…starts aren’t readily available in your area, you may be able to acquire pieces of lemongrass stem with attached roots from Asian grocers. These can be directly planted in pots or encouraged to root in a glass of water before planting. Safety and Contraindications: Individuals who have reacted to lemongrass essential oil may develop an allergic contact dermatitis handling the…
…you feeling ready for crisp nights and wood stove fires. Foraged Chai Masala by Ellen Zachos This wild chai features spicebush (Lindera benzoin) and juniper (Juniperus spp.) berries, wild ginger roots (Asarum canadense), and spruce needles (Picea spp.). Local, regional, and domestic substitutions are 100% acceptable! According to its creator, this chai is “freakin’ amazing.” Burdock Root Roast by Colleen…
…root, unicorn root, black and blue cohosh, and angelico. He brought jiaogulan (Gynostemma pentaphyllum) into the country from Japan and has helped to educate other growers about its use and cultivation. The gardens are imbued with Joe’s grace and the loving devotion of those who have tended the plants over the decades. Joe has taught hundreds of students about herbs…
…taking high doses of raw garlic. Astragalus (Astragalus propinquus) pressed roots can be added to broths, soups, and teas. 4. Astragalus (Astragalus propinquus, Fabaceae `{`formerly Astragalus membranaceus`}`) Parts Used: Root Preparations: Decoction, powder, soup and stew stock, goo balls Herbal Actions: Immune tonic Immunomodulator Antiviral Antibacterial Adaptogen Antioxidant Cardiotonic Hepatic Astragalus has become a renowned tonic in Western herbalism over…
…the following caveat: the seeds must be pressed onto the surface of the soil, rather than buried, and kept moist until germination. Low germination rates are common. West Indian lemongrass (C. citratus) is typically grown from division, as is C. flexuosus. Both species are used medicinally and impart a pungent lemon aroma and flavor to tea. The inner stem base…
…complaints like PMS and cramping. Safety and Contraindications: Oregon grape root has a cooling effect on the body, so take care if you’re already someone who tends to run cold. Witch Hazel (Hamamelis viriginiana, Hamamelidaceae) – Medicinal Trees + Shrubs Some of our most treasured woodland medicine comes from the bark, berries, roots, leaves, and needles of healing trees and…
…experienced with rooting cuttings, another possibility is starting from a cutting of a wild witch hazel plant. Apparently, witch hazel is not as easy to propagate as some other plants, so I would only recommend this for experienced rooters. It can be grown from seed, but needs cold stratification, takes a year to germinate, and then needs to be babied…
Spring Ephemerals and Elaiosomes Written and Photographed by Juliet Blankespoor Bloodroot (Sanguinaria canadensis, Papaveraceae) Spring ephemerals are perennial wildflowers that take advantage of the early spring sunlight reaching the forest floor. When the temperatures begin to rise in early spring these wildflowers grow quickly, flowering, setting seed, and dying back to their root system when the canopy begins to fill…
…among one of the largest ecosystem declines worldwide. – Where did it all go? The first European people brought their livestock and set them free in the forests to forage. Hogs are especially hard on pines, eating the roots and leaves, but also disturbing the ground with their rooting, upending tender saplings in their wake. After the larger threats of…
Goldenrod Tea: An Herbal Blend for Urinary Tract Infections Written and Photographed by Juliet Blankespoor Need to get your urinary tract back on track? Goldenrod tea is helpful for addressing the symptoms and root cause (primarily bacterial infection) of urinary tract infections (UTIs). The herbs in this formula soothe inflamed urinary mucosal membranes through their demulcent, astringent, and anti-inflammatory actions….
