June 01, 2006

Thank you for taking some time to visit Resting in the River website. It has been a beautiful Spring in Abiquiu, and we have completed planting all of our medicinal herbs for the season. It is such a joy to see the first sprouts emerge from the ground in the Spring sunshine. Our planting this season is focusing on our Apothecary garden, in which we have a wide variety of medicinal herbs including, Echinacea, Yerba Mansa, Marshmallow, Nettles, Burdock, Ashwagandha, Spilanthes, California Poppy, Chamomile, Comfrey, Holy Basil, Lavender, Lemon Balm, St. John's Wort, Calendula, Yarrow and Valerian.

The following are excerpts from the May/June issue of Mystic Pop Magazine that also featured an interview with Marsha by Devra Jacobs:

"Set against the dramatic backdrop of nature-sculpted, white cliffs and ancient all-knowing Cottonwood trees, flows the Chama River of Northern New Mexico. Nestled on the banks of the Chama's fertile land is Marsha Mason's organic farm, Resting in the River. Here, in the serene setting of the Chama Valley, she has merged ancient herbal knowledge with modern organic growing techniques to create a holistic approach to wellness of the mind, body and spirit."

Mystic Pop: "How long did it take, from the time you just started working with the farm, for it to start producing healthy plants?"

Marsha: "It was three years, and it surprised me how quickly the medicinal herbs grew. In the beginning, we were not cultivating large fields, only trial beds. Calendula was growing fabulously, so we extended it and planted whole fields of that and Echinacea. It looked stunning, with purple and bright orange flowers. I got certified by the New Mexico Organic Commodities Commission (NMOCC) and was later appointed as commissioner of the NMOCC by the Governor. Now we are working toward our Biodynamic certification through Demeter."

Mystic Pop: "This is probably a really good time to mention your extensive, incredible line of products that have come out of all your hard work."

Marsha: "My hands were getting beaten up while working on the farm in the fields. So I went to Mitch Coven, a certified herbalist who owns the herb company Vitality Works. We collaborated on making a salve using he herbs I was growing on the farm. That's how we got started. Mitch and I then collaborated on the creation of the other products."

Mystic Pop: "You've made it so everybody can afford to use your products. Do you know how affordable your products are?"

Marsha: "That is the idea, to make organic products affordable and accessible."

Mystic Pop: "You're doing all this on the farm, and you're still acting, right?"

Marsha: "That's correct. Actually, last year I was on Broadway in Steel Magnolias. And, I also went to Australia and filmed a new show called Nightmares and Dreamscapes, which will be on TNT. I will be in Hecuba at the Chicago Shakespeare Theater in the Spring and early Summer. I like to be challenged and that's why I accept parts like playing Hecuba in a Greek tragedy. I'm looking for those kinds of creative challenges to keep my instrument alive, fluid and strong."

To read the full article, please visit: Mystic Pop Magazine

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