Monday, February 28, 2011

Brochure Giveaway Contest Winner is......


Congratulations to Audrey Fetterhoff (AKA Audrey Garden Lady). Moira just pulled your name out of a hat! You won 50 custom brochures from Uprinting.com. I will send over your contact info to them today. Would love to see your brochures when you have them finished. : )

Sunday, February 27, 2011

February Blog Hop! See What's Green!


My Unique Women in Business Networking Group is sponsoring a February blog hop with the theme "Something Green." Green is my favorite color and I can't wait to check out everyone's items.



For this blog post I would like to show off my fresh batch of Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon Pain Relief Balm. It's of lovely green, but you still might get a pinch if you wear only that on St. Patrick's Day. Whenever I make this salve I use herbs that are fresh from my garden, so depending on the time of year the base herbal infused will be different. The essential oils that I use in the salve are the same from batch to batc
h. This batch of salve was infused with Rosemary trimmings from my large potted Christmas tree, and the Rosemary is what gives this batch the lovely green color.
Look how intense this Rosemary is up close under our microscope.


In addition to the fresh Rosemary, I also added whole cracked dry black pepper. With added essential oils of Eucalytpus, Lemongrass, Lavender, Myrrh, Ginger, Sweet Birch, and Frankincense, this warming balm gives fabulous relief for aches and pains, especially pains that are worse during cold weather.



You can find this salve for sale in my Etsy shop:


Be sure to check out the other blog participants in the Green Blog hop. Maybe you will find something there that will save you a pinch on St. Patrick's Day.


You can find the Unique Women in Business Etsy Team also at:

Frog photo by Brian Gratwicke.

Saturday, February 19, 2011

Brochure Giveaway Contest


It's time for another giveaway from UPrinting.com! One lucky winner and myself will receive 50 custom Brochures. These will be
8.5" x 11" 100lb Paper Gloss; With Folding (Half Fold, Trifold/Letterfold, Z-Fold, Roll Fold, or Accordion Fold) on a 2 Business Day Turnaround; Outside and Inside printing. For more information on brochure printing or other printing services, you may visit UPrinting.com or check out their facebook page.


This contest will run from February 20th - February 26th. Limited to US residents 18 years old and above only.

To enter you can visit my new shop on PoppySwap.com and leave a comment here about your favorite item.

You can receive 1 extra entry for the following activities:
*share this post on Twitter, Facebook or your blog
*Join the AquarianBath facebook page or subscribe to this blog. Or let me know if you are already following.

Remember to leave your email contact info when you comment.

Friday, February 18, 2011

How to Grow and Harvest Amaranth

Amaranth is a healthy vegetable that can be grown for it's leaves or seeds (grain). I have grown it for both purposes. When growing Amaranth for leafy greens, direct sow seeds 4-6 inches apart in a moderately sunny area. When the plant starts getting leafy you can pinch off about 8 leaves at a time when they get to be about 7 inches long. Then you will be able to make one or two more harvests over the next couple weeks.



If you are growing Amaranth for grain harvest the plants need more space. The will thrive in a full sun area. The plants pictured here were grown in full sun facing south. Ideally the seeds can be direct sown in rich soil with 12 inch spacing. These plants were so tall, almost 7 feet and fell over under their own weight. Supports can be helpful.

Whether you are growing Amaranth for seed or leaves, it can be helpful to plant Amaranth on the outskirts of your garden. Amaranth is quite attractive to pests. These outlying plants can provide food for pests making less pressure on your cultivated vegetables. Usually there will be some bugs eating the leaves of your older Amaranth plants if you are growing them for seed. Usually this doesn't not significantly impact seed production. You can however use a diluted spray neem oil and castile soap in water to deter pests.



After your Amaranth turns red with flowers you can start checking to see if the seed is ready for harvest. Rub a bit of the red flowering area between your fingers. If you hear a popping noise when you do this all over the flowering tops, then they are ready for grain harvest. Cut the tops one a dry sunny day and rub the seed and chaff out onto a clean sheet. Remove large pieces of stem and leaf. The next step is winnowing and should be done when there is a nice breeze. Winnowing separates the seeds from the chaft. All you have to do is gently take handfuls of the seed and chaff mixture and drop it from a height over the sheet while the wind is blowing. In the end you will be left with your Amaranth grains like these.



Visit my Etsy shop if you would like to pick up some Amaranth Seeds today.

Thursday, February 17, 2011

The Medicine Crow Live Training Retreat in Nevada City May 3-8


The Medicine Crow Live Training Retreat in Nevada City, California is coming May 3rd-8th 2011.

Preregistration at the discounted rate is now underway. Learn from the professionals at Medicine Crow. This event will feature the best teachers in Ayurveda, Naturopathy and grassroots healthcare, including David Crow, David Frawley, Richo Cech, John Douillard and many more!

You Will Learn:

> Profound and sophisticated applications of herbal medicine that are unknown to most of the world and rarely taught.

> Visionary approaches to grassroots healthcare that you can apply in your life and pioneer in your communities.

> Herbal approaches from the Ayurvedic and Chinese medical systems.

> Powerful and inspiring presentations on some of the most important projects happening around the world

Check out the event page and register today with the discounted rate.

Thursday, February 3, 2011

Happy New Year! Rabbit Brings Prosperity


Happy Chinese New Year to you all! I hope you all had a good start to this new year of the Rabbit. The lovely rabbit in the painting above is from Etsy artist NicoleFitzGibbon of Delaware.

This new year has started out well and I am excited for new connections and opportunities and offerings. I just set up a new selling venue at Poppy Swap, which is a brand new online sellers venue for herbalists. I'm very excited about the concept and I love the free shipping/pick up option for my local customers. Check the beginning of this wonderful new space.


I'm also overjoyed to have found a new Chinese Herbal vendor so that I can finally restock some of the herbs for making salves that I'm running low on. Chinese Herbs Direct offers the great Plum Flower Brand whole raw herbs. There is very reasonable shipping, and I don't have to drive to Orlando China town! Even better, this vendor has an affiliate program, so I am even happier to share this site with you.



I hope your year is off to a promising start as well. Rabbit stands for prosperity!

Best wishes and Kung Hay Fat Choy!