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Pine Forest Braucherei


Gretchen Swank
Jan 6, 20243 min read
57 views
1 comment


Harvesting & Processing Magical Burdock Root
Walking into my studio last week, I was both surprised and overjoyed to discover an abundance of Common Burdock growing near my flower...
Gretchen Swank
May 7, 20232 min read
34 views
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Dandelion on Griedunnerschdaag (Green Thursday); a Pennsylvania Dutch Tradition
The Dandelion. Perhaps one of the most misunderstood gifts provided by Mother Nature. Their bright yellow heads pop-up everywhere, and...
Gretchen Swank
Apr 5, 20233 min read
41 views
1 comment


HEALING WITH FOOD
As a Healer, I live by the philosophy of Hippocrates, "Let food be thy medicine and medicine be thy food." Our bodies house our hearts,...
Gretchen Swank
Mar 25, 20234 min read
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Mini-Greenhouse
This year, I decided to try a new method for starting my seeds. This is a mini-greenhouse that is portable and easy to make. I bought...
Gretchen Swank
Feb 7, 20232 min read
11 views
1 comment


der Butzemann; Not Just a Scarecrow.
Groundhog Day is so much more than the spectacle on display in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania every February 2nd, it marks the beginning of a...
Gretchen Swank
Jan 31, 20232 min read
92 views
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ESSIAC TEA- A Simple Four-Herb Tea with Cancer-Killing Abilities
Essiac Tea was first introduced in the 1920's by a Canadian nurse named Rene Caisse who boasted the tea as a natural cancer treatment. ...
Gretchen Swank
Jan 6, 20232 min read
44 views
3 comments


Winter Dry Skin Remedy
'Tis the season for dry skin. My son suffers terribly from itchy, moisture-deprived skin every winter. My Lemon Balm Oil remedy works...
Gretchen Swank
Dec 17, 20221 min read
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Indoor Garden
Among the many charms Pennsylvania has to offer, four distinct seasons is perhaps the most alluring of her offerings. The balance of...
Gretchen Swank
Nov 17, 20222 min read
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