Herbalist Training And How It Plays Into Permaculture

July 15, 2024 Sarah

When I first started studying herbalism on my quest to be an herbalist, I never saw how I would be able to connect it to the practice of permaculture. Permaculture wasn’t even in my mind then, nor was regenerative growing. I started studying around 2017 to learn more about the herbs I used in my body care product business. The years when I started creating tonics, salves, soaps, healing essential oil blends, and so much more. I wanted education to support my actions so I would not harm.

I wrote this book about the recipes I was using then.

But the growing aspect wasn’t quite there, as we had a tiny urban homestead.

Then, I got so busy building a rural homestead I left behind my herbalism studies and put all my effort into growing food first. That wasn’t a bad thing; it was just a season in my life. The Covid years changed what I was doing. I was so busy homeschooling the boys and growing food/plants that my herbal business slowly went to the back of my life, and I quit selling at farmer’s markets (and adding in how restrictive the rules were at the local farmers market in the pandemic years).

But this year, as I fought the dreaded 6-year homesteading year (it’s a real thing when burnout hits), I realized I missed learning. It was time to go back to my education. Take my interest in permaculture and the desire to rebuild our homestead into more of a permanent food forest where herb plants get a chance to shine.

With time on hand during the hot parts of the day this Summer, I have started retaking herbalist training, starting with the Herbal Academy’s Becoming An Herbalist Mini Course, free to take. Always start small, and get that excitement and drive back. Come this Fall, I have more classes lined up to take. I want to take that knowledge this winter and start my new permaculture-inspired growth. (I reviewed the course a while back, but taking it a second time…. opens my eyes up to things I missed the first time.)

As I opened up the mini-course in the first section, I was hit with this:

“Students of herbalism may also aspire to be plant growers, with a focus on owning or working for an herb farm on both small and large scales. This work will likely appeal to individuals who like to work outside and with their bodies and who crave direct relationships with the plants themselves. Many vegetable farmers manage to incorporate a variety of herbs into crop rotation and garden bed planning, while permaculturists and landscapers may create food forests with herbs as part of a sustainable and holistic design. Still others are interested in creating plant sanctuaries as a part of land stewardship and ecological education, focusing on integrating and protecting native plants in wild settings.”

It was like I had not read this the first time, all those years ago.

“The contemporary herbalist exists in a long line of practitioners who work at the intersection of land stewardship and health, and this intersection is only one of many that an herbalist may need to navigate.”

Another line, in Lesson 3, had me thinking.

“As the much-loved botanist, clinical herbalist, teacher of herbalists, and Herbal Academy educator 7Song notes, community-based herbalism involves a variety of aspects of herbal practice, which may include growing plants, making herbal products, seeing clients, and understanding intimately the community in which the herbalist works (7Song, n.d.)”

From Lesson 3. That is very much how I work in life. I learn for myself and then to help those around me.

This summer, my mind has been excited. I did not realize how I had subconsciously changed our growing style over the past few years until Kirk, and I, took part in a permaculture class. Someday, we might get certified, but the truth is that it isn’t cheap, and it takes at least two weeks to complete. That is a lot when one has a job and family.

In my spare time, I could study more about plants—why I should care about them, how to grow them, and, once again, how to use them. Maybe becoming certified in permaculture wasn’t my most important goal; rather, increasing my skills in growing and using plants and working with nature was.

I have my dreams for sure. If the first 6 years were us running around to conquer the mess our land was, then the next 6 can be us working with the now healed land, to get to my dreams. No, I won’t have the fantasy AI photo above, but slowly it will become something even cooler than now.

And that is why this summer and fall, my mind is running to learn even more. To build a deeper appreciation of permaculture.

~Sarah

Gardening · Homesteading · Urban Homesteading

Starting Your Fall Garden In Zone 8b

July 11, 2024 Sarah

It’s second week of July and most people are not thinking about their fall garden. They are focused on what is happening now, and the start of the summer harvest. But now is the time to get your fall crops seeded and going, so you can get them in the ground in the months of July and August.

And yes, it always coincides with the heat, but if you want to eat for extended months, this is the time. Work in the cool morning or as the sun sets (if you don’t have mosquitoes). I love the evening as the bats come out and fly over us—eating those mosquitoes!

There is a wide amount of produce you can plant soon to extend your garden by 2 months on average. Our growing area has a 10% chance of frost around October 23rd, and by then, the sun will be getting weaker in the northwest, and the hours of light will start to get shorter, so it will be about time to wrap it up for fall. If you think about it, many gardeners give up around Labor Day, losing 1¾ months of potential crops.

Having frost fabric on hand is vital, just in case you need it. Depending on the year, a killing frost can sneak up earlier. See here for an article on how to prep for frost.

Need seeds for fall?

Sow Right Seeds has fall seeds ready to ship and to get started. Use code “SARAHK10” for 10% off. They offer collections of seeds, one of which is the “Fall Crop,” as seen above.

What can you plant in Zone 8b?

Arugula:

Seed Start 8/6-13 Outdoor Planting 9/03

Bush Bean:

Outdoor Seeding 8/19

Beet:

Seed Start 7/27-8/3 Outdoor Planting 8/24

Broccoli:

Seed Start 7/17-24 Outdoor Planting 8/14

Carrots:

Outdoor Seeding 8/04

Kale:

Seed Start 7/22-29 Outdoor Planting 8/19

Kohlrabi:

Seed Start 7/27-8/03 Outdoor Planting 8/24

Lettuce:

Seed Start 7/27-8/03 Outdoor Planting 8/24

Mustard Greens:

7/19-8/02 Outdoor Planting 9/13

Pak Choi (Bok Choy):

Outdoor Seeding 8/24

Bush Peas:

Plant anytime from now on to the end of July. Do not plant pole peas, as they take too long to grow.

Radishes:

Outdoor Seeding 8/24

Spinach:

Seed Start 8/11-18 Outdoor Planting 9/08

Summer Squash:

Seed Start 7/17-24 Outdoor Planting 8/14

Swiss Chard:

Seed Start 8/03-10 Outdoor Planting 8/24

Turnips:

Outdoor Seeding 8/24

Zucchini:

Outdoor Seeding 8/24

So you don’t live in Grow Zone 8b?

Want some help on when to seed and plant? Check out Sow Right Seed’s Planting Calculator – just enter your zip code, and you can choose from Spring or Fall planting. It’s that simple!

You can also play with the chance of frost. I put in the lowest chance, which is 10%; you might want to go up higher. It’s always good to go and look at all the options and see how dates change.

~Sarah

Herbalism · Homesteading · Urban Homesteading · Wildcrafting

Herbal Academy – Free Becoming An Herbalist Mini Course

July 2, 2024 Sarah

I have been a long-time student of Herbal Academy, and one of the first classes I took was their free Becoming An Herbalist Mini Course. And yes, it is truly free.

Once our boys went to school, I indulged in continuing education (before the pandemic, 4.5 years of homeschooling took over my life after that). This class convinced me to take more courses over the years, it let me see how Herbal Academy did their classes.

The class has five sections, comes with PDFs to print, and a 3-month time to finish the course.

They offer an upgrade to the printed 140-page Herbal Journey Planner. I own one and still use it. So, if you are feeling flush, it is worth it. The free course can be done with or without the planner.

From Herbal Academy:

Explore the directions you can take to become an herbalist including certification and licensure – both here in the US and internationally!
Learn the language of herbalists, and how to use safe words that protect you from legal issues.
Gain an understanding of the ethics of herbalism, the limitations you have as an herbalist, and important safety considerations to recognize – no matter what your education level!

Discover solutions to common obstacles of running an herbal business.
Finally, walk away with ideas to network with other herbalists, build community, and continue your herbal education.
We’ll provide you with a number of interactive exercises to help you discover your own unique herbal path!

If you’ve ever been interested in herbalism, this is a great way to see if it is for you. For free!

FTC Disclaimer:

We receive an affiliate commission from purchases. We have taken all the courses we review and post about.

~Sarah

Gardening · Homesteading

Building A Food Forest With Edible Perennials

July 1, 2024 Sarah

One of our long-term goals on our homestead has been building densely planted food forests, where most are perennial. Planting once and eating every year has been my goal for long-term sustainability.

While we have carved out garden beds to grow in (because of deer) that are fenced, 2 of the biggest beds grow wild now. Yes, I do weed to a certain point and water in the hottest weeks still, but it is every year getting to where I need to maintain it less. Just prune as needed and fertilize yearly.

Less work is the goal, with the promise of food to come.

These beds are The Orchard, Berry Bed, and The Strawberry walk-in cage.

What do we grow?

We have planted these plants over the past five years, and most have survived. I have noted what grows well in our area.

Of course, your mileage may vary depending on what grows in your microclimate. This may mean you lose plants here and there, but that is part of the learning.

Berries:

Strawberries, native strawberries, alpine strawberries.

Blueberries. We currently have about ten varieties to avoid a mono-crop.

Raspberries, golden raspberries, marionberries, blackberries. (Multiple varieties)

Kiwi Berries.

Grapes. (Multiple varieties)

Gooseberry.

Lingonberry.

Fruit and Nut Trees:

Plum, peach (frost type), apples, and pears have all done well.

Figs (cold hardy).

Olives (cold hardy, grow at last 2)).

Elderberry (at least 2)

Asparagus:

I keep growing more from seed every year; in the second to third year, you can transplant it into the ground. Once established, it lives on its own. Cutting it often encourages new growth.

Rhubarb:

When we moved rural, I quaintly thought I needed 15 plants. One or two is just fine. But do plant it; it’s a pretty plant. It’ll need water for the first few years and pruning of dying-back leaves, which encourages new growth all season.

Artichokes:

Grow as many as you can. Whether or not you eat them or let them go to flower, they are beautiful and tall. Native bees love the flowers.

Herbs:

Unless you live where it is snow-covered or deep freezes for months, many herbs come back yearly, especially culinary ones. Once they are established, a good trim/pruning and annual fertilizing are usually all you need to do. You may lose one or two if there is an extreme freeze. Otherwise, watering is often only needed first year and during heat waves in summer.

Potatoes:

Once planted, potatoes love to hide baby potatoes you miss in harvesting. They love to come back on their own.

Also, if you harvest damaged potatoes, toss them back in the ground to grow a new crop, even if they are rotten or have insect damage.

Garlic (sometimes):

Garlic can rip when pulled out and will come back up again the next year if cloves are left behind. Letting hard-neck garlic go to flower will produce garlic bulblets that will seed it naturally. (This happened to us last year in an outlying field that is full of feral garlic now.)

Letting Native Plants Take Root:

Evergreen Huckleberry.

Red Huckleberry.

Thimbleberry.

Salal.

Salmonberry.

~Sarah

Gardening · Homesteading

Never Stop Chasing New Ideas

June 24, 2024 Sarah

A few weeks back, a long-time permaculture instructor gave a free talk on the island. She has decades of experience, and why wouldn’t we want to explore it? It was enough that after attending the discussion, I attended the first two days of her 2-week long permaculture certification class. Taking the entire class wasn’t within my realm for now, but the first two days were where the basics of permaculture were opened up to us. She graciously opened it up to people wanting to take day one and day two before they delved into the deep part and started working on an actual site assessment to earn their certifications.

The biggest takeaway is that, intuitively, we have been practicing permaculture without realizing it on our land. We are repairing the forest, balancing nature, and filling our land with animals and pollinators. Even how we grow food reflects this. There is a huge difference between how we grew food in our last two homes and how we grow food on the land here. My goal has always been to have a food forest with many layers connected in their own way. When the land is bare and open, it is hard to envision it. Even in winter, it is hard to see. But as spring passes into early summer, watching it all come together, my happiness increases rapidly as the plants grow, covering everything.

Knowing we had been doing the right thing all along was a feeling of happiness. Allowing the land to practice rewilding in areas was positive. It was letting the land “garden” itself reclaiming how it should be naturally.

But it opened my eyes to what we could also be doing. And I came out very inspired.

The other huge takeaway for me was working with zones.

And I realized that for our land, we do have issues.

For a while, we had Zone 1 in the first two years here; as we opened up the land in Zone 2, I turned my back on Zone 1. Zone 1 needs so much love. It needs to be used more to have more “kitchen garden” space so that we can walk out and have food easily to harvest, which can be used within minutes of harvesting.

But it also made me realize that Zones 1 and 2 are disjointed. They need to be better connected.

Zone 2 sits 1-2 acres below our home, which is Zone 1. To walk there, one has to take the driveway. If the land is wet or hot, one is less likely to want to go down for extended periods. Walking outside the house and just being there is sustainable. Again, it opens the mind to think and dream of what we can do. We have plenty of Zone 3, 4, and 5. But we need more use of Zone 1. Be it a small greenhouse that encourages me to grow more citrus in winter and more raised beds out the doors to fanciful projects like an herbal spiral, I came out inspired to start planning.

Just dipping our toes into permaculture was well worth it.

~Sarah