The Dirt: Yarrow Harvest
Summer is here! Well, maybe not officially, but here in Missouri you can definitely already feel it in the air. It is hot and humid and I am loving it! As a Floridian I was never able to acclimate to the dryness of the west coast; my body craves the warm sticky air, and it sure is sticky here in middle America. Our plants seem to love it too; they are budding like crazy and stretching out to fill in the garden quite nicely, particularly the Yarrow. I am amazed at how well they are doing. I have always thought myself to be somewhat of a black thumbed gardener, never having success with many plants. (I've killed countless succulents and herbs - I know, it's shameful). Regardless of this self-knowledge, I have started full force down a path of turning this fairly barren property into a blossoming sanctuary for birds and bees. I have spent all of my free time digging, planting, weeding, and watering (which explains why I have been neglecting my blogging duties). I am having such a wonderful time playing in the dirt, and it is a bonus that all of the plants are not only still alive, but are actually doing really well!
We brought the baby yarrow plants home from Lowe's in April, and I didn't have a whole lot of confidence that these sickly looking plants would do very much. I was thrilled that Lowe's actually had some in stock, since yarrow was on the top of my Most Wanted Plants list, and they were only two dollars each, so I figured it was worth a shot. Yarrow is an old and useful plant, dating back to ancient Greece where it is said to have been used by the great warrior Achilles to staunch the wounds of his soldiers. It seems to be best known for its first aid properties in treatment of wounds to stop bleeding, but it can also be used as a tincture for digestion, as an oil for headaches and tension, as a tea to reduce fever, and as an ointment for bruises, varicose veins, and hemorrhoids, and actually the list continues. I won't go into it much, because I am no expert herbalist (no matter how many rants I may go on that would suggest I think otherwise). If you are interested in learning more about the medicinal properties of yarrow there are many websites and books to check out. (I will make a little list at the end of this post). Not only is this plant wonderfully useful, it is beautiful when blossoming and the bees seem to love it, and I am all about feeding the bees.
Nearly two months later the plants are looking great and filling in so nicely! Today, I have harvested my first small batch of flowers and leaves, and I am going to do my first herbalist experiment. I have this fantasy of becoming a wrinkly, spry old lady surrounded by shelves of dried herbs and oils; happily flitting about the kitchen, concocting all sorts of natural remedies. Perhaps that comes from reading too many Ken Follett & Harry Potter books, but it sounds like a nice life goal. I guess we will first see how I do with my yarrow, and go from there.
I clipped both flower stalks and leaves from their base, rinsed off the dirt, and dried them on some paper towels. Then I tied them in a couple of bundles and hung them upside down to dry out. I have read that they should dry out for about a month before the flowers and leaves can be stripped from the stalks and stored. I am pretty excited about it, and I promise to keep you up to date on the progress of the yarrow and also the many other plants we have added to the garden.
Here's a list of helpful gardening & herbalist books & links that I often reference:::
http://www.sacredearth.com
https://theherbalacademy.com/blog/
Backyard Medicine: Harvest and Make your Own Herbal Remedies by Julie Bruton-Seal
Herbal Recipes for Vibrant Health by Rosemary Gladstar
The Herbal Medicine-Maker's Handbook by James Green
Plus there are SO many more that are on my wishlist!
