Another Bountiful Year at Good Heart Farm
It was our second year playing with the land at Good Heart Farm, and I have to say, I had so much fun! There’s so much to share from this season - I really should have given updates as I went along, but now that things have slowed down, I will have more time to look back and reflect and share what I have learned.
Once again, we were able to grown an abundance of vegetables and herbs. This year I added more medicinal herbs to the garden so I could use, not only the wild herbs on the farm, but also the ones cultivated in the garden that I don’t have growing wild. I was able to use them in tinctures and glycerites, and dry them for use in oils and teas and other fun stuff. So far I have made spruce tip syrup, St. John’s Wort tinctures and glycerites, marjoram tinctures and glycerites, calendula oil, burdock root tincture, chamomile glycerite, and a few others. I’m excited to have them on hand for ourselves and friends and family - especially as we go through the fall and winter. I also have anise hyssop, rosemary, sage, mullein, skullcap drying for use in various remedies.
Honestly, I’m most excited about Calendula oil and the marjoram tincture and glycerite. Calendula is very soothing and nurturing for the skin and can help with irritation, wounds, cuts, bruises, inflammation, rashes, sunburns, and bites. Calendula also has anti-bacterial, anti-viral, and anti-fungal properties, so has many benefits topically in and oil preparation as well as possible internal benefits. I’ve seen many Calendula oil based products and they have been pretty expensive, so I’m excited to be able to make my own version and play around with it.
As far as the marjoram tinctures and glycerites, I haven’t been able to find a ton of information or anyone who has used them, but I absolutely love the smell of fresh marjoram and was really drawn to the plant. I did find some information that noted marjoram’s use for head and brain health as well as anxiety and other nervous system issues. And there seems to be quite a bit of reference to marjoram and love. Maybe this is her time - the world certainly could use more love now!
Above is our sweet smelling chamomile. If you’ve never had a chance to smell fresh chamomile, you are missing a real treat. It has a really sweet and soft smell, which lends right into it’s calming properties. I’ve dried quite a bit of chamomile this season and already made some of it into a glycerite. I’ve also used some in evening teas, along with some dried lavender and Calendula from our farm - it makes for a soothing, beautifully smelling, sweet tea to help wind down in the evening before bed.
I so appreciate all of the herbs - both wild and from the garden. It will be a fun winter as I continue to connect with them and learn from them, and create new formulas for teas and remedies. Will keep you posted on what’s working as we progress through the cooler months