Quilting The Savory Garden
quilting the savory garden Tossing The Box - Writing Beyond Your Usual Subject Been thinking that maybe it's time to spread your writing wings a bit and pen something new? More specifically, you ...
quilting the savory garden
Tossing The Box - Writing Beyond Your Usual SubjectBeen thinking that maybe it's time to spread your writing wings a bit and pen something new? More specifically, you may be thinking about writing an article or several articles about a topic that is totally outside your usual subject area. If you are, then Congratulations! This is a phase of the natural evolutionary process that writers experience ... it simply means that you're moving forward in your work. Writing articles about different subjects is an effective way of gaining even more exposure for yourself and your business. Besides, marketing with articles doesn't limit you to being an authority on only one topic. All you need to do choose a new subject area in which to focus your writing. Sure, you can always hit the Search Engines and reap the return of hot keywords up for grabs ... or, you can pick a topic off the top of your head ... maybe something you heard on the news... some new-age subject or relatively obscure concept about which you can write, provided you can research it well enough to do a credible article. Or, you can stick with what you know. Huh? But you're chomping at the bit to expand your writing into different areas. How is writing more about what you know going to offer a new challenge or more exposure for you? As writers, we sometimes develop tunnel vision. In other words, we can't see the actual forest for the proverbial trees. Writing what you know isn't necessarily writing about the same subject. That is, unless you only know that one topic about which you've been writing articles. Lucky for you... you're a walking encyclopedia! Sure you are, take a stroll through your own variegated alphabet of personal interests, those beyond your professional and/or career knowledge. You'll be surprised to realize that there are several subjects for which you already have the knowledge and expertise to produce incredible articles. A airplanes - antiques - aquariums - art - autos It's okay if you don't see one of your particular interests or hobbies in the above list. In fact, that's even better. Now, this is where you get to carve out your niche for writing articles. The hobbies and interests listed aren't meant to limit you, they're meant to inspire you! Airplanes for A may not have struck a cord with you, but now auto's that's a different story. You've been into classic cars for as long as you can remember. There's your niche! If the b in ballet stands for boring as far as you're concerned, consider what it means to you in building. Yes, you, the one who's always sporting a carpenter's apron and hammer every Saturday. Another niche nailed down! Moving right along to the letter C, scratch the cats-coins-and-crafts and that's your category. Camping is one of your passions. And when it comes to cooking you grill a mean steak, if you do say so yourself. But wait... that comes under G for grilling. How about combining it with outdoors from O and recipes from R? Looks like you've cooked up your own niche article ideas in Outdoors + Grilling + Recipes = Savory Campsite Cuisine. You could do an entire series of articles on that topic! As a writer, it's essential to remain genuine in order to be effective. Writing about what you know and on subjects about which you are truly passionate is one of the best ways to distinguish yourself. It's the feeling that comes through naturally as you write about certain topics, which is apparent to the reader and reflects you as an authority. While research is indeed a part of writing, it does have its place. Hours invested in research will never replace what is written from within. If a subject is not in your heart, it will never be in your head ... and certainly not in your writing. Call it old-school or back-to-basics, but being genuine is what separates real writers from those who are merely content generators. Unplug for a while to rediscover your own true interests and passions, but keep a pen and paper handy. A breath of creative fresh air breeds countless intriguing ideas... you can rely on your collective notes and inspirations when you return to your keyboard. Rest assured ... they will serve your writing well! (c) 2006, Davis Virtual Assistance. About the Author |
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Stewing Herbs-The Age Of The Great Unwashed!
Although you may think these herbs were called as such for culinary purposes…you will be surprised by the actual reference to the name.
In the middle ages, it was customary for the wealthy English noble to religiously bathe every three weeks. However, a peasant could not afford this luxury. The excessive nature of hauling and heating water for a nice warm bath proved to be too burdensome. Pneumonia became a concern during this time, for it was believed that bathing, especially during the winter months, would lead to chills and ultimately death. This historic period in history became then known as the "age of the great unwashed " .
Needless to say, body odor became quite pungent, especially when on many a cold winter night, it was customary to sleep two – three to a bed for warmth, wrapped in many a heavy blanket. The wealthy could afford the luxury of heavy doses of perfume, however the peasants simply slept beneath cuttings from very strong-smelling plants. These plants became known as stewing herbs for they were literally strewed about on floors, outhouses and even between the sheets of the beds to perfume the peasants.
During this era of the great unwashed, there evolved unique means of scenting clothing. Women's long, voluminous skirts trailed behind them. In castle gardens, it was not uncommon to find a thyme lawn composed of a ground-hugging mat of aromatic Thymus serphyllum. When walked upon, plants were crushed, and then skirts trailed over them to soak up any oils exuded from the foliage.
Lavender is a very well known odor-covering stewing herb. Lavender's Latin root name means to wash, or "lavare. " We inherited this herb from the bath-loving Romans, however, by medieval times, the Romans ceased using the herb as a scent for bathing and applied it as a masking fragrance quilted into hats or other particles of clothing.
Additionally during this time it was customary to throw table scrapes and bones to the household pet, whose shaggy and unkept mane was bathed less frequently than the peasants who housed them. Soon the filth caused many disease-breeding vermin within the confines of the house. Thereafter, history encountered a second reason for stewing herbs, as a pesticide. Many of the oils from herbs could deter fleas, lice, weevil and other undesirable insects.
There are many well known herbs today that Thomas Tusser indicated in his 1557 well known book, "A Hundreth Good Points of Husbandrie " . Basil, Lemon Balm, Sweet Fennel, Germander, Hyssop, Lavender, Santolina, Marjoram, Pennyroyal, Sage, Tansy and Winter Savory are among his list of 21 stewing herbs.
One such herb, Pennyroyal, also known as fleabane or Menta Pulegium, is a pungent member of the mint family. The homes where it was grown and liberally used for strewing, had fewer incidences of the Black Death, for the plague was spread by fleabites. The plants are still used today for stuffing dog beds and doghouses to discourage these pests from taking up residence.
The " planted seat " was also designed to scent clothing. It was created of carved stone and appeared much like a heavy church pew. The seat was hollowed out into a cavity about 6 inches deep and into this was packed earth planted with either chamomile or thyme. When a person sat down and crushed the plants, resulting oils soaked into breeches or skirts.
At the root of our most favored aromatic plants of the modern herb garden are the fragrances used to disguise aromas of the great unwashed. It was not until the dawn of the 20th century that bathing became a frequent practice. Let us rejoice in the luxury of bathing every day, knowing we no longer have to douse ourselves in perfume or live amid a pile of wilted herbs to abide each other's company.
This is but a small excerpt from my new ebook: Holistic Herbs ~ A Beginners Guide to Herbal Gardening.
Learn more about Chinese Medicine & Natural Herbal Cures
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Kali S Winters
About the Author
Kali S Winters is gardening enthusiast and author who spends much of her time teaching others how to setup and maintain beautiful, amazing gardens. Check out Kali's latest book, "Holistic Herbs~A Beginners Guide to Herbal Gardening" Here! There you will find 12 free bonus books for your reading enjoyment. Discover more about Natural Home Herbal Remedies Here!!