Dark moon shifting into New, time for planting seeds n making tinctures....

As we move towards dark moon, the shadow aspects this phase of the moon can bring forth are being felt in the collective, and for many of us on an individual basis. However, this is also the time for introspection and reassessment, dreaming up in the void. I've heard it said 'the Earth has had enough, and is sending us to our rooms to think it all over'.

This drawing epitomises where my focus has returned to over the last couple of weeks, and I'm not alone in this. I was inspired to draw it spending time with a lovely earth friend woman. With people's awareness turning to how food is sourced and transported, nursery's are having trouble keeping up, online seed companies have had to close their doors, and baby chickens are rare as hens teeth (pun intended, if somewhat bad taste). So, after an obsessive plant echo / ecodye phase, my garden called me back for some quality time spent together. This is one of the potential areas of awakening I see through the chaos, listening to, reconnecting with and hearing green folks, as sentient beings, also as both food and medicine...

In the dark of the womb we begin, as do these wee Capsicums, within the cauldron of the soil. Dark moon on into the first 2 weeks of the waxing moon, the Earth is exhaling, releasing moisture and nutrients to be absorbed. Time for planting annual seeds and seedlings, especially of which the foliage is the desired part of the plant. Creation births in darkness, followed by light, or as in seedlings case reaching for the light!

This is also when I begin tinctures of above ground parts, to be later decanted, all the funkier if on the full moon. I was keen to jar up Yarrow tincture and Elderberry Elixir, being the way things are, stocks were low. Juliette de Bairacli Levy speaks of Yarrow used in treating pneumonia, pleurisy, inflamed throat and it's my instinct that Ive always worked with Achillea millefolium to keep such greeblies at bay. Technical term of course. You can see my wordology comes from my own experience and thus take it at your discretion please....

Having said these things about timings, I use my inner guidance n compass, and if there's a patch of Dandelions I am hoping to make Medicine from whilst making space for seedlings going in, I'll do so. Ones garden (indeedy life) is a microcosm of the macrocosm, the more time spent tending and simply being with her spaces in intentional respect, the more likely we are to freakily find ourselves aligned with timings, such as lunar cycles. As within, so without. As above, so below.

Seasonal differences are a whole nother layer. Here in the Subtropics Summer's heat is as to furthur Souths frosts n cold snaps. This is primo gardeningk time in our region, n ain't that sweet! We are out of drought, and the Dandelions show it. Wild greens are an excellent indicator of soil quality, so bless em weeds, eat n medicine make wiv em'. I remember the first wee Dandelion that self seeded here, I was stoked! Look to native trees as indicators. Although climate change, oh sorry am I a fool not in denial, has messed with the seasons and rainfall. I watched the drought take native Scribbly gums whose leaves with whom I had dyed skirts n shirts with a few months earlier,  but I digress. Now said same are resiliently sending out shoots, new growth and gum nuts appearing!

As the moon cycles round her ways, the Scribbly gums sprout new leaves, let us hope that when this passes, some of the awakenings of this time remain with us. The enjoyment of simple pleasures, small freedoms and gratitudes.....

Blessings and good vibes....

Green oats tincture and ecodye loving as we head gathering in towards the full moon....

Hhhmm it's been a while since I typed, much has happened. Indeedy, I hardly know where to begin. It's now nigh on December full moon, and there has been a definite building feeling this cycle round...

I'll begin this post with a magical process in the garden which mayhaps epitomises this time. We were gifted a couple o bags o shit, not by life as is oft the case, but by a neighbour, to fertilise the soil. Gathered from a not too distant horse race course, this had born within it, seeds. Special ones for a nervous system in need of tonifying....

 Oats! I've been wanting to make green oats tincture for a whiles but didn't think they'd grow in the subtropics. In the bottom picture, along with dyers fingernails, you'll see the succulent milk exuding from the ready to harvest oat as I squeezed it to test for readyness. Exciting! Tinctured those babies up. Learning that you can simply harvest the tops and the rest will grow, and hence seed, again. Sustainablity.... :)

So, as with the coming of the oats, life has brought nourishment, and abundance. I feel more loved and supported than ever in my life. Had a few wee cries about it, and the beautiful paths I find myself now walking accompanied....

In a series of furthur eco dyeing adventures, the learning curve continues! I now have an Instagram account which focuses mostly on such plant ally craftings, 'opalplantways' if you'd like to see what I'm up to. That's probably where I'll be hanging out mostly....

I was doing some experiments with mordanting the leaves, rather than the fabric, I know mindbending (hinted at generously by 'Elemental Leaf')! Which resulted in a surplus of leaves that had soaked for some days in a strong brew of iron potion. When I came to do a batch of bundles with previously mordanted items, I popped a few of these leaves onto a linen collared shirt I had dyed some time before, but which turned out very pale. This is what happened, check out the rusty looking coloured patches....

I actually really dug the look of them! It was like abstraction, rather than aiming for 'perfect' leaf prints. Now, that's not to say, those aren't beautiful, they are, but there was something here I enjoyed. So, I followed that line of vibe and had a go on some damask (dahlinks) tablecloth scraps from the op shop....

It was done with Eucalyptus and Bracken leaves that had been soaking so long they were on the verge of becoming compost, and I simply harvested some Geranium leaves fresh from the bush at our front door! I was in an utter state of play, which was lovely! I also reckon I made a few discoveries about the blend I'd like to achieve of clear leaf prints and oozing dyepot magix!

                                       

            I have no idea where this will all lead! Thank the goddess! I'm just flowing with it.....

Can we make herbal tinctures with 40% (80 proof) spirits alcohol?

The ways we prepare the blessed plants we gather and grow, after harvest, brings out their different medicinal, and culinary qualities. Whilst vinegar or glycerin can be used, herbal tinctures, are often made with a 'menstruum' that's a blend of alcohol and water. So drawing out the parts of the plant which are soluble in both these mediums. They are concentrated, so small doses can be enough, and the alcohol acts to preserve them, meaning they have a longer shelf life than say, infusions or teas.

In Australia, most 'spirits' we buy at the bottleshop are 37.5%, lets say 40%. It can be very difficult, to access 100 proof (50% alcohol ), or 200 proof (around 95%) grain alcohol (ethanol). You definitely can't just rock up to the local pub for them as you need.

Wise woman ways, or Folkloric traditions tend to use 100 proof Vodka or Brandy, where as commercially prepared tinctures you buy, are generally made using grain alcohol, or ethanol. When using dried plants, the ethanol is generally then diluted with water, to varying ratio's.

Does this mean, this way of working with green folks to make medicine is out of reach of many? A recent experience got me pondering this...

At my medicine cupboard, I came across a Chickweed tincture, Stellaria media, I'd made in a situation where all I'd had access to, was a bottle of 40% alcohol Vodka. Made with the fresh plants tops, not dried, she's a juicy one too. It was dated 2014. As a treat, I pulled out some fancy crystal, poured myself a glass and tasted her. It's simply Vodka right? Totally fine. I tried a Nettle one. Totally fine. Hhhmm....

I opened up Richio Cech's, ' Making Plant Medicines' (page 20)....

"As a menstruum for dry herbs, make "diluted alcohol" by combining one part by volume of grain alcohol with one part by volume of distilled water. If grain alcohol is not available to you, then forget adding water and just use the highest proof spirits you can find. The alcohol you use for dry tinctures must be at least 40 proof (20% pure alcohol) or you risk the possability that the extract will not be adequately preserved.

As a menstruum for fresh herbs, use grain alcohol without adding water. If grain alcohol is not available to you, then just use the highest proof alcohol you can find. The alcohol you use for fresh tinctures must be at least 80 proof (40% pure alcohol) or you risk the possability that your finished extract will not be preserved. Always choose spirits that do not contain a lot of flavouring additives. A tincture works best when it tastes like the herb, not some other flavouring agent that was in the alcohol to start with."

The other tangent I've been exploring is 'preserving' foods. Alcohol is used with things like fruit, fill jar with fruit, cover with Brandy mmm. Elderberries anyone? In 'The River Cottage Preserves Handbook', by Pam Corbin, she writes that 'alcohol is a very useful preserving medium, but to function effectively, it must be in the form of a spirit that is at least 40 percent alcohol (80 proof). Gin, vodka, rum, brandy and whiskey, are all suitable.' Shelf life is given as 3 years for preserves using 40% alcohol. Not bad, the Chickyweed tincture I'd had was 4 years old, and still had her abundant greenery floating in it!

I'm putting this out there for feedback. Totally love to hear from you if you have comments or experiences! With the seeds coming up in our garden, these ideas are also emerging....