New Year Resolutions for Herbalists

Follow me this month while I try to clear out my own chaos and get a few tips on how to get your herb cabinet and/or business back in order! January is a perfect time for reflection and planning, but also, we have time for getting things done since the rush of garden season is still a few months away, the snow keeps us at home a bit more....as does the promise of a warm house and hot cup of tea. Each day, I am going to tackle something that needs constant care or attention, but that is often left to become dysfunctional as the year goes on. Will this be the year, I actually keep on top of things? Who knows...but if not, I will repost next year!

January 19 ~

Learn a New Skill 

Having been around herbs and homesteading all my life, what is left that I haven't done already? There are some things--like building things, that I have tried--but did not persue--no talent for it. There are tons of things I tried once, but never again, so never perfected my technique. That should be a resolution in its own right--to perfect some skills. But to learn NEW skills and new ideas..... it keeps us young, our minds working well. My Grandmother used to tell me that "If you learn at least one new thing each day, you haven't wasted your time."

I use vinegar alot. Store bought is not so good and the organic type is very good--but also very expensive. So I asked for one of those beautiful, ceramic, vinegar making jars (complete with spigot) for the holidays. I have let sweet apple cider go hard and my intention had been to let it go on to make vinegar--but we drank it all. So, I know what to do, but have never actually MADE vinegar....knowing and doing are very different.

A few years ago, a local farm began producing organic hard ciders and opened a tasting room. So.....as I was cleaning and organizing, I was dismayed at the amount of room taken up in the back of my refrigerator by cider bottles in various states of emptyness. But now, the bottles are  "half full" because I need 2-3 cups of hard cider to start my vinegar and I ordered my "mother" yesterday. By next week, I will have a more spacious refrigerator, started my vinegar culture on its multi-week journey, be learning about all other kinds of vinegar I can make and, soon enough, will have  good, healthy vinegar for so many uses. 

Let me know what some of your new projects will be!