Florida School of Holistic Living

Thanks to everyone who visited our booth at Central Florida Earth Day.  It was a wild success and we are so grateful for a beautiful team to share the day with.

Did you pick up some herb seeds from our booth?  Great!  We’re excited to help you plant your garden.

Tulsi:
Tulsi (Ocimum sanctum) is also known as Sacred Basil or Holy Basil. It is a revered Indian plant, sacred in the Hindu religion and used in several traditions of Ayurvedic herbalism.  If you received a purplish stick with small nodes about an inch apart, these are Tulsi.
Dr. Andrew Weil proclaims Tulsi to be the most potent anti-stress herb with the fewest side effects when compared to Ginseng and Eleuthero (Siberian Ginseng).
Tulsi seeds are remarkably small; take your tulsi sprig and crush each node between your fingers.  Sprinkle this into your potting soil, and lightly press into the soil.  Be sure to keep moist – this may requires a light misting of water a few times a day.  Do not drown the plant.  Tulsi prefers full sun, rich soil, and plenty of water. Thin or transplant to 1 to 2 feet apart. Tulsi does well in pots or window boxes, and is traditionally grown for good luck near the front door of the house.

Flax

If you received a small round ball in your seed bag, these are the flax pods.  You may also have received loose seeds, which are tan in color.  Lightly crush the pods between your fingers to release the seeds within.  Sprinkle into your potting soil and cover each seed with no more than 1/8 inch of soil.  Keep moist and warm during germination, by lightly misting a few times a day.  Flax plants like a rich soil so mix in some compost in the potting mixture as well.  Set each seed about a foot apart. The plants can be crowded a little bit but not much. You can plant the seeds closer initially and re-set them farther apart later in the season as well. Grow flax in full sun for best results. Keep the plants moist but do not over-water them. Put mulch around the roots to help retain moisture during the hot, dry part of the summer and to insulate from heat during the warmest humid months.
Flax seeds are an excellent source of fiber and omega fatty acids.  They must be crushed in order to break the seed coat so the body can digest them.

Happy Planting!

A collection of press clips on the Florida School of Holistic Living, Evolve Store, and Homegrown Local Food Co-op.

Homegrown Local Food Co-op
Orlando Weekly~ “Best of Orlando – Best Place to Buy Organic Food”
Orlando Sentinel

Evolve Store
Orlando Sentinel

Thornton Avenue Tribe
Orlando Weekly ~ “Best Takeover of a City Block”

Homegrown for the Holidays
Orlando Weekly ~ “Selections of the Week”
Orlando Sentinel
Central Florida Green Guide
Examiner.com

Earth Day
WESH Channel 2

As the sun spirals its longest dance,

Cleanse us
As nature shows bounty and fertility
Bless us
Let all things live with loving intent
And to fulfill their truest destiny
Ancient Solstice Prayer

The word “solstice” derives from a combination of Latin words meaning “sun” + “to stand still.” As the days lengthen, the sun rises higher and higher until it seems to stand still in the sky. A major celestial event, Summer Solstice gives us the longest day and shortest night of the year. It makes the beginning of the summer season in the Northern Hemisphere. This year’s solstice occurs on June 20^th at 7:59 pm.

The Sun represents how we are in the world. In astrology, our “sun sign” is how we express our urges in the world, whether it is through our creativity, how we want to shine, or our power.

Physically, the Sun governs your heart and spine. Summer is an excellent time to strengthen your spine and increase its flexibility through yoga, a great exercise that can be done out of the summer heat. The long days make it feasible to do outdoor exercise early in the morning or late into the evening to avoid the hottest part of the day. Summer is a great time to look to fruits and cooling vegetables to cleanse your body.

Civilizations have celebrated Solstice for centuries by cultures around the world. It is known as St John’s Day in the Christian tradition, and Litha in the Wiccan tradition. Chinese families honor Li, the Chinese Goddess of Light, on solstice, and Celtic tribes celebrated solstice with dancing and bonfires, thought to enhance the sun’s energy.

The Arctic Circle experiences 24 hours of daylight on Solstice (and, likewise, the Antarctic Circle experiences 24 hours of darkness). Solstice is the longest day of sunlight in the Northern hemisphere for the year. After Solstice, we lose a minute of daylight each day until December 21^st, when Winter begins.

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REFLECTIONS ON EARTH DAY

(from www.cfearthday.org)

Central Florida Earth Day 2008 celebrated the environment April 19th and 20th. April 19th saw one of the area’s largest community gatherings for the planet, and April 20th saw an unprecendented number of volunteers sharing their time in direct action to help the local environment.

Many of you had the chance to participate in this weekend’s Earth Day. The strong gathering of community was inspirational and motivating for those behind the scenes who worked to bring Earth Day to life, and to those who participated. The organizers’ humble and deepest THANKS goes to each and every one of you who came out to support the local nonprofit organizations and businesses in our community who are committed to forging a more sustainable path.

We thank each person who came out to help, who spread the word or invited their friends, and who took a moment to share the experience with us on April 19th at our Thornton Avenue Festival or April 20th during our direct action events. It was a beautiful day and the sign of much positive growth in the last year for our community – and much more to come! Lance Turner of AeonBlu shares some beautiful visions of the April 19th festival here. WESH Channel 2 News featured the event in the clip shown here.

If you enjoyed the event – if you learned something – if you connected with a like-minded individual – if you discovered something about our community – and if you wish to see more events like this in the future – consider showing your support for the continued programs of the Florida School of Holistic Living and the grassroots organizations of our community through a donation to help sustain their work and future events like Central Florida Earth Day. Visit this link to share your support. Every dime and every dollar makes a difference, and we thank you in advance for your generosity.

What can you do now to carry on the spirit of Earth Day? Educate yourself. Pay attention. Connect with the community. Get involved. Learn more about volunteer, community, and educational opportunities in the sustainable community by visiting our website.

– Emily

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Despite the fickle temperatures of recent weeks, one thing is clear in Central Florida – Spring is just around the corner.  Seeds are sprouting and the weather is warming.  Winter gave us respite to relax, reduce our activity, and go within.  Spring brings us a time of renewal and rebirth – in fact, for many indigenous cultures and for the zodiac, Spring Equinox marks the beginning of the new year.  With the new beginning comes a perfect opportunity to cleanse the old to make room for new energy and vitality.

While juicing, raw food fasts, and “master cleansing” are all popular and effective ways to cleanse our bodies, for those whose daily routine does not afford for the lifestyle shift such cleanses can require, there are fortunately many other gentle yet powerful ways to release the unwanted to pave way for new growth.

An often overlooked aspect of cleansing is truly nourishing the body.  Springtime tonic herbs like nettles, red clover blossoms, and dandelion leaves help build the blood so that it can more effectively deliver oxygen to all the cells of our body – an important element in fully cleansing our tissues.   Dandelion and burdock roots are also effective and gentle herbs to help cleanse the liver and the blood of stored toxins.

Fresh squeezed lemon juice is an alkalizing tonic that can help jumpstart the body’s own cleansing abilities.  Another fabulous cleansing tonic is raw apple cider vinegar.  Mix a spoonful in a glass of water – and, for those with less than adventurous palates, add a bit of honey to mellow the flavor.  Your grandparents likely relied on this tonic to keep themselves cleansed and energized – try it a half hour before each meal to enjoy its support as a digestive aid, too.
Perhaps most ignored in our bustling urban culture is the cleansing effect of spending time in nature.  Get out of the stale air of your office, remove yourself from the pollution of urban living, and recharge your body with life-giving oxygen by visiting a nearby river or forest to restore your respiratory system – and your spirit.  Try a day trip to the Econlockhatchee River or Wekiva Springs, two natural gems right in our backyard.  A walk in the woods can often cleanse your body and your mind as effectively as the trendiest (and priciest) cleansing kits.

Most of all, remembr that the Spring Equinox ushers in a time of new balance.  This season invites us to raise our awareness to what is out of balance in our lives, so that we may tend to these elements and cleanse negative patterns, energy, and routines out of our lifestyle.  Engage in simple morning meditation, take a walk upon waking, listen to calming music, or begin a springtime journal to help you reconnect with that which stabilizes your mind and cleanses your spirit.   Just like the plants in our garden, we need a strong, nourishing foundation to grow.  Feed yourself this Spring – and discover the natural cleansing of balance.
- Emily Ruff