Llewellyn Publications - Llewellyns 2015 herbal almanac

Llewellyn Publications

Woodbury, Minnesota

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Llewellyns 2015 Herbal Almanac 2014 Llewellyn Publications is a registered trademark of Llewellyn Worldwide Ltd.

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First e-book edition 2014

E-book ISBN: 9780738744841

Cover Design: Kevin R. Brown

Editing: Andrea Neff

Cover images: iStockphoto.com/12008406, 10796750, 10711340, 10828080, 12001500, 11989058/Classix

Interior Art: Fiona King

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Llewellyn Worldwide Ltd.

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Manufactured in the United States of America

Contents

to Llewellyns Herbal Almanac

by Monica Crosson

by Tess Whitehurst

by Diana Rajchel

by Jill Henderson

Highland Heather &
Wild Thyme by Esthamarelda McNevin

by Emyme

by Jill Henderson

by Elizabeth Barrette

by Susan Pesznecker

by Ember Grant

by Dallas Jennifer Cobb

by Alice DeVille

by Anne Sala

by Darcey Blue French

by Elizabeth Barrette

by Doreen Shababy

by Dallas Jennifer Cobb

by Autumn Damiana

by Calantirniel

by Sally Cragin

by Deborah Castellano

by Ellen Dugan

by Clea Danaan

by Charlie Rainbow Wolf

by Deborah Castellano

by JD Hortwort

by Charlie Rainbow Wolf

by Suzanne Ress

by Laurel Reufner

by Linda Raedisch

JanuaryDecember

Introduction to
Llewellyns Herbal Almanac

M ore and more people are using herbs, growing and gathering them and studying them for their enlivening and healing properties. Whether in the form of a refreshing herbal tonic, a critter-friendly garden, or a new favorite recipe, herbs can clearly enhance your life.

In the 2015 edition of the Herbal Almanac , we once again feature some of the most innovative and original thinkers and writers on herbs. We tap into practical, historical, and just plain enjoyable aspects of herbal knowledgeusing herbs to help you reconnect with the earth, enhance your culinary creations, and heal your body and mind. The thirty articles in this almanac will teach you everything from how to craft your own herbal tea blends to how to grow a window herb garden. Youll also learn how to create floral arrangements with herbs and flowers from your own garden, save seeds to share with family and friends, and improve your health with herbal remedies from your kitchen pharmacy. Enjoy!

Note: The old-fashioned remedies in this book are historical references used for teaching purposes only. The recipes are not for commercial use or profit. The contents are not meant to diagnose, treat, prescribe, or substitute consultation with a licensed health-care professional. Herbs, whether used internally or externally, should be introduced in small amounts to allow the body to adjust and to detect possible allergies. Please consult a standard reference source or an expert herbalist to learn more about the possible effects of certain herbs. You must take care not to replace regular medical treatment with the use of herbs. Herbal treatment is intended primarily to complement modern health care. Always seek professional help if you suffer from illness. Also, take care to read all warning labels before taking any herbs or starting on an extended herbal regimen. Always consult medical and herbal professionals before beginning any sort of medical treatmentthis is particularly true for pregnant women. Herbs are powerful things; be sure you are using that power to achieve balance.

Llewellyn Worldwide does not participate in, endorse, or have any authority or responsibility concerning private business transactions between its authors and the public.

Growing
and
Gathering Herbs

Seed Saving Pass It On

By Monica Crosson

W hen I was first married, my husband and I bought a tiny cottage that I was determined to surround with the ideal fairytale garden.

Being young and having little money to buy planting material, I relied on the kindness of family and friends to share from their own gardens. My mother provided me with the bulk of my treasures, her own garden rivaling any in England. Soon my yard was teeming with daylilies, columbine, hollyhock, and iris from my mother, cuttings from my grandmothers heirloom roses, and starts from close friends. I loved and appreciated those plants that became part of my first garden. In fact, I called it my story garden because of the tales that were attached to each and every plant.

But one bright May morning, an unexpected visit by my in-laws started me down a gardening path shared by our ancestors but almost forgotten in recent times: seed saving.

My mother-in-law handed me a small glass baby food jar, and in the bottom was a scattering of silvery seeds.

I shook the jar a bit. These look cool. What kind of seeds are these?

Well, she said sheepishly, I dont know if theyre any good, but theyre honesty seeds. They were my grandmothers. Ive had them in storage for a very long time, but I would like you to have them.

Honesty, also known as money plant or moonwort ( Lunaria annua ), is a biennial belonging to the Brassicaceae family. In its first year, the plant displays showy green leaves, but in the second year, it is covered with a riot of bright pink flowers. The mature seedpods resemble papery coins and are used in dried flower arrangements.

The next day, I scattered my little treasures under a southern-facing window. I watered them and watched patiently for three weeks for signs of life. Nothing.

Believing the seeds were no longer viable, I decided to plant English lavender there instead. But just before my shovel hit the dirt, I saw the lovely green shoots of the honesty plant pushing through the ground. The plants not only grew, they thrived. By their second season, they had grown to an astonishing six and a half feet tall and were covered with bright pink flowers.

That fall, I carefully collected the lovely silver moon-shaped seedpods and gave them away as thank-you tokens to all who had helped make my garden a success. That was twenty years ago, and Ive been collecting and sharing seeds ever since.

Saving seeds can be as easy as shaking mature seed heads into containers at the end of their growing season. But there are other types of seed that require a bit more finesse. With a little knowledge and know-how, anyone can be a seed saver.