Herb or 'erb

Written by Bertha Reppert in 1981 and found in the archives of The Rosemary House, this subject is a pertinent today as it was then.

“A herb is an erb is a herb is an erb” to paraphrase a certain G. Stein and with apologies to rose lovers everywhere. The pronunciation of this simple four letter word unnerves the most forthright conversationalist.

It’s “ee-ther” or “i-ther” -- take your choice. As my erudite consort states, “If you’re French, it’s erb; if your English, it’s herb; if your American, say urb.”

The dictionary gives you a choice in the matter, listing both pronunciations as acceptable. Strangely enough, there is no such controversy about ”herbacesous,” the original root of the word. Here Mr. Webster uses the h and gives us no options. The same is true of herbal, herbalist, herbarium and herbivorous. In each of these the opening h is pronounced, loud and clear, just as one would say Herbert.

The Herb Society of America has indeed encouraged the use of the initial h in the pronunciation of its charge. This dedicated organization, so fiercely devoted to the husbandry of all things herbal, gives the word the full dignity of all four letters, saying HERB loud and clear.

I have trained myself to say herb with the h. Not easy in the beginning, I’ve discovered it gives the simple little word an explicitness desirable in speaking on the subject and useful to the practicing herbalist.

And so, gentle reader, the choice is yours. Say what you will. Join the crusade to adopt the h or drop it as is custom in this land. To me, the important thing is to be aware of these simple little plants, not how you say it. It is enough to recognize their importance to history of man and to know that they are useful today – sometimes in different ways – as they were in the time of Genesis.

Herbal Vinegar - a gift from the garden

It is easy to make your own vinegar and it is fun to give for gifts as well. Today's post is a quick tutorial on how to make herbal vinegar. First clip what you have left in your garden to harvest. Even though we are well into November, we still have alot of parsley, mint, burnet (cucumber flavor), rosemary of course, lemony lemon verbena, bay leaves, lovage, garlic chives and savory. Next collect a wide mouth jar to put your rinsed clippings into. You don't want to pack the jar tight but you do want it to be full. Next add your vinegar to that. You can use healthful apple cider vinegar, or smooth white wine vinegar, or rice vinegar works also. Balsamic vinegar has such a strong flavor of its own that it seems to work only with strong flavored herbs such as sage and rosemary. Pour the vinegar over the herbs in the wide mouth jar and let them sit for 2 to 4 weeks. You will be able to tell when it is done as the herbs will turn brown and sink to the bottom. If you use colorful chive blossoms, red rose petals or purple basil, the white wine vinegar will even turn a lovely shade of pink. At the end of the two weeks or the month, strain out the vinegar, bottle and use. For gift giving be sure to label your vinegar and also add a recipe or two to the gift. If you want, you can add a fresh sprig of Rosemary or Tarragon to your bottled vinegar, but do know that is not where the flavor comes from. Remember when working with vinegar, that it "eats' through metal rather quickly, so if your wide mouth jar has a metal lid you must put a layer of wax paper between the vinegar and the lid.

Saffron crocus

On such a lovely fall day, I spotted the Saffron Crocus beginning to leaf out. A little later into the fall they will bloom and then we can harvest the precious seasoning.

Saffron, Crocus sativus, is a fall blooming crocus bulbs. If you can grow regular spring crocus then you can grow Saffron. Considered the World's most costliest spice Saffron is certainly worthy of a little corner in your herb bed. Under the ground more than it is above, Saffron is always a surprise to spot in the garden. In the spring the leaves come up in a "grass like" manner and then in the fall the leaves again pop up along with the purple saffron blooms. It is the orange thread like stamens that are harvested to cook with. Saffron is used to flavor rice, pot pie, chicken. Many folks feel it only colors the rice so often Safflower is used in cooking as a substitute for saffron. While the flavor of saffron is delicate is does enhance your meal with both color and flavor so accept no substitutes! A plant of the bible Saffron is in the Song of Solomon and one of the dye plants for a coat of many colors. Easy to grow and fun to have. If you are looking to add some saffron bulbs to your garden or are in need of some saffron seasoning. We know a herb shop in downtown Mechanicsburg, PA that can help you out.......

A Room With A View

Take a peek into my world... this is my kitchen window where I can gaze upon our gardens during the many hours of preparation I spend in the kitchen. At times it is hard to imagine that we are located right downtown in Mechanicsburg, PA, but indeed we are. The view from this window changes with the seasons, but what the picture doesn't capture are the activities of the chipmunks, squirrels and the occasional hawk, the sounds of all the birds (morning doves, blue jays, cardinals and many varieties of sparrows), and the fragrances that fill a herb garden during the year. The gazebo in the far corner provides a peaceful respite when we take the chance to sit and simply reflect. The kids enjoy an impromptu snack or tea party there when the weather is nice. Our garden also has a fish pond with the picnic table situated right beside it. The gardens are actually three distinct gardens, one behind each building, but they do blend one into the other rather cohesively. The garden located directly behind The Rosemary House is a typical English garden with up and down brick paths (placed by our father Byron L Reppert when the shop first opened) and assorted herb beds. The garden behind my home and the tea room, Sweet Remembrances, is considered a low maintenance garden as it consists of raised beds with a large open area in the center where we can entertain guests as necessary. Susanna and David held their wedding reception here on a very hot July afternoon. The third garden is behind Susanna and David's home and is a mix and match garden where anything goes. It has a large hand built wooden fort on stilts for the kids with a sandbox area underneath, there is an antique tub garden, and other fun things like our teapot tree (that's another post in itself). The three gardens form our little haven which we are happy to share with others. The gardens are open to the public from dawn to dusk, and it's not uncommon to see people strolling the gardens, pointing to the bird houses on the barn, or the collection of wind chimes hanging in the tree. Tucked in The Rosemary House garden the whimsical fairy garden can be found, and if you believe, you might even see a fairy playing amongst the thyme plants. And, there is a beautiful tribute bench to owner and founder Bertha P. Reppert, mom, in the Peace Garden. It's a special world out my kitchen window. I'm happy to share it with you!

Festive Fall Treats

These pretty little plates full of festive fall treats were served recently at our Pamper Yourself Tea. They included a pumpkin shaped shortbread cookie sprinkled with green and orange sugar, a molasses crinkle cookie, and also a mini pumpkin cheesecake with a gingerbread crust. Since this special event was held in late October, these treats definitely featured the colors and flavors of fall. In addition to a full Afternoon Tea, our guests were treated to a five minute hand massage and a five minute chair massage by professionals from the Spirit Day Spa , a locally owned and operated spa. At the end of the day, the attendees went home refreshed and relaxed, their bellies full and their spirits lifted. A combination of tea and pampering, it's a good thing.

Floral Arranging Workshop

Last evening we held a special event at the tea room. Treasure Maker Artist Marj. Reppert of Rosemary Remembrances II- Jim Thorpe, Pa presented a Flower Arranging Workshop sponsored through The Rosemary House held at Sweet Remembrances Tea Room on Wednesday November 7th. Marj. a working professional florist during her Kutztown college days shared many florist secrets to help any beginning or advanced floral arranger create fun arrangements for the upcoming holiday season.
Here are a few of her floral tips:
…Make sure the flowers and greens you start with are fresh. Generally if the flowers are upright, firm to the touch and the buds are tight, they are fresh.
…..Most cut flowers should last 4 to 7 days.
…..If you are using floral foam, add water daily. (Or try a floral Frog instead of foam)
…..Add flower ‘food’ preservation solution, you can purchase this at any floral store. If not available just crush an aspirin into the floral water. (Add sugar for C-mas trees)
….Flowers prefer a cool spot (65 to 72 degrees) keeping them away from direct light helps too. Keeping them away from radiators and the tops of televisions is a must also.
….When arranging your greens, pull off all leaves that will be under water.

(Dead leaves promote bacteria growth and will shorten the life of your arrangement)
….Cut all stems under water if possible- for sure with a sharp knife and on a slant
.....When arranging, do not worry about rules, if you like the arrangement= it is fine.
(However, follow rules for judged flower shows!)
…the best tip: When looking through magazines, clip out and save any flower arranging photos or tips.. tossing them into a file folder or notebook that you can refer to at the drop-of-a-hat for inspiration. Every seasonal magazine has tips or just a great picture or two to reference.
….Have no fear and have fun….”Take time to smell the flowers”.

Lastly… You can purchase some flower arranging supplies, equipment, vases, and mechanics along with once loved floral arranging reference books in The Rosemary House or in their workshop barns located directly behind The Rosemary House during their open hours. Call for hours: (717)697-5111

Farm Fresh Fun

The leaves are blowing off the trees!
Every Wednesday we are a host for boxes of gorgeous fresh picked organic veggies from Spiral Path Farm, one of our local CSA's (Community Supported Agriculture). Spiral Path delivers a about 70 boxes here for their members to pick up through out the day. Each box is chock-a-block full of a wide variety of veggies and herbs. This week we got carrots, onion, cilantro, the sweetest sweet potatoes, the last of the peppers, washed spinach salad, lacinato kale, washed fall salad mix and acorn squash. All mouth watering delicious. There are a number of CSA's in our area and across the states. Spiral Path Farm offer links to many of them through their website: http://www.spiralpathfarm.com/. Farmers Mike and Terra Brownback also shared this recipe with us.

Acorn Squash with Pasta
6 slices bacon
1 2 1/2 pound butternut or acorn squash, peeled, seeded and diced (4-5 cups)
2 cloves garlic minced
1 1/2 C chicken broth
1 t kosher salt
4 oz soft goat cheese crumbled (or your favorite soft cheese)
1 1 pound package of linguine, cooked
1 T olive oil
2 t freshly ground black pepper
Cook the bacon in a large skillet over medium heat, until crisp, about 5 minutes. Drain on a paper towel, then crumble or break into pieces: set aside. Drain all but about 2 T of bacon fat from the skillet. Add the squash and garlic to the skillet and saute over medium heat for 3 to 5 minutes. Stir in the broth and salt. Cover and simmer, stirring occasionally, until the squash is cooked through and softened, 20 -25 minutes. Add half the goat cheese and stir well to combine. Place the cooked linguine in a bowl. Stir the sauce into the linguine and toss well to coat. Drizzle with the olive oil and add reserved bacon, the remaining goat cheese and the pepper. Serve immediately. Yummy!

Herbs for Longevity

Windy and breezy out.

Rosemary Gladstar our instructor on Herbs for Longevity and well-being is a true testament to "saging" well. Beautiful, healthy and vibrant, I take to heart any information she can give on this subject. While she spoke on a wide variety of herbs and their actions to promote longevity and aging well. It was her recipe for longevity balls, or zoom balls if you add the herbal stimulants, that everyone left the lecture talking about and eager to try. This recipe can easily be changed and adapted to suit your health and taste buds needs.

1 jar tahini (sesame butter)
1 jar almond butter (or cashew)

1 quart of honey

1 package bittersweet chocolate chips

8 oz unsweetened shredded coconut

1 C chopped almonds or walnuts

unsweetened cocoa powder

assorted powdered herbs such as:

2 oz astragulus - food for the immune system

2 oz guarana - a stimulant

2 oz Siberian ginseng - nourishing and energizing

2 oz ashwagandha - promotes general well being and enhances stamina

1/2 oz gound nutmeg

1/4 oz ground cardamon

Mix the tahini, nut butter and honey until smooth. Mix in the herbal powders. Add the chocolate chips, coconut and nuts and mix in well. Mix in cocoa powder until you have the desired thickness. Roll into small balls. Store in tins in a cool place. They will last a few weeks.

Herb Tea for the Nervous System

Beautiful Fall Weather.

Every fall we host a noted medicinal herbalist, last Saturday we had the honor to have Rosemary Gladstar, author of The Family Herbal, here at The Rosemary House. Rosemary presented an all day seminar on Herbs for the nervous system, including anxiety, stress and the blues. In the afternoon she presented a program on Herbs for Longevity. Sweet Remembrances Tea Room provided the delicious fresh, organic, locally grown herbal luncheon. It was truly a wonderful day for all who attended.

While Rosemary Gladstar was here she made an attractive herbal tea for all to take home. This blend of herbs included some nerve tonics such as chamomile, lemon balm and oat straw. These are herbs that help to feed, tone, and strengthen the nervous system. Oats is also a nerve demulcent along with slippery elm bark and are included in nervine formulas for their soothing and healing qualities. This pictured blend also included nerve stimulants such as peppermint, spearmint, and gingko all mildly acting stimulants to gently and nourishingly activate and tone the system. The feed the entire system and activate the nerve endings by increasing circulation, providing nutrients and increasing vitality. Rosemary wanted the tea to be a feast for the eyes, a joy to the nose and soothing to the nervous system so she included rose petals and blue malva also. The nerve sedative category of herbs was not included in this formula, those herbs help to relax, ease tension and aid in sleep. They do not deaden or block nerve endings. We do have an herbal relaxing blend for sale at The Rosemary House that includes these herb sedatives such as scullcap, catnip, and passion flower. Visit our site at: http://www.therosemaryhouse.com/shop/?shop=1&cat=6&cart=58410

You can connect with Rosemary Gladstar at her school on Sage mountain in Vermont. She has a wonderful home study course if you are interested, visit http://www.sagemountain.com/. We will blog on her zoom balls and herbs for longevity tomorrow.

Traditional English Cream Scones

Of all the recipes in my cookbook, Nancy Reppert's Sweet Remembrances Recipe Collection, published in 2005, this is probably the recipe I most regret not including in the book. There are many great scone recipes in the cookbook, along with other traditional foods for lunch or dinner since the cookbook represents 15 years of tea room cooking, but somehow this recipe was omitted. For information regarding my cookbook, please visit, The Rosemary House. Typically, at our Afternoon Tea events we serve two varieties of scones, one of which always includes the Traditional English Scone.

Traditional English Cream Scones

2 c. flour

2 tsps. baking powder

2 tsps. sugar

1/2 tsp. salt

1/4 c. cold butter

2 eggs

1/2 c. light cream

Mix flour, baking powder, sugar, and salt in bowl. Cut in butter until crumbly. Lightly beat eggs, add cream to eggs. Mix egg and cream with dry ingredients; mix to form dough. Knead for 30 seconds on lightly floured surface. Roll into a circle 3/4 inch thick. Cut into rounds with 2" cutter which has been dipped into flour. Re-roll dough, and continue cutting circles. Place on baking sheet. In a small bowl, mix 1 egg white with 1 tsp. water. Brush onto top of cut scones. Sprinkle with sugar. Bake 425 degrees for 13 - 15 minutes. Yield: 12 scones. Serve warm, lightly dusted with confectioner's sugar, with your favorite toppings. Pictured here are mock clotted cream, lemon curd, and raspberry preserves.

Barn Stars

Hanging on the side of our barn, are two unique barn stars, one is wooden and the other a handcrafted metal star. Barn stars originated from German farmers who would hang these ornaments on their barns. The symbolism behind the star was varied, although some farmers believed they were similar to horseshoes in that they would bring good luck. Other stars might signify the builder, being utilized as a trademark or signature by the builder of the barn. Others simply were used purely as decorations.

Although barn stars can be traced back to early America, around the 1700's, barn stars gained in popularity after the Civil War. Originally, barn stars were built directly into the barn during construction, and then later they were made as a separate entity, usually of wood.

Today, barn stars are still being made by local craftsmen. The wooden star shown was hand crafted by Fred Will of Somerset County, PA. You can contact our friends Barb & Fred Will via email at sgherbs@verizon.net for information regarding these creative stars. Present day barn stars can be found on homes, businesses, and other out-buildings and are considered a sign of good luck and good fortune. We enjoy the simple beauty these barn stars represent, but will certainly accept any good fortune they may send our way.

Saints in our Garden

Overcast and a bit chilly today.
Trick or Treat was last night, our gardens were a popular stop.

Now that the "Eve of all Hallows" has past, we thought we'd honor "All Saint's Day" by talking about one of the Saints in our garden. Of course we have Saint John's Wort, the terrific wound healing plant for nerve pain and depression. We also have a charming Saint Francis, the favored Saint of birds and small animals. But our favorite is Saint Fiacre considered the patron Saint of Gardeners.

The Story of St. Fiacre

Of saints remembered for their connection with horticulture St Fiacre is the favorite of gardeners and herbalists. Born about 590 A.D., the eldest son of pagan Irish King Eugene IV, St Fiacre was reared a Christian by his mother and Bishop Conan of Soder. Tiring of court life early in manhood, Fiacre and his sister Sira journeyed to Meaux, France, where they were welcomed by Bishop Saint Faron and his sister Abbess St. Fare.

Admitting his royal background, Fiacre explained his desire to serve God in peace and quiet. Recognizing his sincerity, the bishop gave him a lonely spot in the forest of Breuil. Living the simple life of a peasant, he worked from dawn till dusk making a clearing, raising a cell and chapel, and planting a garden of fruits, vegetables, flowers and herbs.

His devotion, kindness to animals and the luxuriance of his garden attracted the attention of visitors from far and near. They brought the troubled, the ailing, the sick and he fed, consoled, cured them, allowing them to work in his garden. So Hortitherapy was born – the first record of helping men’s minds by working the soil.

Presently a hospital, monastery and more land for gardening were needed. Permission to expand was readily granted by Bishop Faron, but legend says he could have only what he could encircle with a furrow between sunrise and sunset. Tradition gives two versions: after a night of meditation and prayer her dug a prodigious amount; or , the ground miraculously opened at the touch of his spade.

Once more Fiacre set busily to work felling trees, opening trenches, building. All was upheaval when a lady of high degree passed by. Horrified, she hurried to Bishop Faron saying Satan himself was wrecking a private estate. When the bishop investigated a miracle occurred – a stone became a comfortable seat. Again the bishop gave his blessing, ordering all women to keep their distance henceforth.

Eventually Fiacre was invited to return to Ireland as king but he refused, and lived out his life in France, praising God and doing good to all men. On August 13th, 670, Fiacre died, but his fame lingered on. For generations French gardeners have observed his anniversary attending services on flower decked chapels dedicated to him.

Oddly enough, he is the patron of cab drivers, too, for so many people hired Paris cabs to visit his tomb at Meaux, the drivers adopted him, and their vehicles became “fiacres”.