Fireweed

1st Annual...

2012-02-12T13:26:00.000-08:00

Midwest Women's Herbal Conference

June 29th-July 1st, 2012

The Christine Center near Willard WI

Special guests: Isla Burgess & Susun Weed

I'll be teaching a class called: "WombWise: Health in the Childbearing Year"

Plus workshops with a wise spectrum of earth based speakers & herbalists. Kids Herbal Camp with Kristine Brown and music with Magic Mama!

Registration is now open!

http://midwestwomensherbal.com/

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Midwest-Womens-Herbal-Conference/316233141755866

2012-01-04T12:02:00.000-08:00

Calling for Submissions!!

Fireweed Issues 1 & 2 have been co-created by many wonderful herbalists, parents and teachers. I am always interested in ideas for articles, essays, poetry, artwork, photos or anything else someone thinks fits the zine. Feel free to email me with your ideas or submissions. Over time, I collect submissions and an issue takes shape. Email: fireweed@riseup.net. And share with your friends. Thanks!

Share your remedies and ideas for all things kids, herbs, andwild foods. Whether you are a parent, a kid, caregiver, uncle, grandma or an herbalist who works with kids your contribution is welcome.

Possible topics for writings-

Remedy or protocol for common (colds, flu etc..) and less common (mumps,whooping cough etc...) ailments that your kids have gotten and all in between. What lessons have you learned?

Wildcrafting with kids- Adventures, stories, recipes to share. Do you take groups of kids on plant walks? Do you facilitate herbal classes for kids?

In depth materia medica or profile of your most loved herbs.

Planting herb gardens with and for kids. Dreams, creations, guerilla ideas. Urban community gardening with kids.

How do you incorporate herbs and/or wild foods into your everyday life?

How do you and your kid cooperate to make medicine?

Have you had an experience when they instinctively knew what plant to harvest or eat?

Thoughts on privilege, accessibility, racism, classism in the herbal community and how we relate these ideas to our kids or the general public.

Book reviews or recommended reading. What books do you and the kiddos love? or not that are herb, wild food, plant related?

Winter Book Suggestions for Kids

2011-12-06T12:31:00.000-08:00

Deep MidWinter drawing near -

May Light arise in our Garden here

As a family we read a lot during the cold, cold winters here in Wisconsin. Many of these books can be found through inter-library loan for hours of cozy reading. Or perhaps one could be a perfect gift during this festive season.

The article below appeared in the second issue of Fireweed.

More Suggested Books for Kids

for the first installment, see Fireweed #1

Compiled by Physick

Advestures of Sheldon, the Mushroom - Tuck

Berries, Nuts, and Seeds – Burns

Crinkleroot's Guide (series) – Arnosky

Fairy Dusters and Blazing Stars – Samson

Giving Tree – Silverstein

Good Mushrooms, Bad Toadstools - Fowler

Henry Works – Johnson

Herbal Fairytales (series) – Burns

Herbs Coloring Book - Bernath

I'm a Medicine Woman, Too – Hardin

Katya's Book of Mushrooms – Arnold

Keepers of Life – Caduto

Last Wild Witch – Starhawk

Linnea in Monet's Garden – Bjork

Medicinal Plants Coloring Book - Arbel

Midwife's Apprentice – Cushman

Mushroom Hunt - Frazer

Native Plant Stories – Bruchac

Rosy's Garden – Ichikawa

Summer Witches - Tomlinson

Weslandia – Fleischman

Wildflowers - Busch

Wildflowers, Blooms, and Blossoms – Burns

Wise Woman and Her Secret – Merriam

You can learn more about Physick's good works here:
http://childrenspeaceguild.webs.com/

Postpartum Support Essay

2011-10-05T14:07:00.000-07:00

East Coast rad herbalist Traci over at Fellow Workers Farm contributed this piece for Fireweed #2.

Read the whole essay on her blog here:

http://fellowworkersfarm.wordpress.com/2011/07/15/essay-on-postpartum-support-printed-in-fireweed-zine/

The Whirlwind is in the Thorn Trees: Making Hawthorn Berry Leather

2011-09-26T16:07:00.000-07:00

The Hawthron (Crataegus spp.) berries are ripe in the upper Midwest. Slight astringency and subtle sweetness make up the rich flavor of hawthorn berries. They are in the Rose family and look quite like crab apples. This makes sense given one of their common names: Thorn Apple. Hawthorn trees, unlike crab apple trees, have fairly impressive thorns on the bark.

On a rainy fall day we made Hawthorn Berry leather. It is simple in preparation and other berries can be substituted either solo or in combination. Earlier this year we made Black Cherry leather. I find Hawthorn berries to gladden my heart and lighten the load off my shoulders. Good medicine for parents and kids alike.

Recipe:
Place ripe berries in a pan and cover with water. For instance we had 4 cups of berries and I covered them with about 2 cups of water. Turn on heat, simmer slowly and mash with a potato masher or the like. Turn off the heat after 20 minutes. Strain through a food mill (we used a Foley).

Now it's time to dry the leather. We put the strained mixture on lined cookie sheets about 1/4 inch thick. I put the sheets in the oven, turned the light on and left over night. The leather is done when it is solid but still slightly sticky when you touch it. Alternatively you could use a dehydrator-either electric or sun. It's been cloudy here so we opted for the oven method. Roll up or cut into pieces and place in a glass jar. Store in a cool, dry place. Lasts for a few months or maybe more. Although I say "That's for the winter!" it is hard it stop eating it.
Autumn love,
Jess

Herbal Baths: Article from 'Fireweed 2'

2011-09-21T15:30:00.000-07:00

Here is an article I wrote for 'Fireweed 2':

Herbal Baths

Sliding into the warm water, their little bodies relax and peaceful eyes replace the teary ones. The bath filled with hand chosen herbs delights their tired bodies and gives distraction from injury, illness or sadness. Herbal baths are excellent for a variety of common childhood ailments. They are simple in preparation but overflowing with warmth and love.

Kids may be unable to sit still for an herbal compress or may feel uninterested in slathering on some healing oil. But if there is an injury or illness the parent or caregiver can co-create a solution. It can meet the child’s needs as well as fulfill the adults need to assist in healing. Herbal baths may work in this instance especially if the tub has a favorite bath toy or the caregiver reads a book while they soak.

Foot baths are useful if access to a large tub or enough water is problematic. Try one during the flu, a fever or a cold. One fall my son and I came down with the flu. He would sit on the couch under blankets and put his feet into a small tub held up by a stool. If the treatment area is bigger than just the feet/ankles such as with multiple bruises or cuts try a full tub bath.

When to create an herbal bath?

No need to have a special occasion but here are some moments to get you started:

*Cuts & scrapes or bruises that cover a large area from fails, bike spills, berry-pickin’, or in my kid’s case a typical day spent adventuring outside.

*Fever that has become uncomfortable- tepid bath is best- foot soaks are also sweet here or herbal compresses on the legs. Of course fever isn’t evil in and of itself but instead one of our bodies ways to balance itself. There are times though when relaxation or moderating a fever is needed. Remember to figure out what your personal comfort level is for home treatment and trust your gut!

*Stress from a hard day at school, fight with siblings, over-tired and cranky, teething…

Preparation:

In a quart size canning jar place herbs. Loosely fill the jar about 1/3 full if using dry herbs-if using fresh add even more. You want to make this brew much stronger than a tea you’d drink. Cover with just boiling water and place on lid. Let steep for 30 minutes to 2 hours. Strain out herbs and compost the marc. Add liquid to the tub. Some people like to add essential oils to the bath but I prefer to avoid them as much as possible- I prefer whole herbs I can taste and see. It takes A LOT of raw herb to make even a small bottle of essential oil. Never add them straight to a bath– they can irritate the eyes, nose and other sensitive areas.

(For more e.o. thoughts:http://www.massagetherapy.com/articles/index.php?article_id=567)

Which herbs?

This will of course very greatly on your purpose, your kid and what you have on hand. Think about how to best match what is presenting itself to you and how different herbs act, feel and relate to the body. Use your senses- practice & tune into the plants and your child. If the ailment is hot, red and irritated-look to cooling herbs...is the wound old and oozing- try a warming dry herb... Below are common plants you may already have growing nearby or dried in your cupboard.

Cuts, abrasions, stings and bites: plantain, calendula, self-heal, rose petal, chamomile, violet leaves, yarrow, thyme, bee balm, or chickweed.

Muscle strain, sprains or bruising: yarrow, goldenrod, St. John’s wort, comfrey, or elder berry

Fever: Elder flower is a safe yet effective, slightly sedative remedy for a child whose fever is uncomfortable. Elder flower gently assists in normalizing heat so the child can rest. For restlessness, aches and pains try catnip, linden, ginger or lemon balm.

Flu: For flu with intermittent chills & heat chamomile, yarrow, & linden are remedies to try. Linden and chamomile both work well when irritable or nervous. Yarrow is helpful if the flu was sudden in onset.

Cold or Cough: Herbs can help ease tension and loosen congestion. The possibility of herbs here is immense-try to suit them to how your child looks and feels as well as the type of cough (dry?, lots of mucous?, infection present?). Highly aromatic herbs such as some mint family (thyme, bee balm, rosemary, anise hyssop...) plants can do wonders on a congested nose.

Issue 2 is ready!

2011-06-27T13:51:00.000-07:00

Dear readers,

Issue 2 is finished and quite beautiful!

Thank you to all the contributors.

For the time being you can order it from me:

Fireweed@riseup.net

The cost is $4-5 for Issue 2. It is in color and is 67 pages!

Happy Summer!

Review: Issue 1 & New Rad Parent Distro!

2011-03-21T12:10:00.000-07:00

Lara, who lives in Fiji with her family, has created a rad parenting zine distro!

"Tricycle Zine Distro was created to distribute and inspire the writing of radical parent/ing* zines and other zines/resources useful to parents, caregivers and allies".

* Radical Parenting is an imperfect term and is meant here as inclusive and diverse – an exploration of parenting styles that value respect, trust, autonomy, difference, non-oppression, learning, love and revolution.

She has assembled a amazing array of zines that are out there-with more to come. Let's support Lara-check out her website:

http://raisingrebellion.wordpress.com/

Also her first compilation zine called "Building Blocs: Parenting, Movement and Little Folk" is available free to download. It includes a sweet review of the first issue of "Fireweed". Thanks LARA! I am loving these rad parents I've met through making a zine! Check it out here:

http://raisingrebellion.wordpress.com/zine-distro/building-blocs/

Fireweed Issue 2

2011-02-05T10:08:00.000-08:00

The second issue is coming along! There are some fantastic submissions so far- energetics of chamomile, postpartum healing, childhood memories of plants, magical arts classes...

There is still time to submit! At least for a couple more weeks I suspect articles will be coming in. Please send me an email to let me know you are putting something together. Can't wait to hear from you!

Love,

Jess

2010-11-02T16:11:00.000-07:00

CALL for SUBMISSIONS!!

In anticipation for the Untied Plant Savers conference in my region in August 2011 a second edition of FIREWEED is being created!

We need articles, photos, plant drawings!

Submission deadline: February 1st, 2011

Here is the call for submissions to get an idea of the zine contents:

Share your remedies and ideas for all things kids, herbs, andwild foods. Whether you are a parent, a kid, caregiver, uncle, grandma or an herbalist who works with kids your contribution is welcome.

Possible topics for writings-

Remedy or protocol for common (colds, flu etc..) and less common
(mumps,whooping cough etc...) ailments that your kids have gotten
and all in between. What lessons have you learned?

Wildcrafting with kids- Adventures, stories, recipes to share. Do you
take groups of kids on plant walks?

Thoughts on privilege, accessibility, racism, classism in the herbal
community and how we relate these ideas to our kids or the general public.

How have you challenged these oppressions and made herbs and herbal

knowledge for everyone?

In depth materia medica or profile of your most loved herbs.

Planting herb gardens with and for kids. Dreams, creations, guerilla
ideas. Urban community gardening with kids.

How do you incorporate herbs and/or wild foods into your everyday life?
How do you and your kid cooperate to make medicine?

Have you had an experience when they instinctively knew what plant to harvest or eat?

Book reviews or recommended reading. What books do you and the kiddos love? or not that are herb, wild food, plant related?

email submissions/questions: fireweed@riseup.net

2010-04-04T10:41:00.000-07:00

Hello Fireweed lovers,

I was hoping to put out another issue but baby number two is due at the end of summer and I am not feeling inspired to be out in the world much these days.

A friend told me she saw a copy of "Fireweed" at the Olympia library! Yay! Glad it is getting out there.

Enjoy spring!

Another Issue?

2009-08-11T18:05:00.000-07:00

Thanks to all the people who have ordered a copy of Fireweed. It is so fun to get surprise snail mail from locations all over the place! I also really like feedback so email me please with your ideas.

I want to make issue #2- this is very, very early in the works. If you have something to submit email me. See the guidelines and suggestions at the first blog post for ideas for submissions.

Hope you are enjoying the season out there with your kiddos.

Fireweed is Ready!

2009-04-26T15:39:00.000-07:00

The zine is being printed this week and can be
ordered or traded for.

See the side bar for the address to send well
concealed cash or check.

If you have a zine to trade email me
at fireweed@riseup.net

The zine is 52 half pages and has some fabulous plant drawings courtesy of monkeypants.

Submissions include:
wildcrafting with kids
herbal parent interviews
recipes
book reviews

Also check out the contributors websites listed
on the side bar.

Submission guidelines

2009-04-10T19:22:00.001-07:00

This blog intends to facilitate the dissemination of the zine~

Fireweed: A zine of grassroots herbalism and wild foods connecting
with kids and family life.

Submissions where collected and edited in the Winter of 2008.
Other relevant articles and ideas will be posted here from time to time.
If enough interest is generated a second issue could take shape.

Here is the call for submissions to get an idea of the zine contents:

Have you had an experience when they instinctively knew what plant to harvest or eat?

Thoughts on privilege, accessibility, racism, classism in the herbal
community and how we relate these ideas to our kids or the general public.

Book reviews or recommended reading. What books do you and the kiddos love? or not that are herb, wild food, plant related?