Blake Burger - Medicinal Herbs of the Rocky Mountains: A Field Guide to Common Healing Plants

Harvest from the medicinal garden

Blake Burger

The practice of herbalism can be a simple, joyous activity which creates a meaningful relationship between the practitioner and the environment. Creating herbal remedies from plants that were cultivated and harvested from your garden or wildcrafted during a hike through the woods adds a layer of special importance to the remedies. A tea that was made from garden-grown bee balm is not only delicious but gratifying because the ingredients were cared for and nurtured. Using a liniment made from fresh arnica that was harvested on a hike carries much more significance than a store-bought product. Making remedies with medicinal plants teaches us that plants are much more than a commodity, but sentient, generous life forms that improve our health and enrich our experience here on Earth. With a few common tools and basic knowledge, harvesting plants for medicinal use is a very rewarding process.

When harvesting, use a pair of sharp, durable garden shears to cut the leaves, flowers, or fruit cleanly from the plant. To reduce the spread of disease, always sanitize equipment with soap and water or alcohol before cutting. Plants should be harvested on a dry and sunny day. Avoid harvesting plants early in the morning if dew or moisture has collected on the leaves and during or immediately after a rainfall. When to harvest is also dependent on what you are harvesting. As a rule of thumb, follow the lifecycle of the plant, harvesting plant parts at their peak. For example, if you are harvesting leaves, harvest in the spring or early summer when they are young and robust. Gather flowers at the height of their bloom before they begin to wither. Inner bark, such as willow bark, should be gathered in early spring as the plant begins to awaken, or in autumn as the plant begins to settle into dormancy. When harvesting roots harvest in the fall immediately after the first frost. Roots of biennial plants should be harvested in the fall of their first year of growth.

Observe the plant of interest before harvesting. Make sure the leaves or flowers are coming from a healthy, vibrant specimen free of discoloration, pests, or contamination. Harvesting the roots of a plant typically requires the plant to be partially dug up or completely removed from the soil. While it is important to harvest from a healthy plant, keep in mind that cutting the plant may compromise its health or even kill it. Thus, only take what is needed to ensure the plant can bounce back and thrive.

Drying Herbs

If your harvest yields an abundance of plant material that is in danger of spoiling, consider drying the plants to preserve their smell, flavor, and medicinal content. Drying herbs can be easy, requiring minimal equipment and involvement. The key to drying herbs is fresh, dry air with ample circulation. Avoid environments with high humidity to prevent mold. Excessive heat or direct sunlight can bleach color from the herbs and compromise the quality of the dried herb. Even after drying, plants should remain colorful, fragrant, and taste similar to how they would if they were fresh.

Anaphalis bundle for smudging

Blake Burger

The easiest method for drying herbs is hanging them up to dry. This method is best for flowers and leaves. Tie sprigs or branches together into small bunches using twine, then hang upside down in a clean, dry environment with ample circulation, away from direct sunlight. To prevent mold growth, keep the bundles small, no more than 1 to 2 inches thick at the base. The amount of time the plant takes to dry is dependent on the type of herb and the environment in which the plant is drying. Check plants after 5 days, making sure the plant material is brittle and crispy.