Tag: 2016

A Day In The Life: The 2016 Appalachian Fair

by Meagan Visser | Aug 26, 2016 | CULTIVATE, Home, Uncategorized | 0 |

This past week, the whole Visser family (all 34 of us) went to the Appalachian Fair in Gray,...

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I’m Meagan, a registered nurse turned herbalist, and I want to live life naturally. Follow along as my husband and I and our four sons figure out what natural living looks like for our family. And of course, I’d love for you to join me on this journey, too! There’s nothing better than having a good hiking buddy with a compass!

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growingupherbal

Wife, CM homeschool mama, RN to herbalist, lifestyle blogger, Southern Appalachian mountain dweller, and Christ follower | Can I send you letters? ✉️

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Garlic honey is one of my first go-to preparations anytime we come down with some sort of viral or bacterial illness that could potentially lead to an infection. Garlic has both antibacterial and antiviral properties. It works really well to increase heat in the body and to stimulate blood flow and immune activity. It also helps to thin thick secretions so they can be expelled easily.

If my kids come down with a cough or some sort of respiratory illness, if they complain of their ears or throat hurting, or if they have some sort of cut or wound that could potentially develop into something worse, we use garlic honey internally to prevent a full-blown infection from occurring. However, I also use it when active infections are present as well. Garlic honey has been a large part of our herbal therapy when we’ve dealt with strep throat, whooping cough, topical staph infections, and even ingrown toenails.

Here's a simple recipe for garlic honey for you to try the next time you need it!

Garlic Honey

Ingredients:
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Fresh garlic cloves
Raw honey (maple syrup and food grade glycerin for babies under 1 year)
Sharp knife and cutting board

Directions:
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- Finely mince garlic with a sharp knife.
- Pour just enough honey over the garlic to cover it. Allow this to sit for 10-15 minutes.
- Stir well. Cover and use as needed. Store at room temperature, and use within 24 hours.

How do you most often use garlic?
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#herbalist #herbalism #growingupherbal #botanicals #plantmedicine #herblove #plantmedicine #herbalmedicine #artofslowliving #naturesmedicine #loveyourweeds #backtoourroots #herbalists #plantlove #herbstolove #medicinal #hebier #folkherbalism #familyherbalist #blogger #wellnessblogger #herbalfirstaid #apothecary #medicinemaker #folkmedicine

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“Of all the paths you take in life, make sure a few of them are dirt.” — John Muir
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#artofslowliving #guhlifestyle #livefolk #simplethings #seasonalliving #lifeinappalachia #easttennessee #moutainliving #tinymoments #documentlife #flashesofdelight #intentionalliving #wildandfreemama

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It seems that lately, with all the DIY house remodel projects going on, I've been feeling pretty uninspired here on Instagram. I find myself forgetting to take photos throughout the day, and I'm uninspired to share life or herbal goodness with anyone. However, I read something @thefreckledfox wrote earlier this week about taking photos whether you want to or not--even during the hard times, the sad times, or the boring times--because one day you'll look back on those photos and be glad you took them. That was a message I needed to hear, although, she was talking about a much harder situation than the one I'm going through.

So here I am, sharing real life with you, even when it's not the most inspiring thing ever. Thanks for being here during this season of craziness in my life. I appreciate you so much!

Also, our floors are now ready to be sanded, stained, and sealed! 🙌🏻 I can’t wait! It’s crazy how different the house looks just by changing the flooring.

While I was standing in the kitchen this morning admiring how pretty the floors looked in their raw state, another thought struck me. The little boys and I were reading the Little House series this year as our read aloud, and looking at these bare floors made me think just how grateful Ma Ingalls would have been to have her floors this level and smooth. So yeah—I’m grateful for them just as they are, but I’m also looking forward to finishing them soon!
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#artofslowliving #guhlifestyle #livefolk #simplethings #seasonalliving #lifeinappalachia #easttennessee #moutainliving #tinymoments #documentlife #flashesofdelight #intentionalliving #guhhousetohome #woodenfloors #homeschoolmama #familyreadaloud #littlehouseontheprairie #itsthelittlethings #morninglight #morningthoughts

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Can and should one use comfrey (Symphytum spp.) internally?
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This is a question that herbalists have been debating since safety concerns were first brought to light regarding the potentially negative health effects associated with using comfrey internally.
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While many herbalists have used comfrey internally for years with no known problems, others are heeding the warnings that stem from the conclusions of modern scientific studies on the internal use of comfrey.
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I recently wrote an article about the benefits of comfrey and its traditional uses, its constituents and their physiological effects in the body, how comfrey is typically used internally and externally, and the safety facts that herbalists need to be aware of when using comfrey over on the @herbalacademy blog. If you'd like to read it and get all the details, you can find the link to the article in my bio. I'd love to hear what you think after reading it!
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So what about you? Do you using comfrey internally and externally or externally only?
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#herbalist #herbalism #growingupherbal #botanicals #plantmedicine #herblove #comfrey #herbalmedicine #artofslowliving #naturesmedicine #loveyourweeds #backtoourroots #herbalists #plantlove #herbstolove #medicinal #hebier #folkherbalism #familyherbalist

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Today I renewed our annual passes to @biltmoreestate. I just love visiting this place. I'm not sure what it is that I love most. The good food, the shopping, all the plant and decor inspiration, or the fact that it offers Dean and I regular opportunities to get away, just the two of us.
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This year, instead of going out for monthly date nights, which we miss more often than not, we're going to take quarterly getaways to Biltmore. We'll stay at the hotel or inn, eat at a different restaraunt each time, buy a little something or two for our home as a momento of our getaway, and wander through the halls of Biltmore, learning more about the people and the history. We always do some sort of extra behind-the-scenes type thing while we're there as well.
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We're planning on heading down towards the end of the month, after we wrap up our big house remodel projects and before Thanksgiving, to visit the new Downton Abbey exhibit they're launching soon. I'm SO excited!
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So, yeah. Weekend getaways, big historic homes, and time with my man. All things I very much enjoy!
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#artofslowliving #guhlifestyle #livefolk #simplethings #seasonalliving #lifeinappalachia #easttennessee #moutainliving #tinymoments #documentlife #flashesofdelight #intentionalliving

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