Incorporating medicinal herbs into the garden Introductions Why herbal medicine? Medicinal herbs already in your garden Easy-to-grow medicinal herbs Harvesting and processing Questions

Plants have powerful healing properties It deepens our relationship with plants Community-based It's easy to grow and wildcraft medicinal plants It's part of our cultures and histories

Medicinal uses of culinary herbs Examples: rosemary, thyme, sage, garlic, onions ● Explore new uses of the herbs you already have on on hand ● Safe, gentle herbs

Common medicinal weeds Examples: plantain, dandelion, burdock, ground ivy, ragweed, chickweed, yellow dock ● No effort to grow! ● Weeding becomes harvesting

Easy-to-grow medicinal herbs: annuals Examples: Holy basil, oats, ashwagandha, chamomile, spilanthes ● Can be planted as row crops or scattered throughout the garden ● Many are self-seeding and can be harvested by weeding them out of unwanted places

Easy-to-grow medicinal herbs: perennials ● Examples: yarrow, comfrey, elecampane, hyssop, echinacea, peppermint, california poppy ● Root crops and long- term producers ● Place carefully since these will be in your garden for a long time.

Medicine for your garden Medicinal herbs can also help nourish your garden: Attract pollinators (CA poppy, chamomile, elecampane) Source of mulch (comfrey, leaves left over from root crops Prevent soil erosion (perennials) Aerate soil (ashwagandha)

Infusion or Decoction (water extract)Tincture (alcohol extract) Vinegar Tincture Honey Oil/salve Syrup

Matthew Woods: The Practice of Traditional Western Herbalism Leslie Braun and Mark Cohen: Herbs and Natural Supplements- An Evidence-Based Guide Rosemary Gladstar: Herbal Healing for Women Michael Moore: various books including Medicinal Plants of the Mountain West Timothy Scott: Invasive Plant Medicine

Websites Maryland Native Plant Society: www. mdflora.orgmdflora.org Botanical Society of Washington: Henriette’s Herbal: American Herbalist Guild:

My contact information: Holly Poole-Kavana