Egg Moon
when the world is mud-luscious
I swear, every time I step outside of my apartment something new is blooming. I go for my little morning walks around the neighbourhood, trying my best to notice every tiny change as I know how fleeting the spring growing boom is. I’ve already seen cherry blossoms dazzle and fade, and crocuses get replaced with daffodils and now dandelions. I’ve been relishing in the rare fawn lily sightings I’ve had. I don’t like to pick favourites, but I’m leaning into saying that fawn lilies are just that. They are fairies in flower form. I’m dreaming of making a flower essence.
We are in spring. I think of the ee cummings poem that begins “spring when the world is mud-luscious”. Mud-luscious. Verdant. Alive. Stretching out of our winter selves, shaking off the stagnation and dusting off the cobwebs. Nature supports this transition with abundant spring tonics which are now sprouting up from the ground. What is a spring tonic, you make ask? These are herbs that can be classified as alteratives. They support the body in cleansing by aiding our kidneys, liver, and lymphatic system. Not only that, but these spring tonics are some of the most nutrient dense foods we have access to.
Nettle - my #1. Nettle season is my favourite time of year. I try to drink so much nettle tea and eat it in any way I can. Nettle cake, nettle pesto, nettle soup. The other day my friend’s mom made us a dinner of nettle paneer - divine! Nettle is deeply nourishing, being rich in iron, magnesium, calcium, zinc, and more. I’m obsessed and already wrote a whole newsletter devoted to nettle last year, which you can read here.
Cleavers - first and foremost, they’re fun and sticky. Half of their medicine comes from the joy and entertainment they provide. But above that, they act as a water purifier for the body. They cleanse lymph, flush the kidneys, and move stagnation. Pick cleavers and use them fresh. This can be as a fresh infusion, in a pesto or even juice! Last spring while at my herbal internship, my dear friend Lea was on a juice kick and would gather up numerous “weeds” (read: medicines) and throw them in the juicer for us all to enjoy. Fresh cleavers would also make a great oxymel or an oil for topical use. I’ve been trying to stay on top of doing my “big 6” lymph massage daily (inspired by my friend Fallyn’s partner Tim aka Move like Human), and adding cleavers oil to this routine would be extra special.
Chickweed - its latin name, stellaria, is the cutest botanical name and references the little white star-like flowers. Chickweed is nutritive, cooling, and demulcent. It contains saponins, which help increase absorption of nutrients. Hot tip: in tincture form, it has been known to dissolve cysts. It’s a delicious spring green in salads and can also be juiced or used fresh in infusions. Used topically, it’s a great skin soother.
Dandelion - I’ve already shared the magic of dandelions previously, but had to include it again in this shortlist. The whole plant is a powerhouse, but lets focus here on the leaves. Bitter and abundant, they are just what the doctor ordered for a spring cleanse. In TCM, the organs for Spring are the liver and gallbladder. Bitter foods are essential for liver health, and our modern North American diets are seriously lacking that flavour. Just one drop of something bitter will stimulate the whole enteric nervous system. Dandelions answer our prayers and provide us with perfect bitters greens for salads, pestos, or simply sautéed with some lemon juice.
Red clover - super nutritious, nitrogen fixing, and ever plentiful. Red clover is a gentle cleanser for the body and is very mineral rich. Key uses are for skin health, hormones, and detoxification. It’s also widely used in herbal cancer treatments.
Violet - a gentle lymph mover that also happens to be cooling, anti-inflammatory, and moistening to the tissues. You can eat the flowers and leaves in salads, or use in teas and tinctures. In previous years I’ve made violet syrup, which is so, so lovely and makes a special addition to drinks!
Miner’s lettuce - honourable mention because I love snacking on miner’s lettuce! It’s juicy, refreshing, and super nutritious. I see it everywhere this time of year and just can’t help but grab a handful to eat whenever I come across it.
All of the above herbs grow abundantly where I live, and in much of the world. They are all packed with nutrients, and are *free* to forage. Seriously, eat your herbs! In a time when our soils are so depleted of minerals, wild foods act as nature’s multivitamins. Forget whatever the latest trendy “superfood” is and look down the next time you go out for a walk. You’ll begin to notice that the best superfoods are growing right under your feet. The good earth truly does provide.
The april full moon is traditionally known as the “egg moon”. Eggs are like little seeds. They symbolize wholeness, a fertile future and a new start. I was reading about the upcoming egg moon and started thinking about goose eggs. An egg I’ve not yet tried, but am now madly on the hunt for. I’m imagining my fertile future as an eccentric goose egg farmer, and kinda love it. Please cast your vote in the comment section if you think I should steer my life trajectory in that direction! In the meantime, can we all make these perfect egg candles to celebrate the occasion?
The egg moon falls on April 12th, which just so happens to be the day of Second Nature spring market. My friend, Julia, and I have been working hard to bring this market to life and I am thrilled to have something finally light a fire under my seat to get some herbal products ready for the world to see. Unfortunately, most of you reading this don’t live on Vancouver Island - *but if you do* - come! Here’s a special sneak peek at some of the things I’ve been working on.
I will also have a very limited run of May Queen oxymel (featuring chamomile, rose, hawthorn and fig leaves) and Dew of the Sea (a rosemary hydrosol). Back to the Land tea is something I have been wanting to birth into the world for years. And what better time to release something than in nature’s very own birthing season. I’ve been holding onto the concept, dreaming of making it a reality, and now it is finally here (version 1.0 anyways!). Once I’m post-market I plan to offer it up for online orders, so if you’re interested stay tuned and follow me on instagram (@dalaiparton_) for updates!
Okay friends, get out there and find your spring greens to release that winter stagnation. Nature’s waking up - can you feel it? I will leave you here with a song by Michael Hurley, who just departed this earthly plane last week ♥︎.