Elderberries (Sambucus canadensis) grow wild all over the eastern half of the US. When we first started homesteading, I had no idea they grew wild in my area. I ordered two varieties from an online nursery, which quickly grew into lovely small trees. Now that I know what the plant, the flowers, and the fruits look like in their various stages of growth, I notice elderberries … [Read more...] about Boost Your Immune System With Elderberry Syrup
Herbal Medicine
Stop Bleeding Fast With This Weed
I was out in the yard one beautiful May afternoon when I made an exciting discovery. It was a tall, scraggly plant towering a good foot and a half above the other weeds scattering our overgrown yard. I crouched down to get a closer look and immediately noticed the heart shaped pods growing along the lanky stem-- I'd recognize them anywhere. It was Shepherd's Purse! I have … [Read more...] about Stop Bleeding Fast With This Weed
Grow Chaya for Years of Free Greens
Chances are you've never heard of chaya. Heck, I hadn't heard about it until just a few years ago - and I'm a plant geek. Now that I have it, however, I'd never go without it again. This is a must-grow vegetable for anyone in USDA Zone 8 and south. Further north it's probably still worth growing - I'd just keep it in a pot through the worst of the winter. What is Chaya? Chaya … [Read more...] about Grow Chaya for Years of Free Greens
Growing Your Own Herbal Tea
Last year my wife and I shared the magical experience of visiting an organic cocoa farm in the Caribbean. We tried bananas we'd never seen before... ate coffee cherries right off the bushes... tasted fruits we didn't know existed... all while marveling at the incredible productivity possible in a year-round warm climate with great soil. One thing I found quite interesting was … [Read more...] about Growing Your Own Herbal Tea
The Muscadine Makes Growing Grapes Easy
Prelude A man and his wife walked up to my plant display at the local farmer's market. "What's that plant?" he asked. "That's a chaya," I replied. "Also known as Mexican tree spinach. A really easy perennial green for this area." He nodded. "And what about that?" "That's a Japanese persimmon... the fruit tastes like honey and sunshine. It's also really easy to grow... much … [Read more...] about The Muscadine Makes Growing Grapes Easy