How I Beat the Bug - Herbal Medicine and Lessons in Trust

As many of you know, I am a student of Medical Herbalism enrolled in a four year program who will be graduating next year in 2017. Its been an amazing journey so far and I have discovered so much about not only myself and my love for botanical medicine, but also I've learned a lot about trust.

 Growing up, I (and my family) did not trust herbs, we trusted doctors who put me on antibiotics and steroids for a vast array of out of control upper respiratory issues during childhood and adolescent life.Of course this was not done out of maliciousness but in the 80's and 90's this was simply what was common and how one "got healthy". Many MD's now know the dangers associated with over use of antibiotics and suggest alternative sources first - to these MD's I give my great gratitude for your understanding of the body as a self healing entity.

This year, like many of us, my entire household got the upper respiratory bug that seems to be spreading like wildfire. Symptoms included exceedingly sore throat, severe nasal congestion, nasal infection, a dry hacking and un-producing cough, chest tightness, headache, severe laryngitis, sharp pain when swallowing, swollen lymph nodes, and low grade fever.  Being a creature of habit I must admit, my first reaction was to go to the doctor instead of immediately going to my herbal pharmacy - however, once I realized that there was nothing the doctor could do that was helping (antibiotics, over the counter cold medicine) I went ahead and endeavored to practice what I preach.

Perhaps this is something that few Herbalists or students of herbalism talk about, but I think there is a transition period when moving from one type of "medicine" to another and a certain level of trust that we only learn through personal experience. After years and years of exposure to the teachings of alopathic medicine it is hard to suddenly change our habitual thinking and offer our trust to the plants that we have learned to love while we study their various medicinal paths. Yet, it seems that time and time again I have seen herbs and nutritional therapy resulting in health where alopathic medicine can do little more than relieve symptoms. Of course I am not saying this out of an "Us vs. Them" state of mind, but simply that when one fails, the other should be sought.

After a week of being sick this winter I had had enough of the discomfort and the cough, and the sleepless nights and at the point of being fed up simply made a leap of trust into what I knew to be true. What came of my trust was health, the herbs worked well, they worked quickly, and they worked where other practices of medicine did not.

So, how did I do it?




If you follow me on Herbalists Without Borders - Vancouver you are likely very familiar with photos of my counter with various herbs, remedies, and mixes. I am fortunate enough to have an herbal pharmacy of my own at home and to be able to mix my own tinctures and teas. For this monster of an upper respiratory infection I went ahead and made a tincture mix, a tea, and also took an encapsulated herb by Nature's Sunshine (my absolute FAVORITE herb and supplement supplier).

From Left to Right, here is my Herb List:

• Oregon Grape Root - Mahonia aquifolium 1:5 @ 40% alcohol
• Astragalus - Astragalus membranaceis 1:1 @ 40% alcohol
• Pleurisy Root - Acleplas tuberosa 1:5 @ 40% alcohol
• Lemon Balm - Melissa officinalis 1:1 @ 40% alcohol - Fresh Extract
• Mullein Leaf - Verbascum thapsus
• Olive Leaf Extract - Capsules
• Slippery Elm Powder - Ulmus rubra
• Licorice Root - Glycyrrrhiza glabra

For the sake of simplicity I am not going to list the exact tincture mix or the dosage, if you would like to know I am happy to share, simply message me from Herbalists Without Borders Vancouver.

I was rather amazed by how quickly things started working! For the tincture mix I started dosing myself every 2 to 3 hours for the first 48 hours and dosed every 6 hours for the following day and then went down to three to four times daily.  For the tea I drank it as needed for my cough fits throughout the day and found that it would calm the cough for a few hours before it was needed once more. Lastly I took three of the Olive Leaf capsules 3 times daily. I was over the hump in 72 hours and the cough turned from dry and painful to productive and went from spastic coughing fits to cough only associated in the morning.

I love herbs, I love botanical medicine, and I love that they teach me time and time again to put my trust in the good, green things of this beautiful earth. As my dear friend likes to remind me "for every illness there is an herb" and really, there is.

I hope you enjoyed reading! Please feel free to reach out or comment with any questions.

Part 1 of 2 - Holy Heck, its March already!! What to Start Indoors and What to Sow Directly - Zone 8 Coastal Pacific Northwest

For most of my friends on the east coast of Canada and the US it seems as though winter will never end. Just this morning I received a call from my friend Candice in Toronto who was asking me what to start planting in March. I asked her if there was snow on the ground, to which she replied "Yes, about four feet!", she was a bit disheartened to hear that she needed to wait a little while; I'm sorry Candice!! And I'm super sorry to hear about all the other gardeners who are currently snowed out from early spring planting, hang in there zone 6, spring is on its way!

For those of us on the west coast of the US and Canada we've been experiencing a very early spring which lends to a fantastic gardening opportunity! This unseasonably warm weather means we can get a head start on sowing our starters indoors, and also with March on its way in just a couple days, we can start setting out our direct seeds as well! In this post I wanted to give all my pals in zone 8 (coastal pacific northwest) a heads up on what to flowers, herbs, and vegetables can be planted in March.  The types have been divided into direct sow (directly into the dirt), and those you need to start indoors (pretty dang self explanatory).

Before you start, there are a couple things to take into consideration. For your direct seeds please take the time to turn your beds and add your compost, this will wake up all of your lovely microbes and bring air back into the soil; adding the compost will also add any nutrients lost over the cold months. 

March Direct Sow:

Direct Sew Vegetables:

Arugula

Also known as Rocket, Arugula will grow as long as the ground is not frozen. Its delicious and spicy and makes a great addition to an early spring salad, also makes an amazing pesto!

Broad Beans

Super tasty broad beans are excellent for falafal, I planted mine back in February and they started coming up withing two weeks.

Corn Salad

Also known as miners lettuce, this old variety wild lettuce is a lovely treat in the early spring. It grows quickly! Pick and replant as needed throughout the spring, summer, and fall.

Garlic

Planting these in the early spring means you will get a fall harvest, and planting them in the fall and overwintering them will mean you get a late summer harvest. If you have never had fresh garlic from the garden I highly recommend trying it.

Kale

Not everybody loves Kale, but its a fantastic cold weather crop that will germinate in March and takes only about 60 days to mature. There are numerous varieties of Kale so be sure you get a few of your favorites.

Collards

Don't mind the cooking time on these because the leaves taste absolutely delicious! Collards mature in 60 to 80 days and will need at least 9 inches between plants, 12 if you can spare it.

Pac Choi & Choi Sum

A few years back I planted 10 Pac choi and soon found my garden overrun and me having to go door to door to beg neighbors to take some of it off my hands. Pac choi are delicious when steamed or fantastic as young tenders, just keep in mind that they are amazingly prolific and mature in only 50 days.

Peas

Last year (2014) I planted a heritage variety called little marvel. The plant took about 60 days to mature but the production was amazing! The pea was more bushy than tall and produced enough delicious pods to both feed us and to supply me with seed for the next year. I would suggest this variety to anyone eager for peas who does not have room for a large trellis.

Radish

Deliciously spicy when the weather is cold. I generally plant the easter egg variety which is a mixed packet of colorful variations. Radish is one of the easiest cold weather crops to grow, germinates in just a few days, and matures in only 25 to 28 days.

Spinach

Another of my garden favorites. The best spinach variety I have found for this area is a variety made popular by West Coast Seeds called Vancouver. It is perfect for our climate and matures in 50 days.

Direct Sow Herbs:

Cilantro

It wasn't until a couple years ago that I learned that cilantro was a cold weather plant. Fancy that!
I suggest growing this in a pot as it will reseed itself and everything else if you let it. Matures in 60 days.

Lavender

Lavender is such an amazing herb. It attracts pollinators,and smells amazing when the hot summer air warms its aromatic oils. Keep in mind that it is slow to mature, by year 2 or 3 you will have an amazing and bushy herb. We have 8 planted around our property, and now in their second year they are starting to look like actual lavender bushes instead of a few sticks with purple flowers.

Parsley

Parsley loves the cool and damp of the pacific northwest. This is another herb that you might consider potting. I had two in the garden last year and now with the reseeding have had to weed out a million, trillion, and one shoots. Matures in about 80 days.

March Indoor Starters:

Vegetable Starters:

Asparagus - Transplant end of May or early June

  

Asparagus can be a little bit tricky. Starting it from seed is only the beginning of forming a decent Asparagus colony. Once in the ground it may take another two years to begin offering shoots but don't lose heart! Once established, a good asparagus colony can last you decades, it just takes some patience and planning. Matures....whenever its ready.

Broccoli - Transplant April

I love broccoli out of the garden. I planted some last year from plugs and by early April I was eating fresh broccoli heads and leaves. A good variety for our area is Gypsy, which matures in about 60 days.

Cabbage - Transplant mid April

I had amazing luck with cabbage last year, but also forgot (because I am still a beginner) that I can get two crops in the same growing season. Cabbages put out in April will be ready in early July, which means start another few inside in May to plant in mid July for a second fall crop. Sometimes you and sneak one more in there if you transplant in August/September for a November/December harvest, take care to alter your variety as the later plantings need to be hardy like January King.

Cauliflower - Transplant end of April

I've never actually tried cauliflower, I hear its a bit finicky in our climate. Give it a try though, would love to hear any input! Matures in 60 to 70 days.

Celery - Transplant June and July (Slow Grower)

I've grown celery a few times now, but because its such a slow grower and producer I came to the conclusion that I would rather just by the organic stalks at the store or farmers market. Matures in 100 days. Or really, when it feels like it.

Fennel - Transplant end of April

I love fennel, both for its taste and its healing qualities. Its excellent for upset stomach, flatulence, and cramping. Matures in 80 days and some varieties (non bulbing) are perennials (comes back the next year).

Leeks - Transplant April-June

Leeks are so amazingly hardy. I plant them out in the spring, let them grow over summer, harvest some and let the rest remain over fall and winter. They are pretty slow to mature, some only need 60 days, but the more classic heirloom varieties take anywhere from 130 to 160 days to mature. Just remember, if you leave them out over January and February, cover them.

Lettuce - Transplant April-June

The delicious staple for many a garden. Try a variety of various heirloom breeds such as Miner's Lettuce, Amish Deer Tongue, or Heirloom Butter. These mature quick, anywhere from 30 to 60 days depending on variety.

Peppers - Transplant in June

We had amazing luck with peppers last year! We planted Cayenne, Hungarian, Standard Red, Yellow, and Bell Greens. Put out in June, we had peppers daring to grow in October. Depending on the variety, they take 60 to 80 days to mature.

Continued on next post.....

Pressure Canning (How I freaked out and tried not to die while canning leftover chowder)

I love canning, I love eating my garden grown goodies in the dead of winter, but there is one type of canning that has always intimidated me: pressure canning. Pressure canning allows for the canning of low acid foods such as green beans or broths, or in this case a lovely dairy free cauliflower chowder. The way that pressure canning works is that heat and pressure are allowed to build in a sealed pot and only a certain amount of steam is allowed to escape (5psi, 10psi, or 15psi) thus bringing foods up to a temperature that can kill harmful bacterium. In acidic foods such as cherries, pickles, peaches etc, the natural acid of the fruit or pickling medium does it for you.

Last week I cooked a huge pot of gluten free chowder and left it in the fridge for two days. After two days my husband and I had managed to get through maybe 4 pints, leaving nearly a full pot remaining. The trouble was, I really enjoyed the chowder and could only think of all the hungry people of the world (yes, I have an overactive imagination) who would be symbolically looking over my shoulder in shame if I poured it out. I knew then, it was finally time to bust out the pressure canner.

Per the usual, I started with boiling my empty jars and bringing my soup up to a boil which you can see here.

These are four pint jars making them perfect for a large single serving, and since this soup is completely gluten and dairy free, you definitely want a hardy helping.

The pressure canner/cooker in question is a 16qt sized canner from Canadian tire that I purchased last August. Pro tip, it comes on sale every year in August/September. In hindsight I should have purchased the 22qt so I could stack cans but this gets the job done and can hold 7 quart jars upright.

I have a lovely friend named Meagan Ann who is a pro at pressure canning and swears by it for saving money and ensuring fast and nutritious lunches for busy people. Mind you, you need to take the time to can your meals in the first place, but if you can manage a few hours in the afternoon or evening once a month you can certainly make a sizable dent in your grocery bill. Unfortunately for me, unlike my darling Meagan Ann, I am NOT a pressure canning pro, as seen in this expertly filmed miniature documentary.

      

Once my cans were sterile and my chowder up to a boil I filled my jars and capped them and placed them into the bottom of my pressure canner. The bottom must be covered with water, it is the steam that helps the pressure and heat rise. I chose 10psi as this is the most common and once they reached boiling let it cook at pressure for 12 minutes.

Also, when pressure canning, remember to cook on high. This is not an apologetic sort of cooking and you've got to crank that sucker up!

At this point in the game I was worried if I had sealed the pressure canner correctly and patiently waited for steam to start spewing from the top or for the entire thing to blow up. Thankfully nothing blew up, and steam indeed began to rise from the eenie weenie hole at the top. Also, the red button of death on the side popped up - think of it like the turkey button, when it pops out its hot in the middle!

Here are a couple videos (I'm starting to like this video thing) of the steam building and applying the little weight thingy. Looking back I should have waited for the steam to really start hissing out of the top before applying the weight, but I also think that I would likely have been way to freaked out. After-all, these cookers hiss like a baptized cat!

And here is the final video. After about 5 minutes the pressure built up and it really started cooking. As you can see, I was a bit excited.

Once the canner got up to pressure I let it go nuts for 10 to 12 minutes then turned off the stove. Note to the sane, ***DO NOT OPEN THE PRESSURE CANNER UNTIL THE RED BUTTON ON THE SIDE HAS LOWERED COMPLETELY***. That little red turkey button is what keeps your head firmly attached to your neck! The sudden release of the pressure will result in a massive explosion and a trip to the ER and Burn Unit. 

After all was said and done I was left with four lovely cans of chowder which are now sitting in the pantry waiting for a rainy day. 

Happy Canning, try if you dare.

- Nicey

Flu and Cold Season - What to take, when to take it, and how to feel better fast! (Remedies from Nature's Sunshine)

A couple months into the new year, and tis the season for flu and cold season. As the season begins to pique in January and February I get a sense that friends and family get a feeling of frustration and helplessness as one viral infection seems to follow another. I have seen posts complaining about coughs and sniffles that later clear up only to be followed by a case of a full body flu which can leave some people sick for weeks, and in some cases a month or more.

The bottom line is that being sick not only feels horrible, but it also robs us of productivity and a positive outlook, leaving many people feeling drained and weak even after recovery.

The information I am about to give has worked for me 100% of the time, and has also been used on my husband, many friends, and immediate relatives as well. Of course getting health information off some blog on the internet often makes people a bit apprehensive, but perhaps with a bit of empowerment and some faith in natural medicine, you too may want to give this a try. In addition to the remedies themselves, I will be supplying dietary and rest information as well.

Dietary:
When we eat wheat, dairy, processed foods, and sugar we are indeed just eating sugar. Sugar causes inflammation by feeding microbes and bacterium such as candida and h-pylori, and an inflamed body  is a body that cannot heal. The simple fact is that wheat turns into glucose in our digestive tract, glucose is a sugar. Dairy products turn into maltose which is also a sugar, and sugary processed foods remain as sugar such as sucrose and fructose. These sugars when eaten as our main diet offer no nutritional value and simply lend themselves to inflammation - some chronic inflammatory diseases include cardiovascular disease, arthritis, and cancer.

Knowing this, it is a good idea to immediately stop eating wheat, dairy, and processed foods and sugars when you come down with a cold of flu. Stick to dark leafy greens (cooked or raw), healthy organic proteins, bone broths and home made soups, and keep yourself hydrated with water, raw coconut water, or herbal teas. Sugary drinks such as Gatorade, 7-up, and other traditional illness oriented/comfort drinks only further impair our body from healing itself.

The Remedies and Dosage:
So here is where the nitty gritty comes in in regard to what to take and how to take it. All of these items can be found at Nature's Sunshine by clicking the link to your far right.

Mineral Chi Tonic - 2 tbsp 3 to 4 times daily  in water or 1/2 and 1/2 juice and water while sick
Cat's Claw Combination - 3 to 4 capsules every 6 hours until symptoms lessen then 4 capsules 3x daily
Liquid Chlorophyll - 2 tbsp. 3 to 4 times a day in water while sick
Solstic Nutrition - 1 packet 4 times daily in water

And that's it! I have now had eight friends and family members within the last 3 weeks use this combination with very fast recovery times.

Please feel free to contact me directly with any questions, I am always happy to help!

Are we losing?

I've made the mistake of watching the news as of late and seeing all of these horrible things that have been happening all over the world. Most specifically the ugliness of war, as it seems to be everywhere I look. In reflection it makes me wonder if perhaps as a young woman I was just more shielded from the information, or even more terrifying is the idea that things are exactly as they appear and that we as a species are rapidly changing for the worse.

 Its as though the world is loosing its common sense, as nations stand back to allow corporations to destroy natural resources despite the access of renewable energies. Additionally, people killing one another in the name of God, in the name if Their God, as though God were some symbol that stood solely for their hate and misjudgment, and not for the love of humanity that is so quickly drifting further and further from its roots. 

It was the news of the fighter pilot burnt alive that seemed to put me over the edge today, leading to a sudden reaction that I was not prepared for. I burst into into tears at the work place due to sheer frustration. It was the idea that this man died for nothing more then the twisted concept of revenge from someone who's idea of 'justice' is little more than an attempt at filling an endless void of hate.

I am reminded of a poem I once read written by William Blake which seems to frame precisely what I was feeling.

O for a voice like thunder, and a tongue to drown the throat of war!
When the senses are shaken, and the soul is driven to madness,who can stand?
When the souls of the oppressed fight in the troubled air that rages, who can stand?
When the whirlwind of fury comes from the throne of God, when the frowns of His countenance
Drive the nations together, who can stand?

When Sin claps his broad wings over the battle, and sails rejoicing in the flood of death;
When souls are torn to everlasting fire, and fiends of hell rejoice upon the slain, O who can stand?
O who hath caused this?
O who can answer at the throne of God?
The Kings and Nobles of the land have done it!
Hear it not, Heaven, thy ministers have done it!

Learning to Garden (Amazingly Awesome Shows that do Gardening Right!)

As I sit in bed and listen to the light patter of rain on the roof, I am enjoying a cup of herbal tea before I go to sleep. Tonight's mix is just for sleep and relaxation and has herbs from last years herb garden (lavender flowers, spearmint, lemon balm, and passion flower).

My usual night time ritual also almost always includes a gardening show on YouTube. Three years ago in December I decided that I really wanted to learn to garden and to garden in a manner that could not only be decorative and lovely but could also feed my small family (all of two of us) during the spring and summer. My goal was to learn what to plant, when to plant it, what sorts of plants liked to grow together, how to create proper soil, and how to harvest and store my crops.

Though I gardened as a child (mostly just watching my mother work while I played in the mud) I did very little gardening as a young woman, and though wishing I had might bring up a bit of regret, I knew that wishing wasn't going to get the job done. So, like any typical urbanite, I turned to the internet, and specifically YouTube. What I found were a LOT of horrible how to gardening videos posted by weekend warriors with a lot of opinions on everything from the apocalypse and planning for it to psychic communication with houseplants; none of which answered my questions about gardening specifics in any enjoyable way. I gave up for a time and went back to watching my other favorite kind of show - historical documentaries (I am SO boring, I know).

I am not sure how it happened, but after a time I came across a show called Tudor Monestary Farm which was a BBC production that covered a group of experimental archaeologists and a domestic historian by the name of Ruth Goodman (who has since become one of my historian hero's). I was absolutely taken with the show as they not only explained, but showed step by step gardening methods, planting styles, and plant types that were common during the Tudor era!

After this I started seeing a whole list of amazing British gardening shows with amazing gardeners, horticulturalists, medical herbalists, MD's, historians, ethnobotanists who all had amazing things to say about gardening, health, and herbal medicine, it was like finding the living messiah of gardening bliss!!!

So, in  spirit of the promise of spring, growing things, and gardening, I wanted to share my top list of shows that I return to again and again for gardening advice.

• The Edible Garden (Episodes 1-6) with Alys Fowler. I think this woman is absolutely dear, she is a spunky red headed urban gardener in the UK who shows you that it IS possible to grow food, flowers, AND raise chickens in a small space.
  

• Life in a Cottage Garden (Episodes 1-6) with Carol Klein. I cannot begin to tell you how much I LOVE Carol Klein! Sure, her hair may be a bit funky and her tattered leather jacket makes me want to buy her a new one, but this amazing horticulturalist boasts over 30 years of experience and a love and enthusiasm for gardening that I have not seen before! She simply exudes joy when talking about plants

• Grow Your Own Veg (Episodes 1-6) Another of my Carol Klein favorites. This one simply concentrates on growing your own vegetable garden and visits the topic of starting a garden plot from scratch and also how to garden in small spaces.
  

• Fork to Fork (Episodes 1-6) with Monty and Sarah Don. These two avid gardeners not only show you how to grow your veg, but also shows you how to grow herbs and some medicinals. They include a handful of wonderful recipes and simple cooking ideas.
  
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• Grow Your Own Medicine (Episodes 1-13) Its exactly what the title says. 13 episodes of standard medicinal herbs and how to apply them, hosted by Mr. McCutie Pants and his love for whole and natural medicine. This show touches some on growing, but mostly on types of plants and how to apply them to your daily life.

• Great British Garden Revival (Episodes 1-10) This video has a little bit of everything and covers vegetable growing, endangered plant varieties, the importance of heritage and native plants, as well as community gardening, and gardening for pleasure. This is one of my favorites! 
  

And there you have it! Its by no means a complete list of all the shows I watched while learning, but its certainly a snap shot of my favorites. I hope you enjoy this little compilation, and I look forward to hearing what you thought of them.

Happy Gardening!

- Nicey

February Seeding - The Great Planting is Upon Us!

I wasn't going to do a blog post in February with all the pressures of work and school, but after thinking about it I came to the conclusion that it's a fantastic opportunity as we are at the beginning of the gardening year for zone 8 and just a little into the actual calendar year.

The garden is looking pretty drab in February, lots of plant remnants from last year are busily decomposing in the planter boxes, we have lots of rain and chilly weather but thankfully no snow. For me, January is the time I plan my garden for the year and take into consider my plant rotation. For example, I know that three of my beds had beans in them last year which means those beds are going to be nitrogen rich and just about anything I plant in there is going to grow very well. I also know that in my salad beds and root beds, I need to replenish the soil with nitrogen rich plants, or in the very least I need to throw in a good amount of compost (really this should be done every year) and turn the beds. However, February is the time I start seeding both indoors and out!

There are a few plants that can already be sown directly into the soil in zone 8 (coastal pacific northwest), for me these will be my broad beans and my poppies. I've never grown either before and am really looking forward to seeing what happens!

My broad beans are an organic variety from West Coast Seeds called Windsor, I should be enjoying the bounty in late April or early May. Broad beans are fantastic at fixing nitrogen into the soil (they are going into a part of last years tomato box) and are delicious and creamy in texture. These bean types can be made into delicious falafels! Broad beans are very hardy and have a firm stock, they do not need a lot of support, but if they grow too tall, a bit of a cross bar is nice.

My other direct sow seeds this year are poppy. Specifically Red European Poppy (Papaver rhoeas) and California Poppy (Eschscholzia californica), the red poppy is going in because it reminds me of the gardens I used to see in Slovakia, and for its medicinal values. The California poppy because it is also a medicinal plant used in herbal medicine;  I would like very much to grow both from seed, witness their full growth cycle and then harvest and compound the herbs into a medicinal formula. My poppy seeds were gathered on a few nature walks in late July and from a few unknowing neighbors.

Red European Poppy (Papaver rhoeas)

 

 

Parts Used: Petals

Petals should be collected on a dry morning after the dew has dried in the months of July and August, they will need to be dried carefully.

Main Constituents: Tannins, Mucilage, Traces of Alkaloids

Medicinal Actions: Sedative and Expectorant

Indications: This herb does not hold the same sedative properties as the opium poppy (which is illegal, do not use). It may be used to soothe an irritable cough and in cases of respiratory catarrh. The petals are often added to herbal teas and potpourris, and for color.

Safety Concern: Due to the presence of tannins, long term use of this herb should be avoided

 

 California Poppy (Eschscholzia californica)

 

 

Parts Used: Whole Plant

Main Constituents: Flavone Glycosides

Medicinal Actions: Hypnotic, Sedative, Nerve Relaxant, Anodyne

Indications: Insomnia, Migraine, Stress, Nervous Bowel, Anxiety, Depression, Neuralgia.

Combines well with Passion Flower (Passiflora incarnata) for hyperactivity and sleeplessness.

Safety Concerns: This plant should only be distributed by a Medical Herbalist. Avoid self dosing.

 

 

Both varieties like to be sown directly into cold soil, generally this is done in the fall, but can also be done in the early spring. To sow poppies, simply find a piece of well drained soil that is full sun or partial shade (mine was the boulevard at the far side of the yard). Turn the soil and rake it, apply seeds liberally by scattering with fingertips and cover loosely. If its recently rained, no point in watering. Remember, these seeds like to be at the surface, so once you have scattered, cover them lightly. It will be 2 to 3 weeks before they start appearing, and once they are a few inches tall they will need to be thinned to allow 9 to 10 inches between plants.

 

Happy Gardening!

- Nicey