Organic Abundance Raw Organic Salsa

Raw Salsa on A Wheat Cracker- Pure Heaven!What is better than raw salsa at the end of summer???

...NOTHING! I made a little salsa for my Urban Herb Walk the other night and I just had to write it down. I've been munching on it for 3 days now and it's still really good- if I do say so myself:)

Hopefully most of the ingredients are in the garden for you already- which makes this a cheap and healthy snack! Here's what you'll need...

Organic Abundance Raw Salsa 

• 2lbs of Chopped up Organic Roma's, Heirlooms- or whatever you like! 
• 1/2 Organic Cucumber Grated (like cheese!) Squeeze out the juices as the tomatoes provide plenty:)
• 1/4 Finely Chopped Organic White Onion (or yellow- I don't really think it matters) You could also use leeks, chives, or red onions. 
• 1/4 bunch of Organic Chopped Cilantro (less if your not crazy about it- I do insist on a pinch for authenticity!)

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Elderberry Immunity Syrup: How Much, How Often

Elderberry season is here!

Elderberry is naturally anti-viral & antibacterial. It is wonderful for flu! It's a diaphoretic meaning that it naturally lowers fevers without danger to the body. It's great for cold, flu, high blood pressure and more! Taking this preventatively and heavily during the first onset of cold & flu can help you to not get sick, or get less sick. 

My elderberry is available most of them time through the winter. I make it sporadically so if your interested just reach out! 

They are made with the following Organic ingredients:
(except the honey & water of course)

• Elderberries, picked fresh by me!
• Purified Water
• Raw Local Honey 
• Ginger 
• Clove
• Cinnamon
• Love

$15 a pint:) email me at desiree@modernhippie.org!

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Photo's of Step By Step Elderberry Syrup Making!

Making Elderberry Immunity Syrup is easy to make, inexpensive & delicious.

Everytime I make this stuff I realize I forgot how cool it is. It's DELISH! I'ts effective natrual medicine for flu and cold. AND Kids absolutely love it! You can make it with either fresh or dry elderberries. You can pick them up right now at a farmers market near you! (in the midwest anyway) All the rest of the ingredients can be purchased at a health food store. Here we go!

Elderberry Immunity Syrup

Here's what you need! 

• 1 cup fresh elderberries OR 1/2  cup of dried elderberries
• 3 cups of filtered water
• 1 cup of raw local honey
• 1 stick of organic cinnamon
• 5 organic cloves
• 1 inch of organic ginger grated 

1.) Place the berries cinnamon stick, cloves, and ginger in a saucepan and cover them with the 3 cups of water. Bring it to a boil.  Then reduce the heat, and simmer for a half hour.

2.) Remove from heat and SMASH the berries with a potato masher of fork. Then, strain the mixture through a fine mesh strainer. 

3.) Add the raw honey after the juice has cooled below 110º to preserve raw honey benefits. 

4.) Bottle and store in the fridge, where it will last about 3 months. 

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What's For Lunch? Organic Kale Salad- Spectacular!

What's for lunch? Crisp Organic Kale Salad! 

Here's what you'll need! 

• Finely Chopped Young Kale
• Tomato
• Thinly Sliced Cucumber
• Drizzle of Hemp & Herb Dressing
• Light Sprinkle of Parmesan
• Sprinkle of Ground Flax & Pumpkin Seeds for Crunch!
• Add Feta Cheese to beef it up a bit if you like! ;)

Benefits of these foods include Calcium from the Kale & antioxidants from the tomatoes- especially home grown!

Selecting Young Kale will ensure a better flavor. Young Kale are the smaller leaves, they are more delicate & less bitter.

There are digestive benefits from the Apple Cider Vinegar, Hemp oil & herbs in the dressing. Ground flax provides additional fiber & Pumpkin Seeds are naturally anti-parasitic (gets rid of parasites). It's delicious without the cheese but with it- downright spectacular! Happy Summer! 

Enjoy!

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Chemicals Can Wreak Havoc On Our Hormones- Learn The Basics Here!

Updated on Tuesday, January 29, 2013 by Desiree Winans

Click To Download PDF

I hope I don't catch it in the rear end on this but I had to post this article in it's entirety!

I'm sure it's some sort of copyright no-no. Sharing the info with people that need to know these things makes it worth the risk. It is from the June issue of Whole Living and it's not available online.

There is alot of great info here- take your time and read it a page at a time.

Learn how chemicals, plastics and even sugar can disrupt hormonal balance- Our hormonal system is much more than just testosterone and estrogen.

Hormonal disruption can affect how we learn, our behavior, our brains, our reproductive function, metabolism and can even trigger diseases like diabetes.

Text by Hillari Dowdle Illustration by Matt Mahurin

Click to download the full article as a PDF

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First Annual Urban-Herb Walk In East Lansing Michigan!

Stinging Nettle in Bloom! Stinging Nettle is anti-inflammatory, nutritious, diuretic and delicious! Pick it early in the season for best taste & best nutrition.

HAVE YOU SEEN THIS HERB?

My goal is to change the way you look at "weeds" forever! Medicinal & Edible Plants are all around us- let me show you what to look for, when to pick and how to preserve for at home remedy making!

Join me August 21st at 6:30pm at our home in East Lansing Michigan for my first annual Urban Herb Walk!

Natural snacks and herbal tea will be provided. A $5 donation is greatly appreciated!

Children are welcome! We'll be walking around the neighborhood for about an hour so wear comfortable shoes, bring children a favorite snack, toy and a stroller if needed.

We herb walk RAIN OR SHINE!

RSVP at this Link!

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Meditation Mondays

I spent 15 minutes in meditation at a river near my house today.

It was peaceful, only the sound of water and the occasional duck. I'm playing around with different mantra's and the one I'm working with right now is this: 

"I'm a being of violet fire, I'm the purity god desires."

I read about the violet fire prayers online after my director of education suggested it. While I'm not exactly sure what's happening when I'm saying this it helps me to focus, calm my mind and stay "reeled in" from distraction for perhaps 30 seconds longer than I normally could. 

I'm trying to meditate because I want to have more positive regular thoughts, I don't want to be as reactive to my surroundings,

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Something To Smile About- Cantaloupes!

Cantaloupe Grin!Cantaloupes are a plenty right now- I got one recently for $2.50- Organic! 

Also known as muskmelon, cantaloupe can help lower blood pressure, lower blood cholesterol, and in general lower risk of heart disease. Cantaloupe boosts the immune system and because of it's high amount of Vitamin A can be eaten to protect against macular degeneration. It supports liver health has antitumor properties and is anti-inflammatory. 

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Gonorrhea Is Resistant To Most Antibiotics...Good Thing We Have Herbs.

According to the CDC gonorrhea (aka "the clap") is officially resistant to 1 of the 2 final antibiotics left used to successfully treat the disease.

These two antibiotics (according to NPR) are in the same family, so it's only a matter of time before it's officially resistant to both. This is one more good reason to reserve the use of antibiotics to life threatening conditions only. This alone can slow the process of more bacteria strains becoming completely antibiotic resistant.

Gonorrhea is a bacterium, bacteria are smart! They were here long before us and I surmise will outlive humankind. They morph and change to suit their surroundings and can circumvent antibiotics that man comes up with. When you get gonorrhea as a man, you may have painful, burning during urination or discharge from the penis. With women it's a bit different and can manifest itself in the form of Urinary Tract disorders such as UTI's, pelvic pain, painful intercourse, discharge and so on. However 50% of women are completely asymptomatic, meaning they show no symptoms. 

So where does this leave us?

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Got Foot Pain? Exercise Can Help!

I know it seems counter intuitive if you're experiencing foot pain, but lack of movement contributes to pain. 

Pain in the body is a sign that this area is getting less oxygen than is needed. Pain=Lack of Circulation. Just walking around the house, walking 5 minutes to the store or chasing the kids around doesn't quite cut the mustard though.

Getting the heart pumping, breaking a sweat and really exerting yourself is key when walking for pain. 

Here's my experience with foot pain. I've had it on and off for the better part of 10 years. I've had arthritis in my fingers and wrists since I was a teenager but the foot pain is newer and it can make you REALLY feel ancient! The moment I step out of bed, the balls of my feet feel like painful pillows! This was the case about 3 weeks ago and it had been going on for far too long when I started working out again.

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