Wildharvesting natural materials

[GoneRooty]

So the lasts plant, Galium aparine, aside from being annoying is related to a very popular landscape plant Galium odoratum, commonly called sweet woodruff. G. odoratum is low growing and has a sweet scent when cut and dried and is used in potpourri. It was used (mainly in Germany) as a flavor additive but has been banned because the main active ingredient, coumarin, is toxic.
So when looking for G. aparine, make sure you aren't getting G. odoratum instead. The easiest way to tell is that G. aparine is a tall growing plant while G. odoratum is low growing.

 

[CascadeFarmer]

So the lasts plant, Galium aparine, aside from being annoying is related to a very popular landscape plant Galium odoratum, commonly called sweet woodruff. G. odoratum is low growing and has a sweet scent when cut and dried and is used in potpourri. It was used (mainly in Germany) as a flavor additive but has been banned because the main active ingredient, coumarin, is toxic.
So when looking for G. aparine, make sure you aren't getting G. odoratum instead. The easiest way to tell is that G. aparine is a tall growing plant while G. odoratum is low growing.

That's good info. Another plant to watch out for when collecting is Foxglove (Digitalis purpurea). I've seen instances where companies bought bulk herbs for use in manufacturing that was contaminated with Foxglove and 1 customer almost died. Pretty sure the digitalis in it pulls potassium out of the heart or something like that.

One thing I've been eying recently to harvest for composting are full grown ferns...lots around here. I've eaten fiddleheads so did a bit more research...

Fiddleheads contain various vitamins and minerals, as well as omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids. They are a source of antioxidants and dietary fibre. They are low in sodium, but rich in potassium, which may make them suitable for people who need a low-sodium diet.http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fiddlehead_fern#cite_note-5

There's the potassium thing again

 

[GoneRooty]

I remember reading somewhere that Bracken ferns actually have some good uses, but I can't remember where I read it. Gotta do some more research on it.

I've had fiddleheads before, kinda spicy and pretty tasty. It would make sense that they have some sort of agricultural use.

 

[GoneRooty]

Double post, sorry!

 

[gaiusmarius]

was out getting some horsetail and nettles today. it seems like horsetail is another amazing plant, check out some info i found.

having read it all i still don't know exactly how to make the horsetail extract/tea which i will be able to spray on my plants? from wat i understand the negative enzymes can be neutralized by boiling for 3 hours? but what about the dosage? do i use the same amount the recommend for human tea?

heres copy past of the interesting bits:

USES

Traditionally used to stop bleeding in wounds, the horsetail herb is said to be an excellent clotting inducer. The herbal horsetail remedies have been used to staunch all kinds of wounds; it has been used to stops excessive nosebleeds, and also in bringing about a reduction in the coughing up of blood during different diseases. The urinogential system of the human body is also positively affected by the astringent effect of the horsetail herb; this property is especially valuable in those cases of bleeding occurring within the urinary tract of a person - including disease such as cystitis and urethritis in patients. The internal tissue damage in connective tissue is also repaired and corrected by the horsetail herbal remedies, which speeds up the rate of tissue repair, thereby promoting the strength and elasticity in the newly formed tissues. Symptoms caused by rheumatic and arthritic problems are also treated utilizing horsetail based remedies, the horsetail is also used in the treatment of various chest ailments like emphysema, it is used for the treatment of chronic swelling affecting the legs, and also in the treatment of various other conditions affecting people. Slow healing sprains and fractures can also be topically treated using a decoction of the horsetail herb added to bathwater.

The horsetail herb has a long lineage and is a descendant of prehistoric plants; these ancient relatives of the herb were tall as trees. The horsetail is also known to be the richest plant source for the mineral silica aside from other useful and beneficial minerals. This makes the plant a very valuable herbal remedy for the treatment and healing of tissues as well as a useful and effective herbal nutritious tonic. The horsetail herb strongly affects the functioning of the urinary system in people, and endows a mild diuretic as well as soothing effect on the affected urinary tissues. It is also capable of healing all manners of irritation and infection affecting the urinary tract in general. Children affected by frequent urges to urinate, by bed wetting behaviors and incontinence for a long time can be treated using the horsetail as the astringent properties of the herb make it a very useful remedy to check such problems. Inflammation in various tissues of the body is frequently treated using the horsetail based remedies and the herb is also used in the treatment of problems like the benign and harmless enlargement of the prostate gland in patients. The herbal remedies made from the horsetail are also useful as general tonics for boosting the performance of the kidneys and the urinary system in people. The reproductive system is also beneficially affected by the horsetail herbal remedies; the herb is very effective at reducing hemorrhage and heavy bleeding in patients affected by such disorders. The horsetail is also effective in treating such disorders which affect the functioning of the digestive tract, it is capable of healing inflammation and ulcers in the stomach, and similar problems affecting the respiratory tract - traditionally the horsetail was the remedy used for treating TB and coughing of blood streaked sputum. Lusterless hair and brittle nails can also be treated using the herbal horsetail remedy, and the herb is also useful for treating debility and anemia in patients. Horsetail has a lot of silica, which actively aids in the rapid absorption of calcium from the food, and this action of the herb so helps guard the body against the danger of osteoporosis and muscular cramps, and for this reason horsetail can greatly help in the prevention of atherosclerosis in patients. Irritated skin and skin conditions like eczema can be topically treated using a herbal horsetail lotion, this can also be used to heal all manners of cuts and wounds, it can be applied to alleviate sores and ulcers, and it can also be applied to areas of skin affected by chilblains and related problems. Horsetail based mouthwash and gargle can also be used for the treatment of problems such as mouth ulcers, it can be used to stanch bleeding gums and in the treatment of sore throats and other oral problems.

CONSTITUENTS

The silicic acid and the other chemical silicates make up about fifteen percent to total chemical constituent of horsetail, aside from the other compounds such as flavonoids, the phenolic acids, and the alkaloids – e.g. nicotine, and sterols which are also present in variable amounts. The high silica content of the horsetail is responsible for most of the therapeutic effectiveness ascribed to the horsetail herb. This silica is largely soluble and is absorbed well in the body. Connective tissue regeneration is one of the main functions supported by the silica.
USUAL DOSAGE

Herbal horsetail tea at doses of one to four grams daily is ideal as a supplemental measure. An alternative is to use an herbal horsetail based tincture at a dose of two to six ml daily.
SIDE EFFECTS AND CAUTIONS

When given at the recommended adult doses, the horsetail is normally seen as being very safe and useful for treating men and non-pregnant women. The use of the correct species of horsetail should be the chief concern of the person using the herbal remedy. Horsetail species such as the Equisetum palustre contain some toxic alkaloids and are traditionally identified as livestock poison - these should never be used as supplements. All supplement manufacturers in Canada, have to follow the Canadian Health Protection Branch requirement that products are certified as not containing the enzyme thiaminase, which is found in crude horsetail of the Equisetum variety - this enzyme destroys B vitamin thiamin in the body and can cause serious problems. For medicinal use, all raw horsetail has to undergo processing, and the alcohol and temperature regulated processes, as well as the alkalinity neutralizes the potentially harmful enzyme in the herb. During processing, all herbal horsetail tinctures, the various fluid extracts, and the other preparations of the herb are also subjected to 100°C temperatures and this processing is preferred for medicinal use of the herb.
APPLICATIONS

Aerial parts:
DECOCTION – An herbal decoction made from the horsetail herb is used for the treatment of excessive menstruation in women. The same decoction is also used in the treatment of various skin conditions like acne and eczema in patients. This herbal decoction can be prepared by simmering some horsetail herb a minimum of three hours to extract the main chemical constituents and straining the liquid. Herbal healers often prescribe this decoction for the treatment of problems such as stomach ulcers; they also prescribe this for the treatment of urinary tract inflammations, and for treating various prostate and lung conditions affecting various patients.
POULTICE – The horsetail can also be made into an herbal poultice. Use the horsetail powder and form a paste for application on leg ulcers, topical wounds, as well as sores and chilblains of all kinds.
MOUTHWASH/GARGLE – The horsetail herbal decoction can also be diluted down with water and used for the effective treatment of mouth as well as gum infections and other throat inflammations in patients.
JUICE – An herbal horsetail juice made from liquidized horsetail stems are ideal. A dose of 5 -10 ml of this juice, taken thrice daily, can be good for treatment of urinary disorders in patients. The same juice can be used for the treatment of nosebleeds in people, dip a cotton wool swab in some of this juice and stuff it into a nostril for pain relief. The same herbal horsetail juice is also suggested for the treatment of long term lung damage in patients.
CAPSULES – Aside from the juices and the decoctions, another effective way to use horsetail is in the form of powdered horsetail capsules. The same disorders can be treated using these capsules - with the exception of bleeding in the nose.

HORSETAIL POWDER

Heat the previously dried horsetail in a cast-iron frying pan at fairly high heat. Stir vigorously with a thick, wooden spoon (boxwood, olive) until a fine powder is obtained. Preserve in a glass jar.
This powder is very useful for stopping bleeding and skin suppurations. Diluted in a little water and taken internally, it soothes heartburn and even digestive hemorrhaging. Combined with flower pollen, it combats tumors.

link: http://www.herbs2000.com/herbs/herbs_horsetail.htm

isn't it amazing what healing properties can be found in the plant world? shocking really how a common weed, is actually another miracle herb just like cannabis.

 

[CascadeFarmer]

Chickweed

Latin name: Stellaria media
Common name: Chickweed
Location: Likes mostly shaded areas and somewhat moist. Favors loose soil. Does OK in drier conditions and better than Miner's Lettuce and about the same as Cleavers. Chickweed, Miner's Lettuce and Cleavers all grow in about the same environment. In open sun, in good soil, good nutes and adequate water this plant will grow big fast. Miner's Lettuce can also be grown this way but Chickweed will outperform in part I think due to a much better/stronger root structure and generally better above ground structure with the ability to continue branching unlike Miner's Lettuce.
Availability: Can be very prolific.
Harvest recommendations: Can be fairly aggressively harvested in nature especially earlier in the year when moisture levels are higher. Cut back like a hedge and will grow back. Can obtain multiple harvests under the right conditions.
Sustainability: Very sustainable and vigorous if not torn up by the roots. Seeds can be collected from wild plants like Miner's Lettuce and also bought from Johnny's Finest Seeds. Easy to grow.
Growing season: Late winter through Fall. In warm climates like the San Francisco Bay area it can grow year round like Miner's Lettuce.
Opinion: My third favorite wild green after Candy Flower and Miner's Lettuce. The strongest tasting of the 3. If grown in good soil with adequate nutes/water node spacing is reduced, leaves are large/thicker, more succulent and flavor is milder. In drier conditions node spacing increases, leaves are smaller and it becomes more stringy/chewy. Great for juicing and nice general base for composting. Definitely nutritive and not medicinal like Cleavers.

A pic of a plant that grew through the winter. Survived snow and sub freezing temps yet did great. In a somewhat protected space against a building and got morning to mid day sun.

Closer up.

I decided to have the sap of this plant tested because wanted to get a better idea how it survived and thrived through the winter...I mean we get a LOT of snow and COLD. The brix is low probably due to the difficulty removing the leaf midrib. Potassium is very high and as I said before can act like antifreeze. High brix also defends against cold temps. You can see the K:N ratio clearly. You can also see the testing date and this just coming out of winter and that plant was lush. This was not growing in native soil but an old planter bed with older bagged soil. The pH is about perfect for sap...balanced by nature!

My favorite wild patch of Chickweed was drained of water and now a mobile home sits over that location...tards...lol.

 

[CascadeFarmer]

was out getting some horsetail and nettles today. it seems like horsetail is another amazing plant, check out some info i found.

Nice post. After looking at Cleavers more when posting it is also one of those versatile medicinal type plants.

The horsetail herb has a long lineage and is a descendant of prehistoric plants; these ancient relatives of the herb were tall as trees.

Snake Grass also seems to be a prehistoric type plant and seems related to Horsetail. Once you get Snake Grass on your property and growing conditions are supportive you'll NEVER get rid of it. I've seen Snake Grass root structure 3 feet below the surface. A friend dug some trenches and within a few weeks Snake Grass started growing out of the sides of the trenches 3-4' down.

Will do more research, already have pics, always thought it was high in silica due to the similarity with Horsetail.

 

[CascadeFarmer]

Snake Grass

Latin name: I'm confused...lol...but appears to be in the Equisetum family which is the one peeps have shown pics of with the 'fuzzy' topped Horsetail. Yes Horsetail should look like a horse's tail...at least what I call Horsetail.
Common name: Horsetail, Snake Grass.
Location: Likes very wet and generally almost swampy areas, high and sustained water table almost identical to Horsetail but I usually find the two growing separate from each other.
Availability: Can be very prolific.
Harvest recommendations: Hack all you want cause it'll just keep growing back.
Sustainability: You'll never kill it.
Growing season: Early spring through fall.
Opinion: High in silica, never harvested it, never ate it, never made a tea with it. I'm guessing it must be hot composted like Horsetail because any viable pieces will simply root in the area you plant it and take over.

General structure.

Closer up.

Horse's Tail off the net...you can see the same base structure without the branching.

Had to grab some stuff off Wiki that makes sense and should help with understanding the differences here...

Equisetum is a "living fossil", as it is the only living genus of the entire class Equisetopsida, which for over one hundred million years was much more diverse and dominated the understory of late Paleozoic forests. Some Equisetopsida were large trees reaching to 30 meters tall;[3] the genus Calamites of family Calamitaceae for example is abundant in coal deposits from the Carboniferous period.

and...

Other names include candock for branching individuals, and scouring-rush for unbranched or sparsely branched individuals. The latter name refers to the plants' rush-like appearance, and to the fact that the stems are coated with abrasive silicates, making them useful for scouring (cleaning) metal items such as cooking pots or drinking mugs, particularly those made of tin. In German, the corresponding name is Zinnkraut ("tin-herb"). Rough horsetail E. hyemale is still boiled and then dried in Japan, to be used for the final polishing process on woodcraft to produce a smoother finish than any sandpaper.

I bolded the 'unbranched' portion and this is what the other stuff that grows around here is. Lots of Horse's Tail looking stuff too.

 

[mostnonymouse]

I harvested some wild materials today....seabass carcasses after being fileted. What's the best way to handle these? Em1?

 

[heady blunts]

I harvested some wild materials today....seabass carcasses after being fileted. What's the best way to handle these? Em1?

i always heard papaya has the proper enzyme "papain."

i found this on gardenweb:

Gojo's DIY 'CEDHF':
(Cold Enzymatically Digested Hydrolyzed Fish)
1. Weigh out equal amounts (1:1) of bycatch or edible whole fish to distilled water.
2. Either dice and mince the fish or put it through a food processor, or a strong blender like a vita-mixer. You need to throughly process the fish into small pieces.
3. Preheat an oven to 122 degrees F (50 degrees C)
4. Lay the fish onto a baking tray, and try not to layer the fish if you can help it. Place the tray into the oven and bake the fish for 0.5-2 minutes, depending upon the quantity and size of fish chunks.[4][5]
* It is possible to use a microwave instead of the oven, I can provide info if there is interest.

* Heating inactivates the endogenous enzymes (and microbes) which are on and in the fish. I want to control what enzymes and microbes are present.

* This step could be skipped and the 'endogenous enzyme activity [of the fish] alone'[6] can digest most of the fish. But I don't want unknown enzymes and microbes in the finished hydrolyzed fish so that's why I heat it.
5. Cover the fish and let it cool. Then and add the fish, along with the distilled water into a strong blender like a vita-mixer and liquefy (5-10 minutes).
6. Adjust the resulting 'fluid' to a ph of 5 using phosphoric acid (aka 'ph down'[7])
* Because I am using a cold enzyme digestion process the ph needs to be low to prevent the gurry from putrefying[2].
* From what I've been able to glean a ph of 4.5 is optimal to prevent putrefaction of gurry. But, a ph of 5 is optimal for papain enzyme action[8][9]. So, I chose a ph of 5 as this will speed the papain's digestion of the fish which will of course shorten the digestion time and reduce the chance (time wise) of the gurry putrefying.
* Use of phosphoric acid is suggested when horticulture is the intended target and phosphoric acid acts as a stabilizer for the gurry[2].
* Use the blender to fully mix the phosphoric acid when testing the ph.
7. Add papain to gurry with an enzyme to fish (not gurry) ratio of 700-1,000 U to a gram of fish[5]
* 'Papain'[10] and 'Alcalase'[11] are the two best known enzymes for digesting fish[5][6] and Alcalase will digest up to 95% of the fish[6]. But, Alcalase prefers a ph of 7-9[11] and it is expensive and hard to find. However, Papain also digests a large quantity of fish[6], but it's ideal ph is 5 and it is inexpensive and easy to find[12].
* So, you will want to add about 1,000 U of papain per gram of fish product (not gurry). Each pill of 'Natural Brandâ„¢ Papaya Enzyme'[12] conatins 60,000 U of papain. I'll leave the math up the person making hydrolyzed fish following my directions...
* Buy a pill splitter[13] (about $5.00) and you can split the papain pill into 4 or 6 pieces for greater accuracy. Though, it's better have too much enzyme than not enough.
* Grind the papain pill/s into a fine powder, this will help disperse the papain throughout the fluid. I use a mortar and pestle[14] to pulverize my pills, you can get these at a pharmacy for around $10.00.
* Use the blender to fully mix the papain with the fish liquid.
* A 'U' is a 'USP unit'[15], which is also synonymous with 'IU' (international unit) [16].
8. Place the gurry in cool location (ala refrigerator) between 35 and 38 degrees F (1.7 to 3.3 degrees C) for 4-6 weeks.
9. Filter finished gurry through 100-400 micron screen. The Kis compost tea bag[17] is 400 micron and may work very well, and it's only $10.00.
10. Use the 'CEDHF' lol
* Check the ph, I bet it will be around 5-6, lower is better I would assume but I have no data on that...I'm still just feeling my way around...

 

[CascadeFarmer]

As the season progresses a few more plants I can outline like red clover (available now), mullein (waiting for the flowers to develop), lambsquarter (needs to grow a bit more), blue malva (waiting for flowering), burdock, St. Johns wort, dandelion is an easy one...no one want to pitch in there? Probably a top 10 herb for eating/medicinal/etc.

Thx for the + rep and Helpful Answer hits guys. Sometimes nice to know the efforting is useful

 

[self]

I harvested some wild materials today....seabass carcasses after being fileted. What's the best way to handle these? Em1?

nice most! I put a lot of home made lab in my lidded buckets of fish.
I almost threw up when I opened my bucket of crab for a peak/shell smash. The bucket was only open for about two minutes outside, but the smell completely enveloped the house for the next 45 minutes.
If I had em 1 I would definitely use that. lol.

I'm using a combination fpe of bracken & comfrey right now, the bracken smells like an old man shit himself smoking dmt.

and also a horsetail & rockweed blend, although I'm now drying the remnants of that bucket to pulverize to try to release more silica, then I'll add it back to my first filtered extraction.

here's some info on the goodies for a bunch of different materials. I know its on here a few times already somewhere, but it might be nice to have up with such nice plant profiles.
http://www.primalseeds.org/npk.htm
http://www.oregonbd.org/Class/accum.htm
have a good one
~self

 

[gaiusmarius]

so these are some pics i took while gathering the ingredients for my own fpe's starting with nettle tea. i chopped up a bunch of nettles and stuffed the chopped bits in plastic bottles, then i added clean water and put the screw lids back on loose to let air escape. as for the rest i'm drying it to add to soil.

the horse tail is drying now, once dry i will make tea by boiling some for 3 hours. should be interesting to see hom my mums like being sprayed with my home made stuff lol.

is the stuff that's not thistle, horsetail or nettle; comfrey? if so i'm well supplied with that stuff too. btw that thistle plant is taller then me.

 

[CascadeFarmer]

is the stuff that's not thistle, horsetail or nettle; comfrey? if so i'm well supplied with that stuff too. btw that thistle plant is taller then me.

No comfrey in those pics. Nice haul though...kind of amazing what grows all around us that's useful. One plant I can't identify. Nice patch of Horsetail.

 

[jaykush]

you only need to boil the horsetail for 10-15 minutes, then let cool.

 

[tuinman]

I have quite a bit of this available:



Is this the same as Snake Grass/Horsetail? It looks very similar, but I've never seen it branch or produce pods at the top.

 

[CascadeFarmer]

Is this the same as Snake Grass/Horsetail? It looks very similar, but I've never seen it branch or produce pods at the top.

Looks exactly like the what I call Snake Grass but which is in the general Horsetail family. After doing more research seems quite a few variants. Same thing except guess you don't get the pods like on the stuff near me.

 

[Microbeman]

the horsetail in the gaius photos is like mine. Cascade is right...no comfrey....it has broad pointy leaves

 

[bonsai]

If any fellow Australians are considering growing horsetail as a silica source, please reconsider or plant it in pots. It's on our "National Environmental Alert List" as a "Weed of National Significance" - http://www.weeds.gov.au/weeds/lists/alert.html

 

[gaiusmarius]

will the seeds not spread anyway on the wind, even in pots? or do they reproduce from the roots only?

anyway my horsetail tea is ready to be tested, i boiled 80% of what i had in the pic after drying it in 1.5lt of water. after 20 mins of boiling i had just under a lt of dark brown reddish tea. now the question is how much to dilute it for my first test on 1 plant?