One of my all-time favorite medicinal herbs is holy basil or tulsi. A perennial with lovely purple blooms and a spicy aroma is tulsi (Ocimum tenuiflorum). Not to be confused with sweet basil, a spice that is frequently used in cooking. Tulsi, commonly referred to as holy basil, is a traditional herb that has been utilized for ages in Ayurvedic therapy. It can be used in a number of cuisines and is renowned for its various health advantages. Its health benefits include improving digestion, reducing stress, increasing the immune system, and supporting weight loss. It can be sprinkled on food, used as a tea, or mixed into smoothies. Holy basil pesto, holy basil chutney, and holy basil tea are a...
I can't even believe we are here! I am three years into my journey back to my roots of self sufficiency. So many things have changed in my life, yet I don't feel much different than when I started this journey. I feel like I have come such a long way, but I still have so much more to learn. I have learned so much in my short time on my family property. My dream for my business has evolved immensely since I began. I have had many more successes this year than failures compared to the last 2 years combined. The first year I spent more or less cleaning up the house & the yard. It took me about...
This month's herb is dedicated to my newest acquisition! I have been wanting a eucalyptus tree since I began farming & working with herbs. It is an extremely powerful herb that is both medicinal & magical. It is extremely easy to grow so far. It loves the sun so there is a need for you to be in the right growing zone to keep it alive. Eucalyptus needs at least 10 hours of sun a day & plenty of water. It is a wonderful addition to any medicinal or hoodoo herb garden. Every year I attempt to add new, extraordinary herbs into my medicinal, hoodoo mini farm. I also lose a good amount of herbs, either because they don't come...
The roots, seeds, stems & leaves of the burdock plant are used medicinally! Burdock root is most often used to cleanse the body of toxins. It is also helpful to increase urine output & it is said to enhance liver functions. Even the seeds are anti-inflammatory. The stalk can be peeled & grilled or added to stir-fry. Spiritually it was historically used for healing and protection.
I decided that the herb of the month had to be something that would not only honor what I have come to call #PettwayHistoryMonth, but my great grandmother whom I usually kick off Pettway history month with. While most people are celebrating Black History Month I take that time to introduce the world to my infamous family. Even though I clearly talk about my family’s illustrious history more often than not, it is a more concentrated effort in February. I have been doing this for the last few years & every year I end up learning something new about my family! This year I decided to celebrate a little differently when I came across a challenge in one of the...
