Five Ways Essential Oils Deter Mosquitoes

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A diffuser in your bedroom is an ideal way to support sleep and deter mosquitoes!

A diffuser in your bedroom is an ideal way to support sleep and deter mosquitoes!

Five Ways Essential Oils Deter Mosquitoes An important use  for our Biodynamic organic lavender essential oil is to deter mosquitoes. Mosquitoes and other insects hate the scent, and you can rest assured that you are not poisoning yourself—or your child—when you use it. I think of it as a non-violent approach to what can be a very annoying situation at… Read more »

Healing, the Archetypes, and Patterns of Wholeness

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Grandson emerging from a pattern of wholeness!

Grandson Sabien emerging from a pattern of wholeness!

Healing, the Archetypes, and Patterns of Wholeness Carl Jung said healing happens when one is put in right relationship to the archetypes—or patterns of wholeness. All true healing systems incorporate the process of putting the patient back in touch with these patterns. My spiritual teacher, Norma T., whose teachings I discuss much more fully in… Read more »

Lavender Hydrosol: A Cosmetic Superstar

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Lavender Engenders Trust

Harms Lavender Body Care products on shelf at Scents of Napa Valley, Yountville, CA.

Cristin McDonnell has studied Ayurvedic medicine and brings her interest in healing to our work here at Harms Vineyards and Lavender Fields. This is one of a series of her blogs on healing. I tend to get very excited about all of the healing properties and health benefits of lavender, that I take the cosmetic… Read more »

Lavender, WW I, and My Grandmother

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My grandmother Julia reunited with her family in Michigan.

Lavender, WW I, and My Grandmother  Cristin McDonnell has studied Ayurvedic medicine and brings her interest in healing to our work here at Harms Vineyards and Lavender Fields. This is one of a series of her blogs on healing. Moving to California has certainly opened new doors in terms of thinking about my family. It… Read more »

An Unexpected Gift: Helichrysum and Healing

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An Unexpected Gift of Helichrysum and Healing

Leah and Lily: An Unexpected Gift of Helichrysum

Cristin McDonnell has studied Ayurvedic medicine and brings her interest in healing to our work here at Harms Vineyards and Lavender Fields. This is one of a series of her blogs on healing. Leah’s Story Ever since I came to Harms Vineyards and Lavender Fields, I have been intrigued by the plant helichrysum. We have had… Read more »

The Healing offered by Helichrysum Italicum

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Helichrysum italicum

Helichrysum italicum

Cristin McDonnell has studied Ayurvedic medicine and brings her interest in healing to our work here at Harms Vineyards and Lavender Fields. This is one of a series of her blogs on healing. I am a believer in thoughts creating reality, being careful what you wish for, that kind of thing. Researching plant medicines, I… Read more »

Peaches and Memories

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Peaches and Memories

Peaches and Memories: Peaches from our ranch connect us with our roots.

Peaches and Memories I didn’t expect for us both to end up in tears. I only meant for him to sign his broadsides that I had just bought for my brother, sisters, and me, a gift to commemorate the sale of our four generation family farm. The broadside, entitled We Farm Memories,  hit a particularly poignant note. David Mas Masumoto… Read more »

Cristin’s Heart and Soul

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Cristin's Heart and Soul

Cristin’s Heart and Soul This is the first of Cristin McDonnell’s blogs, a young woman who is helping us with marketing throughout this fall. She comes with a great deal of heart, a friend of plant and animal alike. She is also a student of Ayurvedic medicine and will share her research on plant medicine… Read more »

Squash Blossom Recipe

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Pick early in the day.

Squash Blossom Recipe One of my all-time favorite summer treats is fried squash blossom. I grew up on a small farm in the Midwest, and summers always brought that special evening that happened perhaps two or three times a summer, when my mother served only corn-on-the cob, garden fresh tomatoes—and fried “pumpkin” blossoms (for we… Read more »

The Definition of Agriculture in Napa County

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An oak savanna at risk of becoming "a great place for a great Cab"

Monday, August 24, 2015, was the last meeting of APAC, the Agricultural Protection Adversary Committee, a committee composed of 17 citizens from various environmental, government, wine industry, and citizen groups, appointed by the Napa County Board of Supervisors. The object was to make recommendations on proposed changes to the Winery Definition Ordinance (WDO) about  visitation and events centers and the inclusion… Read more »