Welcome to the 71st Hippie Dabble Digest! We’re back! We had a nice, long break, but it’s time to get back at it! If you’re new to the Hippie Dabble Digest, welcome! You will find interesting and useful information and links first, including sections like Just for Fun, In the News, a Weekly Recipe, Physical & Mental Health & Wellbeing, In the Garden, and more. Subscribe below and you’ll also receive links to past posts that you may have missed and our product section. In our product section you’ll find the current sales and reader only discount codes.
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Let’s see if we can find where we left off!
In the last several Digests I started you on a journey of the edible plants in my garden. Check out information on chicory in Digest number 70 here: Hippie Dabble Digest 70: Squirrel maze, environmental news, chicory recipes, health benefits & growing chicory, beneficial moths, flower tea, & more!
the raspberry information here: Hippie Dabble Digest 69: Substack Note, Always Judge a Book by its Cover, The Cannabis Question, environmental news, raspberry recipes, raspberry info, & more!;
the daylily information here: Hippie Dabble Digest 68: Maze Toys, 8 Japanese habits, environmental news, Daylily recipes & information, exercise & the aging brain, & more!;
and all the lovage here: Hippie Dabble Digest 66: Ambicular, mini habits, environmental news, lovage & lemon roasted chicken, lots of lovage, summer health tips, & more!.
Going forward, I’m going to switch it up a bit and go through not just the edible plants in my garden, but the nonedible plants too. This week it’s a staghorn sumac tree because I just bought one and will be planting it today. See all the info on that and other topics below.
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*All of the links provided in every Digest and on the Directory are not currently sponsored links. I don’t get a single cent when you click on them. I do the Hippie Dabble Digest and the Directory because I love finding and sharing this information. Maybe someday I’ll get paid for it, but for now, I just love doing it.
Just For Fun and/or On YouTube
You may be familiar with the cartoon programming called Adult Swim, but did you also know how entertaining their website is? In their Etcetera section you can find all kinds of silly games and time wasters! While you’re there though, check out the other links at the top where you can watch the cartoons, find actual games for multiple devices, music, murals, and lots more. Here’s a screenshot and link.
In the News
Scientists develop method of making healthier, more sustainable chocolate (The Guardian)
“Healthier and more sustainable chocolate could hit store shelves after Swiss scientists and chocolatiers developed a recipe that swaps sugar for waste plant matter.
By mashing up the pulp and husk of a cocoa pod instead of just taking the beans, scientists have made a sweet and fibrous gel that could replace the sugar in chocolate, according to a report published in Nature Food.” Article dated June 1, 2024, read more here: Healthier, More Sustainable Chocolate.
The Significance of the Repair Cafe Movement (Happy Eco News)
“As the e-waste crisis continues to escalate, Repair Cafes have emerged as vital hubs of sustainability, offering practical repairs and fostering a culture of reuse and community engagement. With landfills becoming overwhelmed, the repair cafe movement is a grassroots solution to the urgent need for sustainable alternatives.” Article dated June 3, 2024, read more here: Repair Cafe Movement.
Fungus Breaks Down Ocean Plastic (Environmental News Network)
“A fungus living in the sea can break down the plastic polyethylene, provided it has first been exposed to UV radiation from sunlight. Researchers from, among others, NIOZ published their results in the scientific journal Science of the Total Environment. They expect that many more plastic degrading fungi are living in deeper parts of the ocean.” Article dated June 3, 2024, read more here: Plastic Degrading Fungus.
Armed Groups Use Deforestation as a Bargaining Chip in Colombia (Inside Climate News)
“Guerillas once protected the forests that provided them with cover, but recently some factions see the trees, critical to the nation’s climate commitments, as leverage in new peace talks with the government.” Article dated June 3, 2024, read more here: Deforestation as a Bargaining Chip.
Weekly Recipe
Let’s get back to our Weekly Recipe with something sweet. I recently came across a website called Damn Delicious, and this recipe indeed looks damn delicious.
PUMPKIN DONUT HOLES (Damn Delicious)
Screenshots below. You can find the recipe here: Pumpkin Donut Holes – Damn Delicious
Physical & Mental Health & Well-Being
A Matcha Mouthwash Might Fight Gum Disease (HealthDay)
“Matcha green tea has the potential to keep gum disease at bay, a new study finds. Lab experiments show that matcha can inhibit the growth of Porphyromonas gingivalis, one of the main bacterial culprits behind gum disease.” Read more here: Matcha Mouthwash.
Ultra-Processed Food Can Raise Risk of Cognitive Decline and Stroke (Everyday Health)
“The good news is that even small improvements in your diet can make a meaningful difference in promoting brain health, a new study suggests.” Read more here: Ultra-Processed Food.
In the Garden
And finally to the information about the staghorn sumac tree! Right now my tree is just a twig, but it looks to have the potential to be something beautiful.
First for some basic information on the staghorn sumac tree. It looks like it’s great for both birds and bees but does have a tendency to spread. 😬 Here are a couple of links with info. The great thing about the links that I share is that if you take the time to explore the sites more, you have resources to so much more than just the topic I’m focused on.
The North Carolina Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox (screenshot below)
Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center (screenshot below)
And since the staghorn sumac does seem to get a bad rap, here’s an article in defense of the staghorn sumac. Again, this looks like an interesting site to explore beyond the staghorn sumac. It includes a blog, a podcast, apparel, and more.
IN DEFENSE OF PLANTS – Standing up for Staghorn Sumac (screenshot below)
Another great thing about the staghorn sumac is that it can also be medicinal. Follow this link from the Sawmill Herb Farm for more information and how to make a staghorn sumac tea and soda.
Sawmill Herb Farm – Herb Profile: Staghorn Sumac
Here’s a few places to buy a staghorn sumac tree. I got mine from Northern Ridge Nursery (the first link). That nursery has been great. Their prices are fantastic, and I’ve had no issues dealing with them. I bought a little leaf linden tree from them a couple of years ago, and that tree is going strong.
Gardening Zones Have Changed
Did you know that your gardening zone may have changed? Thanks to my friend, Maria, for sharing this link with me. Type in your location and not only see if your zone has changed, but get a ton of information too. Take a look here: Plant Hardiness Garden Map
This and That
What Are the 7 Chakras and How Can You Unblock Them? (Healthline)
“The crown of your head, your throat, and your heart are just a few of the energy centers in your body. Unblock or balance these chakras with yoga poses, breathing exercises, or meditation.” Read more here: Unblock Your 7 Chakras.
There Are Better Ways to Build a Toilet (Pocket)
“While the structure, known as a Huussi, may seem a bit primitive to some, it’s long been a popular toilet design in rural parts of Finland because it requires no connection to water supplies: It processes waste not by flushing it away, but by converting it to compost in a hay-filled container. It’s a design that’s making a comeback because it saves water and recirculates waste back into the ecosystem — both essential goals in a world where many areas are drying out thanks to climate change, and where as much as 30% of urban water supplies are used to flush human waste. Our modern toilet practices are likely to become unsustainable within the next few decades; by 2050 it’s estimated that up to five billion people could be facing water shortages.” Read more here: Better Built Toilet. Screenshot below.
What’s New in the Directory
In this section I would normal let you know what links have been added to our Directory, but I have decided to get rid of the Directory. Don’t worry — all of the links will still be on the website, and you can find them by using the website’s search bar. I will also start tagging posts to make things easier to find (e.g. #edibleplants and #wheretobuy). You will be able to find those tags in the sidebar when you are on the blog.
Quote of the Week
I ran out of time this week, so it’s a repeat. I’ll have a brand new quote for you next week.
Ha ha! You’re welcome. ☺️
Ps. I wonder what kind of sumac tree I have. 🤔
😁 Good question! Do you have the PlantNet app? It’s free and might be able to tell you what it is.