So as many of you may know, I am a certified Herbalist. I was trained from 2002-2004 through various internships on local farms, an apprenticeship with Sage Mountain Herbal School and years of study with my own herbal gardens before and with Healcrest Urban Farms. Hence why our name is Healcrest.
So we grow many medicinal and culinary herbs at Healcrest Urban Farms and I harvest, dry and make them into healing natural skin care products primarily for women and babies. The product company if you don’t know is called, Vital Mother Moon and we now have our own website for that company
www.vitalmothermoon.com
Each and every product is made in small batches, using the finest carrier oils, amazing smelling high quality essential oils, natural preservatives like Vitamin E and grapefruit seed extract. No parabens, pretroleums, chemicals, etc.!! All that and the herbs are grown right here in Pittsburgh.
So we are doing now some serious herb harvesting and it is quite beautiful and luscious on the farm with all the rain and sun. I wanted to share some pics of our herbs and tell you a little more about how the products are made.
This one of many Lemon Balm (Melissa Officinalis) plants in the gardens. This is one of the biggest and it has decided this year to multiply itself triple fold – so we have some serious harvesting to do and lots of dried lemon balm for our markets, products and online customers!!
Lavender Harvest
This is the lavender being harvested. We hang dry it in greenhouse and braid some into lavender wands. Then the flowers are shucked from their stems and stored in dark glass jars until we need them to soak in the carrier oils, or stuff into our healing heat packs!!
Oregano and Basil in background
Here we are harvesting Greek Oregano and it is sitting in greenhouse waiting to be tied up. In the background is our basil plants ready to be put in – we are planting over 30 plants – so lots of basil for your pesto’s this year and dried basil for year round enjoyment.
Finally we have Miss Ella here, planting out the native medicinal herb garden. She supported Healcrest by getting from Sylvania Natives lesser-known but potent herbs like Bee Balm, Boneset and Gentian to plant in our native medicinal plot that opens up to the big garden at Healcrest. This garden also has lavender, a massive garden sage (right in front of Ella), daisies and another Lemon Balm.
Ella in the herb garden
Last year Maria Graziani had an inspired idea, what if we combine tea, herbs, fruit, berries, and delicious sweetness in a frozen treat. After some tasty and not-so tasty experimentation Healcrest tea-pops were created. With growing interest in healthy treats, artisanal food, and locally grown produce, things we love in great quantities at Healcrest, we thought what a wonderful novelty item for Pittsburghers to enjoy this coming summer.
We are ecstatic and elated to announce the arrival of the Healcrest Urban Farm cold-plate push cart! With the help from friends and supporters at Awesome Pittsburgh, CatapultPGH and KivaZip Micro-Lending, we made the BIG acquisition. You will recognize it as your standard ice cream or Italian ice cart, locate us by umbrella at your favorite event!
Healcrest Urban Farm 