Medicinal Plants at the Farm

Our farm is home to a great many one legged People (the plants and trees). The farm is home to many wild indigenous plants (and one wild indigenous person - LOL). I much prefer to harvest medicinal plants and make preparations for my needs (reaching into Mother Earth's medicine cabinet is how I think of it) than to buy mass produced, chemically saturated products.  While this is not always possible, I do it as much as I can.  I learned everything I know about medicinal plants from the amazing Patsy Clark - Chii Megwetch Patsy for all that you share and do and for the person that you are!

Heal All

This is Heal-All, (the purple one) it is related to mint.  

It can be used fresh as a poultice on wounds and abrasions, has great healing properties and has been used to stop bleeding, heal wounds and cure infection in wounds for hundreds of years.  This year I cut heal all at the height of its flower and dried it for later use in salves... we'll see how that turns out!

Mullein

This is Common Mullein. Mullein's fine, downy hairs that give the plant its features of soft, velvety texture and appearance, and help the plant retain moisture. has been used for centuries. The Greek physician, Dioscorides, mentioned the benefits of Mullein for "old coughs." Mullein contains coumarin and rotenone, a natural insecticide. Mullein tea is traditionally an effective treatment for coughs and lung disorders.   Some of my Native friends smoke mullein in a pipe to clear up respiratory infections, and swear by it!

Mullein has an interesting 2 year growth pattern, a first year plant grows close to the ground in a tight rosette.  In the second year the plant sends up a tall flowering spike.

Plantain

Externally, plantain is effective on any kind of skin disorder when the leaves are bruised and used as a poultice or simply rubbed on the skin.  Alternatively it can be made into an infused oil or ointment  and stored for later use.  Plantain can also be harvested when the plants are young and tender and used in salads!

Plantain salve is highly effective for treating all manner of wounds, burns and abrasions.

Plantain has been used for centuries, so long in fact that it is even found referenced in works by both Chaucer and Shakespeare!

Jewelweed

Jewelweed (Impatiens Capensis) is related to the popular garden flower – impatiens and has been used for centuries in North America by Native Americans and Herbalists, as a natural preventative and treatment for poison ivy (also poison oak, nettles and many other plant irritants). Jewelweed grows prolifically and is quite often found alongside poison ivy and nettles (with nettles in the photo below).

Jewelweed works by counter-reacting with the chemicals in other plants that cause irritation. 

Poultices and salves from Jewelweed are a remedy for bruises, burns, cuts, eczema, insect bites, sores, sprains, warts, and ringworm. 

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Honor all people with whom we share the Earth: the 4 leggeds, the 2 leggeds, the winged ones, the swimmers, the crawlers, the plant and rock people... everything on the Earth has a purpose, every disease an herb to cure it... and every person... a mission. 

Bunnies, Bunnies and MORE Bunnies!

We raise Mini Rex Rabbits.  The mini rex is a smaller domestic rabbit breed, which is 4 - 4.5 pounds when full grown. Mini Rex are very popular 4H project animals due to their wonderful fur, their sweet disposition and their smaller size. The MIni Rex is the most popular rabbit breen in the US and is known as "the people's choice in a fancy breed." They are known for their thick, plush velvety fur. There are currently 17 recognized Mini Rex varieties, a few of which are shown here.

This black Mini Rex Buck had a long and very impressive show career before he was retired. He was our first Grand Champion!

This is a tricolor mini rex Doe, tricolors are part of the "broken" group.  Broken is defined as any recognized Mini Rex color, broken by white.  Brokens can have spots, or a blanket pattern or a combination of both.  This rabbit recently won Best of Breed at a local rabbit show. She is one win away from being a Grand Champion.

This is a red mini rex doe, and her kits

This is a Blue Mini Rex

A Himalayan Min Rex Doe

A Blue Otter Mini Rex doe

There is more information available here about Mini Rex Rabbits.

We LOVE our Mini Rex Rabbits and enjoying breeding and showing them!

It's a Goat Thing!

We also have Pygmy Goats at our farm. Although Pygmy goats do produce milk and can be a meat source, they are more often raised as pets, 4H projects and as efficient, natural brush control animals.  Goats are generally very playful and can be delightful to watch, especially the babies!  You can find out more about pygmy goats by clicking here.

Some kids playing in the snow

These goats are twins

A Nanny and her kid

This Billy Goat has big horns, and a long beard.

Sometimes if a goat has a shaky start, they come in the house for some TLC, here, Buzzy the cat is "helping" the baby goat.

Sometimes the goats just come in to "visit"  this is Honey the goat, checking out the Christmas Tree (she was actually in the driveway when holiday company was coming and going, and she came in for safekeeping, until they were safely away).

Our dog Chief, tolerating the attentions of Honey the goat.

So yeah... it's a goat thing!

Meet Dakota, Our Resident Horse!

Dakota is our horse.  He is a draft horse.  We bought him at an auction as a companion for our aging horse.  We thought he was a really old horse because of the way in which he presented. Actually he was only about 18 months old.  He did not even know that horse feed, was something he could EAT!    Once he got the hang of it, the feed bill has never been the same!   

Draft horses have an extremely muscular build, making them well suited for pulling and other farm work including plowing, logging, pulling carriages, hitches and sleighs.  They also have a very kind temperament. 

Dakota is so gentle, even the cats love him!