I am preparing to start a new group on our site that will be centered around using and growing medicinal herbs.
In the past we honored our relationship with the earth and the plants and animals that inhabited it. We have moved away from nuturing our bodies by the plants we grow and instead have depended on others to do that for us. There has been a groundswell of movement in the past few years to lead us back into growing our own food and medicines. Most of the medicinal herbs were obtained by wildcrafting but the availability of the wild areas and the herbs contained within are diminishing and the need for medicinals are increasing. The logical thing for all of us to do is to return to growing our own natural, organic herbs.
If you are going to use a plant for medicine you will want to know that it is not full of chemicals that will harm you. Organic gardening practices are so important when you are producing herbs for your family's health and well being.
Cultivating the plants that we need for medicine is really making good sense for many of the plants like Echinacea have been wildcrafted into extinction. With patience and care we can even learn to grow "hard to grow" plants. Learning to grow medicinal plants and herbs can also be a very profitable business now as the need for more and more of the plants is growing so fast.
When growing your plants, we must grow them with respect and honor like in the old days, replenishing the soil, treating each plant in a loving manner and then you will get the full benefit of the plant in return.
You can plant a small herb garden, a large diversified garden if you have the space or even begin to plan to field grow large areas of medicinal plants. We used to grow fields of oregano and it is beautiful to see it grow abundantly.
The logical thing to do when you first start growing is to design something realistic and plant the herbs that you want to use. If you have the luxury of a small greenhouse that is wonderful but you can make do without one for herbs are hardy once started in the ground and will thrive. Most have a high resistance to pests and the blooms some of the herbs produce are most beautiful. My favorite is lavendar for example. It can be tricky to grow but so rewarding when you get the knack of it.
There is a great amount of preparation needed if you decide to grow medicinals for the market. You must have your land certified as organic and maintain scrupulous attention to anything you use to enhance your product or your soil. Learning to compost is vital and using your herb refuse in the compost is an ideal solution for you will have the best compost in the world when you do.
I am hoping with the new group that I am starting that I will generate some interest in learning about herbs, using them and of course growing your own.
I would like to hear some feedback from all of you who would like to participate and who can contribute to the knowledge base of growing and using medicinal herbs in our everyday life.
I have so many recipes for creams, satchets, sleep pillows etc that I hope to share with everyone. I hope I can get you all excited about joining the new group and that you will bring your friends to join also. Please check out the group in the Health section entitled "Using and growing Medicinal Herbs in your daily Life"!
Many blessings to you
Rosie
Tags: Herbs Healing Medicinal Herbs
