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Show Wednesday, October 6, 2004 B1 Expressions Vnlocktrw the Community Calendar October 6 Free child care orientation class at 10 a.m. in Vernal. To reserve a spot in class, call 1- 435-63h-2355. By Maureen Spencer Express Writer A little pocket of white cotton cot-ton sits among her dolls and wreaths and soaps and baskets and vinegars and fire starters. It almost goes unnoticed because of the natural country beauty of the rest of this fragrant display. Virtually everything "goes unnoticed" when Nila Bowler begins to explain the special uses of each scented bundle of her leaves and blossoms, stems and raffia. The fragrances enveloping all nearby will frequently cause the mouth to water or sinuses to clear and headache to quietly fade. But it's the little pocket of white cotton that holds a delightful secret. Tucked between a pillow case doll whose head is stuffed with fragrant herbs and long-handled wooden spoons w ith a hearty blend of fresh herbs tied near the spoon's bowl, it lies waiting to be "discovered." A quick movement of Nila's wrist and the palm-sized cotton pocket's secret is ready to be revealed. "This helped my boys to go to sleep at night," she says simply, and seeing my quizzical look continues, "It's full of chamomile." chamo-mile." Before there's time to digest this new information, the plump fabric pocket is under my nose, the mellow scent of chamomile whisking my memory mem-ory back to honeyed warm teas in rose-strewn china cups a grandmother's nightly gift. The mother standing before me would tuck this small white pouf of chamomile on her children's chil-dren's pillow at night to encourage encour-age sweet dreams. "It's fun to see things grow," explains Nila. Her passion for growing and preserving herbs and the bounty boun-ty of nature's varied harvests began in Las Vegas some 30 years ago. A move that returned her to the Vernal area also brought her to work at Basin Nursery where Norma Haslem Shaw and she started "playing with plants" to see potential for the greenhouse inventory. Meanwhile, at home, Nila was experimenting with drying dry-ing rosemary, oregano, lavender, laven-der, sage blossoms and such for wreaths and crafts. "I dried things all over the house my family hated it," she chuckles. A creative woman, she fixed a little drying rack over Herbal displays in the home or sical accents. her fridge and racks sprouted up elsewhere in the house. "I probably didn't start cooking with herbs for many years just "played" instead," she recalls. About 15 years ago she began using them fresh for cooking and decoration. "My first real 'experiment' .was trying to eat a flower," she says, waiting to see my reaction reac-tion to the thought of spearing a marigold, pansy petal or viola on my salad fork. She assures, "It's delicious." Books, libraries, classes and magazines feed her voracious appetite for herbal knowledge. Before long, Nila herself began having classes at the nursery, where she has continued contin-ued teaching for the past eight years. Sometimes with Norma and sometimes with Becky Trujillo, Helen Hodge, Sharon Burns or Connie Abplanalp. Nila gives spirited and down-to-earth lectures to well-attended classes about the "art of herbs." She readily can suggest watering water-ing and soil needs of an incredibly incred-ibly long list of plants as well as which plants complement each other or give distinctive flavors and fragrances. The book, "Planting Herbs in Your Garden," is an immediate immedi-ate reference for those wanting to learn how to grow the many specimens. She cautions, from years of experience, to add a few herbs into existing gardens, not to develop a w hole new garden. gar-den. When a flavor or fragrance is enjoyed, she then recommends recom-mends adding it to the collection. collec-tion. Herb gardens may be planted in "themes," such as a bee garden, gar-den, Shakespeare garden, fragrance fra-grance garden or a gray and silver sil-ver garden. Seasoned flours, teas, hair rinses, pesto sauces, salts, candy and insect repellent brews are only a few of the ways to use personally grown herbs. In an instant, Nila is recommending recom-mending combining chamomile and lavendar in a cloth bag to be put under the hot running water of a bathtub allowing a person to "steep" themselves in the large fragrant, relaxing tub of "tea." Not one to waste, she ties leftover left-over dried herb stems into bundles bun-dles with a few sprigs of colorful color-ful lavendar or other dried flowers. flow-ers. The resulting bundles of what many would consider garbage, gar-bage, lie attractively in a basket to be used as great fragrant fire starters. on the patio can include whim inMC:w,l'"r:.ri n 1 : j '"" --- ---- - ' - - (Above) Nila Bowler uses fresh herbs tied to wooden spoons added bouquet of flavor. (Top) Dried herbal stems and blossoms that would otherwise fire starters with Nila Bowler's skilled touch. Nila air-dries herbs in bunches upside down in dark, well ventilated ven-tilated areas. They can also be spread in a thin layer on screens or frames covered with cheesecloth. cheese-cloth. In an oven, a thin laver may be spread on a cookie sheet and baked at no more than 12(1 degrees until dry and crispy. Microwave drving can be accomplished with a few sprigs on a towel and allowing 30 seconds at a time until dry and crumbly. The family freezer can be used to preserve, also. After removing leaves from the stems. Nila can chop or freeze them uncrowded in containers. When thawed, they may be used the same as fresh herbs. Herbal baths are a personal favorite for soothing fragrance. Favorite bath herbs include catnip, cat-nip, comprey. chamomile, hyssop, hys-sop, lemon balm, rose flowers, valerian roots and violets. Nila shares a fine Tuscan vinegar vin-egar recipe, made w ith a cup of white organic vinegar to which the following are added: two sprigs of fresh rosemary, fresh oregano and fresh basil: one sprig of fresh sage; one crushed garlic clove; and one tablespoon of black pepper. Homemade vinegars should be placed in sterilized bottles with sterilized lids or corks. Plastic wrap should separate any metal rings from the bottle. (Nila stresses that v inegar must not come in contact w ith metal.) She "bruises" leaves slightly to enhance flavors. Vinegars should be covered and let stand in a cool, dark place for four to six weeks. Bottles need to be shaken every few days. She strains vinegar four or five times through a coffee cof-fee filter until it is clear. Pour the resulting liquid into a new sterilized bottle and add fresh herbs. The vinegar may be stored at room temperature for up to three months. A flavorful and simple herb flavored sage oil may be made w ith 12 cup of fresh sage leaves and a cup of extra-virgin olive oil. Herbal oils are best made in smaller amounts, since oils don't have the same purification qualities qual-ities as v inegars. Place herbs in sterilized bottles w ith non-metal T 1 1-4, f-M V." " ilium ..t-K sr t . .. Hand-made soaps benefit from for fragrance and color. caps and add oil. Keep the oil in a cool, dark place for two weeks before straining and re-bottling. Oils need be refrigerated and then warmed to room temperature tempera-ture before using. Herbs are known to be "companion" "com-panion" plants those which enhance that which grows near them. A small sampling of one of Nila's favorite author's herbal companions and their suggested effects are as follows: Anise grows well with coriander cori-ander and together they are a good deterrent for snails and slugs. Basil improves growth and flavor of tomatoes. Indoors it repels houseflies, but do not plant near rue. (Rue is said to like roses and raspberries and is disliked by cats and dogs. It is "incompatible" with sage, basil and cabbage.) The much enjoyed chamomile chamo-mile is a companion to cabbage and onions, improving growth and flavor. It is suggested that chamomile tea is good for plants as well as people. Chives are purported to love s ! ! It V V . . I i a. - u7 - ' - "- - - - 1 4?' v to stir soups and stews for an be discarded become fragrant 1 3Tj herbal oils and crushed leaves to be near carrots, roses and apples, making them grow and taste better. Lavendar is loved by butterflies but-terflies and bees, but it seems to have a repelling factor to rabbits, mice, ticks, moths and mosquitoes. Parslev is a favorite of chives, tomatoes, carrots, roses and asparagus. For invigorated cucumbers, corn and other herbs, include yarrow. It is said to enhance essential oil production. Nila. and others who are enjoying the many-faceted benefits of growing herbs, are starting a group in the community commu-nity for those interested in herbs "in general." They will meet Wednesday. Oct. '20, at 7:30 p.m. in the conference room of the Utah State University Extension office on the third floor of the Uintah County Building. Those wishing to enjoy the company of others who enjoy herbs may contact Nila Bowler. 789-6704 or Becky Trujillo. 789-0711. Octobers Communiiv dance at (ioklen Age Center. 155 South 100 West. 8-10 p.m. even Friday night. Kay's Band pro-v pro-v ides the music. October 10 Uintah Basin Singles 31 and older Break the l ast I'otluck, 5 p.m. Vernal Second and 4th Ward Chapel. 235 Fast 600 South. All faiths and stakes welcome. October 12 Deadline for Ninth Annual Outlaw frail Festival of the Arts Juried Photography Show entries. Bring to Western Heritage Museum. 328 F. 200 So. Rules at website. Five div isions, i-sions, five categories. Fntry lees apply per entry. For questions. ques-tions. Christine Y. Smith 790-(1858, 790-(1858, snully uhtanet.com or w w w .my ariscouncil.org. AVMC Diabetes Support (iroup. d:30 p.m. in the AVMC medical offices conference room, located on the ground lloor of the building adjoining adjoin-ing the hospital on the east side. Topic will be "Brown Bag Medication Review" with guest speakers Pharm D's Dave Bestenlehner and Ben Seinadeni. October 15 Community dance at (ioklen Age Center. 155 South 100 West. 8-10 p.m. every Friday night. Kay's Band pro- ides the music. October 16 Fall Friendship Feast for Uintah Basin Singles over 31 at home of Nolan Toone. 5920 North Div Fork Canvon Road. (iourmet potato bar. politick salads and desserts. Five musical musi-cal entertainment, names, con versation. All faiths and stakes welcome. Sponsored by Ashley Stake. Horse training demonstra tion. "Fife Lessons from the Round Pen'" to be given by Bob loonier of Ferron. Utah. Begins at noon. Free to pub lic, tree hoi dogs and pop. At Western Park Indoor Arena. October 17 Fireside for Uintah Basin Singles 31 and older. 7 p.m at Jih! and 4th Warn cha pel, 235 Fast 600 South. Jean Jones .speakinu. Refreshments. Sponsored by Ashley Stake. October 19 MS support group meets the third Tuesdav of each month at the Vernal Citv offic es. 6:30-7:30 p.m. Anyone with ln tin e Sc erosis or those knowing people with MS are united to attend. Venue 789 1903. October 20 Familv Services Director of Alzheimer's Association will make a presentation at the (ioklen Age Center at I p.m Dini Droguett will give a pre sentation on the disease. Topic; include the physiology of the disease, effective communica tion and medications. Public invited to attend the lunch at 12 noon. Must make reservations for the luncheon in advance. October 22 C ommunity dance at (ioklen Aue Center, 155 South 100 West. 8-10 p.m. every Friday night. Kay's Band pro ides the music. October 29 Community dance at (iolden Age Center. 155 South 100 West, 8-10 p.m. every Friday night. Kay's Band pro v ides the music. October 20 "Trunk or Treat" at th Gold Cross station, 220 West 100 South, 5-7 p.m. To place items of public inter est in the Community Calendar mail them to the Vernal Kxpress P.O. Box 1000, email them to editor" vernal .com or call the Vernal Fxprexs at 789-3511. |