Milky Oats (Avena sativa) Each year in early spring, I press dried oat seeds a knuckle deep and 4 fingers apart in 3 neat rows on the edge of my community garden plot. Then I wait for the magic to happen. 2 weeks later, grassy leaves begin to emerge. As the spring turns into summer, … Read more
Infuse chive blossoms into apple cider vinegar to create a delightful, fuchsia-colored marinade or dressing with hues of onion and garlic! All you need are fresh chive blossoms, which are easy to grow or obtain from a gardener friend, apple cider vinegar, a jar, wax paper, and less than 5 minutes! You Will Need: Freshly … Read more
Plantain (Plantago major & lanceolata) When I see a plant growing out of a crack in the sidewalk or a junk-filled lot, my heart is torn. One the one hand, it demonstrates the amazing resilience of the green world. I draw some strength from seeing a plant to continue to grow and do its thing … Read more
It’s the 3rd week of March already and the weather is running hot and cold. We had a fresh covering of snow just last week in Pennsylvania, followed by 70-degree days this week. Hello Spring! Last weekend, with paper and pencil in hand, I began my garden to-do list: Take an inventory of seed packets—check. … Read more
Above: Spilanthes in the garden. Spilanthes (Spilanthes americana, Acmella oleracea) Here’s another plant that looks straight out of a Dr. Seuss book! Spilanthes plants have bright yellow flowers with a orange “eyes” shaped like gum drops. I remember my first encounter with Spilanthes, at a colleague’s herb farm. We discussed its Doctrine of Signatures, a … Read more
Above: Cayenne peppers on my cutting board, waiting to be sliced and dehydrated. This blog post is part of my 2021 Herbal Oil Blog Series and addresses Cayenne, including how to make a Cayenne-infused oil. Cayenne (Capsicum annum) A beloved spice important in many cultures and cuisines, Cayenne’s benefits extend well past its culinary uses. … Read more
Above: Mimosa flowers on a drying rack. Mimosa (Albizia julibrissin) Perhaps you‘ve seen this otherworldly tree, with its mid-summer pink silk blooms that look straight out of a Dr. Seuss book. This is the “silk tree” Mimosa, or Albizia julibrissin, and this summer I had a chance to forage some of its flowers for the … Read more
Above: Calendula flowering in the garden. This blog post is part of my 2021 Herbal Oil Blog Series and addresses Calendula, including how to make a Calendula-infused oil. Calendula (Calendula officinalis) July is when my Calendula flowers really take off in my garden here in the Mid-Atlantic region of the US. Calendula’s bright resinous blooms … Read more
Above: Red Clover blossoms in the dehydrator. This blog post is part of my 2021 Herbal Oil Blog Series and addresses Red Clover, including how to make a Red Clover-infused oil. Red Clover (Trifolium pratense) Red Clover is another early summer bloomer that fortunately lasts for a much longer period than our last herb, Wild … Read more
Above: Yarrow growing in my garden. This blog post is part of my 2021 Herbal Oil Blog Series and addresses Yarrow, including how to make a yarrow oil for first aid. Yarrow (Achillea millefolium) Yarrow gets it Latin name, Achillea, because it was said to have grown all over the battlefields of the Trojan War, … Read more