves.
Speaking of earth, as the weather cools our soil is relieved of excess heat, setting it right to germinate a new crop of seeds. The leaves float down, creating natural mulch to protect the web of life below our feet through the winter. I am in the 3rd week of a Medicinal Gardening class being taught by a sweet friend, fellow herbalist and experienced gardener, Caroline Carberry. We recently covered a section on the condition of soil on planet Earth, and how extremely important the health of it is. I also learned that it is degrading at a very quick rate.
That lesson was amplified when I watched the recently released documentary Kiss the Ground – I officially have a new obsession with this very necessary microbiome. To summarize : Soil is becoming dirt, devoid of life and nutrients. Without healthy, bacteria-rich soil, we do not have vitamin-packed produce, or even earth that is fit to root into. We have loose dirt that won’t absorb water but rather floats away with it, causing even more erosion of topsoil (we’ve already lost 1/3 of it across the earth). This is not a doom-and-gloom documentary though. It is a call to action, offering a surprisingly simple solution that is “old as dirt”. I highly recommend that everyone take an hour and a half to give it a watch. *Streaming on Netflix and rentable through the website* It has given me more hope for our future on this planet, and a new vision of land stewardship that I look forward to developing more.
Until next time, I’m sending many green blessings and wishes that you and yours stay well. -Corey