medicinal herbs

If I want to put in a medicinal and culinary herb garden in the front yard I should probably look into what the shamanic beliefs are for the native herbs and plants. I still want to add rain barrels and more vegetable beds in the back yard but the marble looks great used as a raised bed frames and it is able to make curves which wood cannot and when I mix the stone together it looks rather cool. However curves open up possibilities to really fill the garden with gardens. Stone in the front yard and wood and just brick paths in the back. To do this properly I had better study native edible, medicinal and homekeeping plants, uses and purposes. Standing People and an ethnobotanical dictionary as sources right now

So let us start with birch
which the unfurling spring leaves can be brewed into a spring tonic tea to clean out accumulated toxins. If you tap the sap it can be used as a cough syrup, I would imagine it should be cooked down the same way you would cook down maple sap. We have a paper birch in the yard already it could probably even take a tap this year.

Usnea species or Old man's beard grows I think out at Twin Lakes and could be collected as windfall out there this is one of the basic and most sacred of the native medicinal plants and thanks should be remembered when collecting only windfall. The description for collection to make sure we get the right one follows First check the outer portion of the plant for colour it should be gray- green with the cord like stems round not flat. For your final diagnostic check, moisten the stem giving it a gentle tug toe separate the out layer without breaking the white cord inside. The thread should expand and contract like an elastic band. If the windfall you have collected has all these features it is Usnea.
Usnea can be collected at any time of the year for use in your medicine bundle. Usnea contains powerful antibiotic compounds such as usnic acid that are able to treat urinary and repiratory tract infections, athlete's foot, ass well as other fungal infections. Recent research has isolated immune-strenthening compounds from several of the species. The lichen may also prove useful as a smooth muscle relaxant for the colon for the colon and bronchi. Any herb that assists the respiratory function to help us breath deeply and easily also nourishes our hearts.

Also out at Twin Lake there is tons of Field Horsetail, these dinosaur plants grow on rhizomes and from spores if I transplant a large section of the patch it should take in the garden. The plants are full of silica but some of the peoples used them internally for urinary, kidney issues and they can be used for skin rashes and wounds. There are 2 cycles to the growth of the plant withonly the first stage being fertile . In the first stage a jointed branchless flesh coloured fertile stalk appears in very early stage appears in very early spring and then quickly withers. The cone like structiure at the tip is the spore bearer wehre millions of spores hide out in tubel like structures awaiting their 48 hours of life. Yes they only exist 48 hours then kaput. The second stage of growth produces the green barren stalk with branches radiating from the leaf axils to give a Christmas tree effect. This sterile stage lasts through the summer and the leaves remain quite vibrant until autumn.

We love camping out there with the canoe and short drive. We can go we can camp canoe and fish and I can collect lots for the medicine bundle sounds like a plan.

drought

If anyone hasn't noticed around here we have not really had a lick of moisture all year. Not a lick. I am definitely putting in more rain barrells next year 5 for sure with the 3 I have that will give me 440 gallons of water for my vegie and herb gardens and anything else I need water for out side. I will change the overflow system and raise the barrells up at least a couple of feet so that I have better pressure for watering.

Samhain

It was a rainy cold Samhain for us this year but the response to the home made caramel apples was warm and the kids thought it was great. I need to find a better caramel recipe for next year something a little more towards toffee than caramel. I will need to find something tall to do the dipping in since most of my pots don't have that slim shape. I really need to find a place for privacy for sabbats, I just don't get anything done when the whole house is watching me. I don't know why, I have this fear, phobia, and I need to work through this. It is almost one of those block things that stand in the way of Karma and that whole thing of dealing with our past in order to find my karmic path. The spot that I have figured out will work perfectly.
The wheel is turning to the cold of winter, the dark of the year, the time to study, cook and craft. I will plan my garden, set up my space to craft with the tools that I have managed to collect. I will have the spaces, organized to purpose, in order to make our lives simpler and more easily managed. I will use the time of darkness to study the laws, economics, availability, and viability of our dream business. A business plan for our future and our son's futures to give my husband that gift. I want to put the next part of my garden's foundation as well, there are bits to finish and there are new bits to go in including the front medicinal herb garden possible gardens.
The oval centre raised bed with 4 stretched triangular beds on the outside corners with the tree in the centre is going to look great. If I stick with native medicinal plants, teas, spices and small fruits it will look great mix in a few vegies in some of the beds as well as flowers and the beginning of the switch to edibles will be in full swing.
Tinctures and teas, vegies, and fruit and I will be half food secure.