The planet of Mercury rules the mulberry. So states Nicholas Culpeper, medieval medical astrologer, famous for bringing holistic healthcare to the poor in Britain when traditional medicine was unavailable to them. Hence this beautifully colored berry belongs to the sign of Virgo. All though neat-freak Virgos would not agree that the mulberry is so beautifully colored. It tends to leave vivid tie dye patterns in every driveway and path it stands over with deep purple, squished berry stains. Many a mulberry tree has been slain for it’s unwanted spots. I personally know of two such slaughters… dad, brother-in-law… you know who you are. Mom, I’ll forgive you because it had to go in order to put solar panels on the house. But speaking of murder, Lady Macbeth might have been mentioning mulberries with her famous line, out damn spot. Which brings me to issue a friendly warning: birds love mulberries, so when you go foraging, watch out for another type of spot. Bird poop is not uncommon as it’s one of our feathered friend’s faves. I bid you much success in your mulberry quest.

Now for a truly tree-hugging libational experience, might I suggest the latest and greatest of the green spirits: Reyka Vodka. Iceland’s first and only vodka is sustainably distilled, qualifying it to be a “green” spirit. In fact, Iceland’s capital, Reykjavik, is entirely heated by underground hot springs. Reyka uses clean energy from geothermal heat, and pure glacial water in the production of it’s vodka. Wanna see for yourself? Enter to win a trip to Iceland for 1 winner and 9 friends to attend the Iceland Airwaves Music festival. Or perhaps you’re not so into music and more into say, amorous puffins. If this is the case, watch this video.

LADY MACBETH

• 2 oz vodka (Reyka is superb)
• 1 1/2 oz organic simple syrup***
• 1/2 oz fresh squeezed lime juice (organic is nice)
• handful of mulberrys

Add lime juice, simple syrup and mulberrys to cocktail shaker. Muddle berries until macerated (mushed up good). Add vodka and ice, shaking for ten seconds. Strain into martini glass. Garnish with diamonds. Or mulberries.

***To make simple syrup, add equal parts raw or organic sugar and water to leakproof container and shake every twenty minutes until dissolved (Recipe created by Gwen Sutherland Kaiser)

Here’s a thought—Raise pet silkworms. It’s easy, just feed em mulberry leaves. They are so cute! Unless you live within five miles of a GMO crop. In which case they are so dead.