Wild Moon Cottage is a small working homestead in the pristine Ozark Mountains. We have dairy goats, poultry, organic herb and vegetable gardens, a start of a tiny fruit orchard, several black walnut trees, wild berries and fields of wildcrafting goodness. We raise our own milk, our own eggs, much of our own medicine and food. I do laundry by hand, make my own vinegar, candles, soap, bread, cheese ........ For a living I am an artist and herbalist. My goal for myself and our homestead is to be as self sufficient and self sustaining as possible.

Tuesday, March 17, 2009

Herb Garden

Herb Garden

Ah, my little beauties, each and every one,
Living green children, worshiping the sun.
Foxglove, from whom comes dark sleep, yet life to those who knew.
And heat from child's head be gone with a dose of Feverfew.
Bee balm, bright and oh so red, cure a belly vile.
Upset stomach or colic pain, drink tea of Chamomile.
Lavender to fume the room instead of toxic spray.
And Pennyroyal, just rub on, to keep the bugs away.
Sacred Sage, so many a use, like healing salve with Honey.
And Spearmint simple, ease the pain of very upset tummy.
Mullein grow and give us grain and heal black bruise with balm.
Comfrey beeswax, heal my scrapped knee, my elbow and my palm.
Thyme and vinegar, woman's friend, our ever secret cure.
And Yarrow with your feather leaves, stop the bleeding sure.
Horehound grow so silvery green, keep our throats in health.
And very simple Coneflower, keep the doctors from our wealth.
Catnip ease us off to sleep, thank the stars for goodness sake.
From Chicory we'll have coffee, to help us stay awake.
Chives dress up the table and make tasty what is bland.
Dandelion salad, always close at hand.
Orris, root of Iris, bind it all so well.
May apple, if the root you eat, you'll think you are in hell.
Lemon balm for calming tea and pleasant morning scone.
Sweet Woodruff smells like Pan to me, upon his forest throne.
So in my garden I will be, freshly washed with dew.
Warmed in Jasmine scented sunrise, to start the day anew.

Juli 1999


I wrote this when Nik was little to help teach him about some of the things I used :)

6 comments:

Anonymous said...

Wow, I learned a lot too, and I haven't been "little" in the last 200 pounds or so....

Beautiful; you are so creative!



Slo

MyMaracas said...

I'm just beginning to learn about herbs, so this is helpful to me, too. Are there any books you can recommend for someone just starting out? I'm interested in growing and using natural remedies and culinary herbs.

oldcrow61 said...

Lovely Juli.

Rowan said...

Lovely poem and useful too, I grow a lot of herbs but don't use them as much as I should - I make a couple of ointments and use some in cooking but I shall print this little poem and use it to inspire me.

Unknown said...

this is great!

as a wanna be herbalist, it's gotta be one of my new favorite poems. and i'm happy to say i knew all of the methods, ha ha! :-)

regarding your comment on my blog, i don't eat dairy and eggs, right out....i wouldn't drink a glass of milk or eat scrambled eggs, but i do consume products that contain them. (that's why i try not to use the term vegan to describe my eating habits.) it's usually when i break down and buy a pack of non-vegan cookies or muffins. sometimes i just have those cravings.

but ya know, i wouldn't be against trying some of your unfertilized eggs in the form of a sandwich or something. :-D

all the changes that i made in my eating patterns (no meat, dairy, eggs, white sugar/flour/rice etc.) were made in an attempt to improve my reproductive health. i was having a really hard time each month with pain and all that comes with that. although i still get hit with it every once in a while, the diet change certainly made a big improvement.

the way you make your menus and dishes sound, though, i know i'd definitely be tempted to partake if i were there. :-)

Anonymous said...

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