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Let's face it, many of us living in the urban jungle can't break away from the modern city centers and its conveniences to move out to the rural, green acres, buy land, and begin a commercial-scale farming production.
What we can do, however, is pull community resources together to utilize small-scale gardening practices that help us become more resilient and reliant on a household/community level. Whether it's in your backyard, your neighbor's (with permission, of course), or down the lane at the community gardens, families can have fun growing fresh food for their family right in the city or suburb. Patio gardens are excellent for apartment-dwellers, and they are extremely low maintenance! All you need to do is Water It With Love!!
Don't have a greenthumb? That's okay! Maybe you'd like to start but don't know where or how...
It's okay! As they say, baby steps are still movement! We love sharing our knowledge on how-to's, so stay tuned to our blog posts. With over 40 years of experience in food and herb production between Gayle and Eric, we'll provide great tips on when to plant, how to plant, what tools work best for diy projects, how to preserve the harvest, garden-to-table recipes, and more! Find us on Instagram @WateritWithLove for more frequent shares and videos from the garden!
Organic Fire Cider Recipe
Quick and simple fire cider recipe made from organic ingredients.
How to make organic fire cider
Fire Cider has been fermenting for four weeks and is just in time for use.. my family is getting the seasonal cold going around the community, and I've got the biggest weekend coming up. There's simply no way that I can get sick! Not with this magical ‘elixir’ of sorts. Once again, I’m going to put this old, folk remedy to the test. I’ll post below on the results!
Super easy to make-- check it out--
The Ingredients:
Apple Cider Vinegar (at least one quart)
1 large onion
4-6 cloves of garlic
1 inch chunk of fresh ginger
1/2 inch chunk of fresh turmeric
1 tsp black peppercorns
1 spicy pepper - chili pepper, jalapeno, or habanero depending on how much spice you like
1 whole lemon
2 inch chunk of fresh horseradish
honey (to taste if desired)
Other ingredient options: calendula, rosemary, oregano, cinnamon, sage, tulsi basil, thyme, star anise, juniper berry, rose hips, elderberry, cayenne pepper, clove, mustard seed, and orange peel.
The Process:
In a large glass jar, add roughly chopped turmeric, ginger, garlic, onion, habanero pepper, lemon juice and peel, black pepper, and/or any other healing ingredients. Leave enough room on the top of the jar so that the vinegar can cover the ingredients.
Then, top with organic, raw apple cider vinegar. Shake the jar daily or as often as you remember! Let sit unrefrigerated for 30+ days to ferment. Top off with vinegar as needed.
After fermenting for at least 30 days, strain and remove the food/herbs, then (if desired) add raw, local honey to the cider. The cider can be bottled into smaller jars using a funnel. The remnants of garlicky goodness can be composted or put through a second fermentation process.
Shake it up, baby! After week 3, this fire cider was looking stewed and fiery!!
Organic, raw apple cider vinegar can be purchased in one-gallon containers from natural grocery chains like Sprouts market for approximately $15 (priced in 2019).
How to Use:
Some folks take this remedy for preventative measures, as it contains many anti-inflammatory, anti-viral, anti-bacterial, and immune-boosting ingredients. It serves as a digestive aide, stimulating the system and promoting an alkaline state in the digestive tract. It can also be consumed in small doses upon onset of sniffles, sneezing, cough, or congestion to stimulate the lymphatic system. It has been known to speed up the healing process to many ailments.
Fire cider can be mixed into tea, water, taken straight, or with food. Salads and sautéed greens are two types of foods you can add the vinegar to!
Storage: Once filtered, cider can be stored in glass with a tight lid unrefrigerated for up to 6 months-1 year, if not longer. If you are concerned about the product going rancid after a period of time, store it in the fridge to help prolong the shelf life of this magical elixir.
Results: Tried and true, time and time again! This isn’t my first rodeo (flu season), and I’ve had various forms of this wondrous remedy over the past ten years. It’s true. Fire cider burns like fire, and it’s so spicy from the garlic, peppers, and onion, that you wonder why the hell you are doing it.
But then, the next morning, you wake up without that severe sore throat that kept you moaning in bed the day before. My husband drank the small bottle pictured on the left over a course of 3 days and his sinus infection and bronchial issues are down to a minor cough.
This may not be the cure-all for every person suffering from the cold or flu (if special treatment is really needed, get to a healing practitioner), but there is something to be said for plant-based medicine fermented in ACV. I’d love to hear if you try it out, and if it works kicking those cold bugs to the curb!
Cheers to warming the belly, fire side!
G
