Nikki Roche

My daughter is too young for any of the troops, but the time is quickly approaching. I looked at Girl Scout troops recently, and it's just not what I want for her. I'd love something with a more outdoors/permaculture approach. I plan to homeschool her and am looking at ways to include badge-type stuff for it. Love seeing others ideas and how it could be implemented!

Sunny Kahlo wrote:Do you believe your hemoglobin resolved quickly with the Floradix? I am chronically anemic and I get iron infusions every year for the past 5 or 6 but they make me feel awful for a week after and I need 3 infusions over a month so that's a a long time of dealing with that. Plus they are very expensive. I asked my hematologist if I could try oral iron again and she is giving me 3 months to get my ferritin & hemoglobin higher. She said she would prescribe ferrous gluconate but when I picked it up at the pharmacy it was ferrous sulfate. When I asked, she said it was the same thing (which it obviously is not). So the trust has eroded a bit. Plus I have bad GI issues and reflux already. Your information is very helpful. How long did you steep  your nettle infusion and how much did you usually drink a day if you don't mind me asking?

That sounds rough! I can see why trust has eroded.some with your doctor. Do you have an idea what the root cause of your iron deficiency is? Without knowing that, it's so hard to address and correct... it's like continually trying to fill a bucket with a big hole in it. I've had several GI issues over the years as well, so I'm addressing that and liver health, and it seems that's been helping my body with iron absorption.

My hemoglobin had already raised to normal level before I started taking Floradix, but Floradix has been the only supplement so far to raise my iron and ferritin without causing more stomach problems. I hear good things about Mary Ruth's gummy iron from people who can't tolerate other iron very well, so I'm considering looking into that at some point, too. For now, I need the B vitamins that are in Floradix. For some people, the B vitamins in Floradix would be too much, so that's something to keep in mind.

I usually steep the nettle infusions in the fridge overnight. An internet search for Susun Weed's Nourishing Herbal Infusions can give you much more info about it. Many people who drink them go for a quart a day, but it usually takes me 2 days to drink a quart, and I'd have 1-2 per week. Nettles can be rather drying, so I also like it with a pinch of marshmallow root to balance that.

Have you tried a heme-based iron? Simply Heme is the one I see most often used, and I would have tried them but I can't swallow pills. I hope you find what helps you!

I agree, Ambrosia is great when I can find it. Otherwise, Pink Lady is my favorite and easier to access. I had an amazing Honeycrisp recently, but usually they don't live up to the hype for me. I grew up thinking I didn't like red apples because Red Delicious were the only ones offered to me. A crisp, juicy apple that's sweet yet tart is always my preference.

Chickweed is also my favorite weedy cover crop. For planting over winter, my favorites are red clover and oatstraw since I can use both in teas and such.

Dried tulsi and a shout-out to incredible customer service.

I joined a CSA and sent a message to the woman who owns it. I knew I didn't like all varieties of plants labeled as tulsi/holy basil, but I really liked what she grew. I wanted more tulsi than what the CSA provided, so I asked what variety they grew so that I could order seeds. She surprised me and gave me a plant! Made my day, and the plant has been flourishing ever since.

Thank you both. I've been using a Vitamix that we've had for several years. I have a "wet" container and a "dry" container, and both have changed texture in the bottom half of the container. It feels slightly coarse like all of the use has nicked the plastic. I've considered buying new containers since these are older, but I'd rather invest in a different option.

I've been looking at grinders for making nut butter, but they're either a huge investment or have really negative reviews. Do you have a grinder that you'd recommend or have experiences with them?

I've used a high speed blender, but I have concerns about micro plastics with the way the inside of the blender has changed texture. Any other ways to make nut butter on a home scale?

I don't doubt it. I've heard some incredible stories about reactions to artificial food colors and the changes when they're removed! There is zero benefit to them, except how they increase sales since people are drawn to colorful foods.

My husband gave up artificial colors for a month and then ate a cookie with lots of colored frosting. He didn't believe me about their effects until afterwards, when he felt so miserable. I tried to my sympathetic, but I also admit to saying, "I told you so." :)

I think America's Test Kitchen cookbooks are fascinating, as well. They explain why they do certain processes and what happens when they change different things.

They're not artsy photos, and I don't even know if they're meat grinders or not, but you're welcome to use them if you can. I found these when I was cleaning up my grandfather-in-law's garage.