get your hands dirty

Today I found a chance to play in the last farmland in Seattle in support of Lettuce Link which provide organic produce and growing education to low income families.

Marra Farms is locate in South Park and we will be doing various tasks like weeding, building and planting to help feed hungry families in Seattle. It will be held on May 31st from 10-2.

If you'd like to join me and others here is a link

Seattle Works

edible flowers

Can you tell I am cleaning out my files? My random posting may reach epic proportions before this is all done.

Today I am giving some tips I found in the AMBP magazine: Yummy flowers
Calendulas (pot marigold): add petals to anything for a peppery taste. Also are nice addition to bath or foot soak actually all of these are a nice addition to water treatments.
Daylilies: I've never tried them, good cooked or raw it says and has been used in China to ease the pain of grief. They have tons of antioxidants.
Dandelions: The plant people love to hate. flowers are sweet and can be made into wine and the leaves are good cooked or tossed into salads, I like them but they are a bitter.
Hibiscus: The flowers are beautiful and add beauty to any meal. Cranberry like flavor with citrus overtones, the tea is beautiful pink/red and yummy.
Squash Blossoms: Yummy fried in batter or stuffed.
Pansies: Mild minty flavor and is a great garnish being beautiful in color and delicate looking.
Roses: All are edible but the darker the color the more flavor. Use them everywhere!
Sunflower: It is best eaten when in the bud stage, and apparently tastes similar to artichokes. When the flower opens can use the petals which are bittersweet in flavor.

Tips:
Do not eat flowers from florist or garden centers as these have probably been sprayed. Also do not eat flowers from the side of the road as car exhaust is not good to ingest and makes things taste awful. If you don't know if the flower is edible, don't eat it. Bad things could happen. Look in grocery stores and farmers markets for edible flowers sold in the herb or salad section. Don't eat too many flowers at once, they don't taste all that great so I'm not too worried about y'all on this one. Most important use flowers that look good and are free from bugs... unless of course you need more protein and want to get it from aphids instead of meat, then by all means chow down... just don't invite me for dinner :D

the reflexology 12 step

Stress Reduction: Reflexology calms and balances the body, sooths the nervous system, and puts you in a state of bliss.

Immune Support: Reflexology works from the inside out and focuses on returning your body to perfect health.

Detoxification: Toxins get stored in the feet due to gravity. Receiving foot reflexology improves circulation and moves accumulated toxins out of your body.

Better Foot Function=Energy: Reflexology improves flexibility, decreases foot pain, and helps align bones put out of place by shoes and sports. This increases your energy levels by allowing you to walk better, getting natural reflexology with each step.

Whole Body: Reflexology is based on the belief that the whole body is mirrored in the feet, hands and ears. By working these areas you can provide pain relief or address any dis-ease or discomforts you may be experiencing anywhere in the body.

Better Sleep: Reflexology balances the mind and body, helps hormonal and endocrine imbalances and sooths the mind allowing all cares to fall away. One hour of sleep on the reflexology table is equal to 8 hours as your body immediately descends to delta brain wave activity.

Improved creativity/ productivity: Reflexology puts you into a deep meditative state, the place where ideas are generated and problems solved. Serendipitous moments happen on the reflexology table and after.

Grounding: Taking your feet out of their shoes can help to ground you to the present moment making you more aware and thankful of all the small wonderful things that happen daily. Plus it literally connects you to the ground and closer to the energy of the Earth.

Shoes Kill: Your feet do you numerous services daily and their reward is often shoes that disfigure them and make them hurt. Support naked feet and celebrate wiggly toes with a session of reflexology.

It feels great: You deserve to feel great because you are great. Reflexology helps you remember to take a little space and time all for you, and what a bonus that you walk out in a state of bliss!

Earth-Friendly: By doing good things to improve your health you will most likely start doing better things to help the planet(like get more reflexology!). Plus! All lotions and oils used in session are organic and on the first Tuesday of the month Amy donates all profits to the Nature Conservatory.

healthy feet=healthy spine=healthy life: If the feet are balanced, healthy and functioning properly, then the spine is allowed it's full range of motion. If these two things are flowing your whole life is full of ease. Why?Because the bones and muscles are working right, which moves lymphatic fluid and blood around, which carries vital nutrients and oxygen to your cells and carries wastes away to be eliminated. Plus the nervous system can communicate more efficiently which all adds up to a better life full of energy, creativity and joy.