Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an advance copy of this book in return for an honest review.
The book’s subtitle is “Nourishing Herbal Remedies, Magical Recipes & Folk Wisdom,” and that is exactly what is contained therein. Zak’s introduction calls to something in all of us, at one time or another, that yearns for a connection. Using the wisdom passed down to her by her grandmothers, the author shows us how to reconnect with earth and its rhythms. The author invites you to treat this as a notebook given to you by your grandmother, ready for your personalized annotations, reflections and clippings.
The book is divided into a separate section for each season. Each section contains natural remedies of lotions and potions, beauty and cleaning products, seasonal recipes and crafts to aid in well-being. The book is beautifully illustrated and is sprinkled throughout with folk tales and ritual celebrations. My favorite was Marzanna, symbolizing the harshness of winter. In spring, an effigy of straw and rags is brought around town, dragged through puddles, then burned on the river and drowned to rid the village of illness and worries. One of the customs of this celebration is don’t look back at Marzanna, look ahead to spring and rebirth.
candysplanet 
Sounds interesting. Did you use any of the recipes?
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There were only a few for meals like pierogi or poppy seed cake. Most depended on fresh herbs and berries, and the summer recipes sounded especially refreshing. Unfortunately, most of the ingredients would need to be home-grown. I have come to terms with the fact that the Phoenix sun kills anything I try to plant and I will never have a garden.
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Yes I will never have a garden, or plants in pots.
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Reblogged this on Worldviewer and commented:
One of the important things my Baboushka taught us was that we should always stay connected to nature and feed and care for ourselves with pure natural products. Eating kosher had to be a way of life. Using only the natural means, to make and keep us healthy, had to be a sign to the Bore, the One Eternal Creator, that we appreciate His work and want to be part of that creation.
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