So I want your input on herbal topics and wild foods. What posts would you love to read? What plants or techniques do you want to learn about? Whatever it is, wild harvesting, medicine making, materia media, leave a comment telling me about it. I’ll leave comments on the post open for two weeks. Then I’ll gather all the ideas together and make a list of the topics I think I can adequately address. Milky Oats are already on the list due to interest from a few people recently. What else?
Oh, and we’re having a dear friend and Zen Master stay with us next week. With the holiday, his visit, and my upcoming birthday (!) my presence here next week will be more limited than usual.
Have a beautiful day!
Hello Mama, I think it would be cool if you listed local places where you forage. I always am wondering where I can go to find wild edibles (not anything in particular that I can think of at the moment…) and I know you could fill me in. I linked your website to a Facebook group I am in (Crunchy Mamas…haha) and I know a lot of other moms in our area would benefit from your knowledge as well. I think to when we went to pick elderberries…I had no idea they were there, but you sure did!
Just a thought. XO
My concern with publicizing this information is that most are rather small places with limited sustainable forgeability and I’d hate to have them over-foraged and hurt the plants or not leave enough for the wildlife. Not that you would of course, which is why I took you foraging :) but posting to a larger audience, one can never be sure. I’d ideally like people to find their own areas nearby where they live. Once you start to identify edible plants you can find them everywhere. That way the foraging is spread around rather than concentrated in a few small locations. Of course, with things like fennel and chicory that isn’t a problem since they’re totally invasive around here but other things are more sensitive and need to be harvested with care and with strict limitations. Hope that makes sense and doesn’t seem too evasive…And I love that you belong to a Crunchy Mamas group, perfect!
maybe a bit on how to get started–basic (BASIC) references…..for those of us not in your region; this is one of those instances when I really don’t know enough to ask the right questions, but am interested in it all!
(would love to hear some about your photography, too, which always bowls me over!)
have a great weekend
A list of basic references accessible to any North American growing region. Ok, I can do that. The vast majority of my references are either ‘geeky’ or very bioregion specific but I certainly have a few that fit that ticket.
And the photography? I can do a post about that. Not sure that I have much to say that you don’t already know, Steph. I’m a major amateur, but I’ll talk about what I do.
This is so great! I agree with Steph….there is a lot of info out there, and it can get a bit overwhelming. So starting with some basics and building up would be great, particularly for those of us that don’t live in your region. I always love your tutorials because they are written in an easy friendly manner that is not in the least bit intimidating which makes the light bulb turn on – you know – Oh gosh! I’ve seen that or Is that all I need to do? You make it simple and approachable which is so great! Looking forward to this!
Have a wonderful weekend!
Some real basics. Ok. Any specific basics you’d like covered?
Hmm….Basic herbs that no one should be without in their garden…medicinal or otherwise….naturals/wild foods that are good to know regardless of where you are. I hate to use the word universal and I know that a lot of this is regionally based, but there are some items that you can find just about any place in the US – just a different variation of the same species… and I know by vocab is falling terribly short here. Does that help?
Yes. Thanks :)
i would love to see what your ideal “medicine” cabinet is filled with- like the herbal version of the home first aid kit. especially a home with little ones :) i think all of your informative posts have been fabulous so far.
have a great time this week, happy early birthday!!!
Ah, that’d be a fun post! My herbal medicine cabinet is getting rather disorganized. It’d give me motivation to sort it all into some semblance of order.
I like this idea too.
I have already learned so much! I love the wild plant identification, especially since we live in similar regions. I would also love the learn more about how/why/for what the herbs can be used for. I am currently working to replace all of my beauty products with natural, homemade items so anything good for skin is extra appreciated. (if you’ve got some herbal trick for clearing acne I will be forever in your debt)
Homemade skin products are lots of fun. And so many herbs are great for the skin. I’ll try and talk about some of them. And yes, I have some ‘tricks’ for acne. Nothing guaranteed but definitely things that can help shift the underlying issues contributing to it. And a few topical treatments as well.
Amber- Wonderful blog you have here. I enjoy seeing Aron and your beautiful children. Keep up the good work!
Oh, thanks, Don! Hope you are well.