Japanese Knotweed is a perfect illustration of bioregional herbalism. This invasive plant is one of our primary defenses again Lyme infection and is a delicious, nutritious spring wild food.
Japanese Knotweed for Dinner & Medicine
Goldenrod: August Medicine Journal
Get ready for goldenrod! This much maligned plant is a wonderful ally for allergies, sinus issues, urinary tract infections, kidney stones, sore throats, and more. It is wonderful as a tincture, syrup, honey, or dried for tea. Allergy syrup is my favorite way to use goldenrod. I combine it with Tulsi, Nettles, & Schisandra, in … Continue reading Goldenrod: August Medicine Journal
Identifying Lookalike Forest Plants: June Wild-crafting Journal
Solomon's Seal and Blue Cohosh are blooming! This is a great time to practice differentiating look-alike plants. Remember that Solomon's Seal blooms from all its chakras, with flowers all down the stem, whereas Solomon's Plume only blooms from it's head, with the flowers protruding from the end of the stem. Another friend that is sometimes … Continue reading Identifying Lookalike Forest Plants: June Wild-crafting Journal
High Summer: July Wild-crafting Journal
High summer is all about the herbs of the field. Harvest your St John's Wort flowering tops now, as the flowers hold all the life phases at once: buds, blooms, and seeds. Harvest the late roses for syrups, oxymels, sugar and salt, dried for tea, and every other delicious thing under the sun. Rose hips … Continue reading High Summer: July Wild-crafting Journal
Summer Meadows: August Wildcrafting Journal
High summer is all about the herbs of the field. Be on the look out for Bee Balm, Goldenrod, & the wild Mints. Keep your eyes on the hedgerows for late Elder flowers, and be ready for ripe Elderberries soon. New England Aster will be ready before we know it, too, although it has a … Continue reading Summer Meadows: August Wildcrafting Journal
Bark Harvest & Ethical Wildcrafting
Autumn is the season for bark harvest, one of the most fulfilling medicine making tasks. A walk through the woods on a crisp fall day followed by several hours in the sun as the days grow shorter and the world goes to sleep—it is definitely worth the effort, and a few trees will provide a … Continue reading Bark Harvest & Ethical Wildcrafting
Make Your Own Herbal Allergy Syrup
Seasonal allergies can destroy an otherwise beautiful day, especially among those of us who have done a lot of travelling or have moved from one bioregion to another. Many folks turn to Benadryl in desperation, then waste the rest of what would otherwise be a lovely, productive day sacked out on the porch with a … Continue reading Make Your Own Herbal Allergy Syrup
Old Ways Herbal: Juliette Abigail Carr 