This month’s speakers: Kristin Jayd-Jimenez & Cheri O’Neal Join Kristin & Cheri as they present “Kitchen Cosmetics, Bathroom Beauty,” a do-it-yourself seminar on creating simple, effective beauty treatments from your pantry and refrigerator.
Herb of the Month: Jojoba
Look Ahead: August 2, 2006: TBA Herb of the Month: Annatto
September 6, 2006: TBA Herb of the Month: Tea Tree
October 4, 2006: Delphine O’Hare will teach us how to make greeting cards at home. Herb of the Month: Cardamom
November 1, 2006: Seth Berman will use herbs and other materials to craft holiday gifts. Herb of the Month: Pandan
Meetings are held the first Wednesday of each month at 7:30pm in the Fruit & Spice Park Auditorium. All members and guests are welcome! Our Tasting Table, Raffle Ticket Drawing, and Door Prize Drawing follow each speaker. Monthly Society Project: Come garden with us! Meet in the Park at 10am on the
Saturday following each monthly meeting. You get free park admission and free herbs to take home.
Come join us to learn what herbs can do for you. Meetings include programs about the many uses for herbs: culinary, aromatherapy, medicinal and crafts. You will also learn about propagation and caring for herbs in South Florida’s challenging environment.
Each meeting offers the opportunity to taste herbal delights created by our members for the tasting table. Feel lucky? You might take home a door prize or something from the raffle table! Members meet in the Fruit & Spice Park auditorium on the first Wednesday of the month starting at 7:30pm.
Redland Evening Herb Society c/o Fruit & Spice Park 24810 S.W. 187 Avenue Homestead, FL 33031
Alternate names: Simmondsia californica, goat nut
Description: A slow-growing evergreen shrub that can reach about 6 feet in height, jojoba is native to the southwestern United States and northern Mexico. It has thick, leathery oval or oblong leaves that grow up to 1 1/2 inches long. Small petal-free flowers appear in spring, and are green on
female plants and yellow on males. Sex of the plants can only be determined after three years of growth.
Cultivation: Jojoba prefers well drained to dry soil with a sandy or gravelly consistency. It is tolerant of drought. Propagation is by seeds or nodal cuttings in spring or heel cuttings in autumn.
Medicinal: Primarily a cosmetic herb, the oil pressed from the seeds is actually a liquid wax. Its consistency is the most similar to human sebum of any oil, making it exceptionally healing to skin and hair. It is said to help sunburn, psoriasis, and acne. Unlike many other oils, it will not turn
rancid when stored at room temperature. In traditional Mexican medicine, it is used for respiratory conditions and stomach ulcers in addition to its cosmetic uses.
Other Uses: The oil is highly lubricant and is sometimes used as an engine lubricant. The plants are grown in some regions as part of desert reclamation or anti-erosion projects.
Sources: Bown, Deni. Encyclopedia of Herbs & Their Uses. Davidow, Joie. Infusions of Healing: A Treasury of Mexican-American Herbal Remedies.
Congratulations to James O’Hare and Delphine Kendzia O’Hare! As many know, they have been engaged for some time, and talk of a wedding has been circulating for months. In May, according to Jim, they had “had enough of people telling us what to do,” and went ahead and got married! The event took
place on May 18, 2006 at The Chapel At the Park in the Great Smoky Mountains. We wish them as much continued happiness and many years of marital bliss!
Miguel made the auditorium fragrant with incense and essential oils before his talk on chemical hazards around the home. He also had Tao lead the group in a breathing meditation exercise. Some of the sneakier problem chemicals are found in products marketed to make us feel better, such as artificially scented aromatherapy candles or air fresheners which contain formaldehyde and phenols, or possibly lead in the wick. Particle board (also called fiberboard) and some plywoods also contain formaldehyde, as well as PCPs and toluenes, all of which affect the respiratory system and other body parts. Also highlighted were the ‘usual suspects’: pesticides; harsh chemicals for cleaning toilets, carpets, ovens, mold and mildew; bleach; ammonia; lye; and even antibacterial cleansers. Thank you, Miguel, for the enlightening presentation!
July 15: “A Spoonful of Paradise”: Tropical Cooking with Chef Allen Susser. 10amnoon. $30.
August 5: Bamboo Workshop led by Daniel Holmes. 10am-noon. $25.
September 9: Vegetable Gardening, Container Gardening & Unusual Vegetables, led by Chris Rollins. 10am-4pm. $35.
September 30: Propagation, led by Chris Rollins. Includes planting seeds, grafts, cuttings and air layers. 10am- 5pm. $40 includes tree to graft.
October 6: Hunter’s Moon Celebration. A family event featuring a campfire, stargazing, music and park tours. Bring your blanket & telescope. 7:30 pm. $15, children under 12 free.
For more information on any of these events or to register, call the Fruit & Spice Park at 305-247- 5727. Registration is required for all classes.
All members and guests are invited (but not required) to bring a contribution to the monthly tasting table. For those not inclined toward the culinary arts, paper plates, plasticware and beverages are also very welcome.
June’s Tasting Table was filled by: Tina Pavel—Chicken with Rice; Tao Semko—Napkins & Utensils; Leah Sherman—Three Bean Salad; Tracy Bossinger—Chocolate Cake; Bruce & Gladys Sutton—Lentils with Spinach & Pine Nuts; Leila Barnes—Chicken Chutney Sandwich, Egg Salad Sandwich; Eliat Schmalbach—Ginger
Cake, Fruit Salad
Donations are also encouraged for the raffle table. Tickets are on sale at the raffle table during each meeting, and are fifty cents each. Ticket proceeds benefit the Society.
The June raffle table included donations from: James O’Hare—Bread & Cake Cookbook; Lisa Jacobson—Pink Plumeria; Tina Pavel—Vase; John Thorp—Vick’s Plant; Gladys & Bruce Sutton—Balsamic Vinegar & Garlic Salad Dressing, Zucchini Strip Antipasti; Cheri O’Neal—Homemade Lavender Soap; Joe Mandoeng—Tee
Shirt; Kristin Jayd-Jimenez—Fresh Onion; Manny Crump—Candle in Glass Holder