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…
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…
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!…
