My adventure with medicinal plants began with a very simple preparation of dandelion leaves, red clover, and plantain, roughly shredded and mashed together with some apple juice, and left to ferment in the sun for a few hours. I was in kindergarten. The potion was supposed to help my friend Val win the love of her unrequited crush, Bruce, and when I got stung by a bee while picking the clover, I took it as a sign that this would be a powerful brew indeed. Unfortunately, he refused to drink it, trashing my reputation as a budding herbalist. Thanks for nothing, Bruce.
Since then, I’ve used herbs and other medicinal plants for more realistic purposes like soothing sore muscles, improving digestion, banishing headaches, and addressing the approximately one million mosquito bites I get every summer at Bossy Acres, the farm I own with my partner, Karla Pankow. Every year, we experiment with new varieties of medicinal plants like valerian, calendula, chamomile, and yarrow growing alongside culinary favorites like basil and thyme.
Although I’m not a professional herbalist—yet—I’ve been fond of herbs since that first failed potion, and our little medicinal garden at Bossy Acres feels like a revelation every growing season. For meals, we throw a collection of plants together that includes both cultivated and wild selections, so lambs quarters might cozy up to peppermint, with grilled garlic bringing it all together. It’s not uncommon for guests to start a dinner discussion with, “Now, what am I eating?”
In addition to being useful, medicinal plants can also make an outdoor living space look more vibrant.
Part of the appeal of medicinals for me comes from being drawn to self-sufficiency, sustainability, and better control over my health. I’ve always been an advocate of health-care over sick-care, and part of that difference springs from preventative measures—staying de-stressed, connecting with nature, sleeping well, eating real food, and using plants with known medicinal properties for boosting immunity and reducing inflammation. To me, all of these strategies are interconnected.
I’m also humbled to be connected to a deep, rich history of medicinal tradition. For centuries, plants have been used in ritual and healing. Some of the oldest documents from Chinese and Egyptian culture describe medicinal uses of plants, and recently the World Health Organization estimated that 80 percent of people worldwide still rely on herbal medicines for some aspect of their health care.
In terms of my own medicinal uses, you’ll find that I’m particularly fond of very simple remedies. I greatly admire herbalists who create five-herb blends that address specific conditions, but I gravitate toward one-herb, one-purpose kind of uses. If I have a sore throat, I gargle with a mix of hot water and crushed, dried cayenne. For those mosquito bites, I chew a plantain leaf and put the mushy result on them. I’ve tried to create more combinations, but always find myself drifting back to easier approaches, usually resulting in lots and lots of tea.
As a gardener and farmer, I take the same strategy as I do with medicinal preparations: if it’s easy to grow, it wins my love. At Bossy Acres, we grow about sixty different vegetables, some fruits, and around twenty to thirty herbs per year, so any plant that needs a wealth of attention tends to get knocked out of the lineup.
For this book, I chose my favorite plants based on ease of growing, medicinal efficacy, one-herb remedies, and personal fondness. Rather than focus exclusively on herbs, I’ve included some other major plants that have plenty of medicinal uses. Berry bushes, for example, are often overlooked when it comes to wellness, but because of their longevity and whole-plant usefulness, it’s great to include them in a backyard plan.
Each chapter covers plant history, simple preparations, planting and growing considerations, and storage tips. Enjoy your herbal adventures, and if you discover a love potion in the process, definitely let me know.
