Published
by KotaPress
ISBN 1-929359-20-9
Library of Congress 2003102910
No longer available here, but please contact the author at: www.nwherbs.org
A
Naturalist's Journal
by
Erin Kenny
This exciting nature journal
is perfect for anyone who
is interested in observing
and recording daily and
seasonal changes in the
natural world, as well as
foraging for and making
herbal medicines from local
plants. It is designed as
a three year journal so
that the notes for each
date appear on the same
page each year, making comparisons
and references easy. The
journal is interspersed
with entries compiled from
renowned naturalist and
ethnobotanist Erin Kenny's
own nature journal. It includes
fascinating and practical
information about a wide
variety of northwest native
and naturalized plants,
including edible and medicinal
uses for all the plants.
It is a "how-to"
manual for creating your
own unique herbal medicine
chest with plants you can
frequently find in your
own neighborhood. The journal
also contains thought-provoking
questions that will encourage
you to think deeply about
your connection to the natural
world. Erin is a gifted
teacher and writer with
a style that empowers students
to believe in their own
ability to work with plants
and take their health into
their own hands. By using
this journal throughout
the year, for several years,
you will gain an intimate
understanding of how to
incorporate these healthful
northwest herbs into your
everyday life.
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KotaPress note: This book is a writing journal for the reader to read, learn, make entries about their own experiences. Kenny offers educational articles, her own "Notes From My Nature Journal" plus activity ideas, insights into Nature's calendar year, and recipes for everything from miso soup to salve for bee stings. These are just random samples & partial excerpts of a 400+ page book that is an *awesome* resource, full to the brim!! To see the full articles, you just have to grab a copy of the book which you can now get from the author at www.nwherbs.org! *** Nettle Gomasio 1 cup of roasted
sesame seeds I use raw sesame seeds and roast them myself in an unoiled cast iron pan, set to low, stirring constantly. Put the sesame seeds, nettles and salt into a blender and blend thoroughly. This is a wonderfully delicious and nutritious addition to rice, stirfries, salads, popcorn -- use your imagination! This is the best way to use up the rest of last season's dried nettles. *** Dried Northwest Plants Maidenhair Fern (Adiantum pedatum): Another truly wonderful tea, Maidenhair fern is great for soothing scratchy sore throats. *** Beltane The Celtic calendar recognized eight holidays that marked the turning of the wheel of each year: the two Solstices, the two Equinoxes, and four Cross Quarter celebrations that occured midway between the solstices and equinoxes...Beltane (May 1)...was traditionally celebrated...to bring about fertility. It is a celebration of the Earth's abundance and life force. From now until the summer solstice everything is fully energized and action oriented: nature is abuzz. It is a time to celebrate the miracle of life and the abundance of nature's gifts in this season of plenty. *** Drying Your Herbs One of the best ways to preserve your medicinal herbs is to dry them...Most dried herbs you buy in the store have been overdried and/or are too old. There are some general rules of thumb for drying out, as with many things, it takes practice to get it just right. Always dry your plant material in a warm, dry and DARK room...Plants should be thoroughly dried but not crispy...Most properly dried herbs will last one to two years in potency. ***
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Author
Bio
Erin Kenny (www.nwherbs.org)
has over a decade of experience
as a naturalist and ethnobotanist.
She is a well-loved and
respected environmental
educator on Vashon Island,
her home of six years. Erin
is also a gifted writer
published in national magazines,
as well as author of a popular
column called “Northwest
Herb Talk” which runs
in the Ticket, Vashon’s
local paper, and in Yoga
Northwest Magazine. She
also has a radio program
of the same name accessible
through the web at www.voiceofvashon.org.
Erin has spent years teaching
adults and children about
native plants and their
habitats, receiving rave
reviews for her exciting
and empowering teaching
style. She runs a successful
year long apprenticeship
program called “Becoming
A Naturalist” for
adults and an exciting summer
nature camp for girls called
Camp Terra.
For more than eight years,
Erin has been making all
her own herbal remedies
from northwest plants and
has practiced the wise woman
wholistic ways of healing.
Her herbal preparations
are made exclusively with
fresh local wild plants.
Erin believes that since
we live in the northwest,
it makes sense to use healing
plants that grow where she
lives.
Erin’s lifestyle
reflects her beliefs. In
choosing to live without
electricity and phone in
exchange for a simpler lifestyle,
she is an inspiring example
of sustainable low-impact
living. She is a graduate
of the Evergreen State College
and the UW School of Law,
studying environmental science,
politics and law. However,
Erin’s expertise as
a naturalist and ethnobotanist
comes from her ten consecutive
summers of caretaking at
a wilderness hotsprings.
Unless otherwise designated,
all photos contained in
this journal are copyrighted
by Erin Kenny. Erin uses
a 1970's Nikkormat and a
55mm Macrolens to capture
her subjects.
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