It is with mixed emotions that we share our news that we have decided to say goodbye to the blogosphere world of Eco-Herbalista to pursue other professional opportunities.  We are extremely grateful for your dedication and encouragement over this last year as the Herbalista’s wrote, shared, and dreamed about living in a healthy, green and sustainable world.

Jill is planting her roots and fulfilling her passion of working and counseling individuals and families at her new practice, Holistic Family Nutrition, at The Pacific Wellness Center located at 4841 Soquel Drive, Soquel, CA 95073. She can be reached by phone at 831-239-1021, by email at jill@jilltroderman.com, or by visiting her new website www.jilltroderman.com where she will continue to share articles, nutrition news, and recipes.

Elizabeth is continuing her work as a marketing communications consultant & events planner.  Her new website, GrassRootzCafe.com, will serve as a venue for sharing vision, resources and information to build more sustainable local community.  She can be reached by email at elizabeth@grassrootzcafe.com or at 831-462-1043. Please keep in touch!

We have thoroughly enjoyed blogging and sharing our words with you, our valued readers, and sincerely hope you continue to follow us as we continue the work on behalf of environmental and personal wellness.

We are both currently taking new clients and would be appreciative of your referrals.

Blessings,

Jill Troderman and Elizabeth Borelli

The problem is, as the film explains, our current growth-obsessed system isn’t making us happy.  As Yes! Magazine reports:  While our Gross Domestic Product has increased quite a bit since the ’50s, our happiness hasn’t (though we have seen hefty increases in the size of our landfills, waistlines, and credit card debt).

Our global economy is effective at many things—moving huge quantities of goods across great distances, for example, or turning mortgages into profits. What it’s not so good at is determining whether these activities are worthwhile when it comes to improving the lives of the people who live and work within the economy (not to mention preserving the natural systems on which the whole shebang depends). In many cases, economic policies that increase trade or production actually decrease well-being for millions, even billions, of people.

That’s the reality that’s leading more people (and, increasingly, governments, from Bhutan and Bolivia to Britain and France) to ask a very simple question: What’s the economy for, anyway? Do the rules and policies we create to govern the flow of money and goods exist to create ever more money and goods, or to improve our lives? And if we decide we’d like to prioritize the latter, how do we rewrite the rules to do that?

The Economics of Happiness tackles these questions on six continents, examining ways our economic decisions promote, and diminish, human happiness. I spoke with Helena Norberg-Hodge, the film’s director and the founder of the International Society for Ecology and Culture, about what her research tells us about the relationship between economics and happiness.

There is strength and satisfaction in building stronger community.  We invite you to attend this Eco-Herbalista sponsored event on March 18^th at the Rio Theatre to learn more.  For more information, visit www.theeconomicsofhappiness.eventbrite.com

Of course you’ll want to choose root vegetables grown organically.  Since they’re grown completely underground, soil cultivated with pesticides or other chemicals is absorbed into the food – so steer clear!

Fortunately these parsnips are still in season, so organic options should be available through your local market or CSA.

Ingredients

• 1 pound parsnips, peeled and cut into 3” strips
• 2 medium leeks, white and light green parts cleaned and cut into ½” rounds
• 2 garlic cloves, minced
• 2 tbsps. olive oil
• 1 tsp. chopped fresh oregano
• ½ tsp. salt
• Freshly ground black pepper to taste

Directions

Preheat the oven to 375.  Lightly oil or line a baking sheet with parchment paper.  Put the parsnips and leeks in a large bowl.  Sprinkle with oil, garlic, oregano, salt and pepper.  Toss to coat, then spread out on the prepared baking sheet.

Roast, turning occasionally, for 30 minutes until the parsnips are tender and lightly browned.  Enjoy!

Our choices for bank accounts, groceries, and energy consumption, for example, can make a big difference for people and the planet.   As citizens, on average, we might vote once every 4 years.  As consumers, we vote every single day with the purest form of power…money.
The average American family spends around $18,000 each year on goods and services. Think of it as casting 18,000 votes every year for the kind of world you want to live in.

When you choose to support locally-owned businesses, you keep more than 50% of the proceeds in your community.   When that’s not an option, check out this cool guide for shopping mindfully and let your money do the talking.  Conscious shoppers can make choices that match their values and then vote with their dollars – which when enough of us rally, is one sure way to make a difference.  When we unite  under a common vision, we can begin to make the changes that simply won’t happen status quo.  Start today!

Top Ten Changes Toward Making a Difference Switching to locally owned or BWSG highly-ranked companies for these goods and services makes the greatest impact on the environment and the economy: http://www.betterworldshopper.org/essential.html

Top Twenty Best Companies: http://www.betterworldshopper.org/topten.html

Top Twenty Worst Companies: http://www.betterworldshopper.org/worst.html

Learn More The Better World Shopping Guide website has most of the information in the book posted to the web, so if it’s easier to research there the data is available.  I do recommend the ($10) guide however, since it’s great to keep on hand during your travels for quick reference.  Happy shopping!

Now they’ve added a new line of pet products to the mix.  EO’s Pet Care products, available now, are all natural, super effective and free of all those little extras you really don’t need:  parabens, polysorbate, disodium EDTA, phosphates, animal bi-products, synthetic fragrances and sulfates.

The big news? Now through March 8^th, EO is hosting a Doggie Model Contest! Five perky pooches will be selected to receive EO’s natural and organic dog shampoo, conditioner and groomer ($27.97 value). These canine cuties will even be featured in future EO pet product promotions.

Entering is easy! Simply snap a photo, send (or email) it in and your DD is on the road to stardom – enter today!

Luckily the results paid off – you know you’re onto something when your 8-year old is gladly sipping leftover soup the next day for breakfast.  So without further ado, here’s the recipe:

Creamy Cauliflower Soup

• 1 head cauliflower
• 2 cups vegetable broth (premade or water with vegetable boullion)
• ½ cup chopped cheese cut into chunks
• 1 tsp. Bragg Liquid Aminos or soy sauce
• ¼ tsp. salt
• Chopped chives and olive oil for garnish (optional)

Cut  cauliflower into florets and steam in a large saucepan until cooked all the way through – about 10 minutes.  Remove from heat and drain.  While cauliflower is still hot, place all of the ingredients into the blender or food processor and blend until smooth and creamy.  Serve immediately or store in the refrigerator and reheat as needed.

That was in back 1995, now the Whytes have grown Badger into a nationally recognized brand with a whole bevy of products – all organic, aromatherapeutic and wonderfully healing.

I especially like the aromatherapy balms – as you may have noticed from the title.  Aromatherapy uses the fragrance of pure essential oils to bypass the conscious and trigger an emotional response on a deeper level.  Just rub a little balm under nose, on lips, temples or other pulse points and the natural fragrance does the work.

The sleep balm is perfect for unwinding for a stressful day, or for soothing a restless child (like mine) who has a hard time relaxing.  Gently scented with Lavender,  the traditional sleep herb, it’s both fresh and relaxing.  Just right to quiet the mind for the best rest possible – something we can all use a bit more of!!

To try:  www.badgerbalm.com

Botanical name

Health Benefits

Ahhchooo! Don’t let the last few weeks of winter get you down. Boost your system with the medicinal herb, Stinging Nettles. Nettles are wonderful detoxifying tonic herb to use as a spring cleanser to assist the body in clearing out waste accumulated over winter.

Colds and flu’s are still bugging many people out and with allergy season right around the corner stinging nettles benefit us to boost the body because of it’s ability to strengthen the digestive and respiratory systems.

Nettles:

• Strengthen adrenal, urinary, lung and kidney function
• Purify, build and nourish blood
• Removes phlegm, alleviates dry cough
• Reduces symptoms of PMS
• Alleviates gout, asthma, rheumatic/arthritic conditions, and anemia
• and can benefit those who suffer from seasonal allergies

Nutrients:

High in vitamins A and C, iron, potassium and protein.

Preparations:

Parts used –Leaves

Stinging nettles can be used fresh or dried

**Use caution when handling or harvesting fresh nettle plants as they are covered with stinging hairs that promote itching, stinging and blistering. Wear gloves to harvest.

The plant looses its sting and itch a few minutes after picking as well as after it is cooked.

To cure the sting- Rub yellow dock, plantain, rosemary, mint or sage on affected area.

Tea- steep fresh or dried leaves in just boiled water for 3-5 minutes, drink 3 cups daily

Tincture- 10-30 drops standard infusion, 1-3 times daily

Cook- steam this fresh potherb like you would spinach *do not cook or consume older stems. Nettles can also be used in soups, salads, and sauces.

Homeopathic remedy as tablet or pellet

Harvest before it flowers, in May or June. Gather mid morning after the dew has dried.

To dry, hang nettles in a bundle indoors in a well-ventilated room.

Storage- when completely dry, keep in airtight jars or tins

Easy to make, it’s a dish you can literally add anything to. To some this might considered a bit (a tiny bit) of a cheater dish because not everything I use in it is homemade although it 100% can be-but I’m just putting it out there that I don’t always go all the way homemade- hello- I am not a homesteader-not yet anyways!

The things I cheat on are the pie shell and the protein. You can use frozen pie crusts-always go for the whole wheat, or you absolutely can make your own- and I encourage you to, too! My elder son is the baker in the family so we will put him up to this task next time we make this pie. The other “cheater” food is packaged soy “ground round”. Oh boy, here we go. I am well aware of the controversy not only with soy- that is another post- but processed and packaged soy—so if you choose to use this type of protein, make sure it is non GMO soy. You can also use other “whole food” proteins like a layer of kidney beans or even ground turkey instead of the soy if you want to.

Serves 6

Prep Time: 40 minutes

Cook Time: 20 minutes

Ingredients:

5 medium potatoes

1 tablespoon olive oil

1 onion chopped

3 cloves garlic, chopped

1 tablespoon Bragg Liquid Amino’s

1 bullion cube

I head broccoli stems peeled and chopped, florets cut in bite size pieces

2 carrots diced

~plus any other veggies you might want to throw in depending on season

• asparagus peas/green beans/red bell pepper/ squash

1 package soy ground round-non GMO or other protein

1 cup cheddar cheese- grated

2 Pie Crusts, whole wheat- home made or frozen

• Boil and mash potatoes –I like to keep the skin on. Use red, russet or any other good creamer type potato. Add soymilk, cow milk, salt and pepper to taste plus a little butter or olive oil to finish or as you like. Make them your favorite way!!
• Sauté onions and garlic in olive oil until they start to brown
• Add carrots and continue cooking for another few minutes then add the broccoli.
• Add a splash of water and the bullion cube and make sure it dilutes, stir and mix in well
• Remove from heat when vegetables are barely al dente
• Prepare 2 pie crusts
• Divide the soy ground round in half and crumble equally in both shells
• Add veggies to level of pie crust
• Top off with mashed potatoes-spread evenly and cover veggies entirely
• Sprinkle with grated cheese
• Bake in 350 oven for 15-20 minutes or until cheese is melted

This is the kind of dish that you can really experiment with. Let us know how you like it and how you make it!

oxoxox, JT

New Skin & Bones Luxury Face + Body Liquid Cleanser is the perfect antidote to dry winter skin.  Most face and body cleansers are made using a combination of ingredients including chemicals and animal fat, which aside from just sounding gross leaves your skin dry and compromised.   Skin & Bones is a pure plant-based cleanser made without artificial colors, fragrances, chemicals or even fat, which let’s face it, few of us need more of.

Plus, it’s super-effective.  Made with, soapified coconut, olive, jojoba and natural botanicals rich in both emollients and healing properties, this delicate cleanser gently exfoliates while hydrating. We love the way it leaves our skin feeling clean and moisturized, a cold-weather favorite for sure!

Now through February 21st, share some of your favorite winter skin care remedies in the comment section below and we’ll pick a winner to receive a 100ml bottle of Skin & Bones signature moisturizer – a $50 value and worth every cent!

To Try: http://www.myskinandbones.com