My passion for herbs and plants: …

I have spent a lot of time in my life studying plants and herbs. I am familiar with many herbs, including those for medical use, healing plants, and teas. In our large garden in Trinoga, I have recognized many plants, though many are new to me as well. Since I am very interested in this, I do a lot of research on the plants I do not know. In our small library, we have several books about gardening. There are also various apps available for download to identify plants (e.g., PlantNet).

I make notes on their uses, morphology, flowering times, and more. There are several reasons why I do this. On one hand, I want to accumulate knowledge for my future life, as I plan to stop buying herbs for cooking and teas. I also want to rely on natural remedies when I am ill. I prefer to grow and harvest everything myself. On the other hand, I collect and dry many herbs for the community so that we have something to use during the winter.

A good example is St. John’s Wort (Hypericum perforatum). I dry it because it has antidepressant properties when prepared as tea. If I feel depressed in the winter, the tea will help me. I collect and dry the plants in advance, paying attention to when each plant is in bloom and when to harvest it.

Every morning, we drink a homemade smoothie that is enriched with various plants and flowers. For example, we get different vitamins from the mix that our body can absorb and use. One example is mint. It is one of the few herbs that contains vitamins from groups A, B, C, and K, which are beneficial to our bodies. Vitamin A, for instance, helps maintain healthy teeth, bones, and mucous membranes.

by Sarah K.