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Pineapple Weed: Chamomile’s fruity cousin
Pineapple weed (*Matricaria discoidea*) is a close relative of German chamomile that often grows unnoticed in sidewalks, gravel driveways and other disturbed areas. Learn how to identify this fragrant wild herb, explore its traditional uses, and discover why harvest location is important.
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Sacred herbs: from the ancient Celts to the Bible
Herbs have been used in ritual, prayer, purification, and spiritual practice across cultures and religions for thousands of years. From hyssop, frankincense, and myrrh in the Bible to Native American ceremonial smoke traditions and Celtic saining rituals, plants have long been tied to healing, blessing, remembrance, and sacred practice throughout human history.
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5 Ways Pumpkin Spice Supports Wellness
Pumpkin spice is more than a cozy flavor of fall. Learn what’s really in the blend, the herbal benefits of each spice, and why pumpkin itself deserves the spotlight. Bonus: Milkshake recipe!
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Motherwort for Foragers: 5 Simple Tips to Spot and Use This Powerful Herb
This summer I discovered I have a close connection with motherwort. I foraged a ton last year and transplanted one small plant. This year it popped up all over my yard. Big, beautiful motherwort plants, everywhere I look. I know we have an aversion to the word “wort,” but when talking about plants we’re using…
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Elderberry harvest
Elderberries are a seasonal favorite, and are easy to spot once you know the elderberry plant. Learn how to identify them, avoid common look-alikes, and understand which parts of the plant are safe to use.
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Aronia: Little berries, big benefits
Aronia berries are my go-to during cold and flu season. Packed with antioxidants, these little fruits make a simple syrup that’s easy to keep on hand.
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Mullein (Verbascum)
I’ve spotted a ton of mullein this summer. Once you know it, it’s hard to miss it. Mullein (Verbascum thapsus) is a biennial plant that grows a low rosette of woolly leaves in its first year and a tall flowering stalk in its second. Verbascum thapsus is widely known as common mullein, though it’s also…
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Wild Licorice
Wild licorice (Glycyrrhiza lepidota) is a native legume that grows in prairies, along streambanks, and in open woodlands across the Northern Plains. I saw just tons of it while exploring the badlands of North Dakota over the weekend. The plant takes its name from the faint licorice-like flavor of its roots, which have been used…
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It’s Goldenrod Season
I was out in Minnesota yesterday, and came across several patches of goldenrod just at the start of their bloom. What an exciting time! Goldenrod (Solidago spp.) is one of those plants that signals late summer is on the way, with its bright yellow blossoms lighting up roadsides, prairies, and open fields. It’s often mistaken…
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Prairie Rose
When you think of roses, you might picture elaborate gardens or trellises dripping in fragrant blooms. But out here on the prairie, we have our own wild version: the Prairie Rose (Rosa arkansana). It’s rugged, low to the ground, and a whole lot tougher than it looks. And yes, it’s just as beautiful. I have…
