Video: Growing Our Medicinal Garden
It is the most abundant time of year. Tomatoes hang on the vine, squash and beans are ever plenty, peppers transform into colorful bursts while bees buzz around fruiting blossoms. At Fox Haven, our medicinal herb garden is also in full bloom. We are provided with herbal remedies to harvest for now and to process for the cold months ahead.
Lacey Walker is the maestro of our garden, providing our CSA members with monthly provisions and classes while connecting many people to the medicine of the earth. Our most recent harvest highlighted the wonders of Holy Basil. Lacey explains more below:
“Rama, Vana, and Krishna are the three varieties of Holy Basil we grow at Fox Haven. Rama (Ocimum sanctum) is the plant many people know as Holy Basil, with its long pink-tinged inflorescence and short bushy shape. Krishna (Ocimum tenuiflorum) has purple-tinged leaves and is said to be the most potently adaptogenic.
All three are used as a nervine and adaptogen – helping our bodies adapt to stressors and easing our moods and frayed nerves. Generally in books, you’ll see these herbs are used for teas and tinctures and not food – but I’ve seen it put in pestos and other dishes that might call for basil so it can be eaten – a little goes a long way!
Holy Basil “has been described as “the incomparable one,” and in some traditions in India, it is considered to be an incarnation of Tulasi or Vrindavani, a consort of Lord Vishnu. There, it is a symbol of fidelity and thought to be helpful in attaining spiritual enlightenment. It is considered the holiest of plants, with a ranking someplace between heaven and earth.”
It has expectorant and anti-bacterial properties so it makes a wonderful ally for cold and flu times and can be delicious taken as a syrup or a switchel or this lovely tulsi chai.”
Consider checking out Lacey’s next foraging class, Pawpaw Haul or take a Garden Tour on September 8th. We will also be hosting garden tours at our next big event, Fox Haven Farm Day on September 15th!