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4/21/2024

Happy Earth Day, [first name goes here]!

What a beautiful day, and tomorrow is Earth Day! What a great time to enjoy our earth. Here's an article I wrote awhile back on how to save money while helping the earth at the same time:

​The Green Living Homestead​

Another of my favorite ways to enjoy celebrating this amazing earth God has given to us for our support is by getting out there in nature. If I can find some things to forage, that's the BEST.

Here are some things to be looking for right now:

Nettles (Urtica dioica)---A nutritional food and health supporting herb, this is one to gather if you have it growing around you! It's easy to dry and powder, and I love having enough for all year long.

Enjoy: How to Use Nettle for Your Family's Health​

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Dandelion (Taraxacum officinale)--There's so much to say about dandelion....in all the ways. But two of the many ways dandelion is incredible for us is as a liver supporting herb, kidney supporting herb, and a skin soothing and replenishing herb. (We just had our masterclass the other day in the Confident Herbalist Tribe on dandelion...and we went deeply into the plant parts, how and when to harvest, and ALL the researched and traditional ways dandelion can be used. It was so fun!)

Enjoy: Dandelion Pesto Recipe​

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Cleavers (Galium aparine)--Full of nutritional value, cleavers also supports our body's natural detoxification processes, including being an excellent lymph mover and diuretic.

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Chickweed (Stellaria media)--helpful for allergies, supports the immune system, and is truly wonderful for the skin topically.

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Purple Dead Nettle (Lamium purpureum) --and it's not a true nettle, being a member of the mint family instead. It has mild medicinal properties such as wound care and mild anti-inflammatory support.

Other herbs to watch for right now:

Morel mushrooms, wild garlic, plantain, lamb's quarters, wild violet, and others.

Forest Bathing

We can't leave out forest bathing! This is an aromatic way to enjoy Earth Day! It's proven to support our immune system and overall health. Research studies performed mainly in Japan have concluded that people who get a chance to take walks in nature, especially near trees, have stronger immune systems and less anxiety and depression.

Not all of us have access to a forest, though.

But never fear! You can mimic the same aromatic compounds right in your home with the evergreen essential oils. Specifically pine, spruce, fir, hemlock, cedar...these can spread calming energy throughout your environment simply by diffusing them.

Finally, the pinene chemical found in most evergreens is a wonderful immune booster and air cleanser.

​Forest Bathing with Essential Oils​

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Encouragement and Inspiration

The greatest gift of all time was how God paid His grace forward for us with the sacrifice of His only son. We're the undeserving recipients.

I was reading one of Stephen and Alex Kendrick's books, Defined: Who God Says You Are, and this quote popped out at me. I think it's perfect for earth day, too---

"When you think of God's grace, you should think of a river."

Why?

Well, it's an endless supply of goodness coming from a faithful source. And a river flows freely, with no transactional nature. It doesn't flow because the beavers have been praying many times a day for it or because the recipients are worthy. It flows because of the "nature of the source." And that means our grace flows from the nature of God.

This is just so beautiful to me.

Especially on earth day. We can look around us and see all the goodness we get to enjoy here on earth, knowing that through grace, we'll have an even better home one day.

What a beautiful day!

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Beautiful Skin with Carrier Oils

Did you get the invitation last week?

My friend Susan Parker, author of The Power of the Seed, is teaching a 3 workshop series on using lipid oils for beautiful skincare. She literally knows so much about how these different oils work and is an expert at blending them for all kinds of skin. (And you should see her skin! She's in her 70's, and it's gorgeous!)

You can sign up here, just click the link below to enjoy these videos:

​Success with Carrier Oils​

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That's all for this week's Scentsational Sunday note! Have a beautiful and blessed day, and I'll see you again in a couple of days!

Hugs, Health, and Herbs,

Heidi

P.S. If you haven't taken the FREE Five Day Herbal Foundations Email Course yet, you can do that by clicking the link and signing up with the email you're using for your newsletter (then you won't get duplicate notes.)

P.P.S. Forward this note along to a friend!

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