Kate Gilday

Tulsi and Other Signs of Peace and Hope

Thu, 06/18/2009 - 19:02 — Lisa

 

Tulsi, also known as Sacred Basil, Holy Basil or in latin Ocimum sanctum,  is one plant that I use in my daily life and in my practice for many reasons and is one of the few non-native or naturalized plants that I use. It does grow quite nicely in upstate New York , but must be brought in when Fall comes, or the seeds saved for the next season.  I was introduced to Tulsi several years ago when I was in class taught by Kate Gilday on the use of Ayurveda as a healing modality and I fell in love with the taste and smell of Tulsi immediately. I had used Italian or Sweet Basil for years, but had never heard of Sacred Basil. Kate had it growing in her garden and so I tried growing it my self and have been very successful. It is an annual so I save my seeds from year to year and start it indoors each Spring as it is not particularly fond of cold or frost.

The Wilds of Central New York and the Adirondacks

Sat, 04/25/2009 - 19:22 — Lisa

Kuyahoora Valley

Welcome to By Earth, Root and Flower. I am Lisa and was born and raised in the Mohawk Valley in central New York State among the Adirondack foothills. The immigrants who first arrived in this region came from many different parts of Europe. My paternal grandparents were from Italy and immigrated to the small village of Dolgeville in the 1920’s to work in the industrial mills that were built along the West Canada Creek. My maternal grandparents were Irish and settled the high hills and meadows becoming mostly subsistence farmers grateful to be able to own their own land. Living in this area now and in the time before the first colonial settlements, were the Mohawk and Oneida tribes of the Iroquois Indians. I hold in my heart the deepest respect for these First Peoples whose teachings have impacted my life deeply.