Offerings for Community Building

01/11/2025

The Manhattan smog is fog or haze combined with smoke and other atmospheric pollutants. The Documerica project recorded pollution in America. The project, which ran from 1971-1977, amassed 20,000 images of our environmental sins, many of which can be accessed through the National Archives Environmental Studies Gallery. The image of Manhattan below was provided from the Documerica project. Join the movement!

01/11/2025

For years I had thought to write about the difference between antlers and horns. I finally did. You're welcome. 😉

You may be wondering why you are only seeing antlerless Deer these days. No, the males are not being any more elusive than they were before. They could be who you are seeing crossing the street or …

01/09/2025

A native New England fern whose leaflets look like mittens. So of course instead of the obvious Mitten Fern, this specie is called the Christmas Fern.

Tromping through our woods in December in search of a Christmas tree, I often notice an evergreen fern, one of the few green plants on the forest… This conten

01/07/2025

Have fun, be respectful, and be responsible in the great outdoors.

The woods offer a sanctuary where we can find peace, clarity, and a deeper understanding of ourselves.🌲🌳

01/04/2025

Cranberry & Goldenrod to heal UTIs.

Gold for the Urinary Tract

Urinary Tract Infections (UTIs) are an infection of the urinary tract, most commonly caused by bacteria in the urethra. However, infections can involve bladders, ureters, and kidneys. Often, the infection is an uncomfortable sensation, but complicated cases can involve severe pain and even compromise organ function. UTIs are more common in women due to the shorter urethra but also occur in men (especially those with compromised immune function). Common bacteria responsible for these infections include Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus species (with S. saprophyticus being most common, and species of Klebsiella (but many other species can be a cause of infection). Fungi can be responsible for UTIs as well, with Candida albicans being the usual culprit. Because UTIs are caused by a wide variety of microorganisms, their treatment is sometimes not straightforward. For example, medicine that works against one type of bacteria may not work against another, and antibacterials may not function against fungi like Candida.

For those who are interested in less harmful methods of treatment (i.e., avoiding pharmaceutical antibiotics that wreak havoc on our probiotic flora in the gastrointestinal tract) and regaining their medical sovereignty, there are a number of strategies that can work—and when employed conscientiously I have never seen them fail. We tend to use what is available on our landscape (some of the species I will list below we can step outside of our home and gather), so the list here is biased by our access to these important medicinal plants.

Anti-adhesion.
Micro-organisms responsible for UTIs often adhere to surfaces to inhabit the urinary tract by means of adhesins (proteins) and pili (hair-like structures). Herbs that help to break their attachment assist with the infection because the bacteria/fungi are flushed out of the urinary tract each time a person urinates (which is why it is important to stay hydrated). Cranberry (Vaccinium species) are well known for their anti-adhesion ability. Consumption of the fruits (in most any form, including juice) is an effective way to acquire the medicine. Because polyphenol compounds are responsible for this action, wild species will be more effective than cultivated species. Another herb from the same plant family (heath family) is trailing-arbutus (also called mayflower, Epigaea repens). The aerial portions of the plant can be used to make a tea that provides anti-adhesion actions.

Pain/inflammation.
One of the best herbs to help with the discomfort of UTIs is a group of goldenrods related to Canada goldenrod (Solidago canadensis). These species have triple-nerved leaf blades (among other characteristics) that distinguish them from related species (and there are many, New England alone has 29 species of goldenrod). Canada goldenrod and its relatives (S. altissima, S. bartramiana, S. fallax, S. gigantea) function as urinary tract anti-inflammatories, helping to limit inflammation (which is responsible for much of the pain). Teas made from the aerial portions of the plant (i.e., leaves and flowers) provide this medicine.

Antimicrobial.
Dealing with the actual infection is also important for symptomatic relief. I write symptomatic because the reason for the infection occurring is the actual issue that needs to ultimately be addressed. But, until the root causes can be identified, preventing the infection from becoming complicated and more painful is important. Again, Canada goldenrod and its allies shine here. They are not truly antimicrobials but would be classified as antiseptics (think of antiseptics as preventing pathogenic organisms from growing their numbers and expanding their territory, but not necessary reducing the existing populations). For most cases, antiseptics are all that are needed because each urination event removes some of the offending organisms (and if the goldenrod medicine stops the micro-organisms from recolonizing, the infectious organisms are eventually removed). For something stronger, species of juniper (Juniperus communis and J. virginiana) are important allies. These are potent and broad-spectrum antimicrobials capable of dealing with a wide variety of bacteria and fungi. I most often use common juniper (J. communis), gathering the seed cones (often referred to as berries) and branchlets (with the leaves) to make a tincture. Teas can also be prepared using the same parts.

There are many other plants that are useful for UTIs. I am here listing those we most commonly use. Again, I have never assisted with a case that didn’t respond to herbal treatment (i.e., no one that committed to an herbal protocol needed hospital/pharmaceutical assistance). This isn’t a judgment for those who use Western Medicine, but more of a statement of efficacy that I have witnessed. There is some nuance to the protocols that must be shared and followed (one example: herbal treatment needs to continue to several days after symptoms completely disappear to ensure pathogens can’t repopulate after being suppressed to the point of asymptomatic numbers). Of course, gratitude is also important here—for the plants that heal us and the elders show shared this information with us).

If you want to learn more information like this (but with more details about gathering, dosages, etc.) while being present with the actual medicinal plants, consider joining me for a plant class at the Delta Institute (https://www.arthurhaines.com/events-classes) or committing to an apprenticeship for a deeper dive into ecological knowledge (https://www.arthurhaines.com/huntergatherer-apprenticeship).

01/03/2025

Coming up on January 22 at the Belding Memorial Library

Coming up in January...
Death Becomes Poetry Share
"You think I've been buried? No, I have been planted."
Sometimes we all need a place and time to be still, to retreat, to hibernate.
Find examples of your poems to read where you have recognized that without death there could be no rebirth, where you forgave yourself for retreating, where you gave yourself time to regroup, where you believed the long kiss goodnight was the answer until you took another breath, where sleep felt so good until the dream inspired you awake, where you appreciated the darkness because you could see the stars. (And you don't have any of your own, find and read someone else's poetry.)

Come read and listen on Wednesday, January 22, 6:30-8:00pm in the Belding Memorial Library Meeting Room with poet Arianna Alexsandra Collins of Offerings for Community Building. Wine, tea, and treats will be served.

This program is free and open to the public. Please register by contacting Belding Memorial Library at [email protected] or 413-628-4414.
The Library is located at 344 Main St. in Ashfield, MA.

Sponsored by Belding Memorial Library and Straw Dog Writers Guild.

01/03/2025

01/01/2025

Good advice for 2025

12/30/2024

Let’s play in the snow like Ravens 🐦‍⬛

12/28/2024

Love and/or work in the Hoosic River Watershed? Please take Hoosic River Watershed Association’s short survey regarding new programming in 2025.

HooRWA wants to hear from YOU! In addition to our water quality monitoring and advocacy work we want to explore fun educational and uplifting programming with our constituents. If you haven't already, please complete this brief survey to help us with program planning for 2025. Take the brief survey at: https://forms.gle/XjtVco4dtyVu6jFF9
Thank you so much!

12/28/2024

🤣
And may the Oxford comma remain relevant, helpful, and ensure a clear sentence.

12/28/2024

Botanist Robin Wall Kimmerer wrote a new book ~ The Serviceberry ~ and I am so looking forward to reading her research on "circular economies of reciprocity and abundance that play out in natural ecosystems" and how we human can learn from these natural systems and employ biomimicry practices to be more environmentally responsible.
Great interview with Ari Shapiro.

In her new book The Serviceberry, botanist Robin Wall Kimmerer argues that humans would be wise to learn from the circular economies of reciprocity and abundance that play out in natural ecosystems.

12/27/2024

🤣