Plants nourish our bodies and our minds. They feed us and heal us.

Once you start to identify the different species of plants, that “wall of green” disappears.

Jeruselem artichoke (Helianthus tuberosus)

Black cherry (Prunus serotina)

Black elderberry (Sambucus nigra)

Purple loosestrife (Lythrum salicaria)

Blue vervain (Verbena hastata)

During a short walk down the road from us, we harvested black elderberry, boneset, purple loosestrife, and blue vervain. We’ll dry these and use them for medicine.

This elderberry tincture will provide us with a preventative medicine for flu and colds in the winter months.

These herbs (parsley, chives, holy basil, basil and thyme) were collected from the little garden in our front yard.

We used the herbs to make omelets and served them with home baked bread, toasted, and slathered with lots of butter.

Getting out into nature and learning to identify and utilize the plants around you can positively effect your life in so many ways. The more we understand, connect to and appreciate the world around us, the more we are willing to protect it.