Redland Evening Herb Society Online

National Herb Day Celebration in St. Pete!

Tue, 10 Oct 2006 15:55:43 -0500

National Herb Day Celebration in St. Pete!

This Saturday - Hosted by: Acupuncture & Herbal Therapies Florida
Chapter of the American Herbalists Guild Florida Herb Society

FREE 7:30 October 12th Free Screening of the movie Side Effects, a
Kathleen Slattery-Moschkau film Find out what goes on behind the scenes
of the pharmaceutical industry.

FREE 10 AM - 4 PM Saturday, October 14th FREE Herb Tasting - All Day.
Herbal Teas - All Day.     Music performed by Urban Gypsies from 11- 2.
Raffle drawings every hour - Benefits Fl Herb Society & Fl Chapt of
AHG .     5 Minute Massages 11-2 .     Kava Kava Bar All Day

Lots of plants and herbs for sale!

Please Join us at:
Acupuncture & Herbal Therapies
901 Central Ave.
St. Petersburg
http://www.acuherbals.com
727-551-0857
Info@acuherbals.com

Schedule of Classes:

10:00 - 10:30 Herb/Drug Interactions, Bob Linde, AP, RH, Pres of Fl
Chapt of Amer. Herbalists Guild, Director, Professional Herbalists
Training Program

10:30 - 11:00 Traditional Uses of Kava Kava, Greg Jones, AP, CH

11:00 - 11:30 Growing Medicinal Herbs of India in Florida, Vicki
Parsons, Pres. Neem Tree Farms

11:30 - 12:15 Cooking with Herbs, Emily Wenzil, Pres. Body & Mind
Enrichment 12:15 - 12:45 Herb Growing in Florida, Monica Brandies,
Author of 9 books on Fl gardening

12:45 - 1:30 Herbal Body Care, Bethany Johnston, Herbalist, Pres of
Beona Naturals

1:30 - 2:15 Herbs for Health, Linda Derby, Master Herbalist, Pres Herbal
Attitudes

2:45 - 3:15 Herbs in Pregnancy & Birth, Anne Hirch, CPM, LM, Pres.
Hearth to Home Midwifery

3:15 - 3:45 TBA

Be sure to get your Raffle Tickets! Proceeds support the Florida Herb
Society and the Florida Chapter of American Herbalists Guild. Great
prizes, Acupuncture Treatments, Herbal Consults, Plants, Massage, Month
Supply of Whole Foods Multivitamin and much more. Drawings every Hour
(must be present to win). First 75 people get special bag of goodies.

Download October Newsletter as a PDF File

Sun, 01 Oct 2006 23:55:44 -0500

Download file

Happy Halloween! Next Meeting: October 4, 2006 7:30pm

Sun, 01 Oct 2006 23:10:52 -0500

This month’s speaker: Delphine O’Hare Delphine O’Hare, long-standing member and Raffle Table supervisor, will teach us how to create wonderful greeting cards. Come prepared to walk out with a lovely card! If you have them, bring scissors and/or glue sticks.

Herb of the Month: Cardamom

Look Ahead:

November 1, 2006: Seth Berman will use herbs and other materials to craft holiday gifts.

Herb of the Month: Pandan

December 6, 2006: Holiday Extravaganza. Bring a dish to complete the Great Holiday Feast!

Herb of the Month: Juniper

January 3, 2007: TBA

Herb of the Month:

February 7, 2007: TBA

Herb of the Month:

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.

Herb of the Month: Cardamom (Elettaria cardamomum)

Sun, 01 Oct 2006 22:22:11 -0500

Alternate names: Cardamom ginger

Description: A perennial plant related to ginger, cardamom is similar in appearance to both the edible and ornamental gingers. It is a tropical plant that grows up to 6-12 feet in its native habitat of southwestern Asia.

Cultivation: Grown by seed or by dividing the rhizomes. It has moderate drought resistance, but prefers moisture. Thrives in heat.

Culinary: Each seed pod provides only 1/8 of a teaspoon of ground spice, making it the third most expensive spice after saffron and vanilla. Like most seeds, cardamom quickly loses flavor when ground or sold loose, so if you can, buy the whole seed pods. Green pods are left natural, white ones are
bleached. Brown cardamom is a related plant, and not true cardamom. Discard the papery seed pod before grinding the seeds. Cardamom is used extensively in baked goods, pickled goods, beverages, meat dishes, curries and pilafs. Medicinal: Traditionally used for indigestion, nausea and vomiting. Also
in Ayurvedic medicin, it is used for bronchial and digestive complaints. It has a stimulating and tonic effect on the lungs and kidneys, and can relax spasms.

Other uses: The essential oil is used in perfumery.

Sources: The Encyclopedia of Herbs and Their Uses. By Deni Bown. Herbs and Spices for Florida Gardens by Monica Moran Brandies.

Notes from All Over

Sun, 01 Oct 2006 20:25:48 -0500

The first Herb Day is being coordinated for October 14, 2006, with events being held nationally. For more information, check out www.herbday.org.

Delphine O’Hare recommends we bring scissors and/or glue sticks to the next meeting if you wish to participate and make a card. This is not a requirement, but would make things flow a bit better.

September’s Speaker—Nan Deardorf-McClain, N.D.

Sun, 01 Oct 2006 19:30:08 -0500

Nan spoke to us about the history and use of Flower Essences. Mr. Bach, who originated this healing modality in the 1930s, was an extremely psychic individual. He could sense the different ways that flowers can heal us emotionally. He developed his system as his major goal before he died, to share
with humanity.

The essences work within a holistic perspective as they help us become more aware of our inner life, noticing the connection between body, soul and spirit.

Nan shared some fun stories about the ways she has tested their use and become sold on using them, especially with the many transitions she and her growing children go through. They work on everything from depression, stress, and anxiety to confusion, sexuality, loneliness and spiritual awareness.
Thank you, Nan, for presenting this to us!

How Does Your Garden Grow? Tracy’s Garden

Sun, 01 Oct 2006 18:32:05 -0500

Herbs are happy just about anywhere, which makes them perfect for the beginning gardener, or the forgetful gardener. A self-confessed herb killer, I’ve managed to nurture some of the harder to kill varieties, and now have some bits of real ground to play with. The mints live in pots so they don’t
take over the yard. This year is the first time I’ve seen mint flowers— much fun!

Lemongrass & Cuban oregano are peacefully coexisting in a mixed bed at the moment.

Other beds hold tarragon, parsley, garlic chives and vegetables. Corn & acorn squash are happy side by side (though the corn hasn’t thrived), and the other pictured bed has cantaloupes, tomatoes and dill. Most seeds are harvested from the grocery store, so even if they don’t grow, not much is lost.

Editor’s Corner - Tracy Bossinger

Sun, 01 Oct 2006 17:37:21 -0500

Suggestions are needed for the Herb of the Month for 2007. Please email the newsletter, call, or catch me at the next meeting to let me know what herbs or spices you are interested in learning about or seeing featured here.

The newsletter submission deadline for the October issue is September 20, 2006.

If you would like to receive the newsletter via email, please let me know by sending an email to:

inariargenteus@gmail.com.

To avoid spam, I will not be emailing newsletters without an invitation to do so.

The newsletter can also be viewed online at our website: www.REHSonline.com.

Suggestions and comments are always welcome, as are contributions. Thanks for making the newsletter so wonderful!

More Than You Might Want to Know About Cardamom...

Sun, 01 Oct 2006 16:45:50 -0500

Cardamom is said to be refreshing as a beverage, with the added benefit of being good for the digestion.

It is one of the traditional spices included in many Indian chai blends, as well as in curries and other spice blends.

In the Middle East, it is served as a flavoring to a strong, black, espresso-type coffee.

Cardamom can be infused into milk or cream and made into custards or ice cream.

In Scandinavia, cardamom is often found in baked goods.

In Africa, tea is often flavored with cardamom and orange peel.

Northern European winter punches and mulled beverages are often flavored with cardamom.

Cardamom is sometimes used as a yoni symbol in Tantric ritual.

The tincture is sometimes subject to legal restrictions.

Fruit & Spice Park Happenings - Oct, Nov

Sun, 01 Oct 2006 15:49:27 -0500

October 6: Hunter’s Moon Celebration featuring a campfire, stargazing, music and park tours. Bring the family, a blanket & telescope. 7:30 pm. $15, children under 12 free.

November 4: Historic Garden Tour of the Redland with Chris Rollins. Tour landscaped estates in the Redland and learn how to create your own tropical oasis. 10am-1pm. $25.

November 11 & 12: Plant & Garden Extravaganza—a weekend full of plant societies and nurseries selling their specialty items. 10am-5pm. $5, 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.

“Experience is not what happens to you; it is what you do with what happens to you.” - Aldous Huxley

Cookbook Update By Leah Sherman

Sun, 01 Oct 2006 14:51:04 -0500

As most of you are aware, our group is publishing a cookbook, aptly named “The Tasting Table.” We have been moving at a snail’s pace but it is beginning to take shape nicely.

Many of you have contributed some wonderful recipes and stories to accompany. The committee would like at least one recipe from each member so that our group’s diversity and talents in cooking with herbs shines through. In other words, we are looking for something SPECIAL. We are especially in need
of main course recipes.

If you have not already submitted a recipe, please email one to Leah or Leila at shermlea@aol.com or fax to 305-234-3139. You can also deliver them in person at the next meeting!

“A job worth doing is a job done together!”

Thanks!

Herb of the Month Recipes - Cardamom

Sun, 01 Oct 2006 12:52:36 -0500

Quick Cardamom Buns

Makes 10 buns
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 1/2 teaspoons cardamom seeds,
freshly ground1/4 cup sugar
1/4 cup (1/2 stick) butter, melted
1 egg, beaten
1/3 cup milk
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Lightly grease a baking sheet or cover it with parchment paper.

In a large bowl, combine dry ingredients. Make a well in the center and pour in the butter, egg, milk and vanilla. Stir the liquids just to blend (inside the well), then quickly stir them into the dry ingredients. Do not overmix.

Drop the dough into 10 mounds on the baking sheet. Bake for 12 minutes or until golden. Cool briefly, then transfer with a spatula to racks to cool to desired temperature. Serve warm or cooled, split and buttered.

Fruit Salad with Cardamom
Serves 4
2 Tablespoons sugar
1/2 cup orange juice
1/2 teaspoon ground cardamom
2 oranges, segmented or sliced
1 apple, diced
1 pear, diced
2 bananas, sliced
2 plums, diced
Assorted soft fruit for garnish, such as
grapes, cherries, blueberries or raspberries
Fresh mint for garnish

In a small saucepan, combine the sugar and 1/2 cup water over medium heat. Simmer until the sugar is dissolved. Leave to cool. Add the orange juice and cardamom. Combine the cut fruits in a glass bowl and pour over the cardamom mixture. Chill for at least 30 minutes, garnish with the soft fruits &
mint, and serve.

“The only time to eat diet food is
while you’re waiting for the
steak to cook.”
-Julia Child

Website Information

Sun, 01 Oct 2006 11:56:29 -0500

The sales area of the website is up! There are members and friends of the Society with items to offer for sale, and a portion of the proceeds benefit the Society. Check out what our friends are doing!

We are still in need of links, content, and everything else that will make our website the best of the best. It will take everyone’s input for this to happen, so please send in any ideas you may have!

If you would like to contribute or have any suggestions, contact the Web Liason, Kristin, or the Webmaster, Tao.

Contact Kristin at: Jaydedj@mac.com or 305-342-5844
Contact Tao at: info@umaatantra.com

September Tasting Table and Raffle Recap

Sun, 01 Oct 2006 10:58:55 -0500

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.

The September Tasting Table was provided by: James O’Hare—Salmon; John & Marie Thorp—Veggie Chili; David & Leah Sherman—Leila Werner—Lemongrass Ice Cream; Norma Huff—Mushrooms; Valerie Mazon—Cardamom Cookies; Tracy Bossinger—Mini Muffins.

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 September raffle table had donations from: James O’Hare— Body Raves; Delphine O’Hare—Outdoor Candle; Bruce & Gladys Sutton—Crystal Ring Holder; Norma Huff—Bath & Body Spray; John & Marie Thorp— Neem tree, 4 Holy Basil plants; Astrid Zedler—Spa Basket; Miguel Cisneros-Abreu—Cow dung, Tea & Tea
Ball; Salvadore—Crystal Flowers.

Welcome to new members!! This month we were joined by Astrid Zedler, Susan Bissell & Marlene Roffe. Welcome also to returning members Bruce & Gladys Sutton & Doly Baquero.

Newsletter submissions are always welcome. Contact me at 305-444-5612 or inariargenteus@gmail.com

Join Us!

Sun, 01 Oct 2006 09:00:21 -0500

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