Growing, Making “Brick through a Window” Tea

I make my calming and focusing stress relief tea from one or two leaves of garden grown Perilla frutescens - (L.)Britton shiso at a time. I add one or two large leaves, rolled together and finely chopped leaves, to a green tea bag and steep them in boiling water for a few minutes before drinking. I frequently add a leaf or two of garden grown lemon balm- another calming herb, as well.

At the end of the first summer in my new garden, my single nursery- acquired plant went to seed and browned. I did not think about it until the following spring when half a dozen young self sown plants sprang up. I made and drank the tea frequently- until once again- the plants died at the end of their season. The following season- my garden was rife with self-sown new seedlings. Initially I used entire young plants to thin the crop- and later harvested and dried the leaves of mature plants.

Aside from the plants which grew exponentially in my raised bed, it also seeded and grew under the shade of my loquat tree along with my other edible weed volunteers. I do not till, weed, amend soil, or fertilize there, or give it the extra water that my vegetable garden receives- so it is slower to mature and does not grow quite as large- but it voluntarily grows there.

Well into spring this year, I noticed that I seemed to be feeling generally down and depressed- so I stopped using the leaves. My mood returned to my normal sunny, optimistic self – last overwhelmingly prevalent about 10 years back. Although I am not consuming the balance of this year’s crop- (but I am drying and preserving it for future uses) my mood is persistently stable, calm and good natured.

I had been under unusual stress from change of life, change of location, change of career, money issues, taking care of my dying parents all within a 5-7 year period. This plant eased me through a spate of high blood pressure, stress, and kept me balanced and focused till I had a chance to heal and re-establish my own prevailing healthy mood controls.

This beneficial herb is not illegal, is highly adaptable to growth conditions, reseeds itself prolifically, has a long history of culinary and beneficial medicinal value, has had a noticeable positive impact on my emotional health, does not interfere with my ability to work or sleep, is not addictive, and presents no withdrawal problems when I feel it is no longer working to my personal advantage.

Different foodstuffs have different effects, depending on your biochemistry. Mine is very sensitive- to medicines, drugs, stimulants like coffee, and soporifics like alcohol. I have grown an abundance of herbs and perennial greens like chard in my newly acquired garden for the past three years. I have no doubt that the many positive lifestyle changes I made helped my healing. Nonetheless- the prolific, inexpensive easy to grow little perilla plant had an outstandingly positive effect on my mood at a time when I really needed safe, affordable, accessible help.

A Castle of Calm- Going Green Affordably

I chose SustainableFootprints, because I believe we benefit from observing and improving on our understanding of our lives' literal and figurative "footprints in the sand."

For many people, their home represents their biggest social and economic investment. In these times of resource challenges and economic distress, we all seek relevant, common sense sustainable living solutions that can be introduced singly, over time, or in multiples.

We want a home that shelters us from uncertainties arising outside our domain, providing:

1. An affordable respite from the twin extremes of heat and cold, as well as undue influences of other forces of nature.
2. A reliable source of safe water to drink, clean ourselves, and provide for our gardens and landscaping
3. A beneficial, nourishing adequate food supply for ourselves and our loved ones, babies, pets- with competent, efficient storage and preparation systems
4. Security and privacy from hostile, unwanted intrusion- virus/bacteria- bugs- animal or human predators- for ourselves and our prized possessions
5. An individualized aesthetic best representing ourselves to those who surround us

Recently there has been a spate of news bytes implying that unless Americans consume more now (i.e. go into heavier debt) - buy a hybrid auto, put up solar paneling for whole house electricity, and buy new furniture made from recyclable materials this year or next- they are not walking their talk by making ethical choices.

"Research firm Mintel, in a January report, said it was unlikely that customers will develop new, ethical shopping patterns in a period of economic crisis ...."

Americans are changing their habits and the way they think about things. For the most part, they choose green, eco friendly home and garden improvements as they believe they can afford them.

As I walked around my neighborhood over the past couple months, knocking on all the doors and talking with folks- they readily volunteered what they had done, what was next on their “going green” list. It included water and energy conservation practices, including recycling, installing CFL bulbs and purchasing energy efficient appliances as replacements for failed ones, adding dual pane windows, roof and wall insulation, changes in diet, changed modes of transport and conveyances, carrying canvas totes and reusable bags when grocery shopping. A big "want"- particularly for seniors and families with children- was a flourishing, maintainable organic herb and vegetable garden. Successful composting was a topic of interest.

This blog is going to focus on real world investigations; natural, practical approaches and systems for creating eco-friendly ways to go for the highest ethical experiences we can have- being in harmony with our lives.