So as we leave juicy July behind and head into what I hope is a sunnier August, let's up our salad game and pray for sunny days, blue skies and al fresco eating! This month will be a salad celebration!

Let's face it we all need to top up our vitamin D levels, which for those of us living in Scotland is a challenge!! Salads are an endless way to be creative in the kitchen, think rainbow colours, flavour and texture and you won't go far wrong! There will be no sad limp lettuce, tomato and cucumber on a plate, oh no we will be thinking outside the box, piling in the diversity points and making an array of beautiful life-affirming and delicious salad bowls with all kinds of salad leaves, herbs, veggies, grains and fruits! Potato salad, pasta salad, wild rice salad all filling and high in resistant starch to feed our wee gut buddies! Let's get creative with bowls using edible tortilla bowls & layering salads in a jar for the perfect lunch!

We now know the value of extra virgin olive oil and many of us are still taking a supplement of EVOO in the morning and enjoying the health benefits, so it goes without saying that we will be making delicious dressings with good fats, not only for flavour but to increase the bioavailability of the fat soluble vitamins A, D, E and K!  Adding a bit of crunch to complete the sensory experience with crispy beans, tamari toasted seeds, nuts, sourdough croutons,and homegrown sprouts! And of course, not forgetting our fabulous ferments to add those all important probiotics to the party! 

Last month was all about community, building on our fabulously supportive group. Our 3 day juicing challenge turned out to be quite a challenge for most of us, headaches, lack of energy, restless legs but the wonderful thing was the lack of judgement, the complete honesty and the wonderful support of other members. We all found a way to make juicing work for us, and ultimately we all felt the benefits, but we were comfortable enough to admit that some of us were struggling and to power through not feeling like we had failed because we had a coffee or a light meal in the evening! 

A few memorable events last month too, our beach meet up at Irvine then back to Mays for some food and chat, a wonderful Supper Club, hosted by the talented Caroline Roger, a Sauerkraut Workshop on Raasay which is one of my favourite places and the nicest location I have ever hosted a workshop. There is such a wonderful community feel and connection there and of course they are all interested in the wonderful world of ferments!!

On a final note I was given the most beautiful hand-carved wooden board this week, from the wonderful Lynn Connolly, one of our most active members as a thanks for introducing her to the wonderful world of ferments. Lynn has literally transformed her life, and is now sharing her passion for ferments in her hometown of Carlisle through workshops and selling her products at the local market. You can find her online @from.the.earth.ferments

I couldn't be prouder of Lynn, she has embraced everything The Wellness Hub is about, at her own pace, and she is going from strength to strength!

This really is the best community, there is such love, friendship, compassion and support within it! Thanks to each and every one of you for being a part of it!

In good health,

Janice x