An aura of mystery surrounds Saffron (Crocus sativus), both the bulbous plant and the spice derived from its luminous red stigma. In actuality planting the corm and raising a few saffron plants to produce a small supply of the spice is easy, fun and rewarding. One of the simplest ways to provide the right conditions for healthy saffron and assure…
“Leta mukasi!” says the witch doctor living on the northern tip of the island of Pemba in Zanzibar. “Bring mukasi!” His hand rests on the distended abdomen of a little boy who complains of stomach pains, a common complaint in a tropical region where food supplies are seasonal and parasites know no winter. The plant is Leonotis mollissima, a…
Aloes and other succulents use up the resources of their potting soil every year or so. They produce a great deal of dead matter at the base which may be removed at transplant to keep the plant from picking up diseases. They become root-bound and grow much faster after the roots are properly trimmed and replanted in fresh medium. Use…
As an organic grower I think about where good plants come from, and the first elements that come to mind are sun, water, nutrients and good soil structure. We know that when we nourish the substrate of life, then life will manifest! The quintessence of this is found in a single statement, “Keep it covered.” If we cover the soil from the…
The fifth annual Traditional Roots Herbal Conference draws on clinical tradition and modern scientific research to offer the best of both worlds. Enrich your knowledge of materia medica, both for general conditions and as applied to clinical cases. They’ll have sessions covering bioregional herbalism, organoleptics, medicine making, clinical case reviews and field applications. NUNM, the National University of Natural Medicine of Portland, Oregon,…
Where: Linn County Expo Center 3700 Knox Butte Rd. E Albany, Ore. 97322 When: Aug 4 -5, 2018 With more than 150 workshops, there is no shortage of informative demonstrations and lectures to educate and entertain you over the weekend. Richo Cech will be one of the featured keynote speakers at the fair on Saturday, Aug 4, 2018. The…
