Image from our Herb Gardens 2016 wall calendar. Click image for more info.

On the seventh day of the first month, the Japanese prepare and eat a rice porridge containing seven herbs—a custom which is believed to bring longevity and good health. Traditionally the seven herbs are water dropwort, shepherd’s purse, cudweed, chickweed, nipplewort, turnip, and daikon.

Since the herbs used are some of the first greens to appear in the year (and some of them are edible weeds like chickweed), you might adapt this custom by looking at what is seasonally available in your area and making a salad. Continue reading →