Seed Cleaning Workshop Chicago Sep 30, 2017

Saturday Sep 30, 9:30 AM to 6:00 PM Richo Cech will be in Chicago for the 3rd “Making Plant Medicine” workshop, this one focused on saving seed of medicinal plants.  Participants will learn about growing medicinal herbs for seed, harvesting, screening, winnowing seeds, wet seed processing, optimal seed storage, and packaging and labeling seeds.  Emphasis is on learning through…

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White Sage: Planting, Growing and Harvesting

  White Sage (Salvia apiana) seed harvest has begun, the giant plants lifting their aromatic fronds to the summer sun. I hurry to get a hit before the birds do the job for me! The plant is native to central and southern California, with a gene center probably in Eastern San Diego County. This is the smudge plant extraordinaire!…

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The Survival Medicine Garden

Money doesn’t grow on trees but remedies do grow on plants, or in them, as it were. Over the years I’ve grown quite a few different medicinal plants from all over the globe. The diversity has been very interesting to study and has been a great diversion. However in a pinch when I need a medicinal plant to treat…

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Growing True Comfrey From Seeds

True Comfrey Flowers

The flowers of True Comfrey (Symphytum officinale) are generally very richly arrayed and colored dark purple.  The leaves are lance-shaped and not so broad as those of Russian Comfrey.   True Comfrey is really the nicest of the Comfrey clan in my opinion.  From the luscious leaves to the thick, mucilage-laden roots I find nothing to compare. For years…

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Chia Seed: Nutritional Value and Health Benefits

Chia seed, that powerful little bundle originating from the American Southwest and Mesoamerica, is truly unrivalled in terms of its nutritional value and health benefits. Chia is the most concentrated source of alpha-linoleic acid (Omega-3 fatty acids) in the plant kindom, making it an ideal food for those suffering from inflammation of any sort, including maladies of the nerves, eyes or…

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Tulsi (Holy Basil) Type Comparisons

How does one disambiguate a subject so complex?  Holy Basil, a plant that is gentle and healing to body, mind and spirit should bring happiness, not confusion! The commonality of all types (species/cultivars) is that the leaves may be eaten fresh, used in cooking, or best yet picked, dried, and made into tea. Taxonomy:  Vana Tulsi (a tree basil) is Ocimum gratissimum….

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