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What I’ve been doing the last few weeks

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While I’ve been away from the site, I’ve been working hard on getting the new paper magazine looking its best, and as accurate as I can make it. Each issue is priced at $4.95, or there’s a downloadable version for $2.

You might not have spotted the ad for one of the issues in the sidebar already. Or you might have wondered what the magazine was like. So I thought I’d just give you a few tasters here, and then you can decide whether or not it’s for you.

There are 6 issues so far (issues 5 and 6 are still being proofed, but will be available soon). Here they are:
6covers 300x300 What Ive been doing the last few weeks

I know they all have the same picture, but hey, the budget’s tight and I’d rather save my cash for the pictures to go inside, ok?

So, what’s inside?

Each issue covers a different topic. Issue 1 is about how to store, preserve and use your herbs. Specifically, the methods covered are:


Preserving herbs:
Storage time
Drying herbs
Collecting herbs for drying
Preparing herbs for drying
The drying area
To dry in bunches
Drying herbs flat
Drying bulbs other than garlic
Drying bark
Storing your dried herbs
Herbal pillows
Freezing herbs
Making herbal vinegars
Macerating garlic		 Making herbal remedies:
How to make a cold extract
How to make a standard infusion
How to make a decoction
Juicing
How to make a tincture
How to make liniment
How to make a medicinal cream or ointment
Another easier way to make an ointment
Making powders
How to make a poultice
What a fomentation is, and how to make one
How to make a cold compress
Making herbal oils (an oil maceration) – fake essential oil
Hot oil treatments
Steam inhalation


The other issues are about herbs which fall into a particular category.

Issue 2
Herbs covered in this issue are ones you might find in your kitchen cupboard and include: basil, bay leaves, garlic, marjoram (both pot marjoram and sweet marjoram), oregano, parsley, rosemary, sage, winter savory and summer savory, tarragon and thyme plus a bonus: globe artichoke.

Issue 3
Herbs covered in this issue are ones used as spices and include: angelica, aniseed, caraway, coriander, Roman coriander, cumin, dill weed, fenugreek, ginger, horseradish, lemongrass, mustard (black and white), saffron, star anise and turmeric.

Issue 4
Herbs covered in this issue are salad herbs and include: alfalfa, wild celery, chervil, chicory, dandelion, endive, fennel, garlic chives, nasturtium, green onion, summer and winter purslane, ramsons, salad burnet, salad rocket, sorrel and watercress.

Issue 5 and Issue 6
These 2 issues are about herbs grown in pots. There were too many for a single issue! I’ll come back and add the links once they’ve been proofed.
Issue 5 includes aloe vera, sweet basil, coriander, cumin, crepe ginger, ginger, lemongrass, marijuana (I’m aware this is banned in most places, but not everywhere – plus laws may change), pot marjoram and sweet marjoram, oregano, parsley, rosemary, sage, thyme and lemon thyme,turmeric and vanilla.
And Issue 6 covers allspice, bay, bergamot, borage, costmary, cowslip, french marigold, apple geranium, rose geranium and rose-scented geranium, lavender, lemon balm, maidenhair fern, mint, nasturtium, peppermint, primrose, sunflower, sweet violet, watercress.

So that’s all the issues so far. Here’s a few sample pages:

5pages What Ive been doing the last few weeks