Thoughts to Ponder . . .
from Bill Varney, URBANherbal

January 2006

Your source for herbal advice about plants, recipes using herbs, personal care products and much much more . . .

Dear Farm Family & Friends,

January 2006
New Years Day

Satisfying (because it indicates having survived the previous year) yet scary (because who knows what the next year will bring), New Years Day calls for safeguards, augurs, charms, and proclamations.  All over the world, people kiss strangers, shoot guns into the air, toll bells, and exchange gifts.

In Northern England and Scotland, people carefully watch their thresholds to ensure that the "first footer" — the first visitor to come through the door in the new year — is of the propitious kind. Some parts of the world swear by dark-haired men, others by blonde men; no one seems to want a woman. No first footer worth his salt arrives empty-handed: Preferred gifts are herring, bread, and fuel for the fire.

In Japan, temple bells usher out the old year, and then comes the joyano-kane-the "night-watchbell," a series of exactly 108 peals. These, it is said, free the faithful from the 108 "earthly desires" lambasted in the Buddhist canon. 

Bulgarian, Serbian, Macedonian, and Rumanian bells also ring in the new year. Paraguayans rearrange the figurines in their Christmas crèches and address the baby Jesus as Nino del Ano Nuevo.

In Greece, January 1 is the feast day of the beloved Saint Basil, who is feted with his own nut-and-lemon-laced cake, the vasilopita.

Swedes, meanwhile, go to church, go to smorgasbords, and drink spicy glogg.

No matter how you celebrate the New Year, our hope is that you will spend it safely with family and friends and be Thankful for all of life blessings!

Also don’t forget that January 2^nd is Saint Adelard’s Day, the Patron Saint of The Gardeners, not to be confused with Saint Fiacre another Saint of Gardeners whose day is September 1^st.

Remember also that January is not a time for idleness in the garden, say many handbooks on gardening. Certainly not; for in January the gardener cultivates the weather.

In January we discover Sweet Bay »» Herb Gardens »» Herb of the Month. We hope you enjoy our recipe for Bay Rum Custard!

We wish everyone a Happy and Joyous New Year!

Blessings,
Bill Varney & All the Herb Farm Folks