Eat More Weeds

I have reached Level 5 of Domesticism.  I can't quite place a symbol figure for this level but Level 8 would be Ruby, from the book/movie Cold Mountain:

Level 9 would be Christy.

And Level 10 would be Caroline Ingalls (from Little House On The Prairie):

But I figure if I were to reach these upper levels I would have to be without electricity or internet so you would not hear of my rise in skill sets.  So if I drop off the grid you can secretly cheer for me and  and think of me hunting out road kill and eating dandelions.

So back to eating weeds.  I truly am promoting it (only if you properly educate yourself first, oh and promoting only the legal ones too).
This past Christmas Jonathan fueled my strange hobby endeavor by getting me this book:

I have found herbology to be pretty interesting.  No, I don't wear tie dye and ankle skirts (though there is nothing wrong with that), but I like history and I like plants... and I like self sufficiency so herbology is a good study for me.

Don't worry, I am not turning on modern medicine.  And I am not making any crazy and possibly dangerous tinctures, I don't plan to go that far.  But I did pick some wild violets in our yard this spring and seeped them in oil to make a soothing skin oil.  If you think that is weird then look at the ingredients in your lotion, does it contain aloe, then you rubbed the guts of a plant on your skin too.

Other medicinal herbs/plants/weeds you are probably consuming include rosemary (digestion, circulation), thyme (antiseptic, good to treats colds), garlic (digestion, circulation and more), oregano (antioxidant, antiseptic) and oats (soothing).... just to name a common few.  Herb's medicinal compounds are extracted and used everywhere.  One for example is thymol, a compound extracted from common thyme, is used in mouthwashes such as Listerine (source).  I could also say something about mint, licorice and marshmallow, all once sweetened and used medicinally.... now just an artificial flavor added to corn syrup for a candy.

So back to weeds, these are medicinal plants I discovered growing in our yard:

(All the medicinal notes are summarized from Making Plant Medicine book, as mentioned above, by Richo Cech.  I am NOT a doctor nor do I claim to be, so therefore don't take my word for these things.  I encourage you to research this stuff on your own if interested in personal use.)

Cleavers:

These guys were found growing near our water facet, guess they are moochers of the drippage.

Cleansing of the lymphatic and urinary tract system and blood.  A strong diuretic used helping with urinary tract problems (such as kidney stones).  I picked some, dried it (on an awesome homemade Christmas present from my sister-in-law) and made my husband drink it in some tea.  He lived.... and had to pee a lot, so I guess it worked.

Drying

Lady's Mantle:

This lovely flowering plant was already planted in a flower bed next to the old koi pond.

Appropriately named, good for general women's health.  Books says helpful in toning reproduction organs, good pregnancy tonic, postpartum relief, mood swings and other womanly problems (cause y'all know we gots the problems) .  Apparently a popular tea still for women in other countries.

Echinacea:

An immune stimulant that increases overall disease resistant.  This tea actually taste pretty good (I buy the tea instead of making it myself).

Violets:

We have violets growing all though out our yard.  I know its not lush grass but it gives a nice color in the spring.

Cooling and healing, for either internal or external issues; upper repository infections to skin problems.  This is what I made my skin oil from, as mentioned above.

Stinging Nettle:

This guy hangs out in our asparagus patch.  

Nettle is a nutritive tonic, apparently high in chlorophyll, potassium and calcium.  The fresh herb can be used for making beer.

Chick Weed:

This guy pops up everywhere there isn't grass I feel like.

Increases energy levels and fat metabolism.  An excellent hen feed, increasing eggs size and production and even the nutritional value of the egg.  Guess thats the reason it takes over flower beds and gardens even when thought it was properly weeded the season before.... because it needs to pulled up and eaten by a human or a hen.

Burdock:

This big ugly monster is not welcome in our yard, but he is persistent.  The spiny burrs freak little lady out every time she discovers them attached to her, thinking its a spider.  So on top of medicinal properties it is helping her over come some fears.

Used in treating staph infections, impetigo and other ulcerations.  Combined with dandelion or yellow dock could be used to treat psoriasis, eczema, oily skin, boils and gout.

Plant in spring

Burs later in season

That is all I discovered for now.  To answer your question, no, I am not out grazing on all fours on the weeds throughout our yard.  And don't worry the kids and I don't try anything without testing it on Jonathan first.  So far he is doing fine. ;)

Is It Officially Spring!?

"I declare that spring has finally sprung!"

And man oh man we are off and running.... maybe a little too fast.

Surprisingly, we got the garden turned over probably earlier than we EVER have.  I haven't checked any stats but I think this has been a dryer spring than normal, hope that trend does NOT continue into summer.  Nevertheless, it is always exciting to get the initial dirt turned over... to let it sit while the weeds rot for the final tilling.  Good husband-

We did plant plenty cool weather plants and hope to be enjoying some of those in the coming weeks:  beets, carrots, radishes, leaf lettuce, collards, leeks, cilantro, red spinach and sugar snap peas.  I also got some red seed potatoes in.
We have been enjoying our asparagus harvest, it's our new kickoff to the season food along with the well established chive bed.  So tender when fresh, and SO easy to prepare.  And SO tempting to grab-

"Read my face, dirt playing season is here"-

Speaking of those chives and what we like them with, we replenished our egg laying operation with four three new RI Red, Delaware cross pullets (one is no longer with us and the investigation goes on to pin point the intruder).  Signs still seem to point to a feral cat.

We also, for the first time, are raising chicks-

In just a few weeks, they have dropped their chicky fuzz and are growing feathers.  We think they are around 5 weeks old.  They should start laying around 18 weeks old.

Typically we buy pullets around 17 weeks old, so our "investment" of $10/pullet starts laying almost as soon as we buy them (a return).  No special equipment is needed at this age either.  We chose to get chicks this year because I have always wanted different varieties, specifically Plymouth Barred Rock Hens.  The other chick varieties we got are New Hampshire Reds and Golden Salmon Maran (we think, or maybe Welsummer).  Hopefully one day we will have the set up to sell eggs to friends.

Last but not least, we also got our piglets for the year!

Three gilts (young females), Landracer and Hampshire crosses.  This is different from our previous year breed- Yorkshire, Hampshire cross.  These girls have much more length in the loins and those cute floppy ears.  Goodness though, they are HUGE for being only 9 weeks.  Our farmer never disappoints us with his stock-

Picture taken by little man-

So like I said, we are up and running, ready for another attempt to grow some of our own food.  I am really behind on sharing what's going on around here, guess I better stop sitting around.