The Homesteader's Herbal Companion

April 30, 2018
In her useful debut guide, herbalist and homesteader Fewell resoundingly affirms that herbs are the unsung heroes of gardens and of life. For too long, she asserts, these horticultural workhorses have been consigned disparagingly to the realm of an unproven “alternative” to pharmaceutical medicine, and her thorough guide to growing and using herbs is a helpful remedy to that misconception. Lending standard horticultural guidance—in the form of an herb list and how to grow them—she further distinguishes which herbs are best for culinary or medicinal use, aromatic mixes, and essential oils. With each category, she includes specific steps for how to best harvest, preserve, and transform each herb according to its specific use. For example, the standard dandelion is used for teas, tinctures, and in salads to cleanse the lymphatic system, regulate intestinal flora, and support liver function. Basil, in addition to topping off a cheese pizza, can be used in tinctures for digestive trouble, aching joints, headaches, and even depression. This thorough and accessible book offers great guidance for incorporating herbs into culinary treats, soaps, salves, oils, and tinctures.