Summer brings the need and the desire for light and easy foods.

Fresh fair from the garden is plentiful in most places, even if one doesn’t have a garden spot of their very own…we have the farmers markets, more and more main stream grocery markets are stocking fresh and local foods, and CSA farmers all across the country are growing for your good health.

When food is picked from the vine, plant, tree or stalk, it immediatly starts to lose nutritional value.

Again when it is packed in cold storage trucks for long hauls across country and some packed for shipments across the oceans, it loses even more nutritional value..

Then consider the fact that much is harvested long before it has reached the nutritional balance stage, so another loss.

By the time it gets to your dinner table it is nothing more than a shell of what the body needs to nourish and foster good health.

So…finding and opting for the freshest of foods is nothing short of a must if nutritional value is a priority.

Add herbs to a table set with fresh garden foods and your nutritional line up has just sky-rocketed.

CUCUMBERS~

Just look what you get when you eat 1 small cucumber- add to that a small tomato, some sweet onion, a few spinach leaves, chives, and a handful of oregano leaves…and you have a mighty powerful lunch .

A  healthy pasta dish and dinner is served up in healthy fashion.

Add fresh local vegetables and herbs to your summer menu and rack up the rewards~

Bea Kunz

http://www.sagehillfarmsandvintagestore.com

http://beasbeatitudes.blogspot.com

Spring is the time for turning the soil, putting into action the dream plans made during the winter days of hebernation.

The time when sunshine warms the air and little green sprigs start to burst through the soil to greet the gardener and her many plans for the season.

Here at Sage Hill Farms there is always one more tiny bit of space to be cultivated, one more spot that needs that special touch, one more idea for an herbal tisane or recipe that is just pleading to be tried.

If one is at all tuned into the happenings and the status of the world around us, we have to know the link that is missing for many is simply ” a connection to something greater than self.” What better place to find that connection than in the garden…be it a large sprawling design and function, or a small space on a patio or porch that holds life and beauty from the soil.

One tiny plant from one tiny seed can bless us with many cups of warm and soothing tea or tisane.

Many hours of restful reflection on planting, caring, and harvesting our own creation.

Many meaningful conversations with a good friend or a total stranger of the why’s, and how to’s of our display…our garden…our herb garden.

Oh…and by the way, don’t forget to name your garden, give it that special recognition, it in turn will do the same for you.

My favorite herb during the early days of spring is the romantic Thyme.

Kipling wrote, ” wind-bit thyme that smells of dawn in Paradise.”

Thyme makes a delicious tasting and wonderfully medicinal tea for spring troubles such as: colds and allergies.

The delicate clove-like flavor of thyme complements almost any food, making it a perfect tea for meal time.

Thyme is very antiseptic and a great digestive aid.

A pot of Thyme Tea…

4 cups of boiling water
4 teaspoons of dried thyme leave (or) a handful of fresh sprigs.

Lemon, honey or stevia to taste.

Place thyme in the boiling water, cover and steep for 5 to 7 minutes…longer if you prefer it stronger.

Pour and add you speciality…

I trust you will have a beautiful experience in your own garden space this spring…and do share.

Bea Kunz
Sage Hill Farms
EatWell-BeWell~
http://www.sagehillfarmsandvintagestore.com

by Karen Stauffer

So, what do most people need?  I ask them.  Number one seems to be MORE ENERGY.

I fight that battle everyday, because along with Lyme Disease, (I’ve been fighting it since 1997), I now have chronic fatigue syndrome.  Yes, it’s a real condition, not laziness or neurosis, not caused by depression or lack of ambition.

First associated with high Epstein Barr viral levels, then suggested to be related to HHV-6 infection, nobody knows exactly what causes it yet.

So, since we can’t fight the unknown cause, we have to try to improve daily functioning any way possible - and these can work for “ordinary” fatigue as well.

Most important - get a good nights sleep!  Most people don’t.  I have trouble myself now, especially with menopause in the mix.  (Blankets on… blankets off… blankets on, repeat…)

Here’s my nightly nutrient routine: a 500 mcg melatonin lozenge (sublingual to fall asleep faster), 1200 mg magnesium (to relax muscles - you may need a lower dose, it may have laxative effects), some valerian (I prefer capsule to tea, as it smells like dirty socks), 200mg theanine (an amino acid from green tea to relax that chattering monkey that lives in my head), a hot flash formula containing soy and black cohosh - and, if all else fails, a half an antihistamine or half a prescription sleeping pill.  (I only resort to chemicals once or twice a week, usually if I don’t feel well or the neighbors are having a party…)

Yeah, that’s right - I will take medication when not sleeping when need be because not sleeping would be more damaging than the drug, but only after I’ve used everything else first.

There are other relaxants and sleeping aids to try.  5HTP (or tryptophan, very similar) can help dream recall and vividness as well as sleep.  GABA can be a tranquilizer for over-active brains, and KAVA (no, it’s NOT toxic in normal doses) is a good sedative.

So once you get to sleep, 8 hours (hopefully) later you’re waking up and most people go right to CAFFEINE, a useful stimulant.  Beverage of choice - coffee, tea, mate, cocoa, guarana - will all do the job - but… caffeine is addictive, causes jitters, worsens high blood pressure, and eventually stops working well even as you consume higher and higher amounts.  Any more than one or two beverages a day can set you on the road to escalating use and headaches if you try to abstain.

Start your day with a high protein, low sugar breakfast, and a source of B vitamins (not sure if you’re getting enough B’s in your breakfast?  A multi-vitamin is good insurance).

Then, instead of sugar, caffeine, or sugar and caffeine (why do we have so many places to buy coffee and donuts?), try ginseng or another one of the adaptogenic herbs like rhodiola (seems to be particularly helpful for Lyme fatigue), gynostemma or cordyceps.  Use as a tea, or take a pill with water or juice.

I also like Emergen-C ^TM packets - a bit pf B vitamins, some potassium, 1000mg vitamin C and some useful minerals makes a good all-purpose pick-me-up, sports drink, hangover cure or whatever.  Just mix with a bottle of water, sip slowly.

Save caffeine for when you really need a stimulant - moving day, staying awake at the wheel, etc.  It’s a drug - treat it like one, not like a basic food group!

Other favorites of mine for energy - COQ 10, carnitine and D-ribose (all also great for your heart!)

Try oxygenating your cells - my favorite product is Cell Food^TM.  8 drops in your 8oz glass of water 3x daily is good for physical and mental energy.  Works in 3 days, good for almost everybody,

Some people love Maca (South American root), Acai berry juice, massive doses of B 12… keep a small notebook of what you’ve tried, the dose, and your results.

Wishing you a great sleep and energy to spare!  Call or write with questions and topics.  Karen.

Introduction to Karen:

Hi!  I’m Karen Stauffer, owner and nutritionist at River of Life Natural Foods in Lahaska, PA since 1989.  You can call me at 1-800-651-3820 or email me at KarenStauffer@aol.com and let me hear what you’d like to know about vitamins, herbs or health challenges you’re facing.  I’ll cover as much as possible in my articles, but I’m also available by appointment for private consultations (phone or in person).  Snail mail at P.O. Box 215, Lahaska PA 18931.

Remember that I do not offer medical advice, and that you should see a doctor for diagnosis and treatment of disease.  I provide information about nutrients that can strengthen and improve its function.  You must make your own medical decisions, and decide which doctor’s advice to follow.

First let me say that although our bodies have similar needs, each person has specific nutrient needs due to genetics, diet, toxins, or diseases and other environmental hazards.  Sometimes it requires some trials to determine what’s best for you - there aren’t always accurate tests for every deficiency.

Also, optimum levels of a nutrient may be much higher than what’s required for an “official” deficiency disease, and can vary greatly between people.

Some of us may have too much of certain nutrients built up in our bodies for a variety of reasons and need to eliminate the excess, or at least avoid supplementing them.

Herbs are a great way to flavor almost any food dish, but buying them at the store can be expensive.  A more cost effective option that adds money to your pocket and flavor to your meals is to grow and dry your own herbs.  It can also be tons of fun, especially if you have children who can help.

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December is here and the weather calls for warming favors….consider….

All about Tea and the Perfect Pot

~ALL ABOUT TEA~ and…The Perfect Pot Of Course~

by-Bea Kunz-owner of “Sage Hill Farms”….a Sustainable farming project dedicated to the growing, processing, and education of herbs for TEA and other culinary fare.
~~
Taking Tea…….In this ever increasing health concious world,  the afternoon cocktail is being replaced with a variation of the British “tea-time.”

At home and in hotels, cafe’s ,and other establishments across the country, TEA is becoming the accepted drink of choice. Taking tea is a time to wind down, relax, and spend quality time with friends, family, or just to treat ourself to a delicious “me” time.

Taking Tea is a celebration of an earlier time that has found a re-entry into our most modern way of life.

Do You Know?
All tea comes from the same source, the differences in processing accounts for much of the variety.

The original tea plant, “Camellia Sinensis” is native to Southern China and has been around for thousands of years. An off-spring of this plant is where most of todays tea derives from.

Tea is a natural source of Amino Acid.

So…how do we decide which tea is better and better for us.
First we decide if we are consuming it for taste/pleasure ,or for health reasons.

Say we are choosing a tea for our health…and don’t want the caffeine-then we are looking for an herbal “Tisane” that is the term given to teas without any “tea” leaves.
Tisanes are made from the leaf , root,  berry, flower, or bark  of a plant or tree other than the tea plant.

Blends are herbals that have been mixed with a tea leaf.
(Example) Earl Grey is black tea blended with Bergamot.

Tisane is an English word derived from the Greek word (ptisane) a drink made from Pearl Barley.

Tisanes are made by steeping the chosen blend in very hot to boiling water for 5 to 7 minutes.
( for medicinal purpose, the longer you steep an herbal Tisane, the more benefit you get.)

Whereas other teas require a longer processing time and then water is added to the final brew to weaken and relieve some of the bitter/strong taste.

It really all comes down to a very personal like or dislike, as with most things we must find our perfect fit.

Black tea is steeped longer than green.
The longer it is steeped the more likely it will become bitter.

When brewing Black tea ,bring the water just to a boil, remove from heat and steep for about 7 minutes.

Green tea should be added to water that has been removed from the heat just before it boils and then sits for a few minutes.

Steeping time is about 5 minutes, less if you prefere.

Caffeine is highly water soluble, so it is the first constituents of the leaf to be extracted in the steeping process. 80% or more of the tea’s caffeine content is released within the first 20 to 30 seconds of steeping time.

To de-caf- your own tea, simply discard the first 20 to 30 seconds of tea and add that amount of water back to the pot and start again. Using a filter works best for this process.

White tea is becoming rather popular among people in the know about tea.

White tea’s are minimally processed.
It is generally air dried and slightly oxidized.
The highest quality White teas are picked before the leaf buds have opened, while they are still covered with silky white hairs. (hence the name-White tea)

White tea should be steeped in water well below the boiling point and for no more than 3 to 4 minutes.

White tea is exceptional to blend with herbal Tisanes.

~THE CELEBRATION of- and with TEA~

Family meals, weddings, celebrations of any kind can be planned around TEA.

There are the simplist and the most refined of tea accessories.

The earlist tea drinkers , the Chinese, did not use teapots.
They boiled the leaves in kettle-like containers.
By the eighth century the Chinese drank tea from blue-glazed cups, and their tea accoutrements started to resemble twentieth century china.

The first European cups were made in the manner of handleless Chinese teacups. Tea was brewed in the cup and sipped from the saucer.

By the nineteenth century the tea service has evolved into what we have today.

Todays options are a mass infusion of age-old designs and innovative new shapes.

Find your favorite and it will become a cherished and lifelong friend.

About Sage Hill Farms and owner Bea Kunz:

Gate-Keepers Bea and Mike Kunz are drawing from generations of family farming practices to build and maintain a Sustainable farm business.

Located at the foot of the beautiful Cumberland Plateau in the state of Tennessee, Sage Hill Farms is proud of and works to maintain a standard of clean and healthy product, not only for their own families, but for your family also.

Our Mission Statement:

• To produce chemical free herbs by using organic, approved products to enrich and sustain our soil.

• Through composting and cover cropping, nature can and does supply us with needed elements to meet our goals.

• Our aim is to leave a better legacy for the next and all future generations to build on.

Now come tour our website, and whether you need products, information, or both…we are only a click away.

EatWell - BeWell~
Bea & Mike Kunz

I love teas, and spices in fact I grow my own during the summer months.  Hence I say summer, any plant that comes into my house during the winter months never survive! So it was a wonderful pleasure to be able to try out Sage Hill Farms Be Well tea and their Italian Blend spices this past week.

I have slowly been going to using more organic products since I started to have more problems with my Lupus the past three months.  I have found that by using more organic products the symptoms are less so I was thrilled when I saw that the teas and spices that are grown on Sage Hill Farms are organically grown. Of course organically grown foods are better for us, but by our foods being grown organically-no pesticides etc-it is better for our planet as well.

The color for the Be Well tea was so pretty, now this may sound weird to those who are so used to drinking teas bought in a box at the store, but the Be Well tea turns a very pretty dark pink after brewing.  The taste was out of this world.  With a touch of honey and a nice warm blanket I savored this tea by our wood stove in our living room and was amazed at the difference having a cup of tea that was not purchased in a box at the grocery store.  The smell coming from my cup wrapped me in more warmth and made me remember having tea with my grandmother. When I was younger my grandma would make me a cup of tea and give me a warm blanket and have me lay down on her couch…have you ever heard that smells bring back memories…I was very happily surprised when this memory came back to me while drinking the Be Well tea.

Now it was time to check out the Italian Blend Spices. The oregano, thyme, basil, and garlic zest flooded my sense with thoughts of a small Italian restaurant.  I added the spices to a jar of organic spaughetti sauce and got rave reviews from my two picky boys It was a hit!

I cannot wait to try the Italian blend on our homemade pizza next week….

I highly recommend Sage Hill Farms not only for their wonderful teas, and spices but their owner Bea Kunz is one of the best ladies I have met on line and is also a contributing writer right here on Heal Yourself Magazine, I look forward to learning more about using herbs in our daily life to enrich our souls and better our health.

Click Here to go to Sage Hill Farms website and purchase your organic teas and spices today!

Rating 5 out of 5 stars

There is an old Chinese Proverb that reads:  “Taking medicine after one is sick is like digging a well after one becomes thirsty, it is too late.”

I relate this to the cold and flu bugs that seem to follow and attack so many during the winter season.

The design for mankind was and is not to be sick and in constant pain and the state of ongoing repair.

Nature provides many weapons to keep our immune systems strong and healthy.

Our immune system has one job and that is to protect the rest of our system from being sick.

Colds, flu, sinus, and allergies all attack weak immune systems.

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From the Garden of Eden to the Gardens of Sage Hill Farms…the life and thymes -of herbs

Sustainable, organic, natural, green….the movement has picked up speed in almost every lane of traffic.

Gardens…large ones, small ones, big farms, and mini farms, patio plots, and container growing.
Deep connections can be made in the garden. Herbal gardening is my love and my business.

Since the beginning of time herbs/plants have been a form of medicine first , and later they found their way into culinary use.

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