Healing In The Winter Woods

Winter herb: witchhazel!

To begin with, if anything in this post seems a bit illegible or uncomprehensible, such as spelling and grammar, that is because of my drooling one year old editor. I'm in my mom's one year old class on break, and a particular little chunker thinks she can edit as I write. Oh well, for what she lacks in professional skills she makes up for in adorability. 

I know Thanksgiving is well long gone and it's not typical to post about counting your blessings any other time. However, I feel like winter is maybe the most important time to observe the fact that He thought of us when creating the world and that He thinks of with what every season brings. 

I was a little grateful this morning when I noticed the snow was melting. Ryan and I have been up at 6:30 every morning and our heads finally hit the pillows around midnight. In getting ready for opening our new business, Heritage Services Express Lube, we've been putting all of our effort and time into the work. I just feel like every thing may go a bit smoother if we didn't have to do some of it in the cold (especially my lunch break runs!).  So melt the snow and bring on spring!

Slow down, there's reason for everything. If we were living in The Nook, we'd melt the snow anf filter it for use inside, or put the snow in a cooler and store our food outside. He  thought of us when He sent the snow. Trees He grew for us to cut down and use for firewood, He thought of us there too. 
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An abandoned structure that sits just yards away from The Nook. History lives here!

But what I appreciate most is the fact that He lets herbs grow according to the season we need them (such as goldenrod grows during the season hay fever appears). He let the pine trees keep their needles even in the winter so we could harvest them for teas when we are ill. (More on those next week!) He even blessed us with the ability to dry herbs, distill oils, and make long lasting extracts so that we can have them on hand and as available as possible. 

We like to live with the mindset of the fact that convenience wasn't always available, and may not always be again. If you live with that mindset, you'll start taking advantage of oppurtunities as they come. You'll find herbs growing and harvest them with the future in mind because there may be a time when you can't order these things online (though I give a BIG thanks to Herbs Direct for all of my last minute needs). My dream is to have a big herb garden and to wildcraft many more herbs this year. 

So thank God for this dreary, cold season. Even though it's a pain to run in, I'm grateful for the beauty it brings in reflection. Even in the winter God has provided us with herbs, waiting to be harvested. Yes, the once lush and green plant life all around us seems mostly dead, but there are still herbs waiting for you if you know where to look. There is healing in the winter woods. 

Starting next week I'll do a small series on Winter Herbs. The first post will be about the pine tree, because it's simple to use and in great abundance here in Appalachia. I'll also being doing a post on witchhazel, so look forward to that as much as I do!

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Coming posts:

1. Winter Herbs: The Mighty Pine
2. Winter Herbs: Witchhazel for Healing
3. Winter Herbs: Birch Tree Benefits

There may be more!

Until next week, I wish good health to you and yours.