Cris Fellows

Cris Fellows wrote:Still stand by using preflowering Ragweed as tincture, along with Red Clover and Goldenrod.  I use liberally a dropperful as needed.  Externally for bug bite allergies you can't beat plantain.  Chew it up, stick it on.  Matthew Wood (herbalist) relates a story of 3 women gardening  who got into a nest of spiders and all got bitten.  One if them had just learned about plantain and put some on each of the bites.  The women thought the spiders might be black widow and all agreed to go to see the doctor in the am.  (Although, I don't know why one would wait if that was the thought...).  Anyways, the one woman woke in the am with much improvement in appearance of bites.  The other two women were dead.  I have stories of my own, but this one really showcases the power of the plant.

This still stands,  a tincture of Ragweed (preflowering plant), Goldenrod and Red Clover blend to which a small amount of Lobelia is added as a driver is stellar for allergies.   Showers and clothes washing are essential during high pollen days in the garden.  Reduce load as much as you can: don't eat things that you are allergic/ sensitive to,  watch timing on outdoor events,  selective use of air conditioning.

Current read: Beast of Ten by Beth Brower (author of The Unselected journals of Emma M Lion,  great fun).  
Just finished Isola: historical fiction about a young lady,  initially of means,  whose guardian fritters away her wealth and abandons her and her lover and maid on a small mostly granite island in New Canada.  
Also recently finished East of Eden by John Steinbeck.  I put of reading it for about a decade,  probably because Grapes of Wrath, although wonderful,  was such a tome.  It is now in my top 5 of all time for sure.   So good.

L Anderson wrote:

I’ll know I’m done when the lawn mower dies of loneliness.
Of all the different things I do, my gardens, messiness and all, are the most important to me.  They bring meaning to my life.
It’s amazing what grandmas can get away with when they put their minds to it.  

L Anderson, I adore your entire post,  but these three lines are pure gold!!!

The last time was about 10 days ago because I had an herbalism class "Fostered and Foraged Apothecary".  Did the class twice with 12 attendees the first time during which we had a downpour!  Thankfully,  I have a greenhouse and we waited it out.   The second class had about 6 attendees, and it was lovely.   I made nettle cake, spring garlic pesto and BumbleTea (Nettle,  Hibiscus,  Dandelion and Lemon Balm) to share with class.   I do take individuals on little mini tours now and then as well.   I have an Elderberry Crafting and Lore class early September in the garden and we will tour then as well.  And the Goumi berries are popping now!

John Gould wrote:Is your area wooded with a lot of wild goosberry (Ribes americanum)?

It is urban, so no,  but I planted a line of gooseberry on the other side of lots.

Anne Miller wrote:It sounds like you are giving nutrition so I would rule that out.

Yellow leaves often mean over watering.  Have you had a wet spring?

Maybe it is fungal?

We did have a wet spring and underneath is heavy clay... so maybe.

I have two champagne currants and one Rosa rugosa.  For a few years the currants leaves have been yellowing.  I see no pests.  They get compost yearly.   It was just the one currants and I cut it back completely.   It is growing back but with same yellowed leaves and it's companion also had some yellowing.  Now I am noticing some of same with the rose.  For context,  this is a city garden,  zone 5b, initially straight city fill clay amended with horse manure (12 years ago).  Yearly leaf hummus and mushroom compost. They still fruit and flower. Thoughts?

I know there are pics of my garden somewhere in this thread... time for new.  :)  3 city lot urban permaculture-esque, herb heavy (I am an herbalist ☺), with a lovely glorified unheated greenhouse/ gather space.

Nikolaj Vinicoff wrote:I have some experience with mugwort / artemisia in West Africa during the rainy season when malaria is a risk (especially for us who has never had it before). We would commonly boil leaves of different trees and then drink the infusion; I was told that the mugwort tea would prevent us from getting malaria, and sure enough none of us got it. Whether this was a stroke of luck or the tea working, I do not know - I choose to believe the tea worked, though.

Nikolai, There have been quite a few studies using the Artemesia family for malaria.  Although most of the studies are with Artemesia annua (Sweet Annie...also my garden cat's name) Mugwort has artemisinin too... just not as much.   Back in the C day, I saw that the first effective meds were those that had also been used for malaria...like hydroxychloroquine...  I had a hunch right from the start that these plants would be helpful.   When my family finally came down with said virus (not until 2021, we were late bloomers) we were all in and out in about 3 days.  I grow it yearly now and keep a stock of tincture.

Yes to the educational endeavors, although often this does require transportation @J Lucas.  But if you are the one doing the educating,  then they come to you.   It can be sparse and take a while to find those who are looking for you.  
Also, I walked away from 'church' quite some time ago.   So when we turned our hearts back to God, it took quite a bit of intentional looking and prayer to find a place where we fit.   One may never find a place where one is truly at home,  but maybe we can come close.