GARDENING AND HEALING FROM THE WEEDPATCH NancyLouLaBelle Hendershott
As I walk to the greenhouse to rest, worship, and sort out my life, it is not long before I am on my hands and knee’s checking out the mysteries of the plants. I realize that there is not enough time in life to cover all of the properties and uses of the gift of plants. From the lowly shepherds purse, reportedly useful for hernias, to the exotic black cohosh, which can be used for stress, there are valuable uses for everything that has been provided for us. I separate the black cohosh in the fall and harvest its root for medicinal use and then pot a root for study in a warmer environment through the winter months.
I found the shepherds purse in the field of weeds that is called my lawn. I transferred the plant and seed of shepherd purse to the greenhouse for the winter so that they would be watered regularly and produce through the winter for healing purposes.
The wildflowers in this mountainous weed patch, serve to bring peace as I rest before a bowl of flowers floating in spring water. Journeying with the flowers helps to renew strength, gain rest, and to learn of the healing gifts of each flower as a healing flower essence is created.
When sleep eludes us because of problems in the world for which we have no answers, the flower essence of morning glory helps to relax our state of mind, and we are able to drift into a restful slumber. Because most of us tend to encompass with great zeal too many activities in our lives, we exhaust our energy and cause extreme tension in the musculature parts of our bodies. The beautiful golden flower essence of dandelion is quick to balance the soul, release extreme tension, and bring balance back into life. The juice of the dandelion flower stems is used to balance blood sugar levels. By chewing 10 flower stems daily, when in bloom, we can manage to keep our blood sugar balanced.
The chast berries of the vitex tree, when tinctured down, saved my sanity and helped bring me through the change of life naturally without any of the disagreeable symptoms that women are faced with in this most difficult time of life.
Scientific research has found the plant life juices are the closest substances that have been found to human blood. Is it any wonder that plant life is so healing for our bodies? Just by breathing the essential oil of lavender flower, our nervous systems are relaxed and headaches are banished. The spasms of sciatica are alleviated with a massage of rosemary essential oil.
It is a well known fact that the oil of the garlic bulb helps in warding off cancer. When our immune systems are compromised, that is when disease takes over. But the four herbs in the essiac formula, have been proven to boost the immune system to the point of fighting off disease. And then we have the black cumin oil which has been touted to “cure every illness except death" and is especially helpful in problems of asthma. As I was browsing thru Bookmans one afternoon, I came across a small 90 page book that caught my attention. It was called; "Black Cumin, The Magical Egyptian Herb for Allergies, Ashma, and Immune Disorders". I was overwhelmed by what I learned from this small book.
If we drink the healing herbal teas or massage our bodies with essential oils, we have started a healing process that will begin to meet the needs of our bodies without relying entirely drugs with dangerous side effects. The healing properties of flower essences are gentle enough for our children, but powerful enough to make life changing differences for us. They are, also, easily affordable.
There is no end to the healing properties of our plant kingdom if we are willing to look into all of the possibilities that are offered to us. We would all do well to return to our weed patch for a healthier, simpler, more peaceful way of life.
NancyLouLaBelle Hendershott graduated from the Master Gardening class and lives in Parks. Dana Prom Smith edits GARDENING ETCETERA, blogs at http://high countrygardner.blogspot.com, and can emailed at stpauls@npgcable.com.
CMGA General Info
Species tulips planted in fall. These appear in early spring. Olivia White Hospice Garden.
Photo by Loni Shapiro.
Photo by Loni Shapiro.
Welcome to the Coconino County Master Gardeners Association blog. The mission of the Master Gardener Program is to create a corps of well-informed volunteers, and to deliver quality horticultural education programs adapted to our regional high elevation environment. The purpose of the association is to provide support for those volunteers and Master Gardener graduates, continuing education, and opportunities to participate in community programs that increase the visibility and participation in the Master Gardener Program.
The Coconino Master Gardener Association (2009) began in 2009. This blog contains information on:
-How to become a member
-Volunteer and Education hours reporting
-Calendar of Events
-General gardening information articles
-Master Gardener Association Documents and forms
-References and Resources
-Interesting Websites and Blogs
-Old Gardening Etcetera columns
-Recipes
-Book Reviews
-How to contact Board or Committee Members
Meetings are held monthly on the 2nd Thursday from 600pm - 8;30pm. We meet at the Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Church at 1601 N. San Francisco. This includes continuing education and a business meeting.
Reporting Master Gardener Hours
All master gardener trainees and certified master gardeners need to report their hours.
Beginning in 2010 certified master gardeners need to have 6 Education hours and 12 Volunteer hours in order to maintain certification.The on line reporting system allows you to report Education or Volunteer hours. You can sign in to record hours in the right hand column under Recording Volunteer and Education Hours. Just click on the U. of A.
If you have any questions or concerns about the new reporting system, please contact Brenda Smith (A - M) or Sue Madden (N - Z). Their contacts are listed at the bottom of the blog under Contacts.
Ideas for hours------
--Attend monthly meetings
--Work on an association committee
--Work at an informational booth for the Master Gardeners
--Be a speaker about gardening topics at a variety of venues
--Host a garden tour
--Work at a fundraising event (Plant Sale - Garden Tour).
--Work at a MG site (Olivia White Hospice, the Arboretum, Riordan Mansion, or school gardens (many others)). Check out the Assoc. Doc. & Forms under Volunteer Sites.
--Work in the Extension office
--Write an article for the newspaper column -Gardening Etcetera
-Volunteer with the Seed Library
Be creative! There are many ways to fulfill your hours. Just remember for volunteering it needs to be a non-profit endeavor or an approved for profit site.
Beginning in 2010 certified master gardeners need to have 6 Education hours and 12 Volunteer hours in order to maintain certification.The on line reporting system allows you to report Education or Volunteer hours. You can sign in to record hours in the right hand column under Recording Volunteer and Education Hours. Just click on the U. of A.
If you have any questions or concerns about the new reporting system, please contact Brenda Smith (A - M) or Sue Madden (N - Z). Their contacts are listed at the bottom of the blog under Contacts.
--Attend monthly meetings
--Work on an association committee
--Work at an informational booth for the Master Gardeners
--Be a speaker about gardening topics at a variety of venues
--Host a garden tour
--Work at a fundraising event (Plant Sale - Garden Tour).
--Work at a MG site (Olivia White Hospice, the Arboretum, Riordan Mansion, or school gardens (many others)). Check out the Assoc. Doc. & Forms under Volunteer Sites.
--Work in the Extension office
--Write an article for the newspaper column -Gardening Etcetera
-Volunteer with the Seed Library
Be creative! There are many ways to fulfill your hours. Just remember for volunteering it needs to be a non-profit endeavor or an approved for profit site.
Change in Contact Information
Have you moved or changed your e-mail address, but would still like to be contacted about high elevation gardening information from the Extension? The Coconino County Extension Master Gardener Program has a site that will let you change your information on-line.
Click here to change your contact information!
Click here to change your contact information!
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