Post by Carob's Chaga Farm.

We offer a prayer to the thief.

Post by Carob's Chaga Farm.

We are sad, angry, scared, disappointed today. Yesterday, 10 bags of Chaga Chai, 2 bars of soap, and a pint of Chaga Blue tincture were loving placed in the mailbox to be delivered to a customer. The time 11 am just a short while until the mail would be picked up. By 11:05 still to early for her to have arrived a car slowed and took the box with them.It is frustrating and sad and a little scary to have to think that possibly even one of our neighbors decided a federal offense being committed for a 12.00 box was necessary. I would feed anyone that is hungry help anyone that is in need.So, instead of sitting in this, with this and letting the feelings rule my day. I offer a prayer to the thief. God Bless you and keep you. Please protect the offender and those he or she loves and give them all that they need today. Amen

Advice from a tree

Advice from a tree

________________

Stand Tall and proud

Go out on a limb

Remember your roots

Drink plenty of water

Be content with your natural beauty

enjoy the view.                                                                        " Chaga, It's a way of life."

Chaga (Inonotus obliquus)

Chaga is a parasite that grows on birch trees.

It is not a true mushroom, just a mass of mycelium,

it has been used in folk medicine for centuries, most widely written about over the ages in Russia.

Science continues to validate its use, showing immune stimulating properties and its ability to

protects against oxidative stress. It seems it is most famous for its use against a wide range of cancers, cancer of the breast, lip, skin and colon. It is becoming widely known for its ability to increase stamina, tone bones and muscles and even soften your skin.

Chaga can be used as a decoction or as an alcohol extract. The decocted root is tasty and is sometimes called a “coffee substitute”. It often has a slight vanilla taste.

Chaga is a  hardened structure with a very dark crust protecting the inner golden substance. With so many uses and people using it please always harvest responsibly. Chaga takes many years to mature and each Birch tree it grows on.

Every part of a Birch tree contains healing substances and is often applied in folk medicine as well as in official medicine for healing purposes.

These parts are: juice, leaves, buds, wood,and bark.

Chaga mushroom has so  many health benefits

some credit must be shared with its host.

                              

Chaga and Chives

Chives

"Chaga, It's a way of life."

Chives (Allium schoenoprasum) is a part of the same  family as onions, scallions and garlic. They grow from small bulbs and have a long history of culinary and medicinal uses. In the Middle Ages, chives were promoted as a cure for melancholy and believed to drive away evil spirits. Chives and chive flowers are high in vitamin C, folic acid and potassium. They can be easily added to recipes to help restore  nutrients lost in cooking. This herb's  taste come from its  concentration of sulfur compounds and other essential oils, which are also partly responsible for its healing properties.

 A few of the health benefits:

Health Benefits of Chives

Chives have been used to help lower blood pressure and aid digestion. They stimulate  appetite and help to promote good digestion.Chives also  possess some antiseptic properties. They can be used to ease stomach upset, clear a stuffy nose, reduce flatulence and prevent bad breath. They have a mild diuretic effect, as well.

Growing

Chives are a very easy seed to start from seed or a small separation from a friend. They spread easily and harvest even more easily. Chive Vinegar is a very pretty pink color and goes well on salads or in cooked recipes.

Chaga and Chives make a great mushroom gravy.

Chives

Chives

"Chaga, It's a way of life."

Chives (Allium schoenoprasum) is a part of the same  family as onions, scallions and garlic. They grow from small bulbs and have a long history of culinary and medicinal uses. In the Middle Ages, chives were promoted as a cure for melancholy and believed to drive away evil spirits. Chives and chive flowers are high in vitamin C, folic acid and potassium. They can be easily added to recipes to help restore  nutrients lost in cooking. This herb's  taste come from its  concentration of sulfur compounds and other essential oils, which are also partly responsible for its healing properties.

Health Benefits of Chives

Chives have been used to help lower blood pressure and aid digestion. They stimulate  appetite and help to promote good digestion.Chives also  possess some antiseptic properties. They can be used to ease stomach upset, clear a stuffy nose, reduce flatulence and prevent bad breath. They have a mild diuretic effect, as well.

Growing

Chives are a very easy seed to start from seed or a small speration from a friend. They spread easily and harvest even more easily. Chive Vinegar is a very pretty pink color and goes well on salads or in cooked recipes.

Chaga and Chives make a great mushroom gravy.

Honey Bee Herbalists

  

Honey Bee Herbalists
Author Margaret Tucker

Honey Bees (Apis) are the most knowledgeable herbalists I know. They know which herbs offer the best nutrition and health benefits and which ones to ignore. Watching honey bees forage among your herbs can offer insight into which ones you need to gather for your own use. For thousands of years honey bees have been foraging plants to help them survive. Mankind has been studying them as far back as the cave dwellers and learning from them what to try themselves. The herbs used at Carob's Farm are all honey bee plants. The bees gather nectar and pollen and the health benefits each herb offers.
      Some of the plants are more favored than others. (Borago officinalis) AKA Borage, Starflower and Bee plant is one of the favored plants of the Honey Bee and some of us humans love the plant as well. Borago Officinalis offers nectar and pollen to the honey bees which produces a light amber
 honey and is said to improve their ability to make honey. For humans borage is either loved or hated. It is loved for it's bright blue or white flowers and makes some people feel happy just looking at it. Some people hate it because it has prickly hairs that scratch tender skin and spreads easily if not kept deadheaded. Borage has many medicinal qualities that make it a great addition to the herbal medicine cabinet. Borage can be used for conditions such as acne and arthritis. Mix tablespoon of Borage leaves and flowers in a bit of bath salts to use in your next relaxing bath or in a face cream for wrinkles. The flowers, leaves and oil produced from the seeds are used medicinally. The flowers and leaves can be eaten in salads. It has a light cucumber flavor that most people find pleasant.
Borage is also an excellent choice of companion plant for tomatoes, strawberries and several other favorite backyard garden plants. According to ancient herbalists borage is said to “make one merry and ease sorrow”. Perhaps this is why honey bees forage this plant and are able to produce more honey.
 “A merry heart surely aids productivity.” Margaret Tucker

Chaga, Soap, Lotion, Tea, Herbs - Carob's "Chaga" Farm

Chaga, Soap, Lotion, Tea, Herbs - Carob's "Chaga" Farm

Chaga Original Lotion

Chaga Lotions ,salves, body butters, lotions and balms, are made with;

Chaga extract ,Cold processed Extra virgin olive oil , organic sesame seed oil, organic coconut oil ,organic sunflower seed oil,Organic Grape seed oil.We purchase (local when available)beeswax.

We harvest our Chaga.

We can scent it with your favorit scent, just ask us!!

$12.49

The " Fire Cider" Controversy

" Fire Cider"
  It seems the rules have changed. Fire Cider made and labeled as far back at least as the 80's ( that I am aware of) by Rosemary Gladstar her recipe is published here  has been trademarked by a small company in Massachusetts. I am having trouble imagining how this happens, but, it has. so, no more Fire Cider Labels?
  I am providing some links and snippets of information surrounding the controversy. "Fire Cider is a term invented by Rosemary Gladstar over 35 years ago, and has been shared by her freely since then to tens of thousands of people. She has it in her published books from the 90‘s and pamphlets from the 1970’s. This term is as common as pizza or tea in the herb world. The manufacturers"Shire City Herbals" have trademarked this term, and have started taking legal action against herbal companies that sell Fire Cider.

The Anti Trademark warriors there are many and they grow each day, I and I am certain many others would love for you to join us.The petition, Some of the blogging , "Facebook pages" , well no I guess those are gone too.etc I am linking for you to visit, comment share your thoughts, find a recipe or a gathering.
The thing is, Shire City did not invent the name “fire cider.” [For the purposes of this discussion, let's use fire cider to refer to the traditional herbal medicine preparation, "fire cider" to refer to the term, and Fire Cider® to refer to the company who have trademarked the term.] If you search for a while you can spot the ® subtly hidden in the leaves and branches on the right side of the label. Fire Cider, a warming, energizing concoction, its always in my kitchen, especially good in the winter time, we love sharing this with family and friends. We first learned it from Rosemary Gladstar back in the early 90's. Traditional Remedies: Fire Cider Controversy: Fire Cider: Fire Cider Trade Marked????  Please write this man and Etsy and let them know this is a product/name that has been around for decades and is...

Chick Peas, Garbanzo beans, however you call them.

Chick Peas, Garbanzo beans, however you call them. February 9, 2014 at 9:21am I am enjoying my roasted chick peas and they were so very easy to make. Here is a blog about the health benifits. I have never been one to reinvent the wheel. I like to direct you to otheres blogs to read the details. This is my part in passing on the blogs and good reading Karma and it gives me more time to experiment. Experimenting has always been my favorite thing to do. Success or failure doesnt really even matter. My Dad always told me if at first you dont suceed, try, try again. So , that is what I do!! Some of the health benifits http://www.whfoods.com/genpage.php?tname=foodspice&dbid=58 the I followed, sort of at least. Anyone that knows me says I never follow a recipe, I guess they are partially correct. http://www.weeknightbite.com/2/post/2014/01/super-bowl-snack-crunchy-thyme-roasted-chickpeas.html This is how I did it. The wood stove is going so of course I utilized it. I put the dry beans in a pot of water added salt, pepper, garlic and onion powder. I put that on the wood stove for about and hour. I let it sit over night to cool and absorb the spices. This morning, I drained it and for some reason did not drain it down the sink but instead into a pyrex bowl. I am so glad I did. The broth is delichious I added a few chia seeds to the hot broth and that has been breakfast so far this morning. Once drain I added water and spices again and set it on the wood stove for another hour. It simmer and smelled wonderful!! So I saved that broth also. THe Chick peas I put into a bowl after I dryed them of all the water I could, added fresh herbs, oregano, thyme, sage was what I had handy about 1/3 cup of olive oil and stir and let it migle a bit. Into the oven for a little longer than the recipe called for I wanted a real crunch. 50 minutes is about what it took. Yum!! A great snack!! I believe it is free of all of the things people dont eat anymore like gluten, sugar, carbs, maybe some carbs. Fresh, cheap , healthy and delicious and filling. I also have two quarts of the broth. I will let you know what I do with it!! Add water to the dry beans simmer for an hour or so,let them sit to absorb overnight,simmer another hour or so,drain and spice in olive oil. Herbs added and roasted at 400 for 50 minutes. Carob's Chaga Farm, Soap, Lotions, Extracts and Edibles.: Chick Peas, Garbanzo beans, however you call them....: Chick Peas, Garbanzo beans, however you call them. February 9, 2014 at 9:21am I am enjoying my roasted chick peas and they were so very easy...

The State of the State and the Law of Attraction

Band of iris-flowersabove the... photo by arejay59 on Garden Showcase

Band of iris-flowersabove the... photo by arejay59 on Garden Showcase

Almost Spring Snow

Choices, Allergies, and Reactions

Follow my blog with Bloglovin Interations ,Reactions and Allergies. December 19, 2013 at 4:01am Please always do your own investigation of any herbs you chose to use. Chaga, Herbs, Kombucha ETC. Please Check with your Health Care provider before using any new product containing herbs or Chaga for any side effects and allergic reactions. Some people are allergic or sensitive to Mushrooms, Chaga doesnt look like a mushroom but ,Inonotus obliquus, is commonly known as chaga mushroom. If you are allergic to mushrooms, Chaga would not be a product for you. Chaga anti-allergic activities are not fully understood http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23535020 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Inonotus_obliquus Yarrow Yarrow may interact with the following medications: Blood-thinning medications -- High doses of yarrow may slow down blood clotting. If taken with medications that thin the blood, such as aspirin, clopidogrel (Plavix), and warfarin (Coumadin), it may raise the risk of bleeding. Lithium -- Yarrow may increase the amount of lithium in the body, leading to dangerous levels. Medications to reduce stomach acid -- Because yarrow may increase the production of stomach acid, it can interfere with both over-the-counter and prescription drugs, including: Source: Yarrow | University of Maryland Medical Center http://umm.edu/health/medical/altmed/herb/yarrow Lemon Balm Herpes Infection Numerous test tube studies have found that extracts of lemon balm possess antiviral properties.1-3 We don't really know how it works, but the predominant theory is that the herb blocks viruses from attaching to cells.

If you are taking sedative medications, use of oral lemon balm might amplify the effect, potentially leading to excessive sedation.

Please always do your own investigation of any herbs you chose to use. Read your labels. Be aware of what you put into your mouth and onto your skin. Follow that also with your pets. Chaga, is in every product we offer unless you have requested something without it. We provide you with this information to aide you on your own path of discovery, and on "that" path your best judgment is always the best choice.