The Herb Blurb October 2022

The Herb Blurb – October 2022

October is here with kaleidoscope colors, harvest festivals, and the first snows. The Front Range will be turning into a dazzling array of colors so make a visit to Denver Botanic Gardens, Hudson Gardens, or a local park or bike path and experience the beauty of the fall season.

We are in the bounty of the harvest season with apples, corn mazes, and great opportunities for hiking and biking in the cool, crisp air of autumn. Halloween festivities will begin with haunted houses and ghost tours. It’s the last harvest month. Pumpkins, apples, pears, kale, and all the cooler veggies are in season. Get family and friends together and celebrate a harvest feast.

Upcoming Classes!

Other than a few private classes I will be taking the rest of 2022 off. It’s been a crazy summer and I’m ready to organize my office and home, travel a bit, catch up on some projects, and perhaps start a new book. I’ll keep you posted as soon as new classes are up.

Fun Things to Do!

Elk FestElk Fest, Estes Park, October 1 and 2, Bugling elks, fall colors, seminars, bus tours, and arts and crafts. Elk Fest

Cider Days, October 1 and 2, Lakewood Heritage Center. Music, history, tractor pulls pie eating contest, and more. Cider Days

Crafts Spirit Festival, October 7-9, Breckenridge. Creative cocktails, small-batch distillers, seminars, historic and haunted tours, sampling, and great views.  info here

Halloween Happenings, Great fun from cemetery tours, zombie crawls, Victorian horrors at the Molly Brown House, and fright fests. Check out Halloween Happenings for all the options.

Free Days
Denver Zoo – Saturday, October 8
Denver Museum of Nature and Science - Sunday, October 9
Denver Art Museum – Tuesday, October 11
Four Mile Historic Park, Sunday, October 16, 10am to 4pm

For more free opportunities check out https://scfd.org/find-culture/free-days/

Gardens

october garden harvestThe time for procrastination is over. Snow will fall, tomatoes will freeze, and both will happen fairly soon. Get those houseplants cleaned off and inside, the herbs and produce harvested, any perennials in your pots transplanted into the garden, and your ceramic pots dumped out and stored for winter. Put in some fall bulbs for your spring show and plant some pansies and mums to brighten up the yard.

Mound up some soil over your tender perennials and wait until spring to cut back your roses and grasses. I usually let all of my perennials stay unpruned and just cut back the messy dead annuals. I feel the extra foliage adds protection and makes for some winter interest. Then it’s time to relax, those garden chores are over for a while.

The Cold and Flu Season Cometh

The change of seasons provides a better opportunity for colds and flus to proliferate. Natural methods for prevention include taking a good multivitamin/mineral daily, getting enough rest, washing hands frequently, restricting skin contact in public places, eating a whole foods diet, and limiting sugar which lowers immunity. If you or someone in your household does get sick, wipe down keyboards, lights switches, TV remotes, doorknobs and other frequently touched places with vinegar. Relieve congested sinuses and chests with a tea tree or eucalyptus essential oil steam. Eat lots of organic veggies and hot foods with plenty of garlic and onions. Skip the smoothies, dairy products, and cold salads and go for spicy hot vegetable curries, stir frys and soups. Get enough rest and drink plenty of hot tea. I like elderberry or sage tea with lemon and honey. Dress for the weather. It makes me crazy to see little kids with deep, rattly coughs and runny noses out in cold, wet weather without hats, scarves or coats. They shouldn’t be out in the first place, nor should you if you’re sick. Remember to sneeze and cough into your sleeve or elbow, not your hands! Grab a good novel, a cup of tea, take a long hot bath and go to bed!The change of seasons provides a better opportunity for colds and cases of flu to proliferate. Natural methods for prevention include taking a good multivitamin/mineral daily, getting enough rest, washing hands frequently, restricting skin contact in public places, eating a whole foods diet, and limiting sugar which lowers immunity.

If you or someone in your household does get sick, wipe down keyboards, light switches, TV remotes, doorknobs, and other frequently touched places with vinegar. Relieve congested sinuses and chests with a tea tree or eucalyptus essential oil steam. Eat lots of organic veggies and hot foods with plenty of garlic and onions. Skip the smoothies, dairy products, and cold salads, and go for spicy hot vegetable curries, stir-frys, and soups. Get enough rest and drink plenty of hot tea. I like elderberry or sage tea with lemon and honey.

Dress for the weather. It makes me crazy to see little kids with deep, rattly coughs and runny noses out in cold, wet weather without hats, scarves or coats. They shouldn’t be out in the first place, nor should you if you’re sick. Remember to sneeze and cough into your sleeve or elbow, not your hands! Grab a good novel, a cup of tea, take a long hot bath and go to bed!

Where I’ve Been – Iceland

Where I’ve Been – IcelandWent on my 1st trip to Iceland this year in late summer. We lucked out with great weather; warm (high 50’s and 60’s), sunny, and quite pleasant after a scorching summer. Went with my big sister to celebrate her birthday. It’s important to honor the milestones in your life.

Iceland is gorgeous, with lots of amazing waterfalls, hot springs, mountains, glaciers, and volcanos. Nature in all its glory. If you haven’t traveled internationally this is a great destination. Everyone speaks English, the people are friendly and happy to see you, the food is varied and delicious, and there are great tours you can easily take all over the island, or rent a car and do it yourself. It is the safest travel destination on the planet and an easy flight from most destinations. Early fall and late spring are great times to go as summer is packed and winter is brutally cold and dark. As with anywhere, planning and preparation are key.

What I’m Reading

https://dreditheger.com/the-choice/The Choice by Dr. Edith Eva Eger. Heard her on a podcast and had to get the book. It covers her time as a teenager in Auschwitz and her journey from horror to triumph. She ends up being an accomplished author, speaker, and psychologist. I am only halfway through the book and some parts are pretty dark, but it fascinates me to see how resilient the human spirit can be, and how we need to pay attention to injustice, racism, and ignorance, not just turn away and hope it disappears if it doesn’t affect us personally.

Apathy is the slow poison coursing through the body politic that paves the way to tyranny.
— Laurence Overmire 

Recipes of the Month

As the cool weather descends it’s time for hearty dishes including soups and chilies. Use up that extra produce by pickling or roasting.

““Be thankful for what you have; you’ll end up having more. If you concentrate on what you don't have, you will never, ever have enough.”

- Oprah Winfrey

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