Herbal popsicles

The best way to enjoy herbs in the summer! Enjoy things like popsicles & ice cold drink only when it's really hot...cold liquids actually slow down your digestive system. Our bodies function better when drinks are room temperature.

The herb or herbs you choose are up to your preference. I really enjoy lemon balm in the summer for its relaxing, calming qualities
Proportions are up to how strong you want your popsicles to taste and how many popsicles you're going to make...

Boil herb or herbal blend in half water and half organic juice or lemonade for about 20 minutes.
Strain and pour into popsicle molds and freeze.

Enjoy on a hot day!

Some good combinations...

Apple juice & Lemon Balm
Berry juice & Hibiscus flowers
Lemonade & Peppermint
Lemonade & Oatstraw
Pineapple juice & lemon verbena

All natural Hair Gel

Flax seed (Linum usitatissimum)

Internally flax seed is used in chronic constipation. It is indicated for the treatment of many chronic diseases, including arthritis, psoriasis and prevention of arteriosclerosis. It is used for cancer prevention, heart disease, and autoimmune disorders where inflammation occurs. It is high in omega-3 fatty acids.

It can be added to most any food, in the form of oil or seed, including baked goods, yogurt, smoothies/juices, and salads. Flax is a lovely demulcent. Taken as a tea it soothes irritated mucous membranes. Drink when you have a sore throat, IBS, lungs irritated from coughing, or kidneys and bladder irritated from passing stones. Flax tea is very moistening and very welcome in the winter when you are feeling cold & dry. It has a mild nutty flavor & tastes good with spicy, warming herbs like cinnamon.

Externally flax has the same soothing, moistening properties. It can be made into an all natural hair gel that doesn't dry out and damage your hair the way commercial hair gel does. Plus, it is super easy and cheap to make.


Flax Hair Gel

1 tbs. flax seeds
1 cup water
aloe vera gel (optional)
essential oil (optional)
Small glass bottle with lid

Simmer flax seeds in water until the liquid is reduced by half.
Strain seeds.
Add a about a quarter as much aloe vera gel (for extra moisturizing) as you have flax gel.
Add a few drops of an essential oil of your choice (I like lavender) to help preserve the gel & smell nice.
Stir together & then bottle.



Because this is a natural product it will not last as long as commercial hair gels, which is why I make it in small batches & keep it refrigerated. I have had flax hair gel in the fridge for 6 months (then I had to make more) and it was still good. I use right after the shower and rub through my hair while it is still damp. Enjoy!

Where you'll find us this summer...

Old Rochester Regional School

Visit us Tuesdays from 3:00-6:00PM at the Old Rochester Regional School!

The Market is held every Tuesday from April 26th to October 18th, 2011.

See you at the Market!

Farms:

Allen Farm (Organic, Westport) Fresh Greenhouse Grown Greens, Potted Herbs
Each week, Allen Farms comes with a wide array of potted herbs, vegetable and herb starts as well as freshly grown greens. From herbs to tea plants, cherry tomato starts to freshly clipped pea greens Allen Farms brings you Spring's harvest to enjoy.

Cervelli Farm (Conventional, Rochester) Produce, Flowers
Looking for Cervelli's famous strawberries? Stop by early this week to get yours--they sell quick. Also available are greens, yellow squash and zucchini, tomato plants, zinnias and more.

Engelnook Farm (Pesticide-free, Rochester) Farm fresh eggs, Great Hill Blue Cheese, Narragansett Creamery Cheeses and Yogurt, Llama Manure
Have you read all the buzz about using llama manure in the garden? It gets exceptional reviews--like you can use it close up to plants and it won't burn, it composts well, and it makes the plants grow big and with great color. That is only what you read about it. For certain, one would have to try it out to see...

Hickory Knoll Farm (Pesticide-free, Lakeville)
New to the farm this week, Hickory Knoll Farm will offer a variety of all natural hand cream, lip balm and sugar scrubs. Beautiful herb starts, kale, Swiss Chard and more...as well as delicious lemonade (made from lemons--this is the real deal).

Lucky Field Organics (Organic, Rochester) Vegetable starts, Potted annuals, Fresh Herbs and Greens
Seed starts to fill in your gardens, fresh cut flowers to adorn your rooms, and veggies to fill the fridge can be found at Lucky Field. Garlic Scapes, Cucumbers, fresh greens and more are available. Vegetable starts ready for planting in your garden are there, too. Check out the wide variety of unique tomato types.


Bakeries:

Gail's Goodies (Mattapoisett, MA) An assortment of Delightful Deserts
Goodies abound at Mattaopoisett's own Gail's Goodies. Great place to stop if you ever need that perfect dessert for dinner plans.

Great Cape Baking Co. (Marston Mills, MA) Fresh baked breads
If you want to see a plethora of bread types, Great Cape has just the variety to impress you. Patience offers market goers with an amazing spread of breads each week. A bountiful selection of sandwich breads, quick breads, and bread sticks is available for you to choose from. This week the doughnut trailer will make its first appearance. This is a rare treat.

Rein's Real Rye (Waquoit, MA) Fresh Baked Traditional Rye Bread
Have you tried Rein's Rye yet? It is Real. Rein has really worked hard to perfect this age old recipe. You have got to check it out.


Value Added Foods:

Al's Backwood's Berrie Co. (Plymouth, MA) Fresh Jams and Jellies, Honey
Al has spent a while learning his grandmother's jam and jelly recipes and with good result. Stop by and enjoy a sample of the Raspberry Rum or Blueberry. Delicious. The Strawberry Chocolate is great, too--it sold out last week! Check out the raw honey, too. Known for its amazing health benefits for allergies, raw honey is great for seasoning foods, tea, or as a replacement for sugar in recipes.

Dave's Cape Cod Smokehouse (Harwich, MA) Fresh smoked meats and fish, Pulled Pork Sandwiches, Cod Cakes
Dave has figured out how to use the grill. And the smokehouse is figured out, too. With fresh ingredients and tried and true recipes, Dave offers delectable fish every week. If you are looking for that certain something to start a meal off, a pate or smoked fish can be quite wonderful.

Joslin Foods Summit 6 Pasta Sauce (Dartmouth, MA)
Need a quick dinner? Boil up some pasta and heat up this loaded with vegetables pasta sauce and dinner is done in no time. Enjoy a sample and take a bottle home. (Previously Eat Your Vegetables! Pasta Sauce)


How on Earth (Mattapoisett, MA)
Chef Colin offers market goers with a sampling of what is available at How on Earth in Mattapoisett. With locally sourced, naturally raised product--a chef is always happy to have fresh and vibrant ingredients to work with. Stop by to see what is on the menu this week. How on Earth sources their ingredients from a variety of local farms, including Round the Bend Farm and Silverbrook Farm, both in Dartmouth. This week, How on Earth features grilled pizza to enjoy as you are shopping, as well as grilled pizza dough to bring home. Also, to make menu planning easy, homemade meatloaf and hummus are available from How on Earth.


Other Necessities:

Green Feather Herbs (Swansea, MA) Herbal Teas, Creams, Lip Balms and more...
Sourcing their indigenous ingredients from the wild--Green Feather Herbs has figure out how to nourish our bodies from what is available locally. With "Insect Away" all natural spray, herbal teas, lip balms and more--this is one stop shopping.

Go Fetch! Treats (New Bedford, MA) Fresh Baked Doggie Treats
Your pup will love these fresh, wholesome treats. Fresh baked--these doggie treats are the real thing. While made from carrots, rolled oats, rye flour and molasses they really are designed for man's best friend.

Red Clover

Red Clover (Trifolium pratense)

Member of the legume family this plant contains the full chain of amino acids, making it a perfect protein easily absorbed by the human body. In addition to protein, red clover also contains calcium, vitamin B complex, thiamine, niacin, vitamin C, chromium, magnesium, nickel, potassium, and phosporus.

Besides being an abundant wild edible red clover possesses the ability to send its medicine into many areas of the body at once, providing deep and lasting change in chronically stubborn conditions. In addition to restoring smooth function of various organ systems, this herb helps the body assimilate nutrients and eliminate metabolic wastes. In general, it is helpful in working with infections, blood toxicity, and skin eruptions. Red clover's strengths are most directly experienced in the lungs, the nervous system, the lymphatic system, and the hormonal system.

In the female body, red clover & red raspberry work together to enhance fertility. The strengthening of the uterine muscle in enhanced by the red raspberry; red clover balances the acid and alkaline levels, making the vaginal atmosphere conductive for successful fertilization of the ovum by the sperm. Red clover strengthens the womb in preparation for childbearing years.

The plant's diuretic qualities are helpful in keeping fluids moving through the lymphatic channels. An expectorant and antispasmodic, red clover is specifically indicated as a tea and syrup for easing dry, hacking coughs. Its affinity for the lymphatic system makes the plant a suitable building herb for those dealing with lymph-related cancers or conditions which require a strengthening of the immune system, such as AIDS, cancer and a variety of autoimmune disease.

Red clover is also a blood "purifier", which means it helps keeps the liver in healthy condition so that the blood is well filtered. Infusions of red clover are soothing to the nervous system and can be beneficial in times of stress and traumatic experiences.

An infusion of the flowers is effective in relieving the pain of arthritis and is useful in providing relief of the intense pain related to rheumatoid arthritis. The calcium is easily absorbed and supports the body in releasing calcifications caused by synthetic calcium, which tend to create pain around the joint area.