Wild Backyard Stir-Fry

by Becki Baumgartner Who says tasty organic food has to be expensive… or bought from the store?!?   With a few standard staples, a little imagination, and use of what Mother Nature has sprouting in your own back yard, you can have wholesome, healthy meals quickly, easily and inexpensively! Here is a recipe that we just [...]

Oregon Grape Root

by Jyll Renee OREGON GRAPE ROOT Botanical name:  Berberis aquifoluim Common name:  Oregon grape Habitat:  Oregon grape is an evergreen bush that grows throughout the northwest; however is the Oregon state flower as well.  The root is used medicinally. Info:  The yellow rhizome is used as a gentle hepatic – biliary stimulant.  By enhancing the [...]

Cayenne

by Jyll Renee CAYENNE Botanical name:  Capsicum annum, Capsicum frutescenes Common name:  Cayenne  Habitat:  Originally from South America, the cayenne plant is now used world wide as a food and spice.  Cayenne is very closely related to bell peppers, jalapenos and paprika. Info:  Most Herbalists would not be without this herb.  This herb is wonderful [...]

Dandelion Root

by Jyll Renee DANDELION ROOT Botanical name:  Taraxzcum officinate Common name:  Pee in the bed, lions teeth, telltime, priests-crown Habitat:  Closely related to the chicory, dandelion is a common plant world wide and the bane of a perfect lawn Info: The humble dandelion is one of nature’s great medicines.  The root is a mildly laxative [...]

Dandelion Leaf

Dandelion Leaf Botanical name:  Taraxacum officinal Common name:  pee in the bed, lions teeth, fairy clock  Habitat:  roadways, meadows, lawns  Info:  Is there and herbalist anywhere who does not consider dandelion among their favorite herbs?  The dandelion leaves in Spring are wonderful to add to a salad.  The diuretic affect is compared with the drug [...]

Comfrey

Comfrey Botanical name: Symphytum officinale Common name:  knitbone, boneset Habitat:  The leaf and root of comfrey have been employed medicinally for centuries.  Originally from Europe and Western Asia, it is now grown in North America Info:  Comfrey has a long history of use as a topical agent for treating wounds, skin ulcers, bruises, sprains and [...]

Broadleaf Plantain (Plantago major)

Plantain (Plantago major) Other Names: Common Plantain, Broadleaf Plantain, Great Plantain, Greater Plantain, Ripple Grass, Plantago Asiatica, Waybread, Waybroad, Snakeweed, Cuckoo’s Bread, Englishman’s Foot, White Man’s Foot, Che Qian Zi (China), Breitwegerich (German), Tanchagem-maior (Portuguese), Llantén común (Spanish), Llantén major (Spanish). Plantain is both medicinal and edible.

Ground Ivy (Glechoma hederacea)

Ground Ivy (Glechoma hederacea) Other Names: Alehoof, Cat’s foot, Creeping Charlie, Gill-over-the-ground, Gillrun, Hay maids, hedge maids. Ground ivy is medicinal and edible.

VIOLET (Viola odorata)

Violet (Viola odorata) Other Names: Ordinary violet, Common blue violet, Sweet violet, Garden violet. The violet is edible and medicinal