Blogs

I harvest Catnip in late June to early July as it is just starting to flower. I have a patch that I cultivate and many volunteers that have jumped ship and spread out across my property.   I like to make both an alcohol tincture and a glycerine tincture (more on tincture making soon). Glycerine is much more palatable for children, but doesn’t preserve for as long. Catnip acts as a sedative in humans the opposite of how it acts in cats. Many eyebrows have been raised in response to my praise of catnip for children as most people associate catnip with the intoxicating and sometimes aggressive behavior it elicits in cats.

Tulsi, also known as Sacred Basil, Holy Basil or in latin Ocimum sanctum,  is one plant that I use in my daily life and in my practice for many reasons and is one of the few non-native or naturalized plants that I use. It does grow quite nicely in upstate New York , but must be brought in when Fall comes, or the seeds saved for the next season.  I was introduced to Tulsi several years ago when I was in class taught by Kate Gilday on the use of Ayurveda as a healing modality and I fell in love with the taste and smell of Tulsi immediately. I had used Italian or Sweet Basil for years, but had never heard of Sacred Basil. Kate had it growing in her garden and so I tried growing it my self and have been very successful. It is an annual so I save my seeds from year to year and start it indoors each Spring as it is not particularly fond of cold or frost.