Recently someone reached out to ask me whether the tobacco in our Spirit of Datura Salve could provide a microdose of nicotine similar to nicotine patches that are popular in the biohacking community. She was addressing various health issues and was curious if a daily application of our salve could be a good alternative to the toxic…
I recently started a new oil infusion with some chaparral leaves that I harvested in the Chihuahuan Desert on a recent trip to southern New Mexico. There’s considerable overlap in flora in southern and northern NM, but chaparral is not a plant we have access to in the north, and since we hadn’t harvested it…
For years, I’ve been working on land reclamation projects right here on my property in northern New Mexico. My goal has always been to transform the weedy, disturbed areas into thriving meadows of native grasses and wildflowers. It hasn’t been easy—some days it feels like I’ve barely scratched the surface—but today, I can actually see the…
Ancient Roots of Psilocybin and Global Traditions For millennia, psilocybin mushrooms have flourished across the world, honored as allies in healing, ceremony, and connection. Here in New Mexico, where cultures and traditions overlap in rich and complex ways, we now stand at the threshold of weaving this ancient medicine into a modern framework. Public Comment…
Dormilón*, or Blue Vervain (Verbena spp), is tall and graceful with spikes of violet-blue flowers. It’s been used for centuries as both medicine and magic. It was considered sacred by the Druids and widely used in European folk traditions. In New Mexico, it’s traditionally been used to treat insomnia and cold/flu symptoms. Blue Vervain is…
In the high desert mountains of northern New Mexico, there’s a tried and true medicine that has been used for generations—shared among neighbors and kept alive in kitchens and gardens. It’s called encerado—a traditional healing salve made with trementina, or pine pitch. The word encerado comes from the Spanish word for “waxed,” and it refers…
Fostering a native edible and medicinal landscape & pollinator garden. Last summer, I did a native seed giveaway on Instagram and several folks asked me if I’d send along instructions/guidelines for planting – so below is my effort to help guide you along. I encourage you to experiment since we all have different soil types,…
In northern New Mexico, you know spring has really sprung when chimajá emerges from the ground – it’s one of the first plants to make an appearance. It’s not considered medicinal, but it’s highly favored as a seasoning for beans, stews, and just about anything you want to sprinkle it onto. In English they call it spring…
We were invited once again by Española Humane to participate in their annual Puppy Love Virtual Auction. And of course we said yes! The “little shelter that could” holds a virtual auction every February leading up to and through Valentine’s Day. It features donated items/services from local businesses in various categories like arts, crafts, healing…