Discover the joys of embracing a more earth-friendly, natural lifestyle with this extraordinary guide to becoming a green witch. Written by a mother and daughter who both embody this holistic path, Dare to be a Green Witch provides everything you need to get started, including dozens of recipes and remedies, entertaining stories from the authors, and the history of these practices.
Join Ehris Urban and Velya Jancz-Urban on a journey into the green witch's world, where you'll explore herbal infusions, fermentation techniques, pantry essentials, natural body and facial care, and more. You'll also learn the many uses of fire cider, tonics, essential oils, collagen, and bone broth. From creating an herbal sleep pillow to energy cleansing, Dare to be a Green Witch shows you how to use nature's gifts and enjoy holistic wellness.
Ehris Urban is an herbalist, holistic nutritionist, and flower essence practitioner. Velya Jancz-Urban is a zany teacher, history nut, and expert on herstory unsanitized. As Grounded Goodwife (groundedgoodwife.com), this funny and frank mother/daughter duo believe in taking inner responsibility for one’s wellness, and share their “recipe” for wholeness through holistic workshops and gal power presentations. Their mother/daughter memoir, How to Survive a Brazilian Betrayal (Green Writers Press, May 2019), reveals how the duo were grounded, lost everything, and became better versions of themselves.
I gave this book a solid try, even though the introduction itself started with dubious claims of healing chronic illnesses with herbal or homeopathic medicine. I consider myself pretty open to natural health options, so I pushed forward to the meat of the book itself. However, I was disappointed throughout and wouldn't recommend this book to anyone interested in being a "green witch".
The book touches on natural remedies and what we used to call "granola hippy" recipes - that is, recipes for the people who shop only organic, homestead to raise and grow their own food, and don't like to use modern medicine if avoidable. I used to be one (and occasionally still lean in a granola direction), but that lifestyle doesn't speak to me.
Meanwhile, the book doesn't actually touch on what I would call witchcraft. One could take a nod at the natural practices and call it green witchcraft the same way I could call gardening with seasonal/local plants green witchcraft. Technically, anything natural and earth-based that a witch does can be called green witchcraft... but if you're looking to this book for spiritual tie-ins, you'll be disappointed. (I had to reread the description to verify whether or not I misread it when I made my request for an ARC.)
On a positive note, this book is for the people who want help stepping into that homeopathic, organic-only kind of lifestyle. If you need a how-to guide on holistic living, then this book might fit the bill. There are some basics on natural cleaning products, fermentation, and other interesting topics that might give you a taste of the lifestyle without diving in head first.
We can go in circles arguing the case that herbalists or cunning women were called witches many moons ago but yet so many other historians and craft books have said they were merely just herbalists. With that said, II found this book to be more about herbalism and or green eating than being a witch. This left me disappointed as I expected more from a book published by Llewelyn.
This book does not contain ANY witchcraft what so ever and is incorrectly titled. The correct terms would be Modern Day Hippies living a Bohemian Lifestyle.
What you will find is some instructionals on natural alternatives written by anti mammogram, anti modern medicine, anti vaxers who enslave animals in their back yard under the guise of “homesteading” and make jokes of not being able to protect them from predators - such as the loss of some animals eight times to bears.
The natural remedies provided are not bad but can also be easily found on the internet. I feel this type of book is over published and I guess that’s why the publisher chose to include the word “witch” in the title in order to try and cut through this saturated part of the market.
This book would be of little value for anyone practicing witchcraft but may appeal to Qanon conspiracists and flat Earthers.
A story is shared with the readers about the authors being scammed in Brazil - I found that highly believable.
“One honey of a resource!” There is nothing quite like holding your guide to holistic wellness and healing within the palms of your hands. DARE TO BE A GREEN WITCH by Ehris Urban and Velya Jancz Urban is everything I had hoped it would be as a valued resource and more. The pages contain a plethora of research that is experience based and well-documented. I consider myself fortunate to have had the opportunity to make fire cider in the authors’ 1770 CT farmhouse as well as to participate in other interesting workshops. I have seen firsthand how they embody a truly holistic lifestyle. Enthusiastically, Ehris and Velya share the chance to explore nature’s gifts with you in DARE TO BE A GREEN WITCH. From honey to herbal infusions, from flower essences to fermentation, from passion to pantry, this meticulously crafted guide, highlighted with history and humor, will enlighten you. It’s all there in “one honey of a resource.” The labor of their love in print and publication.
This was just what I was looking for to guide me in my journey into living a healthy holistic lifestyle. Loaded with information & chock full of great recipes for what ever ails you , skin & hair care , immunity & energy boosters , bone broth etc . They simply aren’t just recipes , they explain the benefits of the ingredients . In between in all of these fantastic recipes and information on herbs and essential oils , are engaging short stories of this mother-daughter duos personal experiences that will make you laugh , cry and reflect on your own life . This book is not about witchcraft or casting spells ….if a spell was casted , it was on me to help guide me into wellness and holistic healing. I’ll be patiently waiting and hoping another book is in the works !
Reading Dare to be a Green Witch was a glimpse into authentic living. Using the knowledge handed down from generations these “witches” have harnessed a green lifestyle without even trying to be trendy. This book is full of heartfelt stories and recipes for living green with plenty of resources sited. You will see their brews have the science to back up their claims. Pour yourself a cuppa and get ready to be entertained while you learn what green witchcraft really looks like and how easy it is for all of us to get back to our witchy roots!
I really loved reading this book! Especially now. It was very comforting to read during a pandemic-helping to keep me hopeful. I find it a great manual for motivating me to get back to a more natural and holistic life. I liked the style of writing and felt the authors were really dedicated to sharing their skills and what they have learned in life. I received a pre release ARC from Netgalley/Llewellyn, this book is scheduled for a summer release 2021.
I thoroughly enjoyed this read. I wish these witchy ladies lived near me so I could attend their workshops. The book is written in clear, easily understood language that makes you want to run off to the health food store, buy a cauldron and get started on the recipes. Highly recommended for all green witches or anyone concerned of the poisons in our food, cleaning products and health care products.
Dare to be a Green Witch is less about witchcraft and the metaphysical and more about a homesteading/holistic lifestyle. The title is misleading and it put me off the book at first. I did find some of the recipes/alternative beauty items interesting, but I was also put off by some of the "medical" advice/opinions. I tried to keep an open mind while reading and I do think some would enjoy the topics discussed. This may not have been the book for me, but it was an easy read.
While I was expecting more a spiritual aspect to this book, it was more of an herbalist read. While I appreciate the recipes for holistic healing, it was not what I would consider to be green witchcraft. Title is misleading in my opinion.
It's not what I thought it would be, but I really love it. Nothing whoo-whoo here. Recipes for body and soul based on research and science. Inspired me to want to try making my own bone broth. I'm glad I did actually buy it!
I unfortunately felt like it missed the mark. A great new age, health and wellness beginners guide. However, when it comes to witchcraft...its just not there. Could have used a guide and content editor or at least different marketing. The cover is GORGEOUS
Decently researched with personal experiences. An addition to a green witch's library. Different areas of the home. Get some recipes - good book for wanting to be more sustainable.
Absolutely wonderful book. Really sparked a desire to learn more. I will be referring to this book over and over again. Very simple to understand and informative. Also an entertaining read.
Appalling and Irresponsible. This book engages in gatekeeping of the worst sort - that one is not a "real" green witch unless one avoids and condemns - mammograms, MRIs, Covid vaccines, conventional treatment for Lyme Disease or any other condition. The book description should make note of this so that those who are not of that position can avoid this book. It concerns me that this book could influence any reader into that position with absence of facts and evidence, other than when author was a child ate lots of chicken neck sandwiches and turned out OK. At least it had a few decent recipes for fire cider. I would not have bothered to review, except the only way to get my review to appear on the publisher website is to review here on GoodReads.
Great natural resource for living your best natural life!
RTC*I had the absolute privilege of getting an ARC from the publisher and Netgalley and I could not be more grateful. All thoughts and comments are my own.*
Dare to be a Green Witch encapsulates a bunch of topics related to holistic living and how to link that into your daily life and as appropriate, your witchy lifestyle.
I've read some reviews and I can't seem to relate. I guess some people are never happy about people full-on walking their walk, so to speak. The authors have a bunch of natural recipes and discuss how they teach and encourage others into a more natural/holistic lifestyle. Which, I personally, love and live myself. Some people are too far entrenched in allopathic living that looking at someone living alternatively is just too weird. I, also, integrate my natural lifestyle into my Craftings and find it is amazing the results if one just directs certain energies into things.
I, for one, think this book has a ton of great recipes and ideas that I would love to use or adapt into my own life circumstances.
Dare to be a Green Witch is definitely a niche book about more natural living and adapting that into a witchy lifestyle, but I seem to be the target demographic, so... I'm happy with it and look forward to more for the authors.