Herbs

Calendula (Calendula officinalis) a highly versatile medicinal plant, is one of the easiest herbs to grow, and a must for every herbal garden. It reseeds itself with ease, coming back every winter without becoming invasive.Calendula’s name derives from the Latin calendae, referring to its long blooming season. We grow two different calendula species, the more traditionally used Calendula...

Roses are one of the most cultivated plants in the world, and for good reason. They are an extremely versatile garden plant, adaptable to most climates and are great ground cover as well. They also grow as flowering bushes from small to large, and also as climbers. Roses can provide a great focal point, especially when graphed on a tall stem such as the Standard Tree Rose. In addition, roses...

Burdock (Arctium lappa) is a large and sturdy biennial native to Europe and Asia, has become naturalized throughout North America, and is easy to grow in Israel, as long as it has some shade and regular watering. Its impressive leaves can grow to massive proportions with wavy margins and long white hairs on the underside. During its first year, burdock produces basal leaves, and in its second...

Chaga mushrooms (Inonotus obliquus) is a type of edible fungus that grows mainly on birch trees in very cold climates such as Siberia, Northern Canada, Alaska, and northern areas of the United States.The name “chaga” comes from the Russian word for mushroom. This mushroom has been called “black gold” and a “gift of God”, and has been traditionally been...

We have an elderberry bush, Sambucus nigra, in our Bustan (agricultural garden), which I planted many years ago. Years went by without seeing any berries - lots of flowers, but no berries until something changed, and I’m not quite sure what. Maybe the bush needed to mature a bit, and maybe my bees simply worked their magic. Either way, in the last few years I have had such success in...

There are several hundred species of Aloe, and many varieties within each species. The most famous representative of this group of plants is the edible Aloe vera, which has a rich medicinal history due to it’s anti-viral, anti-bacterial, anti-fungal, and anti-parasitic properties. In our Bustan we grow an unidentified variety of Aloe vera, and the Barbadensis-miller-stockton, which...

California Poppy, Eschsholzia californica, is a native California wildflower, which is also known as the Golden Poppy and Cups of Flame. California Poppy has been widely naturalized in many parts of the world and is an adaptable garden plant.In addition to being a great garden plant, California Poppy is a fantastic medicinal herb rich in vitamins A, C and E as well as minerals such as calcium...

Every cell in our body needs salt - sodium chloride. Our bodies rely on salt to keep good bone density, proper circulation and stabilized blood sugar levels. The adrenal glands and neurotransmitters in the brain need an ample supply of mineral salts in order to function properly. If you find yourself looking for salty food, most likely you are lacking the right type of sodium in...

Artichokes are a funny looking vegetable with a rich, earthy-nutty flavor. When it comes to medicinal foods, artichokes are truly a powerhouse since they are a good source of folate, vitamin A, B-complex, C, E, K, amino acids, enzymes, potassium, magnesium, silica, iron, zinc, and are rich in antioxidants such as anthocyanins, quercetin, rutin, cynarin, luteolin, and silymarin.Silymarin has...

Comfrey (Symphytum officinale) is a herbaceous perennial with large broad, hairy leaves and flowering stalks bearing white, pink, or purple bell-shaped flowers that reach 1 m in height. The botanical name for comfrey means “to unite” or “grow together”, and its common name, 'knitbone' is an indication of its most common use for healing wounds and fractures.Comfrey’s...

Galangal is a handsome garden plant, easy to grow, and a powerful medicinal herb.Galangal is a tropical herbaceous plant belonging to the ginger family that produces rhizomes. It is similar to ginger and turmeric, with a powerful and distinct taste. Many people describe its flavor as both earthy and citrus-like, with a spicy kick.There are two types of galangal:Greater Galangal (Alpinia galanga),...

Mullein, also known as Verbascum, is a tough and drought-tolerant biennial plant, native to Europe, northern Africa, and Asia. It has been used in herbal medicine for centuries, and with good reason.The common name, Mullein, comes from the Latin word ‘Mollis’ which means soft and refers to the texture of the leaves. Mullein is native to Europe and Asia, with the highest species...

Schizandra berries are known in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) as We Wei Zi - “the fruit of five tastes”, so when I came across my first Schizandra berry, I had to give it a try. It is true to its name - salty, bitter, sweet, sour, and spicy, all in one. At first, they didn’t taste like something I’d like to drink, so I put them aside until I read about their medicinal...