Tea stands as one of the most well-known beverage options the world over. Warm and wonderful, a cup of tea is a symbol of simple comfort. Many are familiar with the calming effects of chamomile or the digestive-boosting power of peppermint, and wouldn’t be afraid to brew away. Herbal tea can be enjoyed by everyone, on rainy days or sunny afternoons, morning or night.

If you’ve ever enjoyed one of these delightful drinks, you may be unaware that you have been practicing basic herbalism. Yes, it’s true – you’ve been making herbal decoctions this whole time! Yay you!

Herbal medicine can seem heady and hard to get into. There are so many plants and fancy botanical names, contraindications and confusions. You may feel that the world of plant remedies is beyond your knowledge. This is, thankfully, not true. Herbs are for the world, for me and for you. And thankfully, beginning to enjoy and understand these botanical beauties can be as simple as steeping a cup.

Beyond your basic grocery store blends, you can really dive into the deep and profound benefits of various plants and parts. Don’t be afraid of exploring this option when you want something that is both healthful and indulgent.

A pot of tea with friends or a cup of tea alone is a love letter, saying “You deserve to be happy, healthy, and whole. Slow down and enjoy this warmth with me.”

We hope you will join us in doing this very thing.

Cheers, Danna

Boreal Zine is the brain-child of two highly creative yet highly distractible friends. Two art-fans who wanted to cultivate a garden of valuable voices. Two poetry junkies who have always wanted to make a zine.

I guess it helps to explain what a zine is, first. Zine, short-hand slang for magazine, is a handmade and self-published magazine in the punk tradition. Without needing to appeal to the whims of a publisher, making a DIY publication allows the editors to print exactly what they want. Often aiming to promote social change in various forms, zines have always been a form of cheap, strange, free-range art.

Following in that tradition, Boreal Zine is a comp-zine (compiled of work by many different artists) that focuses on ‘thoughts on gentle living’. In this context, gentle living is about exploring how we can be gentler: to ourselves, each other, and our planet. Rather than promoting being quiet or demure, ‘gentle’ refers to intimacy, connection, health, and the building of community. Seasonally-inspired, the issues and dates of printing center around the solar quarter and cross-quarter holidays of the earth religion traditions. The zine is also firmly rooted in its home: the Adirondack Mountains of New York State. We draw so much inspiration from the land and people of this place, though our writers and readers come from all over.

Boreal Zine is our way of reaching out, reaching in, amplifying important stories and appreciating natural beauty. Poetry is a large portion of the body of work, though there is room for photography, comics, stories, recipes, calls to action, rants, anti-advertisements, and any printable media. Boreal Zine believes in honoring and uplifting queer artists and artists of color, and all are welcome to submit.

Boreal Zine is our baby. Our sweet, strange, beautiful little baby. And she is growing organically thanks to the commitment and creativity of our contributors. Who knows where this wild journey will take us? We invite you to join us for the ride.