Seventh Annual Mother Earth New Fair returns to Pennsylvania

SEVEN SPRINGSMother Earth News – the original guide to living wisely – returns to the Seven Springs Mountain Resort, one hour southeast of Pittsburgh, for the Seventh Annual Mother Earth News Fair. This unique event, is geared towards people who want a more sustainable and often rural lifestyle. It features dozens of workshops that cover organic gardening, off grid living, renewable energy, and natural health.

“Wonderful event! Excellent speakers and the booths had great organic and sustainable items, and books and resources. It is exciting to see how many like-minded people exist,” said Claire Cooper of a past Fair.

Seven Springs Fairgrounds. Pho
Seven Springs Fairgrounds. Photo Credit: Mother Earth News & Michelle Allmon

Other presentations include an introduction to Biogas Systems, vermiculture, raising pigs, bee keeping, aromatherapy, plant medicine, and so much more. Workshops and presentations are held over a dozen stages and vendors are set up throughout the mountain resort.

Workshops run all three days of the Fair, which will be held Friday, 23 September through Sunday, 25 September. Sponsors include: Brushy Mountain Bee Farm, Mountain Rose Herbs, Yanmar, Botanical Interests, the John C. Campbell Folk School, Jung Seed, and Cabela’s.

Advance weekend wristband passes are $20 for adults when ordered through the event’s website or toll-free number. Adult wristbands at the gate are $35. Children and teenagers under 17 are free. To order, go to www.MotherEarthNewsFair.com or call (800) 234-3368. For lodging information and reservations at Seven Springs Mountain Resort, call (866) 437- 1300.

© Therapeutic Thymes, 2016

A Visit to the Herb Capital of Ohio

By Jeanne Ruczhak-Eckman

Gahanna is a gorgeous city in Franklin County, Ohio. Despite being a suburb of Columbus, it has that small town feeling. This small town has made it its mission, for the last four decades, to be the Herb Capital of Ohio. The town is home to the Ohio Herb Foundation Center, an incredible Creekside herb and perennial park, an incredible herb garden, and the businesses in town join together to be part of the Herbal Trail.

Ohio Herb Education Center in Gahanna, Ohio. Photo by Jeanne Ruczhak-Eckman
Ohio Herb Education Center in Gahanna, Ohio. Photo by Jeanne Ruczhak-Eckman

Located along Mill Street, the Ohio Herb Education Center, offers herbal educational sessions, herbal crafts, the Geroux Garden Tour, and an herbal shop. Classes offered have been Herbal Wedding Traditions, Powder Room Apothecary, Cold and Flu Apothecary, Herbs for Survival, and Herbs in the Kitchen. The herbal retail section of the Center includes body care items bulk herbs, tea accessories, tea, jams, honey, educational books, and essential oils.

Geroux Garden. Photo by Jeanne Ruczhak-Eckman
Geroux Garden. Photo by Jeanne Ruczhak-Eckman

The Geroux Garden is actually located a couple blocks away, between the Gahanna City Hall and the Gahanna Police Department … and it is beautiful. The Ohio Herb Foundation Center does offer guided tours but it is also a public area. It features a wisteria arbor amidst a plethora of herbs and perennials.

The Center is also home to the Gahanna Herb Group. Each month, from September to May, this group studies a different herb. The herb is studied from a botanical perspective as well as a historical and folklore perspective. They also learn how to grow herbs and how to incorporate them into what they already have in their own gardens.

Gahanna Herbal Path. Photo by Jeanne Ruczhak-Eckman
Gahanna Herbal Path. Photo by Jeanne Ruczhak-Eckman

Alongside the creek in town is an herbal garden walking path. Many retailers are Herbal Trail Partners, including the Honey Grove Botanicals, the Community Garden at Friendship Park, the Center for Therapeutic Massage, and the Ohio Herb Education Center. Several other retailers are partners as well.

A trip to Gahanna is a must do if you happen to find yourself in the Franklin County area of Ohio.

© Therapeutic Thymes, 2016

A Visit to the Herb Capital of Ohio

By Jeanne Ruczhak-Eckman

Gahanna is a gorgeous city in Franklin County, Ohio. Despite being a suburb of Columbus, it has that small town feeling. This small town has made it its mission, for the last four decades, to be the Herb Capital of Ohio. The town is home to the Ohio Herb Foundation Center, an incredible Creekside herb and perennial park, an incredible herb garden, and the businesses in town join together to be part of the Herbal Trail.

Ohio Herb Education Center in Gahanna, Ohio. Photo by Jeanne Ruczhak-Eckman
Ohio Herb Education Center in Gahanna, Ohio. Photo by Jeanne Ruczhak-Eckman

Located along Mill Street, the Ohio Herb Education Center, offers herbal educational sessions, herbal crafts, the Geroux Garden Tour, and an herbal shop. Classes offered have been Herbal Wedding Traditions, Powder Room Apothecary, Cold and Flu Apothecary, Herbs for Survival, and Herbs in the Kitchen. The herbal retail section of the Center includes body care items bulk herbs, tea accessories, tea, jams, honey, educational books, and essential oils.

Geroux Garden. Photo by Jeanne Ruczhak-Eckman
Geroux Garden. Photo by Jeanne Ruczhak-Eckman

The Geroux Garden is actually located a couple blocks away, between the Gahanna City Hall and the Gahanna Police Department … and it is beautiful. The Ohio Herb Foundation Center does offer guided tours but it is also a public area. It features a wisteria arbor amidst a plethora of herbs and perennials.

The Center is also home to the Gahanna Herb Group. Each month, from September to May, this group studies a different herb. The herb is studied from a botanical perspective as well as a historical and folklore perspective. They also learn how to grow herbs and how to incorporate them into what they already have in their own gardens.

Gahanna Herbal Path. Photo by Jeanne Ruczhak-Eckman
Gahanna Herbal Path. Photo by Jeanne Ruczhak-Eckman

Alongside the creek in town is an herbal garden walking path. Many retailers are Herbal Trail Partners, including the Honey Grove Botanicals, the Community Garden at Friendship Park, the Center for Therapeutic Massage, and the Ohio Herb Education Center. Several other retailers are partners as well.

A trip to Gahanna is a must do if you happen to find yourself in the Franklin County area of Ohio.

© Therapeutic Thymes, 2016

August Gardening Tips

By Jeanne Ruczhak-Eckman

There is a time to plant and a time to harvest. Late summer to fall is not the time to take a break. It is the time to water, plant, gather and plan.

seeding-hand-wateringWe’ve been having some hot, humid days lately and today is going to be another so, if your garden is not getting enough rain, be mindful to water it at least weekly. Veggies and herbs need an inch of water – by rain or irrigation – each week. Hot days, like these lately, they may want even more. While you’re outside remember to hydrate! You need water too, especially on these heat advisory days.

Plant your leafy greens now. Lettuce, spinach, Brussel sprouts, and cabbage are in stock in most nurseries. As for flowers, this is the time to plant pansy seeds as well. Now is also the time to begin sowing your herbs, especially basil and dill.

Gather up your herbs and get them to drying. Flowers – the annuals that is – too! Cut back any poor looking perennials. Allow perennials to go to seed so they can flourish next year.

It’s also harvest time for those potatoes. It is time to dig them up when their foliage up top kind of flops over.

Dracula Plant from Michigan Bulbs
Dracula Plant from Michigan Bulbs

Plan for spring. Get your spring bulbs planted now for beautiful flowers in a few months. Bulbs are easy to grow. Daffodils and Tulips are two of the more popular flower bulbs but don’t overlook Saffron Fall Bulbs or Hyacinths. One I really love is the Ranunculus. These beautiful flowers bloom in May and June. They grow about a foot or two and love the sun! Irises and Cyclamen are also gorgeous flowers.

One plant I found recently while glancing through my Michigan Bulbs catalog, was the Dracula Plant. I have never seen this one before. To me, it looks like a vibrant red feather with an old ink pen in the center! Michigan Bulbs describes it as, “Maroon flower spathe features a long fleshy, black pistil that resembles a pointy tongue.” Either way, this late spring bloomer is stunning! I should point out that other nurseries had other Dracula plants – after I went searching – and some look vastly different.

Happy gardening!

© Therapeutic Thymes, 2016

doTERRA Wellness Advocate Starts Support Group for People with Chronic Pain

PLEASANT GROVE, UT –Tracy Strand suffered from chronic pain and depression for several years. She reached out to find a support group within her community but could not find any. So Strand, who is a doTERRA Wellness Advocate and a Holistic Health Coach, approached her church about starting a support group for church and community members with chronic pain, depression, anxiety, or any other chronic issues.

NIH Invisible Illness
NIH Photo

She started the Sammamish Presbyterian Church Hope Women’s Support Group (Hope SPC) for chronic pain and invisible illness. Invisible illness refers to any disability or condition that is not visible to others. This means the individual may look physically healthy. Many of these conditions are mental illnesses, or chronic conditions that cause limitations in daily life like depression and anxiety. The mission of Hope SPC is to cultivate faith and hope in order to encourage women who are living with chronic pain and invisible illnesses.

“Chronic and invisible pain can be a silent, painful burden to carry. Some of us try to do it all by ourselves so we don’t wear down our loved ones,” said Strand.

Chronic diseases are the leading cause of death in the United States, and visible conditions like heart disease, cancer, and strokes are among the most common chronic illnesses. For those with chronic pain or invisible illnesses, divorce and suicide rates are high. Not only do these individuals have to deal with the physical effects of their pain, but these conditions also take an emotional toll. Those living with invisible illnesses may appear healthy on the outside, but suffer from uncomfortable and painful ailments like migraines, chronic fatigue, fibromyalgia, back pain, rheumatoid arthritis, autoimmune diseases, Crohn’s disease, MS, diabetes, and more.

The SPC Hope support group aims to help each other through challenging times as they cope with their illnesses.

doTERRA International is thrilled to share Strand’s success and service and recognizes her as this week’s doTERRA Cares highlight. doTERRA Cares is an initiative through which doTERRA International recognizes and raises awareness for Wellness Advocates who contribute to worthy causes worldwide.

Note: The above was a press release from PR Newswire.

© Therapeutic Thymes, 2016

Natural Bug Repellent

The humidity this summer seems to have brought out more mosquitoes and other bugs than in years past. This simple Natural Bug Repellent will help you enjoy those long summer days and relaxing summer nights!

CDC Zinka
The Zinka Virus is spread through mosquitoes.

Ingredients:

Distilled Water

Natural Witch Hazel

12 drops Lavender Essential Oil

15 drops Citronella Essential Oil

15 drops Lemongrass Essential Oil

Directions:

Fill a spray bottle about half full with the distilled water. Add in the witch hazel to almost the top, leaving room for your oils. Add in your oils. Shake well before each use.

Other effective oils you could try are Clove, Eucalyptus, Rosemary, and Tea Tree Essential Oils.

© Therapeutic Thymes, 2016