A question on garlic, though a little off topic. I read garlic is a good anti-fungal, thus good to plant under apple trees to fight apple blight. My question is whether its anti-fungal properties would limit good fungal growth?

I really love the shows you do on herbs and you brought up something that sparked a question – herbs heal our bodies and then help us maintain good health. One thing I have seen in herbal supplements is with some people (myself with feverfew for migraines) can have negative reactions to certain herbs like loose stools. I’m beginning to wonder if the healing properties of these herbs aren’t responsible for these reactions, causing our bodies to cleanse or do some other form of reparative work. So my question is (maybe more directed for the people over at Wester Botanicals), are side effects like this really negative and cause to stop a supplement and/or the use of an herb – or is this our body going through the healing cycle?

Just a shout out for one more, Calendula, a super plant for healing, internal or external. And it is pretty and the pretty yellow composite flowers provide habitat for beneficial insects.

I have healed infections from minor wounds all the time soaking with a calendula extract in water. It is our go to, most used herbal. Works better than antibiotic cream for this.

To eat burdock root (which is quite delicious) you have to get it before the second flower stalk comes up, otherwise it’s tough and woody.

Also, another type of sorrel is shamrock (which grows everywhere too), also known as wood sorrel. One thing to note with sorrels is that they contain high levels of oxalic acid, which is not recomended for people with kidney stones. Not sure how serious of a threat it is and you probably have to eat a lot of it to be a concern I’m sure, but that’s just the warning that always goes with sorrels in the herb books.

And if you think plantain is bitter you’re weak. Ha just kidding. You just have to get the young leaves and it’s awesome in something like sautéed mushrooms and onions when you add it at the very end, exactly like how you recomended using garlic.

Great Podcast Jack

I love to hear more about herbs. I have so many challenges in gardening with all of my different micro climates but herbs always do pretty well for me after I move them around a little.

I will be incorporating some of your ideas into an upcoming essential oil class I am giving as one skill always flows into the next.

Thanks again.

I learned the hard way not to fertilize the Sage and Rosemary. Now I just line them with pine needles and dry leaves.

Basil is better fresh but I need to preserve it for winter.

I gave my houseguest a tour of my yard and she referred me to this podcast. I am already growing most of these and have naturalized parsley in my yard. Many other plants can be naturalized as well like chard and lettuce. Let the most vigorous go to seed, then thin the ones you don’t want. Cilantro naturalizes well here as well.
Where I live (sandy soil on Wasatch front of Utah) there are no wild blackberries, but herbalists use raspberries the same way here and they thrive. Alp rosemary overwinters here. Oregano does fine, it is a mint and can be invasive like all the mints. I harvest when I am controlling the spread and dry the herbs then. Within a few years I should have a year’s supply and more for gifts for friends. I put in a long lavender hedge. In the future I won’t need to buy gifts. My kids love getting home grown herb seasoning blends as do other friends. Likewise tea blends make great gifts. The easiest way to brew herb teas is in a french press coffee maker.