We are so lucky for our winters on the west coast. There is lush greenery all year long. But winter is not a time for buds or blossoms, it is a time when plants energy is in their roots, and in some cases, leaves. In general, winter is a time of hibernation and conservation for […]
Author Archives: Rose Dickson
Backyard Apothecary – Cleavers
It’s not hard at this time of year to be in awe of our green earth. Everything is budding or blooming and leaves are reaching for the sky. Outside in my yard I’ve been watching the cleavers creep their way up the fence. This lovely, clinging plant amazes me. It’s whorls of leaves surround a […]
Backyard Apothecary: What Is Ripe Right Now
Out in the garden, the chickweed bed is dry and yellow, but the dandelions that sprouted after May’s flowers are growing vigorously. Their leaves are dark green, gathering enough energy from the sun to grow long roots for winter. Elsewhere in the garden, red clover (actually a light, bright purple) is blooming, yellow dock is […]
Backyard Apothecary: Herbal Vinegars
Herbal vinegars are a unique and inexpensive way to utilize the green world around us to the benefit of our health. Vinegar has the ability to draw minerals from plant material, making herbal vinegars an excellent natural source of mineral supplements. And unlike the alcohol needed to make tinctures, vinegar is easily affordable. When […]
Backyard Apothecary: Nettle Root
My mother instilled in me an appreciation for fresh, seasonal produce. One way was her constant labour in the gardens at various childhood homes. Fresh tomatoes on toast are a fond memory of my teens. But I recently had to laugh at myself when I recalled that although I very rarely helped her in the […]