The fir and spruce tips are growing quickly in the spring and early summer here in Maine. The tips are prime for foraging and remedy making when they are still tender.

The tips can be harvested and prepared at any time of year (one of the beauty's of evergreen medicine) but the young tips are the cream of the crop.

Fir and Spruce trees look similar but they are actually in different genus.

I would like to tell you a short story about how I helped my 4 year old daughter get over her first ear infection. We used an easy home remedy, that she enjoyed, and I already had in my kitchen: the humble onion!

My daughter, Isla, had never had an ear infection before, nor have I. So this was all new to me. I was not sure she had an infection, on the first morning that she mentioned her ear bothered her. I thought, maybe she had slept on it funny.

The following morning she woke up complaining of her ear hurting again. This time, I decided to try a home remedy that I had heard about, to see if she would get some relief. I was still not sure it was an infection.

I diced up half an onion, sauteed it in a tiny amount of olive oil on low heat, until it turned translucent and began to release it's sulfur smell.

Summer is a lot of fun, but often all that fun can lead to bug bites, bee stings, sunburns, brown tail moth rash, poison ivy, and minor wounds.

That is why I am glad I can find Plantain (Plantago spp.) leaves just about everywhere I go!

Plantain (not the banana, but the common weed) can be found wherever humans tread, whether it is by shoe or tire.

The seeds of Plantain have a coating that gets sticky when wet. They stick to the bottoms of shoes and tires of cars and bikes.

Check your driveway and parking area. There will likely be Plantain growing along the edges. You will also find it growing along walkways, sidewalks, paths, lawns and even your front door.

Cooling and soothing herbs for summer swelter and edgy times are in need these days.

One of my favorites cooling summer teas is Hibiscus Mint.

There are a variety of infusions teas, cocktails, and mocktails that I love to drink. Below are a few of my favorites.

I have prepared a lovely recipe booklet that includes the recipes below, as well as Sumac Berry Lemonade, Strawberry Rose Bubbles, Cucumber Lemon Balm Cooler and herbal tidbits.