Garden Gifts from Childhood

Today my garden is giving gifts from childhood. My dear mother and grandmothers came from Venezuela and were very innovative with plants of all kinds: aloe, lavender, and chamomile to name a few. Something happens when I smell these comforting scents and they make me feel safe.

Got cramps? Mom often made a cup of chamomile before bed to calm an upset stomach. Pimples and blackheads? Abuela Marquez would create a steam bath for our pubescent pores by boiling chamomile on the stove. After switching off the burner, we placed our face over the pot with a towel draped like a tent. Worked wonders!

Those eyes...I was fortunate to have time with my sweet great grandmother as a little girl.

Our family affectionately called her Nona, and like all matriarchs she supported through many roles- she was wisdom, she was a chef, a teacher, a seamstress, a nurse, and a botanist of sorts. I remember the tink-tink sound of tinctures in her brown leather case.

She was way ahead of her time using plants for personal and household care! I love that she was connected to nature and committed to helping others through this practice. When the cold winter snows come, you know where to find me. I'll be exploring a good book by the warm hearth with Grandma Nona's tea.

Nona's Tea

• 1-2 TBS dried or fresh chamomile buds or lavender buds

• Sweetener to preference

Use a tea ball or strainer to steep buds in 1 cup of boiling water for 4-5 minutes.

Nona's Milk Tea

• Milk warmed

• Brown sugar or molasses to preference

• Optional pinch of nutmeg and/or cinnamon

Heat until sugar melts and serve warm

Orange Soup Tea

• Freshly squeezed or bottled orange juice

• Cornstarch or other thickener

• Sweetener if desired

Boil briefly, serve warm and sip

Enjoy!