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Turn Your Brownthumbs Green > With Herbs

Nobody has a brown thumb, things are just off balance in the care and or plant friend’s environment. Plants just need proper food, light and logistics.

For those looking to build up their plant cred mojo and get some greenthumbing points in, starting with herbs can offer great yeilds, harvests and lessons!

Below are examples of popular herbs that can turn any brownthumb green! Not only are the herbs easy to work with, they are perennials, which means your herb friends will return year after year.

Lavender
Perennial. Plant magick on so many levels, but we’ll keep that convo for another post. Thrives in full sun and dry soil. Plant from seed in the Fall or use cuttings. You can also find plant ‘starts’, available at most Farmer’s Markets but just because they look pretty at those markets, does not mean they are toxin/chem free. Lavender is known for its fragrant leaves and is a hardy herb. Try infusing water or vodka with lavender for an added level of delicious. Also great for skincare/beauty and mood management.

Oregano
Perennial. One of the most, hardy plants around! Oregano loves direct, full sun and well-drained sandy soil. You can grow from seed in the Spring or use cuttings. Oregano does really well with weekly cutbacks and is rambunctious in salads.

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ROOT MEDICINE: Turmeric + a Healing Brew

Nature is brilliant. Such a diverse and impressive Farmacy.  Roots, herbs, medicine foods, essences….

Turmeric Milk

I work with Turmeric/Curcumin on a daily basis and it’s one of the widest used roots amongst my clients right now. The effects are palpable. Infinite benefits (kind of how I feel about Coconut Oil and Lemon).

Curcumin, the main active ingredient in turmeric, has VERY STRONG anti-inflammatory effects and is a powerful antioxidant. The benefits of Turmeric have been known to surpass anti-inflammatories, anti-depressants, chemo, pain killers, arthritis meds, IBS meds and so much more.

Turmeric is a true wonder root. So grateful for these little rhizome nobules of awesome.

🌻

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Shinrin-yoku Forest Bathing

I’m a huge fan of shinrin-yoku AKA, forest bathing. It’s like going to the most sacred place of worship for me.

Forest Bathing

From a very young age I felt a deep kin to trees. So much so, that in second grade when we were asked to share a story about ourselves in front of class, I admitted to having multiple past lives as a tree. I had so many memories as a little girl about being a tree. I also informed my friends in second grade that trees can heal us. They thought I was nuts, but I knew in my heart I wasn’t. As a wellness practitioner, I am confident that nature is the ultimate healer and trees are masters.

Fast forward 30 years and Japanese officials spent about  $4 million dollars studying the physiological and psychological effects of forest bathing, designating 48 therapy trails based on the results. The upshot of the study? Forest bathing effects viral infected cells and can shift immune system health and cancer prevention.

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Seed Bombing

I’m dropping seeds, AKA seedbombing in vacant lots today. Why? Why not?! I’m dedicated to beautifying this land with greenthumbs, even if it’s just a flick of a thumb… And, as an grower with some edge and spunk, it’s natural for me to be drawn to the “guerilla” activities of seed bombing.

The concept of seed bombing was popularised in the 20th century by Masanobu Fukuoka. The essence of a seedbomb is a small ball of compacted compost stuffed with native (IMPORTANT so you don’t fuck with the flow of what’s growing!) seeds. After the seed bomb is created (see elements below), the seed ball/bomb can be thrown into nooks and crannies throughout the landscape.

Love to trigger more diverse habitats in vacant lots, construction sites and really wherever my heart calls.

To make your own seed bombs, create a ball of matter with the following elements:

* 5 tablespoons of seed compost
* 4 tablespoons of terracotta clay powder (holds the bomb together)
* 1 teaspoon of seeds, native to growing zone
* Sprinkles of water at intervals
* If Nitrogen/Phosphorus/Potassium (NPP) is absent in the compost, add liquid fertiliser
* 1 teaspoon of chilli powder or garlic powder as a pest deterrent (mites, aphids etc.)

Let it sit overnight and take out the next day – for play!

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HERB HIGHLIGHT: Stinging Nettle

Nettle Leaf
Nettle Leaf – Lady Greenthumbs

Pictured above is the stinging nettle, Urtica dioica, which has a vibrant and rich medicinal history. In medieval Europe, it was used to help people poop and to ease joint pain.  Stinging nettle has also been used for hundreds of years to treat painful muscles and joints, eczema, arthritis, gout, and anemia. I often suggest using nettle for skin problems as it helps with inflammation in addition to treating urinary problems during the early stages of an enlarged prostate, for urinary tract infections or for hay fever. I also like to use nettle in compresses and creams for treating joint pain, sprains and strains, tendonitis and insect bites.

Please use herbs with care and under the supervision of a health care provider. While the use of herbs is a time honored approach to strengthening the body and treating disease they can trigger side effects and can interact with other herbs, supplements, or medications.