Know your seed. Examine the seed before planting. Large seeds, especially those from the Legume (Fabaceae) family, have impermeable seed-coats that may require scarification (nicking or rubbing) before planting. Smaller seeds in the Lamiacea (the mint family) also appreciate scarification to wake them up — rub on a #8 seed-screen or on medium grit sandpaper. Needle-like seeds in the Asteracea…
Cultivating a direct connection to the earth and all her goodness is the core value of gardening. One trades the sweat of the brow for sustenance at table, for remedies in the medicine cabinet. This is the birthright of humans, and can be accomplished simply, locally, inexpensively, and without advanced education. You plant a patch of pumpkins, and…
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…
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…
This is a synopsis of a talk given at AMMA’s Chicago ashram on Sep 30, 2017 to a crowd of 50 participants. The talk contains ruminations, advice, theory and and methodology for growing, harvesting, cleaning and storing seeds of medicinal plants. What is a seed? One can describe its parts: the seedcoat or testa that surrounds the fatty endosperm–the energy…
