Hello, all!  

Most of the harvest is in. Honey has been extracted and is being bottled and sold.  Homeschooling is in full swing. We had our second homeschool co-op of the season today. One of my classes this year is Michigan Plants for ages 9 and up (most of the students fall into the 10-13 range).  This is, without a doubt, the funnest class I have ever taught!  The students are curious, inquisitive, intelligent, kind, funny, and full of enthusiasm.  I love these kids. One hour every other week just is not enough time to answer their questions. 

Our class is focusing on local edible and medicinal plants, learning how to 'key out' plants in the field, understanding basic plant families, and learning how to prepare and use some basic herbs.  (i.e. infusion, decoction, salve, infused oil, compresses, poultices, and more).  While no books were required for the class, I have a number of students who are quite interested in the field of botany (with the emphasis I mentioned above).  I suggested these field guides that I use and love and thought others might be interested, as well. 

Here they are: 
*Newcombs Wildflower Guide:I have the older version of this wildflower guide. It's one of the best.  My copy is well worn, I started using in while in college (years ago!).  
https://www.amazon.com/Newcombs-Wildflower-Guide-Lawrence-Newcomb/dp/0316604429/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1474922204&sr=8-1&keywords=newcombs+wildflower+guide

*Botany in a Day: This book is new to me but I love it!  I'll be using portions of this text to teach them plant families. This is NOT how I learned... I think this is better.  :)  
https://www.amazon.com/Botany-Day-Patterns-Method-Identification/dp/1892784351/ref=pd_sim_14_3?ie=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=N3RN29SPNRYB6EPS9A72

*Peterson's field guide to Edible Wild Plants: I haven't owned this one very long but it has a wealth of information! The students who are particularly interested in edibles will like this.  It'll help them know which plants they can eat and what part of the plant. (I still like Newcombs for the proper ID of the plant)
https://www.amazon.com/Field-Guide-Edible-Wild-Plants/dp/039592622X/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1474922592&sr=1-1&keywords=edible+wild+plants

*Peterson's guide to Medicinal Plants of Eastern and Central America: You cannot go wrong with Peterson's Field Guides. Again, this is useful in know which plant can be used... but I there are better herbal guides in helping you know what to use and how to use it (prepare it, dosages, etc).  The photos in both Peterson's guides are very helpful.  
https://www.amazon.com/Peterson-Medicinal-Eastern-Central-America/dp/0547943989/ref=pd_sim_14_1?ie=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=509FN1JRVKQPRKBPQAZY


Since planning and beginning this class with our local homeschool students I have gotten quite a bit of feedback from interested adults and parents.  I am considering running a similar program for adults (and interested teens/pre-teens).  IF I decide to commit to this, it would run  one Saturday a month from April til September.  (for example, the second Saturday of each month for 3 hours each session)  Would you be interested in attending a program like this?  If so, let me know.  

The kids are loud. The dogs are barking. *ding* Another text.  *ring, ring* a Facebook message.  Lunch is late, we're behind on school work. The dishes are piling up. No idea what dinner is tonight.  Does this sound familiar?  All the noise, mess, distraction. Cluttering up our day and distracting us from the important things. 

the Hebrew word (rapha) for 'be still' in psalm 46:10 can be rendered “to cause yourself to surrender, give up, to be made weak”. All for the purpose of knowing that God is in control.  How often do we fight for control rather than surrender?

As an herbalist and Christian I believe that God is in control. As the creator, he knows us intimately; our bodies, our dis-ease, our illness, and how best we can be healed.

To take back our health, we are not going to find the answers in a magic pill. It takes time. We must escape our culture of 'busy' and be still. Surrender and slow down. Take time to listen to what our bodies and saying. Changing lifestyles, listening more, moving more, stressing less, unplugging from this constant distraction of connectedness. Our culture makes it so very difficult to hear the important things amid the noise of the 'busy'. (this is very often a 'two steps forward and one step back' process!)

Our family has been making a conscious effort to slow down these past few months.  That means saying "no" to new obligations that keep us out late, away from home often, or conflict with our family time.  I have taken time-sucking apps off my phone and turned off notifications for just about everything.  I even changed my notification alert to a bird sound instead of something jarring and urgent.  

For the past year and half I have been enamored with minimalism.  The idea of owning less stuff in order to have more life.  If you are like me, you feel owned by your belongings.  Cleaning, organizing, shopping, etc.  The stress of overflowing toys the kids don't actually play with... kitchen tools we never use but promised to make our lives easier... technology that breaks and must be replaced.  Ugh. I threaten to rent a dumpster and pitch it all. Or move and leave it all behind. But let's face it, that wouldn't fix things. The cycle of being discontent and engaging in consumerism to solve our problems is the actual problem. It is a heart problem. Things don't make us happy.  A real relationship with God and with others brings us true joy.  Relationships cannot be replaced by a new couch, better car, or the latest iPhone and deep down we all know it.


How I've been adding minimalism, subtracting belongings, and increasing joy in our home.
Minimalist wardrobe
 I have been attempting to keep a minimal wardrobe for the past year.  Capsule wardrobes are all the rage.  Take a peek on Pinterest and you'll get the idea.  Neutrals, a favorite color or two, everything matches, a few statements pieces (like fun scarves or earrings).  I'm now happy when I see my closet (brown, black, blue, green. 1 yellow sweater. I like texture, not pattern. Plaid is the exception) and I like pretty much everything I own.  I've given away so much that I no longer need my dresser. Every clothing item I own fits in the closet I share with my husband.  (I'm ready to sell the dresser!)

Minimalist Kitchen 
For a person who cooks every single thing their family eats... I don't have a lot of 'kitchen tools'.  I own 2 cast iron skillets. The shallow one acts as a lid on the large one, so it doubles as a dutch oven (sort of).  I own 2 pots. The big one and the small one.  (this does NOT include what I use for making soaps, salves, ect. Those are never used for food)  I have baking dishes in a variety of sizes.  All glass or corning ware.  1 drawer of everyday utensils. 1 drawer with 2 larger knives, ice cream scoop, cheese grater, cork screw, and few other items.  1 drawer full of spices.  Minimal amount of plates, bowls, utensils (we are a family of 5 so we have about 8 of each).  I have and use my blender and crockpot on a regular basis (1-5x per week).  I have a pressure canner that sees a lot of use during canning season.  I refuse to count canning jars.  I have a lot. At the end of harvest and canning season every single one is filled and I could use more.  I keep a large Excaliber dehydrator on the counter and it sees weekly/bi-weekly use.  We do not own a microwave.  We have a toaster that comes out of a cupboard for use and then goes back. I don't think we need to keep this....

Minimalist Toy box
I have just started cracking down on the toys.  I took a live e-course about purging children's toys. It was suggested to keep 20-50 toys.  So far, I have bagged well over 100 toys and still have more to go!  For this first go-through we allowed the kids to keep 50-70 toys.  Legos, beyblades, pokemon cards, card and board games, dress up clothes, and art items not included.  I've only just scratched the surface on this one!

Minimalist Book shelf
I have purged most of my books this past year. Here's what I have kept: field guides, herbals, holistic health references, Bibles, Greek and Hebrew Keyword study, a few select Bible studies, A couple favorite authors (4 or 5?) that I re-read on a yearly basis.  I still need to sort kids books (again).  We eliminated 2 boxes of their books last year.  It's tough for homeschoolers. We want to keep everything we might use for school.  I've been selling old curriculum and buying what I need for next year. Our school books and binders only take up 2 shelves. It could be worse.

Why I don't keep a minimalist pantry
In two words:  food allergies.   'Safe' food for our family can be hard to come by and I cook everything (and I mean everything) from scratch.  I buy in bulk, shopping a few times a year at a Mennonite store an hour away.  We have a large garden and a greenhouse. We raise meat chickens and own a bee farm.  We buy grass fed beef from a local farm.  I barter for venison.  Food and the way it is raised is important to us. 

Minimizing complaint
I gave up complaining for Lent this year. Not my choice! Through much prayer it was the Lord's decision. I wanted something easy, like giving up chocolate.   ;)  As the 40 days progressed, I realized something.  I hadn't actually given up anything, rather, I started doing something new. Not complaining is really about showing grace. Showing grace to others and showing grace to myself (which feels like the more difficult of the two). God is still growing me in ways I didn't quite expect. (this could be an entire blog post by itself!)  Showing grace is definitely a way to increase joy in your life.

To be honest, I'm still overwhelmed by stuff.  But I've found a way to get rid of things and make it fun. (details in a minute)  I feel a sense of relief in clearing out this unwanted and unneeded clutter from our home. I long to spend less time managing our belongings and more time engaging in relationship with those we love. Clearing clutter from our homes and our hearts.  Finding what's important.

So that's where we are.  For the month of May, I, along with my sister in law and maybe a few brave friends, will be embarking on a minimalist challenge!  We are getting rid of 1 item on the 1st. 2 on the 2nd, 3 on the 3rd and so on.  I may or may not blog about it and share pictures.  You can find all the details (and play along!) here:  http://www.theminimalists.com/game/

A few of my favorite Minimalist blogs to inspire you!
http://www.becomingminimalist.com/becoming-minimalist-start-here/
http://nourishingminimalism.com/
http://www.theminimalists.com/
http://www.thepurposefulhousewife.com/

I'm considered writing this post many times, unsure if it would actually be helpful for others. I hope it is.

Beginning in December of 2014, I stopped making excuses and started working out again. Our treadmill had been broken for a year and I was desperate to walk, and run, and move. As a stay at home, work at home,homeschooling mom... alone time or free time to work out uninterrupted is rare (or impossible!).  The children aren't at an age where I feel comfortable leaving them to go for a walk... and taking them along isn't always an option. But we have a large-ish yard. With my Run Keeper app, I was able to figure out that approximately 7 laps around the main part of the yard is a mile. So there you go. No excuses. Even if I'm out in the back I can hear the kids yell from the house. They can have breakfast, start schoolwork, get dressed, etc while I walk. (or sometimes run. Or both. whatever)  Going was slow in the colder, snowy months. To further improve my health, I gave up all sugar for Lent (40 days).Come June, though, I was up to 10 miles a week and had added in yoga and squats a few days a weeks. The kids began following my example and got moving. I would say, "Hey, I'm walking. Join me if you want." But that was it. After a while, they'd hop on their bikes and follow me (and pass me!).  Just by watching my example, they were encouraged.

But the weight wasn't coming off. Instead, I actually gained 10 pounds.  And it was not muscle.  The picture on the left was taken at a market in mid-June. My health continued to get worse. More severe reactions when I was exposed to gluten and wheat. Migraines when I couldn't pin down a trigger. Exhaustion. Body aches which first flared up in March for about 6 weeks and then flared up again in August. The August flare up was intensely painful.  I had just ceased working markets just prior to this flare up (which was discouraging because I was only doing about $6 in sales each week). Headaches, joint paint, fatigue. Extreme joint and muscle pain. Difficultly walking due to the pain in my the joints of my feet. On bad days, I couldn't hold a toothbrush, or a hair brush. I couldn't sign my own name. The severe pain in my hands and forearms would keep me from sleeping. I would have to stop in the middle of washing dishes to cry and take a break because of the pain before I could finish.  Being too active, overdoing things in general, would make the next day worse. Nothing helped. Not tylenol, ibuprofen, aleve, or wrist braces. (although the braces helped keep my from using my hands as much....they didn't actually give me any relief) I was at a loss.  (p.s. I'm finally having more good days than bad days. The flare up is finally easing due to to proper diagnosis and treatment. It has lasted about 12 weeks)

We started seeing a new nurse practitioner in late August. She came highly recommended by like-minded friends. Friends who where seeking answers, looking for the causes of their illnesses (this practice is often referred to as functional medicine). They didn't just want to continue treating symptoms. (which is how many physicians of western medicine are trained).  

She immediately tested me for food allergies, food sensitivities, candida overgrowth, Lyme Disease, and rheumatoid arthritis. The RA came back negative (I am thankful for that!).  I found that I have food allergies to eggs and peanuts (two things I would eat ALL the time!).  I have sensitivities and react strongly (and negatively) to dairy, wheat, gluten, apples, bananas, and beef. Even after a month+ of following an elimination diet, I cannot eat apples or bananas without triggering an immediate day-long migraine. (bummer)  During the elimination diet I mistakenly ate beef (good grassfed beef from the quarter freezer beef we ordered this year) and I had a 4 day migraine. Ugh.  So, I'm learning.  If I'm feeling well and having a good series of days, I may be able to tolerate a small amount of beef. But only maybe.   

I also I had a candida overgrowth. Candida is naturally occurring in the human body but can run rampant due to antibiotic overuse and a diet of consistent sugar and starches.  I haven't had an antibiotic in 4 years (since just after the birth of our youngest). The test results showed an old, lingering infection and not a new, raging infection. That made it easier to treat. I thought we ate pretty clean until I had to keep up with an 30 day anti-candida and elimination diet!  I eat lots of nuts (safe ones), seeds, fruit, leafy greens, healthy meats and fats, limited grains and starches (grains aren't all bad...but in our family we have allergies to: rice, corn, wheat... and sensitivities to all gluten-containing grains).  We now enjoy millet, amaranth, sorghum, quinoa. Some of us still eat rice occasionally. I lost between 15-20 pounds since my heaviest this summer.  It makes a big difference when your body isn't attacking the foods you eat!  Also, if you have a candida overgrowth (and with American diets, it is very common!) the candida is fed first... then you get what is left over. If you are working out hard (like I was) your body goes into a sort of starvation-preservation mode. It is holding on to anything it can! It thinks I'm starving (since the candida is eating and I'm not) and I'm walking/running miles a week and my body thought I needed all these extra fat stores. I assure you, I did NOT. 

My Lyme Disease tests weren't negative. But they aren't positive either. Lyme's is weird like that. It mimics and hides. So it's something we're keeping an eye on.

I was later tested for Lupus and thyroid conditions (all negative).  Finally, I was tested for and diagnosed with an MTHFR DNA mutation.  There are many good informational pages out there regarding this mutation and all it means. It the most simple terms, my body cannot detox on it's own. The enzyme that converts folic acid (B vitamins from leafy green veggies) into a usable form is broken and only works at about 70%. (others with multiple mutations may only be working at closer to 20%)  Supplementing with a L-methylfolate and other appropriate supplements is a must. My body simply cannot function well on its own. It's best to get folate from your diet  - leaf green veggies, NOT folic acid in 'fortified' foods. A clean diet, a lifestyle free of chemical expose and toxins is a must (no commercial cleaners or perfumes or candles. no microwaving things in plastic. although nobody should do that! and we don't even own a microwave). Physical, mental, and emotional stress also needs to be managed. (walking without overdoing it, yoga, morning Bible studies, prayer, epsom salt baths a few days a week, not stressing over how much I can't do and be thankful for what I can do.)  I'm getting healthier. I'm feeling better. It'll be two steps forward and one step back. I can heal (and I will!) but it'll take time. 

Read more on MTHFR here: http://wellnessmama.com/27148/mthfr-mutation/
and here:  http://mthfr.net/
​

Over the past few months, we've had multiple people in our family diagnosed with food allergies. At this time we are VERY fortunate to have never experienced anaphylactic reactions... but there had been a marked increase in symptoms and reactions and it was time to do something.  You can't mess around with food allergies.  Finding meals we can eat as a family has been difficult. Since we're finally finding some dishes we can agree on and free from any allergens (any of our allergens, anyway) I thought I'd share it here since so many friends and family members ask, "What DO you eat??".

Allergy list:

Eggs
peanuts
corn
soy
wheat
almonds
rice
oranges
pears
gluten sensitivity diagnosed via blood test 

Other sensitivities:

all legumes (green beans, lentils, chickpeas, black beans, pinto beans)
oats 
apples 
bananas 
garlic 
all dairy 
walnuts 
cashew 
almonds
beef 

The corn allergy is the toughest in day-to-day circumstances. Corn-derived ingredients are everywhere. It means no benadryl for allergy sniffles. No paper plates. No baking powder. No powdered sugar. Nothing made with white distilled vinegar. Nothing labeled 'natural flavors'. Gah!  Corn is everywhere.

The most difficult to deal with in the kitchen is eggs (although there are some great substitutes!) and the grain allergies. We can't grab a gluten-free mix off a shelf because the first ingredient is usually rice flour. The other ingredients are usually xanthan gum (from corn!), garbanzo (bean) flour, and often almond flour. So, also can't use any 'paleo' recipes.  You can only make so many substitutions in a recipe and have it still be recognizable as food!  (trust me. we've had some pretty incredible failures here over the past few months) Rather than telling you all about the failures, here are some things that work for us.

Breakfasts and snacks:

• Appropriate fruits: we do lots of frozen berries because everyone can have them.
• Our girls eat peanut butter power balls (pb, oats, honey - mixed and rolled into balls)
• The rest of us eat larabar copycats (usually rolled into balls). I make multiple batches with appropriate 'safe' nuts for eat of us: they include things like dates, dried cherries, organic cocoa powder, sunflower seeds, almonds or cashews. The batches get labeled in the fridge so nobody eats the wrong ones.
• Pistachios (or 'pi-cashews' as our youngest calls them!). Sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds, brazil nuts, etc. 
• Cheese ('regular' cow cheese for those who can have it. Others, like me, have goat cheese.) We actually eat a limited amount of dairy since we cannot currently purchase grassfed dairy. (it is possible that some of us could actually tolerate grassfed dairy where we cannot consume 'conventionally farmed' dairy.)
• Boiled eggs (chicken eggs for those who can  and duck eggs for those who cannot do chicken eggs. So far we have had no reactions to the duck eggs. Due to the cost, we buy these 2x a month.  We will be raising ducks in the spring.)

Lunches

• Lunch looks a lot like breakfast. Or like leftovers from dinner. No more pb&j in our house. A food the kids never tire of is hummus. Those who can, eat it with organic corn chips; those who cannot, eat it with sweet potato chips. Or veggies. Or a spoon. 

Dinners (just the main dishes. a few sides are listed)

• Meatballs with sauce and salad. The sauce is homemade from the tomatoes I canned from our own garden tomatoes.  It cannot include garlic. The meatballs are made with ground pork/chicken/turkey/venison (whatever we have), flax (egg replacement), real salt, oregano. That's about it. 
• Roast/steak, fried or baked potatoes, carrots, homemade applesauce (which seems to be safe for everyone so far... except me. Beef triggers my migraines so I just eat everything else.)
• ​Whole roast chicken. (these are the chickens we raised this summer) - usually we have salad, peas, broccoli, or cauliflower.  I make bone broth after we're finished and the broth is used in soup, rice, quinoa, etc.
• Soup - usually from the chicken on the second day. We found we really like amaranth in it as a substitute for rice or noodles.
• Sausage and squash - sausage is made from ground meat and seasoned with salt, fennel, and sometimes maple syrup.  I LOVE butternut squash. Hubby doesn't mind it. The kids aren't fond (yet!).  Everyone likes spaghetti squash so that's slowly becoming a staple. (sometimes I make sauce if we do 'spaghetti')
• Taco night - this one is tricky. I make both beans and meat and we eat what is 'safe' for us.  Sorghum tortillas (that I'm still perfecting!) and regular toppings like lettuce, olives, sour cream.
• Homemade pizza - another tricky one.  I have to make individual pizzas. Sorghum tortillas again, homemade sauce (canned sauce has garlic, citric acid that is often corn-derived, sugar which isn't labeled as cane/beet/or corn. bad sauces have soybean oil), cheese if you can have it, olives or mushrooms, leftover sausage from another night or bacon (there are only a few 'safe' brands without corn ingredients). Our youngest only likes to eat the toppings so I don't actually make her a pizza.  
• Beans and rice was a previous favorite of ours. So we modified it to beans and quinoa and that made one little boy very happy! But now someone cannot have beans... so we've been doing rice or quinoa and shrimp. But the kids are getting tired of shrimp. I don't know how. I love shrimp. So, I'm still working on this one.

I make our own safe chocolate now, based on the one Katie from Wellness Mama makes. This is our main source of 'junk' or sugar. But it's only three ingredients. Organic food grade cocoa butter, organic cocoa powder, and organic cane sugar (I would use honey from our bees but we have 2 people healing from a honey sensitivity).  And after trying honey we found that we enjoy the 'crunch' of the cane sugar.  As far as 'junk' food goes, it could be worse.  :)
​
So, you'll notice that there are no chips, cookies, cake.  No more popcorn. No more sourdough bread. Lots more fruits and veggies. I admit, it's tough. Especially when you think you were trying so hard to feed your family well. (free ranged chickens in our own backyard. homemade sourdough bread. homegrown popcorn. canning all our own tomatoes, beans, peppers, and jam. eating organic. avoiding soy and other GMO foods.) But it doesn't matter how good or healthy something is if you are allergic. 

Signs of food issues may include: IBS, diarrhea, constipation, cramps, headaches, rashes like eczema, hives, breathing trouble, asthma, joint pain, sinus congestion, allergic shiners (dark circles under eyes unrelated to sleep), ears that turn red on the tops.  If you suspect a food allergy or intolerance, you can do an elimination diet. Keep a food journal and monitor how you feel. After 30 days, add the food back in (slowly!) 1-2 days per week and see how you respond.  You or your doctor can order the lab kit from Alletess labs. (I'm sure there are others, but we have personal experience with them) Take note. Most likely, this will not be covered by your health insurance.

**these statements are my opinions. nothing here is intended to diagnose, treat, or provide medical advice (since I am not a physician). **

We're changing our name!

While we still live in our house on the hill and still make soap... we've outgrown the name!  Hilltop Soaps is now Thrive Herbals!

Why 'thrive'?
THrīv/
1 : to grow vigorously : do well : FLOURISH
We're so much more than just soap! Our line of herbal wellness products continues to grow. Just last month I finally, officially became a certified herbalist. (I am being lazy before throwing myself into my aromatherapist program) While I feel like it's a big personal accomplishment, there are no national standards for herbalist certification or training in the United States... but I know it gives me a solid foundation in western herbalism and traditional and practical uses for herbs.

Therein lies my heart; making herbs accessible and their uses familiar so families choose them first.  Many of these botanical powerhouses are found in our kitchen cupboards and our backyards!  These plants do no heal us, rather, they work with our body by supporting and balancing our body's systems so they can better function.  

I have a few hopes and plans as we change and grow Thrive Herbals.  
*I plan to offer more 'take and make' workshops like the salve class we held this summer.  I have an idea for a Winter Wellness class.
*DIY kits! I have so many customers who are DIY-ers, but I know it can be difficult to purchase bulk oils and butters and jars and tubes just to see if you might enjoy making something.  (and praying the recipe is good!)  
*Backyard herb walks and lectures in the spring.
*Herb seeds so you can grow your own and dried herbs.
*More custom orders. I'm not sure how many people know, but I often will have customers (mostly friends and relatives) ask if I can make something to suit a need. Whether it's a salve for a special need, an essential oil blend to help with a particular problem. Or maybe to alter a regular product to be safe for their family (like a homeopathic vapor rub using essential oils and dilution rates that are safe for infants age 6 months and up). 
*Consults.  I currently do this on an informal basis with friends and family, those whom I am familiar with their medical history. This may be available in the future.

Much thought and prayer have gone into the reworking of the business. Please, have patience with us as we slowly change over labels, the website, signage and more.

I hope you are as excited about all the changes as I am!

Thank you for your years of support.
xoxo
~Jill Barnett 

Your body can better utilize magnesium that is absorbed into the skin than through an oral supplement. That's why epsom salt baths and magnesium oil are so important! (magnesium oil isn't actually an oil at all. It is a solution of distilled oil and magnesium chloride flakes. Magnesium chloride flakes contain more magnesium than epsom salts and is more efficient in raising your magnesium levels).

Adjusting your diet to contain more magnesium-rich foods is the BEST way to increase your magnesium levels, and, your wellness.

Here's a great list of dietary sources of magnesium. Unless you are like our family and have allergies to: wheat, soy, multiple nuts, blood-diagnosed gluten intolerance, legume allergies, and more!
Dietary Sources
Rich sources of magnesium include:

• Tofu
• Legumes
• Whole grains
• Green leafy vegetables
• Wheat bran
• Brazil nuts
• Soybean flour
• Almonds
• Cashews
• Blackstrap molasses
• Pumpkin and squash seeds
• Pine nuts
• Black walnuts

Other good dietary sources of this mineral include:

• Peanuts
• Whole wheat flour
• Oat flour
• Beet greens
• Spinach
• Pistachio nuts
• Shredded wheat
• Bran cereals
• Oatmeal
• Bananas
• Baked potatoes (with skin)
• Chocolate
• Cocoa powder

Also, many herbs, spices, and seaweeds supply magnesium, such as:

• Agar seaweed
• Coriander
• Dill weed
• Celery seed
• Sage
• Dried mustard
• Basil
• Fennel seed
• Savory
• Cumin seed
• Tarragon
• Marjoram
• Poppy seed
• (source: https://umm.edu/health/medical/altmed/supplement/magnesium)

*As always, I am NOT a physician and this is NOT medical advice. Please, research the topic (and follow the links in the comments) and discuss with your doctor if this may be a supplement that is right for you.
​

This summer was tough on our meat birds. We had high hopes to raise enough pastured chickens for ourselves and have some to sell to family and friends. Yeah. That didn't work out well. 

Our first batch of chicks was a straight run (male and female mixed) of 25 birds ordered through a hatchery. That was our first mistake. Hatcheries raise birds for quantity not quality.  I want to be in the business of quality. We lost a few chicks in the first few weeks, which isn't necessarily unexpected. It happens. The brooder was the perfect temp, the chicks weren't crowding and piling (which can suffocate the ones on bottom). 

They were being fed a diet of fermented and sprouted seeds and grains (sprouts have significantly more protein than unsprouted grains and seeds. Meat chickens need to be feed a diet higher in protein than your layers).  They had water with ACV to boost their immune systems. We purchased 'red rangers' because the hatcheries claim they are closer, genetically, to traditional chickens and not the Cornish X meat birds. I raised rangers last year that we let them, well, range. They wandered the yard with our laying flock (mostly because they were great escape artists and broke out of even pen! I had movable fencing for them in 2014). After losing a meat chicken every couple of days I was worried. By the time we were down to 10 birds I knew we would be taking a trip out to our local poultry guy. I told him what was going on and he told me that was my second mistake. I fed them real food.  If they can't eat *real food* why would we want to eat them??  (there are many people who think, for some reason, that birds need commercial feed. I'm sure God made them to eat real food. For chickens, that means bugs and seeds and grains and berries and whatever they find in the compost pile. Not soy and corn meal.)

My husband and I already feeling led to raise heritage breed chickens. Chicken breeds used during the Great Depression and earlier for meat and eggs both. Dual purpose birds with a long history. Chickens bred for quality and not quantity.  

To fast forward a bit, we ended up with 11 White Brahmas (which I love!) to keep 3 as layers and the rest as meat. We purchased an assortment of 17 other dual purpose and heritage breed birds including buff brahmas, some lavender orpingtons, wyandots, olive eggers (not for meat!), and australorps. (we may keep a few to expand our laying flock and sell more eggs)

We had our first losses to predators in our 6 years of keeping backyard chickens. We lost a few to weather (we had some flooding rains and high winds). We lost nearly an entire batch of meat chickens. We have 4 left. Unfortunately we'll be unable to sell an freezer birds this year. I'm thankful for the opportunity to raise some heritage birds and see how we like them. We do not mind sacrificing genetically-engineered size and short time to maturity to raise safe, happy, healthy meat for we feel safe feeding to our family.

Yesterday was a tough market, weather wise.  It was only our second market this season and it's one to remember.  It was so windy 2 vendor tents were bent and ruined before we even opened for business.  So we had to take them down.  No tent.  High of 85. No clouds.  On blacktop for 6 hours.  No chance of shade or sun avoidance (I had the kids sit under the tables until their dad could pick them up). I applied and reapplied sunblock and eventually found an old umbrella in my car to keep the sun off my already-damaged shoulders. 


 I came home dehydrated, in pain, and a little bit sun sick.  After unloading the car made a batch of the tea, let it cool while I crashed on the couch. Once cool (room temp?), I soaked a hand towel and applied it to the burns.  Repeat and apply to new area.  And then again.  Until I used all the tea.  (the towel was white, but it's not tea-stained.  I haven't washed it yet so I don't know if it'll come out.)  A few hours later, my husband looked at me and said, "You know, you aren't going to want to shower tomorrow".  Crud. He was right.  And we have a Thursday market, too, so not washing for a few days is out of the question.  Instead, I ran a warm bath and made a tea packet of oats and chamomile.  I applied raw honey to my sore, sad, sunburned skin. (the honey is from our bees and I keep some in the bathroom for face washing anyway).  I rinsed the honey and soaked in the tub for about 20 minutes.  After toweling dry, I applied infused plantain oil to the burns. (it speeds healing)


My skin is feeling much better today and the angry redness has faded, for the most part.  There are a few hard to reach places on the back of my shoulder that are a bit sore...but I know, from previous experiences, that I could be feeling so much worse!  

Have sunburn?  Here are a few other things you can try:
Aloe (the real stuff.  the real stuff is not neon green.)
ACV compresses
Witch hazel
Plantain/chickweed/comfrey/oat tea compresses 
Tea compresses: chamomile, black tea, green tea compresses will even work nicely to help relieve the sunburn. (it's the anti-inflammatory action of the tannins)

I am pretty sure I have learned my lesson.  I'll have to cancel on future market days when there are damaging winds.  Neither my products nor my skin fair well with the tent to keep us safe. 

Unsurprisingly, I get a lot of questions about skin care.  How do I wash my face?  What do I use as a moisturizer?  How often do I wash my face?  What about make up?  I often hear, "Your skin is so nice!  What do you do?"  Honestly, I have no idea.  :) 


I shared this photo on my personal FB page and started hearing a lot about my skin.  Really?   I never really though much about my skin...it's just... my skin. So, I thought it must have just been a lucky picture.  Nice lighting, flattering colors and such.  
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So I took another picture of myself during an evening walk just for comparison.  (below)  I guess I have an even skin tone, healthy glow, no acne or scars.  Is it so unusually that people should comment?

But then I started thinking and here's the thing... it's not really about skin care... it's health care.  It's a lifestyle.  And that lifestyle is noticeable in your skin.  So, I will give you a run down of what I think is important for your skin as far as lifestyle, nutrition, and actual skin care.  

It's all about nutrition.  No pop/soda.  Water and herbal tea.  Limited sugar.  I eat clean (most of the time!).  Lots of fresh, local, organic fruits and veggies.  Grassfed meat.  An abundance of healthy fats (nuts and seeds).  Not much dairy. The only wheat I eat prepared with traditional sourdough starter and that's once a week at most. Frequent herbal infusions (Nettle is my favorite!  It's a mild diuretic so it's helpful in keeping your kidneys flushed and happy, it's a nutritional powerhouse, fights allergies, and it perfect for balancing out 'womens issues').  I certainly splurge!  Enchiladas, homemade pizza, ice cream, birthday parties, yum. 

Water, water, water.  Staying hydrated is important for a lot of reasons, but lack of hydration is noticeable in your skin.

Get movin'! I walk/run (intervals.  I'm not a 'runner'.  I don't train for races.  I just like to keep moving). I generally walk 2-3 miles each day.  This is  unimpressive as far as it goes, but I'm getting stronger and faster.  I also do yoga a few times a week.  If you only have a few minutes to do one exercise, do squats.  You'll be working major muscle groups.  Good circulation gets blood and oxygen to tissues (like your skin) and keeps them healthy.  

Sun protection  You'll notice the giant sunglasses and the sunhat in the pictures.  I am vigilant, rather than paranoid, about sun caution.  Sunglasses, sunhat, spend time in the shade (indirect sunlight), covering up (skimpier isn't better in the heat!).  I never try to get a tan, but I spend a lot of time outdoors and as a result my skin will darken (ever so slightly) in the summer.  Vit D is a good thing, skin cancer is a bad thing.  Try to maintain a balance, knowing what you do about how your skin reacts to the sun.  Natural sunblock is the way to go.  Increasing your vit D intake can help you avoid sunburn, as well.

Bare face I very rarely wear makeup.  I like lip gloss and wear it when I leave the house.  Sometimes I wear mascara or minimal eye makeup.  This is just my personal preference.  I am, however, very conscious regarding what makeup and ingredients I am willing to put on my face.  Since I wear very minimal makeup (usually just to church) it works within our budget for me to purchase high quality, chemical free cosmetics.  I wear 100% Pure cosmetics made from fruit pigments.  

Washing Everyone asks me what soap I use on my face.  I am a soapmaker, after all.  Yeah, well.  I don't wash my face with soap.  Your facial skin is incredibly sensitive and most soaps (all commercial skin 'cleansers') are too harsh, stripping away the natural oils.  I use raw honey from our bees.  (in the picture from my walk, I'm actually standing right next to our bee hives!)  Raw honey keeps your skin balanced, moisturizing and cleansing without over-drying.  Aloe is something else you can try.  There are also some great herbal facial steams that would be beneficial. 

Moisturizing Since I do not use soaps or cleansers and do not strip away the natural oils of my skin I very rarely moisturize.  On occasion, I'll use plain sweet almond oil (jojoba is also a good choice) or my Mom's Salve. I had a friend who was a baker from New York City and she used straight olive oil!  Coconut oil is a popular choice, but not the best choice.  The other oils I listed are non-comedogenic meaning they won't clog your pores or cause breakouts.  Coconut oil is comedogenic - pore clogging - and can lead to more breakouts.  That's probably not what you're hoping!

 So, the saying "Beauty comes from within" is even true in this sense.  Beautiful skin is a result of what you put in your body just as much (or more!) as what you put on your body.  All these little decisions add up. 
I hope this little rundown was helpful and makes you think. 

Thanks for putting up with my silly pictures!  If you have any other questions regarding skin care, please comment here or on the FB page.  Thanks!