Pat Leuchtman, Author at Greenfield Recorder

Bees at Warm Colors Apiary in Deerfield.

Honoring bees with art

by Pat Leuchtman For the RecorderMay 21, 2021

Two years ago in May of 2019, there were bright and cheerful crowds of children and their parents gaily moving around events at the Second Congregational Church in Greenfield. Children crowded around a glass bee frame, watching the bees move over the…

Swallowtail butterfly.

Photographing the garden

by Pat Leuchtman For the RecorderMarch 16, 2021

By PAT LEUCHTMANFor the RecorderSuzanne O’Gara, of Greenfield, realized she wanted to be a herbalist at the precipice of achieving her childhood dream of becoming a professional singer. She grew up in New York and loved music in her younger years, but while in college, she worked in tea shops and developed a passion for the work.After earning a bachelor’s degree in vocal performance from the conservatory at Ithaca College, she landed an audition with an opera. But as she stood waiting to be called on stage, O’Gara says she decided that opera was not what she wanted for her life’s work. Instead, she realized she wanted to work in tea shops and start her own business.She finished her song but left to find a new path.That new road brought her to Greenfield about eight months ago. These days, she operates Alchemy of Avalon Tea, selling little bags of teas as well as homemade oils and salves at area markets including the Greenfield Farmers’ Market.Following the audition, she left New York and achieved a certification in western herbalism from the Southwest Institute of the Healing Arts in Tempe, Arizona. While there, she met her husband, Sean Roe, who was executive chef at The Southwest College of Naturopathic Medicine and Health Sciences. She went to work with her husband in the college cafeteria, where she started to hone her skills.“Sometimes the doctors and nurses at the college would send their patients to me about what would be good for certain problems. And I would blend teas specifically for what they were being treated for,” O’Gara said.They moved to Franklin County because she has family in our area, and her husband was hired as executive chef at Recovery Centers of America at Westminster. He went ahead and Suzanne followed later because of the pandemic — which has put on hold her dream of opening a tea room. Having lived in the region for less than a year, O’Gara says she has not had time to grow many herbs of her own.“At the Farmer’s Market this season, I was selling echinacea tinctures. I grew the Echinacea, but right now I have to buy most of my materials,” O’Gara said. “Two of the most popular are Mugwort (Artemesia vulgaris) and Lemon Balm (Melissa officinalis). Mugwort grows like a weed, but is oh-so-lovely and useful. She grows all over in our area from May through early October. She likes to grow on the side of the road, near parking lots. For example, I’ve found tons of Mugwort in the Energy Park, next to the fences as you’re approaching the train station.”Other herbs, such as Artemesia vulgaris, is commonly used dried as a tea, according to O’Gara.“Lemon Balm, on the other hand, is not usually found in nature, but is very popular in gardens almost everywhere. As a member of the mint family (Lamiaceae), she is hardy, with a square-shaped stem and fairly tough leaves and can be grown in most climates, so long as it’s not too hot and humid. She prefers soil that’s on the sandier side, so she’s great in full sun near your tomatoes, rosemary and other Mediterranean plants. You can plant her in spring right after the last frost, but no need to dig deep — a quarter to half an inch below the surface is all she needs to germinate. Harvest and dry the leaves to use as a tea. Lemon Balm’s two most powerful uses are as an anti-anxiety herb and as an anti-viral, and is safe to use for children and adults alike,” she said.O’Gara says she named her business “Avalon” after the ancient mythical island, a place of healing, where the fairy queen Morgana and her women lived.“When I choose the herbs for my Alchemy of Avalon tea blends, I not only take into consideration their health benefits, possible contraindications, and availability, but also, I think about the particular energies of that plant, as well as its history of use in folklore and magic. It is my personal belief, as both an Herbalist and practicing Witch, that the idea of a ‘separation’ between these is illusory.”Visits to Suzanne O’Gara’s website, alchemyofavalontea.com to find a full list of teas and tinctures.Clare PearsonAnother local herbalist, Clare Pearson, has been living in Charlemont for many years. After earning a degree in microbiology from the University of Massachusetts at Boston, Pearson and her husband moved to Franklin County and she became a farmer. While she has grown vegetables and raised chickens in the past, these days, most of the gardens are devoted to medicinal plants, which she uses to make herbal medicines.In the 1990s, Pearson attended and was certified as an herbalist by the Blazing Star Herbal School. By 2002, Clare was working as a Plant Spirit Medicine Practitioner as well as an Herbalist.In her office, she offers other services besides herbal medicines. She continues to grow many medicinal plants to make her tinctures and salves.This time of the year, with colds and the flu prevalent, Pearson said before she thinks of remedies, she likes her patients to think about cleaning up their diet.“They should eat less meat, wheat or dairy, increase hot soups whole grains and fresh fruit to flush out your system.” She added that people should think about why we are feeling bad — is caused by stress? Lack of sleep or exercise?Another potential remedy is to increase circulation: “Take a hot bath or two hot showers and then lie down and rest for 15 minutes. Or use a heating pad. Unless you have a fever you want to get your temperature up to kill the invaders,” Pearson said. “You know when people get sick, they get sick in different places, their lungs, their sinuses, or their throat. Rubbing VapoRub on those areas will help. Our business makes an arnica salve that works really well. We add lavender and it increases circulation locally while calming the nervous system. This is plant intelligence. It’s a great ally.Pearson calls these “doorway symptoms,” and noted that “Once you know your symptoms you can be right on top of treating the problem.”Tea can be another helpful natural remedy.“Tea is underrated. Special teas like Tension Tamer can very helpful. It has vitamin B and reduces stress. But homemade teas like tea made with ginger root are also very good,” she said. “During the winter, especially, we get dry inside and out. Electrolytes keep the cellular balance. You can use Gatorade or Recharge. There is also NUUN tablets which are sold at the Greenfield Coop. You drop one in your water bottle and you are set for the day.”Using Echinacea purpurea plants, Pearson explained how to make a tincture.The pink flowers bloom in July in Franklin County. The flowers and leaves can be harvested and dried. When they’re dry, put them in a container and add a bottle of vodka. She said the mixture should be 50% plants and 50% liquid. After a month, strain out the plants. In the fall, roots of the plant that are at least three years old can be dug up, cleaned and placed in the liquid. Seeds that were left on the plant can be shaken in a paper bag and then added to the tincture. This tincture is good for colds and the flu. It is anti-viral, anti-fungal and anti-bacterial.“Just remember, Echinacea purpurea is what you want for medicine. The other colorful varieties will not work,” Pearson said. “Coltsfoot wakes up early in the spring and in our area we can sometimes find it growing by the side of the road. Like coltsfoot, mullein, that large velvety gray-green plant, is good for clearing up ears, nose and sore throats. Just remember, mulleins are biennials.”Additionally, she noted, “I put nettles into almost all my tinctures. It is so nutritive and does only good things. It is grounding and very tonifying.”Pearson is knowledgeable about medicinal plants and says she feels a shamanic spirit when she works with them. She also works with clients in her office in Buckland where her goal is to pull body, mind and spirit together.“I want to give you a final suggestion. Your whole body, all your membranes need to stay hydrated. I recommend the Throat Coat tea that you can get at the Coop. One cup of this tea, hot or cold, will take care of you all day and this is so important,” Pearson said.For more about her work, visit clarepearson.net.Pat Leuchtman has been writing and gardening since 1980. Her column, “Between the Rows,” was published weekly in the Recorder for about 40 years. Readers can leave comments at her website: commonweeder.com.

Natural healing

by Pat Leuchtman For the RecorderFebruary 8, 2021

Debbie Emerson, owner of the Emerson Family Christmas Tree Farm on Bernardston Road in Greenfield, says many people are taking advantage of cutting their own trees this year.

News

Tradition of cutting your own Christmas tree sees increased popularity, farmer says

by Pat Leuchtman For the RecorderDecember 21, 2020

Field Maloney of West County Cider and Jake Mazar of Artifact Cider Project converse in a field off of Peckville Road in Shelburne.

Tales of West County Cider

by Pat Leuchtman For the RecorderNovember 7, 2020

Folksinger.

Farewell: After 40 years, columnist Pat Leuchtman writes her final Between the Rows column

by Pat Leuchtman October 26, 2020

Desiree Narango, of the University of Massachusetts Amherst, is currently studying migratory birds, as well as continuing her study of the black-capped chickadee, Massachusetts' state bird.

The pleasure and value of our street trees

by Pat Leuchtman For the RecorderOctober 23, 2020

Entry to the Gamage garden right from the street.

Keith Gamage’s garden

by Pat Leuchtman For the RecorderOctober 6, 2020

Sheffield daisies are actually a chrysanthemum. They are often called Sheffies.

The autumnal garden

by Pat Leuchtman For the RecorderSeptember 29, 2020

Grape hyacinths, otherwise known as muscar.

Spring bulbs need fall planting

by Pat Leuchtman For the RecorderSeptember 8, 2020