Week 3 Preparation Before Winter
I've discovered my tea strainer fits perfectly in my big glass jars!
(these are the jars the Fill Good coconut oil comes in).
Glass copes well with the hot boiled water,  just watch your fingers while it is hot.
I place all manner of herbals for the day's vitality and recovery.

Here, I have a splash of Fulvic minerals, Jamu (cold pressed turmeric and ginger juice), and a mix of teas and herbs. This is chamomile, hibiscus, sage, moringa, thyme, liquorice, a sprinkle of Wild C and a fresh squeeze of lemon with a quarter left in the jar. Lemon rind has soooo much immune boosting goodness. I don't add honey, but you definitely could. Que a spoonful of your flavoured honey!
Hello my sweetheart

How are you?
Well I so very much hope
I had a little epiphany on the weekend. 

 On Sunday, I made a very grown up choice to stay home instead of heading off for a day of absolute frolicking fun at the beach.
I was as heartbroken as a pouting 2 year old.

Why would I do that?

Well honey, I was starting to feel like I was starting to become unwell. And wouldn't you know it, it was just after talking to you all about being healthy and happy. 

JINX!

I knew if I pushed through and had my day out, that I had so very much looked forward to all week, I would be quite exhausted and unwell by the end of it.

So I put myself to bed, remembering as a child my parents would confine me to bed and reluctantly, if I spent all day there, it usually worked!
An old fashioned remedy for sure.
No screen, no lying on the couch, just bed rest in my room with something to read and write with.

So by my bedside, I tucked into my well-loved collection of herbal zines to see what I could find, and Miriam's article knocked me for six.

'Herbs are not the cure'
- Marian Latif - Rad Herb Zine

Miriam spoke of how we can make the mistake and expect herbs to have an instant effect like pharmaceuticals. Think of the pain killing effect of Panadol. However, this is not how nature works. Thank goodness! If it did, it would rob us of the opportunity to truly understand our ailments and correct course.

Herbal medicine improves our health and heals us, meeting us halfway. The rest of the way we get to go to the root cause and look into any lifestyle choices, thoughts and feeling that may be effecting us. This is holistic medicine.
Finding the cause not masking the systems.


And this is where I found my answer to my ailment.
 I had exhausted myself with too much summer fun!

I've been outside training and exercising morning and night for the Couch to 5k running challenge. 

And on top of that, I have committed myself to micro-dosing my summer holidays with a trip to the beach every weekend, teaching myself to catch waves on my paddle-board. I've been so deliriously happy with all the fun that I ignored my tiredness. So, needless to say, my day of very intentional rest and nourishment had me feeling right as rain by evening! My head ache, sore throat and body ache had melted away.

My simple pantry staples of herbals met me halfway as I corrected coarse

So my dear, I'll share with you below what I did and am continuing to do as I prepare my immune system to meet winter.
 
This is how I like a medicine cabinet to look. Food and herbal combos that I get to research and choose what my body is craving
 
Make Your Own Daily Brew

The rule of thumb for me is that if it is smells good to me then my body usually wants it. 

The same herbs can hit different on different days.

So this is not a recipe but a list of herbs and spices you may have in your pantry that you can choose any combo of that feels right for you on the day.

If it feels right, then your body wants it.

When it comes to woody herbs such as sage, thyme, oregano, rosemary and fennel, they are not just for roasting in the oven with.
Put them in a big pot/jar/mug and make a tea!
These guys are powerhouses for our immune systems.

Then, let's go a little further and you have your choice of cloves, cinnamon, cardamom and star anise.

Add some teas; chamomile, peppermint, liquorice, hibiscus, moringa, tulsi, lavender, rose petals to just name a few.

A squeeze of lemon or orange, include the rind for extra
Vitamin K and C

Ginger, turmeric, garlic, onion, chili. Yes, you read this right my dear, listen to your body and what it maybe craving.

Perhaps some berries, rhubarb or other fruit.
There are no limits, experiment, explore and learn.

Optional
Add your honey of choice, this maybe be one of your flavoured honeys
Another option is adding some Wild C powder, fulvic minerals, a greens powder, whatever you may have on hand.

Place your combo in a teapot, jar, saucepan, mug and steep in boiling water then strain.
Just like making a cup of tea.

Start doing this, my dear, and you will have a daily brew you will start to crave!

I promise you with all my heart that once you take the time daily to listen in and make your daily brew, you will love this as much as your obligatory morning coffee or cup of tea.
Have both I say!

This is affordable medicine that you can tailor to you. It's as easy as having your herbs and spice rack at your fingertips, or taking a wander in your garden, or even finding something growing wild outside while taking a walk. How fun!

Do you know what else is fun?

Look up a book or an online search for the health benefits of all those herbals and you will be delighted how much they all cross over with each other.
You don't need to feel limited at all.

Just as there are thousands of leaves on an olive tree, natures abundance is gifted to us. Oh look at that! Have you heard of Olive leaf extract? That is made just with those same olive leaves you see on all those olive trees. Mmmm, I'll see if I can ask dear Brigid from Yarra Valley Community Apothecary how we can make our own.
Yes, that's right, we can make our own!! Easily for pennies!
Meet Janet of Mountain Pilates
And here is where lifestyle medicine comes in

Glorious Janet from Mountain Pilates,
(Janet teaches Pilates at her home studio in Monbulk),
has initiated funding to offer
Free Chair Pilates on Mondays in Warburton.
It is absolutely free and open to everyone, all abilities and ages.

Janet is an absolute blast, her home classes look truly glorious, I look forward to taking a class one day, and her smile says it all!
I whole heartedly get behind Janet's initiative.

Find more about Mountain Pilates here:

https://www.mountainpilates.net.au

Refer to the flyer below for
FREE Chair Pilates
Mum and bubs yoga with Jasmine - Spinulosayoga
Yoga for mum with your bub!


New mum (and long timer fill-gooder) Jasmine could not find a mother and baby yoga class in the valley, so it was time. Time for Jasmine to put to use all her yoga teacher training to offer for a gold coin donation: mother and baby yoga!
Anything goes, call Jasmine for a chat if you feel to and stretch, feed, nappy change, cuddle and yoga with other mums and bubs. Gosh, I remember those days when I did mum and bubs yoga too!
Sweet memories 

Starts in March

Find details here:
https://www.instagram.com/spinulosayoga/
A moment for our heritage breed chicken eggs from Gigi's Farm. A palette of beautiful colours, from very loved hens fed nothing but pure goodness from Janet. No pallets, just grain and greens on a beautiful sprawling farm amongst other farm animals, including baby goats that are about to be born!

Darling, here is where our community sings.

We have creative and highly skilled folk that passionately share their expertise. And what a community you are, embracing these legends just like you have with our dear Fill Good.


I do hope you make your daily brew and perhaps take a moment to let your heart swell a little when considering how magnificent and abundant our plants and mother nature are. And should your heart need an extra top up, head outside and see what is growing or even pop over to your fav little shop and either way you will be loved up for sure.

Oh dear Fill Good, you burst all our hearts.


I actually think if we were herbs, together we would make an absolutely delicious brew!

All our love and thanks to you

Chris and the Fill Good Fam

xx💛xx
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