Diary of a Future Ethnobotanist Pt. 1

I am realizing that after the biological field work I am doing this month, focusing specifically on edible and medicinal plants, it's going to take me even longer to get somewhere if I'm walking. There are so many beautiful plants around us everyday that we could be eating and using for medicinal purposes -often working more effectively than pharmaceutical medication- I thought I might as well know what these plants are, how to identify them, and how they can be used. This diary will serve as interpreted findings in various field sites in Aylmer, Ontario, and parks in the city of Toronto.

At an Alymer field site this weekend, my instructor and I made a tincture of a surprise doctor's signatures plant (plant with crazy medicinal properties) and it's sitting in my windowsill, being activated in alcohol by the sunlight. It should be ready in about a month, and I will go searching for some more of the plant in the park close to my house as it is something good to always have around; at work I referred to it as a natural superdrug.

Walking home from dropping off a rental car, I found some Queen Anne's lace on the side of the road (can be confused with poison hemlock, the reason of death of Socrates and the true-story guy in the movie Into the Woods) and I'm 100% sure it was Queen Anne's Lace. It tasted more like carrot than parsnip as well as carried the visual traits of having some hairs on the stem, being under 3ft, and having one purple flower in the middle of the flower cluster. I ate a few stems, guess they were my breakfast. Yumm.

I made a tea yesterday of staghorn sumac and st. John's wort. Definitely not supposed to have st. John's wort with seroquel/ quetiapine, but it wasn't a lot and I needed some energy. The sumac made it sweet with its richness in vitamin C, and made for an earthy-tasting tea/ infusion when cold. I have a mint plant, mad dog skullcap, to use tonight to help me sleep. I had it in Alymer when I was alone in my tent an I PASSED OUT; one of the best sleeps of my life. Anyways, I need to learn some more of the identifiers for the plants, but I will be exploring what edible/ medicinal plants can be found in the northern part of David A. Balfour Park later this week.

COMING SOON...

my neurotic thoughts. for you.

sneak peek: I'll lament about our increasing dependence on technology, the future of our children and youth, explain and expand on my world view, express my gratitude and love for nature, and share stories that have made me laugh and laugh again.

A great song and video. Check it out. Noah and the Whale




...coming soon...