Mid July Update and Herbalism
Hello!
Thank you for staying in touch. I'm so grateful you're here. If you know someone who could use a little extra nursing support, I'd be honored if you'd share my information with them. They can sign up here: www.sapa.life/signup.
I can't believe we're already halfway through summer. Before we know it, it'll be back-to-school season, then fall colors, and before long we'll be bundled up for another Minnesota winter.
As much as I complain about winter, I think it's part of why I love living here. Every few months there's something new to look forward to. Today it's hot and humid, and six months from now I'd need snow pants just to sit outside. Every season has something to appreciate.
What has brought you joy this summer?
If you've spent much time with me, you've probably heard me talk about gratitude. Life and health don't always cooperate with our plans, but I've found that intentionally looking for little moments of joy can make even difficult seasons feel lighter.
For me lately, that joy has been in the garden.
I wasn't always a gardener. It's something I've grown into over the years, and one of my favorite parts is that summer is when you finally get to enjoy work you started months ago.
This week I harvested garlic that I planted last fall, picked my first green beans, and finally enjoyed those first sweet cherry tomatoes with breakfast. There is something incredibly satisfying about seeing tiny seeds become food.
I've also been diving deeper into herbalism. The more I learn, the more fascinated I become. I thought I'd share a few of the plants I've been getting to know this month.
Comfrey
Comfrey has become one of my favorite garden plants. Its deep roots pull minerals from the soil, which is one reason gardeners love planting it near fruit trees. When the leaves break down, they help return those nutrients to the topsoil.
Medicinally, comfrey has traditionally been used in salves for sore muscles, bruises, and minor injuries. I've dried some leaves and am infusing them in olive oil for future salve making.
I also learned that you can propagate it by dividing the roots. I tried rooting leaves in water after seeing someone online do it... let's just say I ended up with stinky water and no new plants.
Yarrow
I planted yarrow a couple of years ago, and this year it has absolutely exploded. Unfortunately, I underestimated how large it would get, so it's now flopping across my garden path!
Traditionally, yarrow has been used in first aid to help stop minor bleeding, and today you'll also find it in teas and skincare products. I currently have some drying and am still deciding what I'd like to make with it.
Plantain
Not the bananaā€”the lawn weed!
Plantain grows almost everywhere around here, but it's surprisingly useful. Crushed fresh leaves have traditionally been used to soothe bug bites and minor skin irritations. I can attest that it is soothing on slightly irritated skin. I've dried some and have it infusing in olive oil alongside calendula for a face cream I'm experimenting with.
This week I'm serving as the camp nurse at my kids' sleepaway camp, and the slower pace has been a nice change.
While walking around camp, I had one of those wonderfully nerdy moments when I spotted a mullein plant. Most people probably walked right by it thinking it was just another weed. I was ridiculously excited because I actually knew what it was!
I've been reading more about mullein since. Traditionally it's been used as a tea for respiratory support and infused into oil for soothing dry, irritated skin. Now I'm trying to decide whether I should bring some seeds home for my own garden next year.
Learning herbalism has become one of those hobbies that constantly sparks my curiosity. It's funnyā€”if I were being strategic, I'd probably spend more of my free time learning marketing. Instead, I keep finding myself outside identifying plants and reading herbal books.
Maybe that's okay.
The marketing will come. Curiosity is a pretty wonderful thing to follow too.
I hope you're finding little moments of joy in your own summer.
Ā
Take care,
Ā
