Wild crafting and harvesting
Wild crafting:
What is wild crafting? Wild crafting is the practice of spending time in nature, honoring nature's goodness with the purpose of harvesting plants from their natural, or 'wild' habitat, primarily for food or medicinal purposes. Before we begin wild crafting herbs in nature, there are a few things we should do to prepare for wild crafting. Investigate the environment. Are the plants healthy? Is it diseased? Bruised? Is it chemically treated? Is it next to any factories or chemical plants? These are the questions we want to begin to ask ourselves before we begin.
Once you determine the area is safe for wild crafting you can begin. It is important to remember plants are always giving never taking, with respect for plants remember this principal. Only take what you need from the plant. Never in abundance. Remember, man kind are not the only ones that rely on the plants. Birds, insects, and other animals rely on the plants for foods and medicine. Plants are spiritually connected to us, and wild crafting is a spiritual practice. It is important to acknowledge the plant, honor the plant and thank the plant for its power before taking from it.
Learning yourself in herbs is the notion that everything is done with a purpose by the ultimate creator, we are the way we are for a specific reason. We are connected to the elements of nature. We are born in water; we are 70% water to be exact! Our bones are as dense as roots, and hard as the earth, we need oxygen to breathe. We are connected to nature and the plants- the human cell and plant cell are very similar – we share many of the same parts we have both have a nucleus, cellular membranes, and a mitochondrion, both require nutrients, and water to survive and we both engage in respiration. Wild crafting allots the time to absorb the connection.
Take a look at all the different plants in nature, have you ever paid attention to their structure? Just by observing their appearance you can conclude what the herb might be used for. Just like our ancestors, they didn't rely on a book filled with herbs, they relied on their instincts, their mind and their experience with the plants. Take a look at some plants in nature. Are the leaves flat? Do they have lines in them? Are they smooth?
Appearance of herbs: Leaves with many lines or vein-like appearance are good for the circulatory system of the body.
Herbs with no veins are good for the smooth muscles of the body.
Herb Colors: Herbs with many color variations may be good for various ailments.
Red: good for the heart, blood diseases and circulation.
Yellow: bowels, digestion, diabetes
Brown w/yellow inner good for intestinal diseases
Brown roots w/inner flesh or white color good for stomach bladder
Brown root w/hard inner white flesh good for kidneys, heart and liver
Growth: Herbs that grow close to the ground (Think about the ground for a second, the ground is hard, symbolizes the foundation) or short in height have a high mineral content. Good for the bones, nerves and blood. The bones of the body of the body are hard or dense just like the shrubs and herbs that grow close to the ground or "foundation".
Vine type plants and herbs : good for arteries, veins, blood and eyes.
Herb taste and smell:
Sour: bitter, liver, heart, small intestines, gallbladder.
Sweet: spleen, pancreas, stomach
Pungent: lungs, large intestines
Salty: kidney and bladder.
Environment of herbs:
Consider the location of where certain herbs are grown. I'm a firm believer that the location of where a plant grows natively is there to heal the people, animals and environment where the plant grows. Why would a cactus grow and thrive in the desert? For example, what assumption can be made about a cactus plant?
Answer: They help to retain water, moisture and maintain fluid balance because of the dry environment its in.
Herbs that grow along the mountain side is good for the lungs, bruises and to stabilize body temperature.
Herbs that grow near and in the water help to control fluid absorption.
Herbs that grow in the desert help to control electrolyte balance, regulate water in the body, hold moisture in the skin.
Types of plants:
Fruit: skin- have high mineral content
The leaves of a fruit are generally safe for medicinal use.
Stems: like we mentioned before good for arteries, veins to transport nutrients, oxygen
Root herbs: higher mineral content, help to balance electrolytes, stabilize the body
Harvesting root herbs
Root herbs should be harvested in the fall: Nutrients and healing power of the plant fall to the roots during the fall so all of the medicinal value is found in the root. If harvested during the spring the roots are weak, using all of its strength to replenish the leaves of the plant.
Barks should be harvested in the spring or fall. In the spring the sap from runs from the roots upward to the tree and as so is reverse in the fall, the sap runs down from the tree toward the roots. Once herbs are harvest if the plant you are harvesting is fresh, you may enjoy fresh or decide to dry your herbs.
Leaves should be harvested during clear dry weather.
Seeds: Are best to harvest in their prime. Once they appear healthy to do so it’s time.
Flowers can be harvested once they open. Do not harvest any bruised or premature flowers.
Drying herbs: To dry fresh herbs after harvesting, use a drying rack made of muslin or any type of mesh cloth. Place in a dark dry place. Leaves can take days to a week to dry. Flowers up to 2 weeks to dry. Root herbs may take up to a month or more to dry. Best way to dry root herbs is to cut the roots into smaller pieces, than place on a drying rack or in a paper bag to dry.
Key points to test quality of herbs once dried:
1. The herb should retain its same color once dried.
2. Retain the same taste, odor or aroma.
3. Has the same therapeutic effect.
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