It is time to review! Turn to page 37 to begin working on the crossword puzzle. How many words can you find  without looking at the word bank? What is your favorite word?

You can get your own copy of this month’s issue of “Brambly Blackberry” right here:

Or, you can subscribe for an entire year of Herbal Roots zine for just $47. Not ready to purchase yet? Sign up for our free monthly newsletter and receive an issue of Herbal Roots zine for free! The link is on the left hand column.

It is almost that time again. Chiggers and mosquitoes are getting ready to emerge from their homes.  If you enjoy walking around in fields, forests, parks, and gardens, then you may come in contact with a chigger or a mosquito or both this summer. To help you prepare, we wanted to share with you an excellent remedy to help ease those bites. Blackberry Poultice can help with bug bites, as well as cuts and scratches. If you have not made a poultice before, there are a couple of methods that work well. Simply chewing the leaves and applying them to the affected area is helpful. A mortar and pestle may also be used. Whichever method you choose, we hope that you take advantage of the poultice when needed in the coming weeks and months. Happy harvesting!

You can get your own copy of this month’s issue of “Brambly Blackberry” right here:

Or, you can subscribe for an entire year of Herbal Roots zine for just $47. Not ready to purchase yet? Sign up for our free monthly newsletter and receive an issue of Herbal Roots zine for free! The link is on the left hand column.

Did you know we have a Flickr group page? You can add your own pictures of your adventures and check out other’s experiences, as well.

Head on over to http://www.flickr.com/groups/herbalrootszine!

You can get your own copy of this month’s issue of “Brambly Blackberry” right here:

Or, you can subscribe for an entire year of Herbal Roots zine for just $47. Not ready to purchase yet? Sign up for our free monthly newsletter and receive an issue of Herbal Roots zine for free! The link is on the left hand column.

If you have not already done so, turn to page 24 to learn May’s herbal song, “I’m Gonna Go Down to My Blackberry Patch”! We hope that you enjoy singing this song with your loved ones! Here are the first four lines (sung to the tune of ” Nobody Knows the Trouble I’ve Seen”). If you would like to add any lines, please do so in the comments section. We would love to read them.

I’m gonna go down to my Blackberry patch

to dig up some roots for medicine.

I’ll use them for treating diarrhea

and anemia.

You can get your own copy of this month’s issue of “Brambly Blackberry” right here:

Or, you can subscribe for an entire year of Herbal Roots zine for just $47. Not ready to purchase yet? Sign up for our free monthly newsletter and receive an issue of Herbal Roots zine for free! The link is on the left hand column.

This week we are giving away one of our 2013 wall calendars! This calendar makes a great companion to Herbal Roots zine with beautiful watercolored paintings of each month’s herb and information about that herb.

The calendar folds out to 11 x 17, is printed on heavy, glossy card stock paper and is wire spiral bound. Calendars are printed in the USA. To see all 12 pages from the calendar, head on over to our calendar page.

I have such a great time every year making theses calendars. I start by compiling a list of what I want to teach about for the following year, considering growing and harvest times. Most of the herbs I write about I have growing in my own gardens or woods behind our house and if not, I usually have access through nearby friends or wild places.

I love to go and sit with the plants, just taking them in, examining them as closely as possible and photographing them from all angles for later reference. I often have the live plant sitting in a vase next to me as I’m working on the painting as well.

If you’d like a chance to win this calendar, leave a comment below. For more chances to win, you can leave a separate comment each time you advertise this giveway by:

-Kids, you get 1 extra point for being a kid! Leave a comment telling me how old you are and what you like best about Herbal Roots zine.
-tell me which issue of HRz you are looking forward to this year
-blogging about it
-Facebook/Myspace/Tweet about it
-follow Herbal Roots on Twitter
-follow Herbal Roots on Pinterest

Sign up by Sunday, May 26, 2013 and I’ll announce the winner on Monday, May 27, 2013. Good luck! _____________________________________________________________________________________________

Congratulations to Bobbie! She won the ceramic pendant from Mulberry Mudd!

Color! As you can see from the picture above, Blackberry offers a beautiful purple to blue dye for personalizing your white textiles. If you turn to page 32, you will find an ingredient list and directions for how to make your own Blackberry imbued creations! Along with the recipe, Kristine is sharing her method for sun dyeing. With some distance away from the stove, there will be less worry about overheating the berries. After a few weeks, your items will be ready to use and share with your friends!

You can get your own copy of this month’s issue of “Brambly Blackberry” right here:

Or, you can subscribe for an entire year of Herbal Roots zine for just $47. Not ready to purchase yet? Sign up for our free monthly newsletter and receive an issue of Herbal Roots zine for free! The link is on the left hand column.

It is time to write some thoughts about Blackberry this month. We have provided space in the zine on pages 35 and 36 for your notes.  Which activity did you enjoy most with your family? We would love to read about your experiences!

You can get your own copy of this month’s issue of “Brambly Blackberry” right here:

Or, you can subscribe for an entire year of Herbal Roots zine for just $47. Not ready to purchase yet? Sign up for our free monthly newsletter and receive an issue of Herbal Roots zine for free! The link is on the left hand column.

We hope that you have enjoyed making your Blackberry Root Tincture, Blackberry Mouthwash, and Blackberry Shrub. While you wait to use your tincture and mouthwash, try making some Blackberry Sun Tea and Blackberry Mint Ice Cubes! These are two delightful recipes that you can make and savor today! Blackberry Sun Tea is a wonderful drink in the summer months, since he is naturally cooling. For an extra touch, the Blackberry Mint Ice Cubes add prettiness to your tea! Turn to page 27 for the ingredient list and directions! We would love to know what you think of your creations!

You can get your own copy of this month’s issue of “Brambly Blackberry” right here:

Or, you can subscribe for an entire year of Herbal Roots zine for just $47. Not ready to purchase yet? Sign up for our free monthly newsletter and receive an issue of Herbal Roots zine for free! The link is on the left hand column.

Good morning! We hope that your weekend was full of sunshine! Today, we are learning about the lore of Blackberry. If you will turn to page 21, there is a special little rabbit named Fluffa for you to meet. With his help, Mother Earth saved Blackberry from the brink of despair. We all need  a little Fluffa in our lives! Share this story with your friends, and let them know just how much they mean to you.

You can get your own copy of this month’s issue of “Brambly Blackberry” right here:

Or, you can subscribe for an entire year of Herbal Roots zine for just $47. Not ready to purchase yet? Sign up for our free monthly newsletter and receive an issue of Herbal Roots zine for free! The link is on the left hand column.

We hope that you enjoyed making your Blackberry leaf rubbings yesterday. We would love to see pictures of your creations!

Now, it is time to learn a bit of botany about Blackberry. Did you know that his fruit is not considered a true “berry”? To find out why, turn to page 19.  When you are finished reading about him, turn to the next page to label his parts!

You can get your own copy of this month’s issue of “Brambly Blackberry” right here:

Or, you can subscribe for an entire year of Herbal Roots zine for just $47. Not ready to purchase yet? Sign up for our free monthly newsletter and receive an issue of Herbal Roots zine for free! The link is on the left hand column.