Herbfarmacy Newsletter: Spring 2010

Yes, believe it or not Spring is here! We can hear the birds singing, Clover the adopted Herbfarmacy Labrador is lying in the warmth of the sun and a few brave snowdrops and crocuses are emerging  - hooray!

Herbfarmacy Shop Opening

Yes we really are opening a shop! So, if you are in the area or would enjoy a trip to the picturesque village of Hay–on-Wye (Powys) then make a note in your diary to come on the 27th March at 11am when our special guest Brigit Strawbridge* will officially open the Herbfarmacy shop. Come and join us at  22 Broad Street for a celebratory drink and see the wide range of Natural and Organic products in our shop alongside our own Herbfarmacy products.

Brigit has worked for many years to increase awareness of the importance of a greener more sustainable lifestyle and is an inspiration to us all. Take a look at Brigit’s new charity on her website www.thebiggreenidea.org   

Latest News

The latest news hot off the press.... We have just been informed that our Mallow Beauty Balm has been shortlisted for the best Organic Beauty Product category in the UK Beauty Awards 2010.

Mothers Day Offer

Mother’s Day is fast approaching (Sunday 14th March). Why not spoil your mum with a wonderful Herbfarmacy treat. We have put together Citrus Hand Cream and a Whole Body lotion beautifully presented in a purple Gift Bag for your mum for just £25 (a saving of £7) and with our Free Postage on UK orders over £25 there will be no postage or packaging to pay!
http://www.herbfarmacy.co.uk/special_offers.html

Alternatively the Herbfarmacy Cleanse Pack makes an indulgent treat and will also qualify for Free P&P. http://www.herbfarmacy.co.uk/skin_cleanse_pack.html

Botanical Stained Glass Exhibition proved to be a huge success!      

We used the empty shop in Hay last December creatively by housing a stained glass exhibition by Rowan McOnegal. The exhibition generated much interest in Rowan’s work and the prospective opening of our shop. A medical Herbalist and  fine artist, Rowan’s love, knowledge and familiarity of medicinal herbs inspired her to make a stunning collection of Stained Glass featuring hedgerow herbs, flowers and fruits. Take a look at Rowan’s work and her hedgerow herb courses on her website.  www.rowanmconegal.co.uk

Rowan’s exhibition has inspired us to continue to exhibit local artists whose work reflects a love of plants and nature. Our next two guest exhibitors at Hay are:

Cara Campbell – a stunning fresco artist   www.caracampbell.co.uk

Jenny Pierce – a maker of beautiful willow baskets and more www.jennypearce.co.uk     

Needless to say the snow and cold weather have held things back on the farm but plans are afoot to start sowing seeds in the poly-tunnel and there’s rumour of a harvesting of Valerian root imminently. Soon spring will galvanise us all into action and the weeds will be abeckoning.
Make sure you watch the new series of Grow Your Own Drugs from April 7th, BBC2 at 8.00pm. Somewhere around episode 5,  Paul will  be talking to James Wong about the merits of  the Hypericum flowers and leaves both as an infusion  in oil on the skin and  as a tincture taken internally -  which is a natural anti-depressant.  James was with us last June on the 24th – St John’s day, when traditionally St John’s wort (Hypericum) is harvested - it was also Paul’s birthday and was a lovely sunny day for harvesting and most of our staff joined in. There is much folklore around St John’s Wort and this came to light as Paul and James talked whilst we all cut the flowers.  Later Paul and James were filmed in the sunshine making a fresh tincture with the herb and the famous blood-red oil with the flowers.

Meet our new Staff

Helen Barnard – Herbfarmacy’s Beauty Therapist: with several years of experience as a beauty therapist and a fan of Herbfarmacy for some time, Helen who has many talents  and a great deal of knowledge and experience of natural skincare, has proved to be a real asset to the Herbfarmacy team. She will be our resident Beautician at the Hay Herbfarmacy shop. You can book appointments with her on 07785524076.

Annelisa Eccles - sales and marketing assistant ,a customer turned employee, working part time whilst raising a young family. Along with Nicky, she’ll be looking after our current customers and finding new ones. So far, her favourite place at the farm is the lab, where the herbs and flowers are brought in from the fields and turned into the gorgeous ointments, creams and oils that make up the Herbfarmacy range. 

New Friends...

Herbfarmacy are pleased to have recently formed a link with eco chic online boutique Ochre&Ocre who have an Exclusive Offer for Herbfarmacy newsletter readers: Save 20% off Ochre And Ocre's new eco chic range of kitchen textiles & table linen. 
Their new British collection is launching this March. Go online to www.OchreAndOcre.com to see the full range. Just enter the code HERB when you check out to save 20%.

To box or not to box? – tell us what you think

We feel passionate about the quality of our products, and how they’re made.  We also work hard to exceed the stringent standards set by the Soil Association in everything we do.  But we’re always looking for ways to improve.  Some feedback suggests that you would prefer our products to be packaged in boxes as well as their jar or bottle.  Let us know your thoughts on our website or twitter.

Dates for your Diary / News in Brief

27th March you will find us in Hay – on – Wye for the Grand Opening of Herbfarmacy’s first shop!

11th & 12thth April we will be exhibiting at the Organic and Natural Health show at Olympia in London look out for us on stand 2079 in the Natural Beauty area

8th June sees us taking part in the Feel Good Charity Day at the Bell at Skenfrith in Monmouthshire helping to raise funds for The Breast Cancer Haven

26th &27th July come and visit us at The Farm Open Day. Come and walk around the farm, see the herbs growing and hear how it all started from the man himself Dr Paul Richards

Postlethwaites Tinctures are now available on the Herbfarmacy website
http://www.herbfarmacy.co.uk/tinctures.html