The Holistic Homestead, Health Starts at Home, Here's to your Health!

We had an amazing time at our Summer Solstice Wildcrafting Party last Saturday! Here are some of the highlights:

Opening Ceremony, dropping into sacred presence. Photo Courtesy Kate Miller

We gathered, as twenty humans from many walks of life, ages and stages of life, religions, creeds, mammas, kiddos, students, teachers, couples, singles, all…and sat in a sacred circle in the verdant warmth of the Solstice morning. Some offered mantra, some offered a sacred dance, others brought crystals, feathers, seed pods, special herbs and elixirs…all gifts were offered to Mother Earth in the center of our circle as we sang together:

There were so many amazing medicinal and edible wild plants to meet…we only had time to cover a handful, like:

POTENTILLA

Potentilla or Cinquefoil is seen in many guises in the Colorado Rockies, White Cinquefoil, Potentilla shrub and Sticky Cinquefoil which does not grow into a shrub, but stays low to the ground and may or may not produce flowers. I know Cinquefoil to be an excellent sedative (leaves and flowers) in an infusion. Kate Miller honors this versatile and abundant medicine for colds, flus, first aid, diarrhea, and topically as a tincture wherever a strong astringent quality is required.

MUGWORT

We spent some time dispelling the confusion of our common Mugwort (Artemesia Ludoviciana) with Sage (Salvia Officials). They do look and smell similar, but the difference is especially felt when Mugwort flowers in the late fall. Mugwort is very bitter and astringent, and should be avoided during pregnancy. Qualities are purifying and protective. The Holistic Homestead’s smudge sticks made with wildcrafted Mugwort and Rocky Mountain wildflowers. $20/ea. E-mail theholistichomestead@gmail.com to order.

GRINDELIA

Also called “Gumweed” this plant sends up soft-spiked and sticky flower pods before it blooms. The sticky sap can be used to treat bee stings and poison ivy. The sticky flower can also be tinctured and sprayed on rashes and burns. Internally, Grindelia is ideal for lung support when combined in an herbal infusion with other herbs like licorice root and mullein.

We covered these plants and more in one short day…shared sacred ceremony, learned to sing to the plants, to listen to the songs of the earth and her creatures, and we feasted together…what a beautiful day! I’d like to extend a deep, heartfelt thank you to everyone who joined, especially to Kate Miller of Alpine Botanical and Dynamic Roots for sharing her wisdom and experience. I hope to see you again soon. Blessings, Arwen