May: The Alcohol-Free Box
Over the years I've had more than a few requests to offer a box with only alcohol-free products. Most of my boxes contain at least one alcohol extracted tincture and sometimes as many as four! Tinctures are convenient, portable and easy to take. They are concentrated plant extracts, usually more potent than teas, and they have an indefinite shelf-life. They are an excellent way to preserve fresh herbs and because I work almost exclusively with herbs that I grow and gather myself for the monthly boxes that I offer year round, I make a lot of tinctures to ensure that I have access to good quality herbal products, even in the dead of winter when the plants are dormant.
However, alcohol is not appropriate for everyone and there are many reasons why people may wish or need to avoid alcohol. In the ancient history of herbalism, using spirits to extract a plant's properties is a relatively recent innovation, with teas, poultices, syrups and electuaries being examples of more traditional remedies. So it is with pleasure that I offer an entirely alcohol-free box for May.
Aside from being alcohol-free, the products in this month's box will reflect what is in my apothecary at this time of year and what plants are available to harvest and work with in these early weeks of spring. Look for a Nourishing Herbal Infusion Tea blend with milky oats, red clover, red raspberry leaf and evening primrose. Support strong bones, teeth, hair, skin and nails with a silica rich Horsetail Vinegar. Do some spring cleaning with a wonderfully scented Cedar Hydrosol. Explore the properties of a white pine glycerite. Soothe and moisturize tired, winter-worn skin with a healing Facial Oil. Soak away aches and pains with an Herbal Tub Tea.
As usual, the newsletter will provide in-depth information on the herbs in your box and how to use your products.
However, alcohol is not appropriate for everyone and there are many reasons why people may wish or need to avoid alcohol. In the ancient history of herbalism, using spirits to extract a plant's properties is a relatively recent innovation, with teas, poultices, syrups and electuaries being examples of more traditional remedies. So it is with pleasure that I offer an entirely alcohol-free box for May.
Aside from being alcohol-free, the products in this month's box will reflect what is in my apothecary at this time of year and what plants are available to harvest and work with in these early weeks of spring. Look for a Nourishing Herbal Infusion Tea blend with milky oats, red clover, red raspberry leaf and evening primrose. Support strong bones, teeth, hair, skin and nails with a silica rich Horsetail Vinegar. Do some spring cleaning with a wonderfully scented Cedar Hydrosol. Explore the properties of a white pine glycerite. Soothe and moisturize tired, winter-worn skin with a healing Facial Oil. Soak away aches and pains with an Herbal Tub Tea.
As usual, the newsletter will provide in-depth information on the herbs in your box and how to use your products.
An apothecary (a man using pestle and mortar) by a unknown Spanish painter, [CC BY 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0)], via Wikimedia Commons
Click image to enlarge
Boxes are offered with sliding scale prices. To learn more about sliding scale pricing, please read this post. But basically, in a nut shell (pun intended!), I invite you to pay one of the reduced fees, if paying the full price would cause you to be less secure in your ability to meet your food, health, housing or essential transport needs. To determine where you fall on the scale when choosing which price to pay, please refer to this infographic created by Alexis J. Cunningfolk (Click image to enlarge).
Large boxes contain 6 products. Small boxes contain 4 products. Taxes and shipping are calculated at checkout. Shipping costs are waived if you are able to pick up your box at the Just Food Farm (You will receive an email when your box is ready.) Shipping in Canada only. You do not need a Paypal account to make your purchase.
Payments can also be made by etransfer to: leighdoris at gmail dot com or cheque made out to: The Wild Garden, 2389 Pepin Ct. Ottawa, ON, K1B 4Z3
This box is now SOLD OUT and will ship and be available for pick up on May 9th.
Large boxes contain 6 products. Small boxes contain 4 products. Taxes and shipping are calculated at checkout. Shipping costs are waived if you are able to pick up your box at the Just Food Farm (You will receive an email when your box is ready.) Shipping in Canada only. You do not need a Paypal account to make your purchase.
Payments can also be made by etransfer to: leighdoris at gmail dot com or cheque made out to: The Wild Garden, 2389 Pepin Ct. Ottawa, ON, K1B 4Z3
This box is now SOLD OUT and will ship and be available for pick up on May 9th.
About the Herbal Box
The Wild Garden Herbal Box is your opportunity to connect with and learn about the wild edible and healing plants of the Ottawa bioregion. Monthly boxes are delivered directly to your door. Each month’s box will explore a particular theme and comes with a detailed newsletter highlighting the products for the month and is full of information, historical lore, recipes and more! Herbal boxes make great gifts and can be shipped directly to the recipient.
Monthly subscribers also enjoy free access to any walks and select workshops offered by the Wild Garden, during the month(s) for which they are subscribed. (Material fees apply and pre-registration is required.)
With an herbal box you can:
The Wild Garden Herbal Box is your opportunity to connect with and learn about the wild edible and healing plants of the Ottawa bioregion. Monthly boxes are delivered directly to your door. Each month’s box will explore a particular theme and comes with a detailed newsletter highlighting the products for the month and is full of information, historical lore, recipes and more! Herbal boxes make great gifts and can be shipped directly to the recipient.
Monthly subscribers also enjoy free access to any walks and select workshops offered by the Wild Garden, during the month(s) for which they are subscribed. (Material fees apply and pre-registration is required.)
With an herbal box you can:
- build your own home apothecary of healing plants and discover traditional ways of supporting wellness
- support local, small-scale, organic permaculture
- incorporate more nutrient dense wild foods into your diet
- enjoy organically grown and ethically wild gathered foods and herbs delivered directly to your door (all products are made from herbs that I grow and gather myself on the Just Food Food Farm.)
- nourish yourself and your family with local, seasonal products handcrafted with love in small batches
- learn about the wild plants growing in the greater Ottawa bioregion
- loose-leaf tea blend
- herb infused honey or syrup
- herb infused vinegar
- wild herb seasoning blend, dried culinary herbs, herbal salts and sugars, herbal powders
- wild food preserve (jam, jelly, fruit leather, pickles…)
- tincture or elixir
- herbal salve
- body oil, body butter or lotion bar
- herbal scrub, bath salt or tub tea
- loose or compound incense