Monthly Archives: July 2014

See what’s growing…

aniseOur anise, or Pimpinella anisum, is growing beautifully! Similar in flavor to star anise, fennel, and liquorice, anise and its oil has health benefits both inside and out. Snip anise leaves for fresh use, and collect seed heads while still green-hang them to dry.image

As a tea, these deep and spicy seeds and leaves are great for digestion, gas and bloating, and chest congestion. Its use as a relaxing bedtime tea dates back to the days of Pliny the Elder (the Ancient Roman naturalist).

knowAnise oil has been known to cure a toothache and heal minor cuts. In skincare, anise oil may be used to soothe psoriasis and other skin conditions. It’s also great in aromatherapy as a soothing bath that relaxes the mind and the airways for better breathing.

a quick side bar

*Avoid anise oil while pregnant and consult a doctor before using while nursing

Au Revoir to Our Interns

interns

As we say goodbye to our interns and send them on their long way home, we want to express the joy they brought into our lives and workplace. Having interns seems like a lot of work…and it is; it takes us away from our day to day, there are language barriers, much time is spent teaching and sharing information. However, what these interns bring to the table is an abundance of energy, eagerness to learn and a fresh eye on any subject matter. This year we were blessed with Camille and Arnaud from France who spent the last two months in our Abbey Brown family. When they arrived they looked a bit overwhelmed, as did I, but we settled in and got down to the core of what they needed to accomplish as well as what we could learn from their valued insight. I thank them for that and everything they brought, especially their new ideas and thoughtfulness. It was awesome. We look forward to next year’s interns. This being only our second year of doing this program, I am delighted with the caliber of the program and students and what each of us has learned. To Camille and Arnaud we say Chapeau, Merci Beaucoup & Au Revoir.