YOUR HOME FOR ALL NATURAL, HANDMADE PERSONAL CARE PRODUCTS & REMEDIES

GREETINGS FROM BoMa!

Hello Tribe!

Thank you for sticking with me as I figure out this ‘newsletter thing.’ There’s always so much going on around here and I want you to feel apart of the journey since my mission is to serve you!

Now that we officially handed over the keys to our old house, we finally feel like we’re able to settle in at the ‘homestead’. First things first, I had to find a walking path. In order to be the best version of myself for my family, friends, and business. I take this time for myself to organize my thoughts and pray. I ended up finding the most beautiful walking track five minutes from our house next to a lake. Two times around and I’m ready to start my day. Now to find a grocery store!

If life isn’t chaotic enough, I make sure to add a little spice to it. I’m taking a foraging course on-line through Herbal Academy. When I started my herbal journey seven years ago I found myself in Georgia learning from a long time herbalist and I thought my heart was going to explode outside my chest. It felt like everything I have ever done or thought was to prepare me for this moment. Memories of a ‘gut-feelings’ came flooding into my mind and I remember tears streaming down my face. There was no reason for me to be crying at that moment, he was just explaining the connection between God, us, and plants. But a fire had ignited and something had shifted inside. I call this my ‘awakening’.

I spent the next few years reading, researching and learning on my own. I had a hunger and a thirst I couldn’t quench! The more I learn, the more I realized what I didn’t know. It was a vicious cycle of wanting more books and more time to study. I started my business a few short months after my time in Georgia, and began sharing what I had learn with others. My desire was to make an impact in my community by ‘momming’ the people around me. And I have been LOVING every bit of this.

So, with my mama’s heart always leading my business and my desire to help others feel more empowered, … sorry not sorry… get ready to learn more about herbs. ‘Out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks’ Luke 6:45. This verse comes to my mind when I think of sharing our overflow. I can’t keep it to myself! We learn so we can share. I know the herbal world can be overwhelming. As we take the time to learn and grow together, we can learn to incorporate one foraging herb at a time into our lives. This makes it more digestible and such an incredibly exciting process. Taking the time to really get to know a plant is like getting to know a friend. Spend time with them and find out where they like to hang out, what they like to do, or what they like to eat. (I’m sorry, I’m still talking about your friends). Spend time with a plant in your backyard and really get to know the stem, leaves and root. Pick up a herbal guide and journal to find out how you can use them in the kitchen or to support the body’s needs. Next thing you know you’ll be calling out plant from a mile away, just like spotting a friend in a crowd. Lets get back to basics and learn how to use nature to empower our selves towards better health!

We are so excited to share a new collaboration with the non-profit organization Compassion Delivers. Amanda and her husband Daniel are the founders, and two of the most amazing and genuine people you will ever meet. Their Mission is to provide nutritional meals to people who are coping with chronic, life-threatening illnesses and disease. They believe that people (men, women, and children) should not have to choose between medical care or suffer the malnutrition and hunger caused by their illnesses or diseases. How they accomplish this is by delivering weekly meals to these individuals for FREE! But that’s not all they deliver, they stay to visit and deliver compassion. Keep reading to find out how we are partnering up to be a Blessing to these families.

Lastly you’ll find some updates about the barn and #lifeonthebrink. We are working hard to make sure we do this right so when it’s done, you’ll be excited to join us in celebrating what we created together. I look forward to that day.

THANK YOU AGAIN for Joining the Tribe to Raise your Vibe!! - Vivian Brinkman

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Blessing Boxes

I first met Amanda, with Compassion Delivered, at an event in 2018 called ‘Women of Strength’. Amanda was there to share her passion and mission in providing nutritious, and delicious meals for people suffering from chronic or terminal illnesses. She shown bright that day as she shared what a gift it was to have the opportunity to care for people in this way. I instantly fell in love with her heart, and knew I would make her my friend.

Fast forward to today - she now is coming up on her 10,000th meal delivered FOR FREE!! Thanks to her passion & compassion, Daniels MAD KITCHEN SKILLS, and the generosity of our community, they continue to make an impact to the world around them. But their ginormous hearts don’t stop there, they continue to visit with families they served who lost their battle with an illness for up to 13 months. This made me cry listening to her tender spirit and love for people.

Amanda shared with me her burden for the caregiver’s in these families. Her heart really goes out to how much of themselves they give for their loved one. She ordered from us a Wellness box to give to a couple of her caregivers, knowing we curated these boxes to have what they need to boost their immune system and keep them strong through this very difficult time. After talking, we decided to make a special box for the caregivers that would let them know someone was sending them compassion as well. My goal is to get a box of blessings into each home: for the caregiver and the meal receipts, without Compassion Delivered spending a dime. This is where we could use your help.

When you purchase a Blessing Box on our website, we will deliver a thoughtfully and beautifully curated gift of all natural handcrafted products and remedies that are soothing, safe, and uplifting for a Caregiver or Meal receipt. We also want to give you an opportunity to deliver your own compassion by leaving a personal note or word of encouragement at check out. We have created a QR Code that takes them to a blog where they will find a message from Compassion Delivers, The Bohemian Mama, and YOU.

The Blessing Boxes are a $50 value, for $35. We are going to start off by donating 5 boxes, three from us and two from a generous donation from Tina Lawver at, Tina Lawver Creative.

Thank you in advance for helping us be a blessing

Purple Dead Nettle: (Lamium purpureum) an edible backyard weed

Have you noticed this little guy popping up in your yard? We are finding him EVERY WHERE we look!!! After you finish reading this article, you’ll know why and hopefully feel inspired and empowered to run out and start foraging!!!

‘Purple dead nettle is not only a wild edible green, but a highly nutritious superfood. The leaves are edible, with the purple tops being even a little sweet.

Purple dead nettle is easy to identify with its square stem (like all mint family plants), fuzzy leaves, and purple tops with little pink flowers. There is not a toxic look-alikes.

Edible Uses of Purple Dead Nettle

Since the leaves are relatively fuzzy, they are better used as an herb garnish or mixed with other greens in recipes, rather than being the star of the show.

Purple dead nettle can be added to soups, salads, or blended into smoothies. Basically any way that you would use any other green leafy vegetable or herb. Also use fresh dead nettle along with chickweed, dandelion greens, lambs quarter, purslane, wood sorrel, cats ear, and other “weeds” to make a wild greens pesto.

Wild Weed Pesto

Nutritious and flavorful wild weed pesto can be served over fish, chicken or pasta -- and is amazing with goat cheese to top flatbreads!

Prep Time10 mins
Total Time10 mins
Author: nitty gritty life

Ingredients

• 4 cups assorted wild edible greens

• 1/4 cup blanched slivered almonds or pine nuts

• 3 cloves garlic

• zest of one lemon

• 2/3 cup extra virgin olive oil

• salt and pepper to taste

  Instructions

• Rinse, drain and pat dry your foraged weeds.

• In the bowl of a food processor, quickly pulse garlic and almonds to a rough meal.

• Add foraged weeds and lemon zest to food processor and pulse until well combined.

• While food processor is running, slowly pour in olive oil until desired consistency is reached. Salt and pepper to taste.

• Serve with desired dish or freeze until needed.

Medicinal benefits

Purple dead nettle also has medicinal benefits. It is known in the herbal world as being astringent, diuretic, diaphoretic and purgative. It’s also anti-inflammatory, anti-bacterial, and anti-fungal.

1. The leaves can be used on external wounds or cuts, or as a poultice, similar to how you would use yarrow or plantain. This would also make it a good candidate for a homemade herbal salve.

2. Purple dead nettle can be made into an infusion or tea, with either fresh plant material or dried. This may be the simplest way to enjoy its benefits, although it may also have a laxative effect if used in large amounts.

   It’s good for the kidneys and may even help with seasonal allergy symptoms when used as a tincture or tea.

3. Infusing it into oils and making a lotion moisturizes and balances most skin types, plus may be helpful for eczema, psoriasis, dermatitis, or damaged skin.

ref. thenerdyfarmwife.com

The Boho Barn

#lifeonthebrink

THANK YOU Burt Marzley FOR BRINGING VISION TO LIFE. We are incredibly excited to have your gifts and talent on this project.

While Burt has been busy designing, Brian has been reaching out to contractors for quotes on septic lines, pouring cement, radiant flooring, heating/cooling, windows/ doors, roofing, and so much more. I’ve never had so much information coming at me all at one time. But the closer we get to getting started, the more we realize how much bigger than us this really is. I’m constantly teetering between feeling too small to dream this big and totally walking in my purpose. Again, a little like Noah building the ark.

Our goal is to make the barn as sustainable as possible. One way we can do this is by adding solar panels to run all the heating/cooling and electricity. We are working with someone now on how many panels we would need and cost. To say the prices are a little overwhelming is not even an exaggeration. But we know it will be worth it in the end.

In other #lifeonthebrink NEWS, Brian is the proud owner of his very own riding mower. This may not seem like BIG NEWS to most, but for my husband who grew up in Parma, Ohio on a postage size property, this is a BIG DEAL. Moving to Canton, and owning a truck and camper was country enough for my city boy! It took him 11 years to accept that reality. LOL! Now that we’ve moved out on the edge and he has a riding mower, he totally feels out of control! But let me tell you … country looks really good on him! I watch him fussing around our property with a huge smile on his face. It makes my heart smile to see him this happy. It’s a special kind of peace that slowing down and exhaling brings.

We uncovered the koi pond this week to reveal 9 happy little fish swimming around in there. I had no idea how calming it can be to watch fish swim. We find ourselves sitting at the pond for way too long just mesmerized by them. Between watching the fish swim, the cows graze, and listening to the birds sing … I stand in awe of God’s Glory every day out here!!! I hope I can still get work done when we get chickens.

If you made it this far, I can not thank you enough! Thank you for being part of our community. For allowing me to share our journey with you, and to serve you in the best way I know how.

Until next month, stay healthy, safe, and stay connected! LOVE YOU

THE BOHEMIAN MAMA