Yesterday was the first sunny day since we've arrived at Casa nel Bosco, the lovely homestead we'll be taking care of for the next few months.
I was so happy to finally see the sun again after quiet some time of grey weather.
After chilling and soaking up the light for a while with my morning tea I set out to gather some lemon balm in the garden, something I wanted to do since we've arrived here.
There hasn't been anyone living here permanently since the passing of its owner (and builder) about a year ago.
But his three children don't like their childhood home in the woods to stay empty, so they give people like us, who like that kind of lifestyle, the opportunity to house-sit and enjoy living semi-offgrid surrounded by Nature.
The area around the house is well maintained by the workawayers/volunteers who have lived here over the past year.
But the garden, a short walk down the road, doesn't look as if anybody had set foot in it since its guardian left (as you can see it the picture above).
So it is beautifully overgrown by now, which is great for someone like me who feels more like a gatherer than a gardener 😄
The plant that has mainly taken over the plot is lemon balm. It's everywhere!
I believe that Life always takes care of me, so when I see an abundance of a certain plant at the place I was guided to, I know it is good for me in some way and I should use it.
I've never really used lemon balm as herb in the kitchen before, but now that I have it all around I put it in almost everything I cook.
It was especially great in the pumpkin soup I made the other day 👍 It also looks so pretty as decoration on the plate 💕
Apart from using it fresh (it also grows in abundance on the slope right beside the house, which is very comfortable) I also want to dry some of it for later use as a delicious tea.
I just love the minty lemony smell and the fresh taste, it gives me a feeling of sunshine and energy 😊
I just looked up the medicinal properties and benefits of lemon balm and had to laugh when I found this sentence on some random website:
Lemon balm is a plant with a long history of use as a relaxing herb.
That is exactly what I needed!
Relaxation is such a big topic for me right now!
I'm consciously working on raising my awareness of my body's stress level during the day and allowing myself to rest more and lower the level of tension and nervousness that my system got so used to over the course of my life.
It's a process, but now I got help 😄🌱 Awesome! Thank you Nature!
I will probably gather some more lemon balm over the next days, but the first batch is already happily drying above the dinner table beside the wood stove.
When it's dry I will put it in a jar, so we still have some when winter sets in more seriously.
I love having herbs hanging from the ceiling, it feels so natural and right. It always makes me happy seeing those beautiful green bundles.
I can feel them radiate their magic from up there already 😊
all pictures taken by myself
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Aah, beautiful, dearest @anafae ! I was JUST taking a photo of some lemon balm here, too - after the summer drought, the cooler months' greens are bursting through abundantly: such a great time to arrive in a new place, if we're able to recognise and use all the plants around us 👋🙌😇🥰😊🌟🙏🌺💝🌳💚
Ha, such coincidence! 🤗
the first few days here I was walking around with my phone taking pictures of all the plants to look them up and learn if we can eat them 😄 my repertoire of edible plants that I recognize grows with every house-sit ^^
We got an abundance of chickweed here as well and I’m so in love! So delicious, my new favorite! I can’t help snacking a little every time I’m outside 😁
This herb is one of my favorite to take at night. As it help me relax to sleep properly. I usually use it along with butterfly pea flower pods and hibiscus. I love how you hung them around.
!discovery 38
Yeih, Thank you for sharing your experience! I will make it a habit as well, sounds great 👍
I'm glad you are starting to find little things there that will bring you some happiness. Lemon balm does have the nicest smell.
Ah, I never replied to your last comment!
Yes, I think I'm back from the dark depths. It took me a little while, but I got back my optimism and joy 😊 the past months were such a dark night, but so expansive.
You have helped me a lot with your comment! At least I was conscious enough to see the little hints life gave me to get back on track, when it was time to decide ❤️
Great post! Really looks like you are caretaking in a special spot!
Really nice to have these moments in life to be more connected and closer to nature.
I like how lemon balm and accepting life’s little gifts was the theme running through your post!
Hope your time there is full of thrive!
I had another mint type, and usually I made hot mint tea 😊
Hey, have a great day ❤️
I Love Mint Tee, especially in the morning. I feel it energizes me 😊 we also have a spot here where peppermint grows. But it's so small still, I don't dare to pick a lot.
I forgot that lemon balm is from the Mint family as well ^^
Thank you, have a great day as well! ❤️
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