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About Town
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January 12-15:
To sharpen their skills our staff will be attending the Northern Green Expo this January.
Hosted by the Minnesota Nursery & Landscape Association (MNLA), the Northern Green Expo takes place annually at the Minneapolis Convention Center. This year, industry professionals will be discussing the importance of edibles and sustainability in landscaping. Heidi is the standing president of the MNLA.
In Case You Missed It:
this winter in the North Country.
...and don't forget!
Watch Heidi
Wednesday, Dec 9th
on Kare 11,
News @ 4
as she discusses artful holiday gift-giving ideas.
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| Did You Know... |
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...after the solstice, daylight hours increase faster in northern latitudes?
know...
...LED light strands use 90% less energy than traditional lights?
Did you know...
...HLG offers holiday gift certificates?
W
ith us, you
can give the
"gift of green"!
Did you know...
...despite being
verifiably
effective, fire cider is also a part of folklore
? The Brothers Grimm have mentioned it in their fabled fairy tales.
Did you know... 
...HLG is hiring?
Call us at
763.475.4960
to learn more!
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The holiday season has arrived, friends! Our passage into winter has been big & joyous this year.
THANK YOU so very much for being a part of it. We are overflowing with gratitude for our community that brings us strength & harmony. And as we stride towards a new year of growth, we are enchanted by the holiday spirit!
I encourage you all to ask of yourself: "What does spirit mean to me? In what ways am I finding deeper, truer meaning in life?"
For me, that is the true essence of this season.
~Good tidings to you as we approach the winter solstice~
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| Recipe of the Month |
Cold & Flu Fighting Fire Cider
Fire cider is a powerful homemade immune-boosting tonic
that is incredibly simple to prepare.
Revered by herbalists for it's ability to suppress cold & flu symptoms (even
reduce
the duration of our sickness), this elixir is nothing more than infused cider vinegar made from ingredients you probably have lying around already.
Once ready, 1-2 Tbsp of this concoction daily will help stave off the sniffles. But be patient, something this potent takes about a month to
cure.
Ingredients:
- ½ cup peeled & shredded/diced ginger root
- ½ cup peeled & shredded/diced horseradish root
- ½ cup peeled & diced turmeric OR 1/4 cup additional ginger & 1/4 cup additional horseradish
- ½ cup white onion, chopped
- ¼ cup minced or crushed garlic cloves
- 2 organic jalapeno peppers, chopped
- Zest & juice from 2 organic lemons
- Raw apple cider vinegar
- Raw, organic honey to taste
Directions
Add the ginger, horseradish, onion, garlic, jalapeno & lemon juice/zest to a quart-sized jar. Pack them down lightly so that the jar is about 3/4 full. Pour a generous amount apple cider vinegar over the roots/vegetables. You want everything to stay under the liquid to prevent spoilage. Keep in mind that some of the roots will expand a little so top it off well.
If you're using a metal lid, line it with wax paper so that the vinegar doesn't corrode it, then put the lid on. Place in a dark, room temperature cabinet for 2-4 weeks. (A month is best)
When the cider is ready, shake well and then strain the roots/veggies using a cheesecloth or fine mesh sieve. Add honey to taste and store in the fridge.
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| Seasonal Message |
The Greatest Gift
Winter is a time for growth, rebirth & renewal. This is a peculiar notion with windchills looming, but it is palpable no less. So often are we misguided by holiday pageantry that we lose sight of the true lesson of the season: to
let go & to
let in.
The dark months mark a very central part of nature's rhythm. We are reminded that in order to begin anew, the old must end.
It is the end of a cycle in which the universe shows us the power of creation, the triumph of love & the gravity of loss. Autumn is over, but there is undying faith that Spring will come again.
The holidays are conventionally steeped in rhetoric of thankfulness, gratitude & giving--all wonderful principles that should be practiced every day. However, when we demonstrate our gratitude by spending money on things we don't actually value, what type of gift are we giving? We've fallen into dissonance by materializing a highly
spiritual happening.
To what end?
Let's not perpetuate
waste or
inequality in the name of spiritual doctrines. Rather, hold close & remember the seasonal lesson that new light will always emerge from the dark. Winter is perhaps our greatest reminder of this. We should celebrate accordingly. By
letting go
&
letting in
; releasing the old & embracing the new.
The greatest gifts require only spiritual investment. Show compassion & understanding. Practice thankfulness & gratitude. Bestow the gifts of forgiveness & empathy. And above all, ensure that all you do this winter protects & strengthens your inner Light. For this is the only gift we can't be given. We must make it ourselves.
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| Light Up Your Winter! |
Our Ice Lanterns Bring Warmth & Cheer
Without the need for electricity or petrochemicals, our handmade decorative ice luminaries are a beautiful & sustainable alternative to traditional holiday lighting.
Available in various sizes & with the option for custom-designed embellishments, HLG ice lanterns make for a unique & enchanting holiday landscape. Bring your winter wonderland some light this season!
Contact us today to learn how we can light up you winter!
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Bloom On!
