Tea Season

It's tea season, and a couple of days ago I harvested a batch of Sochi Camellia sinensis, and processed a batch of tea. It is such a satisfying process, and I'm always struck by the fragrance of the leaves as they dry. As this Camellia association article notes, few people realize that whenever they sit down with a cup of green, black or white tea, the brew comes from Camellia leaves! 

Last year, my friend Nikki invited me over for a tea party, both teaching me the process, and sharing cups of her beautiful tea. She sent me home with a basket of fresh leaves we harvested from her bushes, which I augmented with leaves from my own for a second batch. 

Camellia sinensis Sochi

Nikki and I both grow the variety from Sochi Russia, which is on the Black Sea, and the "most Northern tea," very aromatic and frost Hardy. While the flowers are small (about the size of a strawberry flower) It's leaves are about the size of my ornamental Camellia. The flowers can also be used for a light and fragrant tea.

High in antioxidants, especially catechins, green tea is preventative for cancers, lowers the risk of stroke, and helps control blood sugar. In Okinawa Japan, one of the "Blue Zones" for longevity, drinking several cups of green tea daily was common. They often added jasmine flowers and a bit of turmeric for shan-pien, "tea with a bit of scent."

Harvest - 24 hour rest

It's been rainy, so I needed to await a break in the weather to pick the tip 2-3 leaves into a basket. These leaves are still soft, and rest in the basket for 24 hours, with an occasional toss.

In the wok

The next step is done in the wok, I used round salad fork and spoon to gently stir and keep the leaves from browning in a "stir-fry green" process.

Turned out onto a well washed cotton kitchen cloth, the leaves are tossed till kool, then bundled into a ball and kneaded to lightly crush and oxygenate. Meantime, the oven is heating to 400°

Ready to knead

After kneading

When the oven reaches 400°, the leaves are spread on a baking sheet or pan, and baked for 3 minutes, removed from the oven and spread on the cloth. This is repeated for 2 minutes, then 1 minute, and the leaves gently tossed between each round in the oven. 

After first round in the oven

Third round

With each round of the process, the leaves get drier and change color, retaining a green tint. The fragrance is a lovely light floral, rather like Jasmine. 

Drying on the rack

Now the leaves are drying on a rack, and I toss them occasionally. When they reach the crispy dry state, I'll store them in a wide mouthed jar, with parchment paper under the lid, in a dark cupboard. This time, I separated some of the stem pieces, and baked a bit longer for kukicha or twig tea. 

#greentea #permaculture #longevity

T'is May!

As they often do this time of year, my thoughts and hands turn to gardening. It's been sunny the last week, and I've been digging ... 

My daughter and son-in law often have a lovely large garden, and we have two wonderful Farmers Markets, one year round, so I've not done much the last couple of years. There are always tomatoes, and I usually forget to harvest some of the garlic, so I divide and repent clumps in the spring! 

I've got a rather wild front yard (and am always surprised when someone stops to tell me how much they enjoy it! My camas blooms for a little while under a moss Rose and birch tree, a Rowan/Hawthorne cross is full of May Flowers (and produces delicious berries) Wallflower, primrose, flowering quince and calendula are blooming. 

Our local BiMart (NW chain, employee owned) has raised bed kits, and I decided to get one that's 3 x3' for the front, and some soil to fill it. .... There are front yard gardens sprinkled throughout my neighborhood, so I'm in good company! 

I looked up some YouTube videos, both on making and suggestions on filling the bed. 

• Dig out area under bed, remove roots etc
• Set the bed in place
• Cover the soil with Cardboard (barrier to roots, and worms love it)
• 2-3" native soil
• Next in layers: 2-3" potting soil, 1" compost/worm castings and 2" coconut noir (I've had this in bricks that you moisten and break down) and 2 C rock dust ... Mix a bit, add another layer till your bed is full enough. Add other amendments you like - kelp, bone meal, ...
• Water with 1/2 cup fish fertilizer in 5 gallon bucket of water, and let sit a bit

Camas and tulips

By adding nutrients, I re-use potting soil from containers, and will see what's ready to use from my compost bin. I've picked up several herbs, and may include some of those. I've already planted tarragon and thyme in one of the back beds.

What's in your garden? 

Archangels and Chakras

This weekend I've been doing some much needed dethugging as I work toward moving my Atelier into my living room, and my harps into my dining nook! And painting! A wall, a table top, ... And moving some furniture, filling some boxes and bags to go to a thrift shop or the tip.

Today whilst chatting with a friend, I pulled an archangel Card from one of my decks for her ... And a bit later, a fascinating YouTube video from British healer Amanda Ellis came up on my feed, and I watched a couple. Wow. It's well worth watching!

On February 16, she recorded a piece about having been sick with a double whammy virus,

Archangel Metatron 

that returned just as she thought she was over it!
She works with the Archangels, especially Metatron, and shared a teaching about receiving an energetic reset, rather like a vaccine for our physical bodies to match the evolution of our spiritual bodies, as many shift from 3-D to 5-D. 

Now this concept of illness as a reset is something a one of my daughter's co-workers told her a number of years ago. Her friend sees being ill as a chance for the body to do a tune-up, basically going through all the systems, tuning them to better efficiency, and often forgoing more serious illness. And it's a time to just take it easy, if we possibly can! 

Amanda works with colour, so mentioned several that came up as she was in recovery, resting and staying hydrated: green for Raphael, angel of healing, and a reminder to see illness as something "passing through,"rather than identifying with it ("I am...."), peach and Christ's energy, a feeling of being held and nurtured. Pink and Mary Magdalene, 'who is a great healer,' and a sense of good medicine, a tonic.
And the Rose Gold of the Stellar Gateway Chakra, above our heads. 

Now my ears perked up at the mention of Rose Gold! 
Years ago, a friend who received communications from animals visited shortly after I held a Reiki class . I mentioned I was surprised my cat wasn't spooked by the dog that came with his person for the weekend, and she said, "oh! Jade is showing me that that wasn't an ordinary dog, he was a Master teacher (!) And oh! He's showing me that Emmett filled the room, well, the whole house really, with this beautiful Rose Gold light! Like a sun, that might kept expanding, till it filled the whole house! Oh, it's so beautiful!, and feels so warm!" 
I have used that image for space clearing ever since! 

Amanda said that Rose Gold can be used to purge old stuck energy, so new clear energy can come in. That's exactly the feeling I've gotten using the rose gold sun in a house, and I often suggest it. 

Megatron asked Amanda, "Do you see yourself in gold? Do you value your heart and stomach as Golden, divine and pure vessels? Would you put 'junk'in a vessel of gold? Junk food, alcohol, sugar, ..." ...she quickly said she that while she does try to treat her body to wholesome food, (etc), like everyone else, she doesn't always stay on track! ... But this image of her heart, stomach and inner systems as Golden is a powerful incentive! I think of the flower essence California Poppy, "your true gold is in your own heart!"

"Metatron uses sacred geometry shapes to clear and align chakra cetera. Ask Metatron to align your chakras, and the shape moves through your crown and down through each chakra, clearing psychic toxins from your body and chakras." Archangel Oracle Cards. 

Here's the Rose Gold, Cosmic Gateway process she shared (it's about 35-40 minutes in on the video)

• Get comfortable, perhaps light a candle
• Breathe in gold, breath gold out...
• Breathe in gold, breath gold out...
• Breathe in gold, breath gold out...
• Breathe gold into your organs, your bones, your liver, skin, hair, finger and toenails
• When you are filled with Gold, begin pushing it out, to fill the cocoon around you, and to the edges of your Aura (about an arm's length, like an egg around your body)
• Imagine the membrane around the Golden cocoon - it protects you so lower energies can't enter your field. In front, behind, above, bellow and on both sides, only pure, uplifting energy can enter.
• "Gunk" can accumulate on the outside of this Gold bubble, so occasionally "hose it down" with Gold or silver, or take a shower of golden light, imagining a showerhead 10" or so above your head. (This is a good weekly practice, more often as needed)
• I sometimes follow an "energy shower of gold" with a brief shower of violet (1-2 minutes), as violet transmutes energy, so it harmonizes
• Sense things around you via the Gold Ray (Rose Gold glasses?!) Thinks you touch, people you encounter, and the whole world changes!

These articles from a decade ago include energy shower and several other energy practices I incorporate at times. This one has a quick house and land tuning, incorporating the rose gold sun.

I've been taking immune support, monolaurin and elderberry syrup, and haven't been hit with this bug (yet, anyway, knock on wood!) ...

Amanda listed what she's been doing in her recovery:

• Drink more water/stay hydrated
• Meditate, and write down what she's received
• Rest
• Colour energies and sprays (which she sells)
• Working with the angels and guides
• Sage/ smudge (Paolo Santa would also be a good choice) 

I'd add:

• Autoimmune herbs /teas
• Elderberry syrup and monolaurin (the antiviral, antifungal and antibacterial fraction of coconut)
• My regular supplements
• flower essences

As I'm in process with my home, as many are right now (the Konmari Netflix series has sparked lots of clearing!!) I am thinking of that inquiry about seeing myself/my home in Gold, and valuing what is here, and what I bring in!! 

Nutritional Diva

Several years ago, a favorite blogger referred to me as a "Nutritional Diva" in his response to one of my posts - and it's true that I've been interested in nutrition since my 20s! 
From the writings of Adele Davis, to our simple La Leche League suggestion to eat "a wide variety of food in close to its natural state," (I strive for mostly organic and locally grown!), my Virgo heart has loved exploring research and concepts for optimal nutrition. I strive for a balance of eatng the best I can and using high quality supplements. 

Here is a peek at some of my favorite Minerals:  

As a massage therapist, Magnesium, with its role in muscle relaxation, was on my list of "must have" nutrients early on. While "Maggie" is crucial for between 400 and 800 processes in our bodies, (including hormone balance, muscles, the nervous system and energy production), between 80 and 90% of the population is low in this essential mineral. 
5 mg per pound of "ideal weight" is the suggested daily amount. Dark leafy greens, organically grown,are one of ought richest sources.

Dr Jonathan Wright and cardiologist William Davis frequently remind us of its importance, and of the widespread deficiency of this vital mineral. Modern farming methods and increasing consumption of grains reduce the availability of magnesium for many people. As a cardiologist, Dr Davis found that when his patients stopped eating wheat, which binds minerals including magnesium, their heart health improved dramatically. He has switched his focus from surgery to preventative medicine.

I've made Magnesium Bicarbonate water, using a few Tablespoons Milk of Magnesia in carbonated water for over a year. It's easy to make, palatable and well absorbed. This is the form Dr Davis (author of Wheat Belly and Undoctored) recommends, especially for those prone to migraines. I also take magnesium glycinate, and a dropper of liquid multi mineral supplement.

Bicarbonate and Boron are two co-factors involved in magnesium metabolism. I've written about the importance of boron before here and here.  Over the two years been making and using Boron Water, I've noticed I'm rarely sore after activity or exercise, and less "creaky." 
Arthritic joints are found to have less boron than "normal" joints, and Spas around the world known for Arthritis Cures have boron (and other trace minerals) in their waters. The US intake is 0-3 mg daily. It seems beneficial to get 3mg or more daily. 

Dr Rex Newham, a soil scientist who later trained as a homeopath and osteopath realized that the use of phosphate fertilizer without other amendments resulted in soil deficient in boron, and a subsequent increase in arthritis. He found 6 -8 mg daily generally sufficient, while those with active disease benefited from 9-10 mg. 
Dr Newman also observed native farmers in Fiji, who used traditional farming methods and ate abundant starchy vegetables and fruit had much less arthritis than farmers using phosphate fertilizer and eating more grains (rice). Our extension service recommends dissolving 1 Tablespoon borax in a gallon of water, and using 1 Cup of this solution per plant. They suggest soil testing after the first year. 

Dr Axe wrote this piece on boron, which includes suggested amounts. Boron plays an important role in oral health, and in reducing the risk of gum disease. Dr Flechas video of his talk at an oral health conference offers a great overview of the benefits, and here's another article highlighting some of the research. It's available in 3mg doses, and in trace mineral formulas. A friend who's a naturopath suggests hair analysis is a good way to determine your levels.

Lithium Orotate is a mineral in a supplemental form which I've been intrigued with, and taken off and on for over a decade. The sauna at Breitenbush contains trace amounts of both boron and lithium. and is well known for promoting calm and relaxation.  

I first read this article by Dr Wright, who also speaks about the values obtained by talking small doses of Lithium on his weekly radio show. I learned about the importance of iodine for hormonal function from Dr Wright's column in Prevention Mag in the mid 70s, and have have a fan of this nutritionally oriented MD ever since! Lithium is part of the same group of minerals that include sodium and potassium. 

As Dr Wright remarks that If the only effect of talking small doses of lithium did was to increase grey matter in our brains (something we didn't think was possible in maturity!) it would be awesome! ... 
It does so much more! Lithium reduces aggressive behavior (especially in men) promoting a reduction in homicide and domestic violence, and reduces depression in women.  A client in her 80s confirmed this, saying when her verbally abusive husband took his lithium, he was kinder to her, and if she was taking hers, she could handle it better if he was mean! 
Lithium is protective of the Brain, decreasing erosion, and shrinkage, increasing Neuro transmitters, and protecting against clots! Dr Wright takes 20mg daily, (and recommends 10-20 mg for optimal results) He has also found it very helpful for children whose parents are alcoholics, or have other addictions. 

Iodine is another nutrient we may be low in. Dr Wright mentions iodine on several of his radio broadcasts, and Dr Axe gives an overview here. I've had relief from hormonal woes using Iodine in the 70s, and true to Folk Medicine hero, Dr Jarvis' comments, it "calmed (my) race horse type child!" within two hours whenever he took it! I include kelp in my daily fare, and take iodine periodically. 
Selenium is important for iodine absorption, and both iodine and selenium are low in our Western Oregon soil.

Each of us needs to discover our own balance between choosing food sources and deciding whether to augment withsupplementats.

May you enjoy good health!