Using loose-leaf herbs is an economical way to make healthy herbal teas. You can often buy a few ounces of, say, chamomile for the same price as a box of chamomile tea sachets- and the same holds true with most herbs. Once you have collected a few different herbs, you can even experiment with blending…
Adaptogens are a group of herbs that support everyday health by assisting our bodies’ response to stress. I’ve written an entire recipe book with easy ways to add adaptogens to your daily wellness routines, but today I want to explore one adaptogen in particular: Albizia julibrissin, also known as mimosa and Persian silk tree. Albizia,…
When is the best time to harvest yarrow? Like waiting on strawberries to be ripe, judging the best time to harvest yarrow means you’ll need to check your plants periodically and evaluate what stage they have reached. Here’s how to tell the best time to harvest yarrow based on your weather and the plants themselves.…
Summer is the perfect time to take the first steps for becoming your own herbalist. It’s the best season to dabble in the garden and long, sunny days mean that inspiration for connecting to the green world are all around us. Read on to discover some of my favorite suggestions for learning herbalism in summer. …
Does anyone else have gloriously disorganized bookshelves? I’m a stickler for keeping my herbal extracts and supplies organized, but my books. . . not so much. I have a quick eye to find whatever book I’m looking for, so trying to enforce order on the bookshelf chaos takes more time than it’s worth. (Don’t let…
Adaptogens have a reputation as being exotic and difficult to procure, but there are actually several that are simple and rewarding to grow at home. Jiaogulan, tulsi (aka holy basil), and eleuthero are three adaptogens that typically do very well in a home garden. Let’s take a look at what they need! Jiaogulan Gynostemma pentaphyllum…
Herbal trees and shrubs really stand out as being easy to grow once they are established and they make useful additions around your yard or homestead. Of course, trees and shrubs do require more planning to incorporate into your home landscape and they need more space than other types of herbs, but they are worth…
Perennial herbs are some of the easiest to grow because they will reliably appear in the garden year after year with very little upkeep. I’ve picked out five of my favorites to share with you today. Besides being hardy and versatile, these plants will grow almost anywhere – all of these herbs can be grown…
Annual herbs are herbs that complete their life cycle in only one year, unlike perennials plants that may live for years. They are usually easy to start from seeds and it’s also often easy to save seed without having to worry about any special techniques or procedures. The main thing to remember about annual herbs…
I always reserve a small corner of my garden for “weeds”. Not just any weeds, of course, but there are quite a few that I am always happy to see – things like violets, cleavers, plantain, dandelion, and nettles. Most of these will grow anywhere in the United States, and often in other countries, too.…
