A lot going on in this particular newsletter-style blog post. From workshops and trail tours to foraging runs and upcoming fairs we'll be at, there's lots to catch up on here, as well as photos of various wild herbs in the area.

Join the adventure by clicking here for the full report:
https://naturalhealthgodsway.ca/2026/04/20/more-foraging-escapades-two-workshop-trail-tours-upcoming-events-this-spring/

So April 6th was our first spring foraging run. We came back with a bit of yarrow, but not without gathering a full cloth grocery bag of fallen, still-green, fir sprigs!

Then we spotted a Ponderosa pine with very loose bark layers. These layers are what I've been experimenting with as a cinnamon-like spice. Looking around at the base of a few pine trees reveals that the trees shed this layer regardless. We can either let it go to waste and become forest fire fuel, or we can do our part in reducing fuel for forest fires while also reducing our need to buy imported goods from overseas.

Discovering that Lamb's Quarters are a spinach substitute whether raw or cooked, is another ingredient that doesn't need to be trucked the last mile if it is found growing nearby, or only the price of the gas spent to go get it, which for us, is equal to the cost of gas running to the store. Of course, the fewer runs to the store, the less gas spent. Money saved all around.

Maybe this week I'll get around to trying out powdered pine bark in place of cinnamon in a cinnamon roll recipe. If it works, I'll share the recipe and call them pine rolls instead.

We will be at the Vernon Wellness Fair April 11th and 12th, with a sniff sample available of Wild Apple Spice.

If you live in the Okanagan, hope to see you at the fair, and we look forward to more foraging runs, workshops, etc, as the year progresses. Don't forget that we are available for various bookings this year. See the booking card below:

For the full foraging report with photos, click here:
https://naturalhealthgodsway.ca/2026/04/06/first-spring-foraging-run/

Boho Sage Green Tulle Tutu Skirt with White Lace Flower Girl Dress, Beach or Moss Rustic Wedding Gown for Girls

This beautiful two-piece set features a delicate white lace bodice with buttons along the back and a flowing princess tulle skirt in sage/moss green with a comfortable elastic waistband. With its bohemian, beachy, romantic charm, it keeps your little one both comfortable and stylish—perfect for any special event.

https://www.etsy.com/listing/716255960

#FlowerGirlDress #BohemianWedding #TwoPieceDress #HighWaistSkirt #BohoGirlsDresses #GirlsSpringDresses #SageTulleSkirt #BabyBohoDress #FlowerGirlDresses #FlowerGirlGift #OutfitForGirls #TulleSkirt #GownForGirls

Coming up for air as I continue efforts on my textbook before the foraging season kicks into high gear! I realized I haven't posted any new blog articles for literally an entire month! Oops???

This coming weekend, we are at Vernon Shoparama at the Vernon Rec Centre. We will be in the rec centre's gym. In April, we will be back at the rec centre for the Vernon Wellness Fair, and then at Maplefest downtown Kelowna the last saturday of the month.

May's craft fair schedule has run off the rails, BUT. . . we end the month at our very first ever Ren Fair!!! As I type, Ashley is working on a leather corsette belt for me! Comparing apothecary outfits to 1850's bar tenders with the age if piracy, and in all three image searches, it was apparent that as an English rider, Ashley's outfit was prebuilt just riding her horse! She had made herself a waspy corsette a few years ago, and that completes her look. The Penticton Ren Fair is happening May 30th!

Do keep tabs on our 2026 Where We'll Be card, and/or to the website calendar, clickable from the main menu bar across the top of my website.

We've also discovered the wonders of turning pine bark into a spice similar to cinnamon, with a flavour profile similar to cinnamon as well. It lends the same flavour style to things like apple fritters, apple crumble, pumpkin spice blend, etc.

We are changing up the tea packaging by the way! This is more cost effective for us, takes the same length of time to put together as the current packaging, but takes up less space, and is easier to use. Just keep the string for your own storage as you will need it to close the package. Wild Apple Spice is the first tea to use this packaging.

With plants coming to life around the valley, now is the time to be planning for foraging workshops.

It's going to be a knock-em-out year this year (on many levels)! Here's hoping if you live in the Okanagan, to see you around at various fairs we'll be at!

https://naturalhealthgodsway.ca/2026/03/24/coming-up-for-air-update-on-book-efforts-spring-outlook-news/

White Lace Infant Flower Girl Dress, Romantic Tulle Wedding Gown for Baby Girl, Boho Chic Blessing Day Outfit

This beautiful dress features a delicate white lace bodice paired with a tiered ivory tutu skirt for a soft, elegant look. A pearl and lace appliqué decorates the front, adding a charming detail. The V-back with unfinished lace gives the dress a perfect touch of boho-chic style, making it a lovely choice for special occasions.

https://www.etsy.com/listing/603894574

#ShortWeddingDress #ChristeningGown #FlowerGirlDress #WhiteLaceDress #FlowerGirlDresses #GirlsDresses #LaceDress #BohoDress #FirstBirthdayDress #GirlsSpringDresses #FlowerGirlGift #GirlOutfit #BabyCeremonyGown

Elections Canada promises changes after headline-grabbing errors with mail-in ballots last election!

In the weeks following last spring’s election, special ballots were linked to notable issues in two ridings on opposite sides of the country

🇨🇦 #MarkCarneyCantBeTrusted 🇨🇦
🇨🇦 #SayingTheQuietPartOutLoud 🇨🇦
🇨🇦 #JustSayNoMore 🇨🇦
🇨🇦 #CarneyLies 🇨🇦

https://nationalpost.com/news/politics/elections-canada-promises-changes-after-headline-grabbing-errors-with-mail-in-ballots-last-election

Acetaminophen and autism . . .

"Here are peer-reviewed papers, systematic reviews and mechanistic articles that have reported associations or argued biological plausibility for acetaminophen (paracetamol) exposure as a possible contributor to neurodevelopmental outcomes including autism." -- John H Abeles

Key studies & reviews that report an association or biological plausibility

Liew Z., et al., 2014 — “Acetaminophen Use During Pregnancy and Neurobehavioral Outcomes” (JAMA Pediatrics) — One of the large prospective cohort studies that reported associations between prenatal acetaminophen exposure and later ADHD-like behaviors; raised concern about potential neurodevelopmental effects.

Liew Z., et al., 2016 — “Maternal use of acetaminophen during pregnancy and risk of autism spectrum disorder in offspring” (Epidemiology / PubMed entry) — A population study that examined prenatal acetaminophen exposure and ASD risk and discussed confounding and methodological issues.

Bauer A., Kriebel D., 2016 (and related reviews) — “Prenatal and perinatal analgesic exposure and autism” (PubMed abstract / review) — Early review paper discussing the ecological correlation between rising paracetamol use and ASD, plus biologic plausibility and epidemiologic findings.

Robinson R. et al., 2016 / 2017 — “Acetaminophen Use in Early Life and Autism” (systematic and mechanistic reviews) — Reviews that summarize observational studies linking early-life acetaminophen (not only prenatal exposure) to increased ASD risk and discuss mechanisms (oxidative stress, immune effects). Example review available on PMC.

Mega-cohort / consortium analyses (2021) — “Prenatal and postnatal exposure to acetaminophen in relation to neurodevelopmental outcomes” (European cohorts) — Large pooled analysis of multiple cohorts (≈73,000 pairs) investigating prenatal and early postnatal acetaminophen exposure and ASC/ADHD outcomes; results were mixed and interpreted as inconclusive but included signals worthy of further study.

Systematic review (2022) — “A Systematic Review of the Link Between Autism Spectrum Disorder and Acetaminophen” (PMC review) — Comprehensive systematic review summarizing observational studies, heterogeneity across results, and limitations (confounding, exposure measurement).

Prada D. et al., 2025 — “Evaluation of the evidence on acetaminophen use and neurodevelopmental outcomes” (open-access review) — A recent evidence evaluation that concluded many studies report associations between prenatal acetaminophen and NDDs (ASD/ADHD) but stressed heterogeneity and residual confounding.

Mechanistic papers (oxidative stress / mitochondrial hypotheses) — Articles that discuss plausible biological mechanisms (oxidative stress, mitochondrial dysfunction, immune/inflammatory pathways) by which ac

Sitting here exhausted, but very pleased with today's foraging run! The highlight of today's outing was actually catching harvest season for the wild strawberry for the first time in years!

This weekend, we are at Schubert Centre for their summer market, then we are back at the Rutland Flea Market. We've purchased a 4ft folding table that we hope will be big enough to handle a tighter version of the layout we had at Lumby Days. The Lumby Days Indoor Craft Fair blew our socks off!

The way the Lumby Days booth setup looked, we are becoming a veritable roving wildcrafted tea parlor with a side of medical insight to help people make choices that benefit their situations. Several times so far this spring, and several times at both major fairs this month, we've been asked if we have a storefront. As of yet, we do not, but we realize that if sales continue as they are, we will be in need of more processing space that can allow for a foodsafe kitchen, processing area, and expanded drying area so we can expand available quantities of the teas we offer, and potentially branch into other wildcrafted goods for sale.

If you are reading this and you are in the Central Okanagan region, and if you believe you know someone who might help in some way, drop us a line with that information.

https://naturalhealthgodsway.ca/2025/06/18/foraging-tea-sales-and-long-term-conundrum/

Arrest every last one of these violent protesters and looters. Prison for citizens, deportation for non-citizens. Make it hurt so people think twice before doing the bidding of those who are funding this nonsense and encouraging them to riot . . .

https://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2025/06/it-begins-violent-anti-ice-protests-spring-up/

Don't bother sharing this information with people with TDS -- they'll never be able to accept tariffs are already beginning to work for the Middle class . . .

Ford announces lower model prices following Trump's 25% tariffs on non-American-made vehicles

The automobile manufacturer is offering what it coined a “handshake deal with every American,” one day following the imposition of 25% tariffs on non-American-made vehicles.

Ford on Thursday announced a new, lower-cost vehicle pricing plan – “From America, For America” – following President Trump unveiling the previous day 25% tariffs on non-American-made vehicles.

The spring plan will offer employee pricing to potential customers for most vehicles – electric, gas-powered and hybrid – with the exception of some higher-end models include Navigator SUVs.

Addressing customer concerns and uncertainty about the tariffs he said, “We want them to be assured that Ford, the most American auto company, is going to do right by them, as are our dealers.”