So excited to be apart of this community! Merry meet everyone!

Mint: the overachiever in your garden Mint is one of those plants people think they already understand. It smells good, it shows up in tea, and it has a habit of taking over your yard if you look away for five minutes. But mint earns its reputation. Historically, mint has been used to support digestion, ease nausea, and help with general stomach discomfort. It’s one of the first herbs many people reach for when their body says, “No thank you” to whatever they just ate. Peppermint in particular has been studied for its ability to calm intestinal spasms, which is why it shows up so often in digestive teas. Mint is also gently stimulating. Not in a caffeine way, but in a “wake up your senses” way. The scent alone can feel clarifying. This is why mint has been used in everything from inhalations to simple room freshening. It doesn’t fix your life, but it can make the room feel more breathable. A few practical notes: Fresh mint is stronger than dried. A little goes a long way. If you plant it in the ground, it will spread. Mint has confidence. Common ways people use mint include teas, simple infusions, and culinary use. It plays well with other herbs, especially lemon balm, chamomile, and ginger. It also plays well with food, which is why it’s managed to survive human history so successfully. Mint isn’t dramatic. It doesn’t promise miracles. It just shows up, does its job, and keeps growing whether you’re ready or not. Honestly, relatable.

So… How Are We Actually Going to Use These Herbs? Short answer: all the ways. Long answer: still all the ways, just with fewer exploded cauldrons and more common sense. Over time, im going to cover every normal, useful way people actually use herbs, including: Teas – the classic “boil water, add plant, feel accomplished” method Tinctures – alcohol does the heavy lifting while you wait patiently Infusions – like tea, but stronger and more serious about it Poultices – squishy plant mess, applied with purpose Oils & salves – because herbs like to live in fat sometimes Vinegars & honeys – food that quietly helps you Steam, baths, compresses – herbs that work while you sit there doing nothing We’ll talk about what works best for what, why some herbs prefer tea while others do better as tinctures, and when a plant is basically saying, “Please don’t boil me, I beg you.” No quizzes. No perfection required. No pressure to own a 200-year-old apothecary or pronounce everything in Latin. This is real herbalism for real people, and we’ll cover it all slowly, clearly, and repeatedly… because nobody remembers everything the first time and plants are patient. Saturday Herbal Lore is just the beginning. We’ve got years. The herbs aren’t going anywhere. ~Herbalism with Lori