LYL: articles

bioremediation: helping nature heal herself
by Mary Lou Singleton

Bio-remediation means using biological organisms to fix ecological problems. Through bio-remediation we can work with the creatures with who we share the planet to clean and revitalize polluted soil, air, and water. Although the word bio-remediation is often specifically applied to the use of bacteria and protista to decompose and transform pollutants, the field also encompasses healing the Earth with plants (phytoremediation) and fungi (mycoremediation).

Although so much of our culture’s health philosophy centers around trying to eradicate bacteria, the bacteria remain our best allies in healing the Earth and our bodies. Surrounded by antibacterial soaps, hand creams and sprays, and offered antibiotics (literally translated as “against life”) every time we have a sore throat, it can be difficult to remember that the bacteria are our bodies’ and planet’s primary health care providers, cleaning the soil and water so larger life forms can thrive. The following story illustrates the power of our one-celled friends to solve enormous environmental problems.

In 1975, Hanahan, South Carolina suffered a massive ecological blow when 80,000 gallons of jet fuel leaked from a military fuel storage facility right outside the town. The fuel soaked through the sandy soil and soon reached the underground water table. By 1985, the drinking water of the town was contaminated with toxic chemicals such as benzene and toluene, and more pollutants were continually leaching out of the soil around the spill into the groundwater. Scientists analyzing the problem discovered that bacteria living in the soil where the fuel had leaked were actively consuming the toxins from the spill and transforming them into carbon dioxide. They speculated that by adding nutrients to the spill area they could stimulate the metabolism of the bacteria and accelerate the breakdown of the toxic waste. In 1992, government researchers created ways to infiltrate nutrients into the contaminated soils and started feeding the bacteria in the soil. Within a year, contamination in the groundwater had dropped by 75%. Near the infiltration zones the success was even greater. Ground water that a year ago had contained more than 5000 parts per billion of toluene now contained no detectable traces of the chemical.

Generally, we should avoid the rampant bacteria-bashing that so pervades our society. Sometimes, however, pollution consists of the overgrowth of unhealthy bacteria. When species get out of ecological balance, such as the case of thousands of cows grazing (and pooping) near rivers and streams, friendly bacteria can lose their niche, resulting in the overgrowth of unhealthy forms of bacteria. Fecal coliform bacteria contamination, stemming from too many big mammals in too small of an area, repeatedly plagues most human-populated areas of the world. The overgrowth of fecal coliform bacteria poses serious health threats to people and to the ecosystems in which they reside. When good bacteria lose their competitive edge, they can’t effectively clean toxins from soil and water, making conditions ripe for other invasive organisms to over-populate the area, pushing out the native species of what was once a healthy ecology. Friendly fungus, or mycoremediation, offers a solution to the problem of too much of the wrong kind of bacteria.

The antibacterial properties of fungi are well known. Long before the discovery of penicillin, fungi have helped maintain the microbial health of the world. Most of the bacteria that are harmful to animal life are also harmful to fungi. To protect themselves from these bacteria, the fungi create chemicals and metabolic processes that repel, inhibit and kill bacterial overgrowth. We can elicit the help of fungi to clean unhealthy bacteria from our soil and water through the process of mycoremediation.

Mycoremediation pioneer, Paul Stamets, states: “When I moved to my waterfront farm on Skookum Inlet, Washington state, I inherited six Angus cows. An inspection showed that the outflow of water from my property was jeopardizing the quality of my neighbor’s commercial shellfish beach, with the bacteria count close to the legal limit. I decided to install an outdoor mushroom bed in a gulch leading to the beach. The following year, after the mushroom beds were colonized with mycelium, the coliform count had decreased to nearly undetectable levels. This led to the term I have coined “mycofiltration”, the use of fungal mates as biological filters, which has become my passion and my vocation.” Paul Stamets has also successfully cleaned soil polluted by diesel spills using oyster mushrooms. The mycelium (the underground fibers that make up the bulk of the fungus) breaks down the fuel into harmless hydrogen and carbon and the fruiting body of the mushroom is completely safe to eat.

You may be thinking, “This is all very interesting, but how does it apply to my life? I thankfully don’t live over a super-fund site and I don’t keep cows.” Improving the health of your own little plot of land is one necessary step toward cleaning up the planetary ecological problems we all face. Backyard bio-remediation can clean your household greywater, pull heavy metals out of your soil, and break down the chlorine, perfumes, dyes and other chemicals that invariably make their way into our personal environments.

The bacteria, plants, and fungi needed for small-scale bio-remediation are readily available for minimal cost. Because of their ubiquitous nature, bacteria, fungus and soil critters are the easiest bio-remediators to nurture and add to your yard and garden. A vibrant compost pile teems with bacteria breaking down food and yard waste into beautiful, dark humus. Feeding turning and watering your compost pile all add to the microbial health of your soil. If your compost pile seems “dead”, borrow a bucket full of healthy compost from a friend and mix it into your compost pile. With a good mix of green and dry organic matter, a little water and some time, the bacteria from your friend’s pile should take up residence and multiply. If you enjoy camping, bring home small bags of humus-y soil from the forest floor and add these wild soil bacteria to your compost pile as well.

Consider improving the vitality of your garden by periodically moving the compost pile from one site to another. One of the best ways to prepare a spot for next year’s garden is to place upon it this year’s compost pile. The soil under a healthy compost pile is always rich and full of life and nutrients. Compost piles attract other soil organisms, with earthworms and other soil builders and aerators taking up residence under the pile. The compost pile will also attract friendly fungi, forming the myco-rhizobial (fungal-bacterial) symbiotic network so necessary for healthy plant growth. Together, the fungi and bacteria will clean and transform petroleum and chemical residues that make their way into the soil through plastic, car exhaust and runoff from asphalt-shingled roofs.

Backyard bio-remediators can also use friendly bacteria to remove pollutants from household greywater, rendering it safe for watering food crops. Greywater from bathing, hand washing and laundry may contain unfriendly bacterial growth as well as chemical pollutants from soaps, perfumes, synthetic clothing and other sources. The best way to get rid of contaminants in our greywater is not to put them in there in the first place. Make sure you only use biocompatible soaps (Bio-Pac and Oasis work well for our alkaline desert environment) and avoid synthetic dyes, perfumes and chemicals in your daily activities. Even the most eco-friendly lifestyles, however, exist in the context of a polluted world and most household greywater could use some cleaning before using it to grow food and medicine.

If you are watering inedible plants, fruit trees or food that grows well above the root and ground level, you can run your greywater directly into well mulched soil and the bacteria and fungi should happily transform any pollutants into plant food. To grow leafy greens and root crops with greywater, you should first run the greywater through a bio-filtration process to remove coliform bacteria and other contamination.

The black, mucky soils of wetlands from the river shallows or healthy ponds host innumerable bacterial helpers that can be transported to your home to clean your greywater. Take a small bucket down to the shallow edge of your favorite wetland or river and scoop up a few quarts of the goo. Pour the buck into a tank or old barrel filled with lava rock. Porous lava rock provides a better home for the pond scum bacteria than smooth gravel because the bacteria make homes in the nooks and crannies. Sand can also work well. Channeling the greywater through such a gravel-filled filtration tank inoculated with the helpful bacteria of the much will break down particulate matter and improve the microbial balance of the water.

Mesh bags full of straw and inoculated with mushroom mycelium can also be placed in a filtration tank to clean greywater. Mushroom spores are somewhat harder to obtain and cost more than local pond, making this option less user-friendly than bacterial filtration. For those with an affinity for growing mushrooms and sources for ordering spores however, mycelial mats are a superior way to clean grey water. Mycelial mats also provide an invaluable tool for cleaning water polluted with petrochemicals. If you are using parking lot or street runoff to irrigate plants, first diverting the water through mycelium inoculated mats and beds will catch the pollutants, neutralize then into harmless metabolites, and grow edible fruiting mushrooms at the same time.

Running greywater through a constructed wetlands using water plants in addition to bacteria to clean the effluent is the best way to feel completely secure about using greywater to irrigate food crops. The water flowing out of a healthy, well-designed greywater wetlands should be clean enough to drink. The best phytoremediation wetland plants include hyacinth, [cannas, iris, a] duckweed, cattails, horsetail, sedges and bull rushes. These plants are available at any water garden nursery, but can also be harvested locally. Look in drainage ditches, irrigation ditches and stock ponds or other boggy, marshy sites. Plants that have already naturalized to outdoor living are more likely to thrive in a constructed wetlands environment.

Wetland plants primarily clean grey water by providing oxygenation which fosters healthy bacterial growth and suppresses the growth of harmful microbes. Water plants also pull chemical contaminants out of the water and into their bodies. What they are unable to metabolize stays in their tissues, so plants used in bioremediation should not be eaten as they may contain heavy metals and other pollutants.

Countless other bioremediation methods and techniques are available for use on a backyard scale. If you would like to further research the topic, the following resources are a good start…
Gaia’s Garden: A guide to homescale Permaculture by Toby Hemenway
From Eco-Cities to Living Machines by John and Nancy Jack Todd

diatomaceous earth: a remarkable, all-natural product
(made from tiny fossilized water plants).
from www.ghorganics.com/DiatomaceousEarth.html

Diatomaceous Earth is a naturally occurring siliceous sedimentary mineral compound from microscopic skeletal remains of unicellular algae-like plants called diatoms. These plants have been part of the earth's ecology since prehistoric times. 30 million years ago the diatoms built up into deep, chalky deposits of diatomite. The diatoms are mined and ground up to render a powder that looks and feels like talcum powder to us. It is a mineral based pesticide. DE is approximately 3% magnesium, 33% silicon, 19% calcium, 5% sodium, 2% iron and many other trace minerals such as titanium, boron, manganese, copper and zirconium. Diatomaceous Earth is a natural (not calcined or flux calcined) compound. Diatomaceous Earth is a natural grade diatomite. However, the continual breathing of any dust should he absolutely avoided.

How does it work?
 To insects DE is a lethal dust with microscopic razor sharp edges. These sharp edges cut through the insect's protective covering drying it out and killing them when they are either dusted with DE or if it applied as a wettable powder spray. If they ingest the DE it will shred their insides.

What insects can DE be used for?
 Diatomaceous Earth may be used as

• a barrier to control adult flea beetles, sawfly, coddling moth, twig borer, thrips, mites,  cockroach, slugs, snails and many other insects such as:
 aphids, thrips, earwigs, silverfish, and ants.
• It can be used for bedbugs, cabbage root flies, carrot root flies, fleas, pillbugs, ticks  and is helpful in dealing with fungus gnats.
  
• 
Carpet Beetles: Thoroughly dust along baseboards, carpet edges, under furniture, carpet, and rugs, and in closets and shelving.

• Bedbugs: Take apart bed and dust joints and channels. Dust any hollow tubing and the interior framework as well as the mattress and all cracks in the room.
• Fleas: Thoroughly dust carpets and pet's bedding and sleeping areas, as well as cracks and baseboards. It also can be rubbed into your pet's fur.

• Flies: Thoroughly dust areas where flies frequent (walls, straw bedding, livestock pens). It also can be applied to livestock coat as an insect repellent/contact insecticide.

• Fly Larva: Keeps fly larvae from developing in manure, which makes a significant reduction in the fly population.

Indoor and Outdoor Application: Sprinkle a light layer of DE in areas where pests frequent, including under stoves, cabinets, sinks, garbage cans, window and door frames and sills,
entrance ways, sewer pipes and drains, and in cracks and crevices. Repeat treatment as needed.

NOTATION FROM GARDENERS'GUILD...
4 years of experience using this product, including feedback from GG's many members, Diatomaceous Earth (also called DE) can be used on almost all several-legged pests, but will often kill a few beneficial ones as well. Keep in mind that DE does not discriminate between 'good' and 'bad' bugs. So those that would like to maintain their populations of beneficial pests in the soil may want to choose Neem Oil as a repelling and maintenance measure for their veggie gardens, especially. Because of its natural and inert material, DE is not harmful to children or pets, but be careful to choose the brand that contains only diatomaceous earth (and not additional pest repellents).

The product without additional ingredients is referred to as 'food grade' and has the added benefit of providing a nutritional supplement for those that raise backyard chickens, or as we call them, URBAN HERDERS. Consider adding chickens to your yard!

a commentary from the author of "In Defense of Food"
and "The Omnivore's Dilemma"

"That there is anything to report about food and farming in the first 100 days is striking in itself, considering how many pressing issues Obama has on his plate. But the president and, perhaps even more, the first lady have said and done some very encouraging things in this area, though there has been one notable misstep.

Tom Vilsack has sounded a welcome new note at the Department of Agriculture, where he has appointed a proven reformer -- Kathleen Merrigan -- as his deputy, and emphasized his commitment to sustainability, local food systems (including urban agriculture); putting nutrition at the heart of the department's nutrition programs (not as obvious as it might sound), and enlisting farmers in the fight against climate change. He has been meeting with the kinds of activists and farmers who in past administrations stood on the steps of the USDA holding protest signs.

The misstep was a half-hearted effort to trim crop subsidies, by limiting direct payments to farmers grossing more than $500,000 a year and redirecting those funds to childhood nutrition programs. This was framed as a contest between "rich farmers" and "hungry children." If so, the hungry children promptly lost. The unfortunate framing united all farmers against reform, especially since even some of the smallest commodity farmers gross a half million a year -- this is capital-intensive agriculture after all. The plan was quietly dropped after the old guard on the House and Senate agriculture committees dismissed it as a non-starter. Obama will have to develop much smarter proposals to reform subsidies, ones that divide the farm bloc rather than unify it.

Perhaps the most encouraging action so far has come from the East Wing, where Michelle Obama has been speaking out about the importance of real, fresh food, home cooking and gardening. By planting an organic garden on the White House lawn, she launched a thousand victory gardens (vegetables seed is suddenly in short supply), gave conniptions to the pesticide industry (which wrote urging her to use some of their "crop protection products" whether she needed them or not), and at a stroke raised the profile and prestige of real food in America."

from Obama's 100 Day Report Card
This excerpt above comes from an article, a much larger piece, published online by salon.com,  the rest of which is more politics than Pollan...
http://www.salon.com/opinion/feature/2009/04/29/100_days/index3.html

herbs, an introduction.
by fearless weeder

The classic botanical definition: an herb is a non-woody plant that dies down to its roots each winter.

This can be easily confused with definition of annuals and perennials, but in fact these plants have a 'functional  value in common. The temperature confuses a situation with hardiness, and 'dying back in winter' is likely when the definition is concocted by botanists in a cold climate, specifically that of northern Europe. Many herbs, depending on their location, will not die back. The classic definition also excludes woody trees and shrubs, including ginkgo and hawthorn, two of the biggest selling medicinal "herbs" in Europe. Some people prefer the term botanicals (and botanical medicine) includes trees and shrubs as well as herbs.

A more functional definition? The earliest division of plants was into the useful and non-useful.
The 'useful' category constituted what we now know as 'herbs'.
Granted, all green plants can be considered useful. But not all plants have a place in medicine.

Why an introduction?
We are already familiar with so many herbs in our daily lives: cooking, teas, aromatherapy, body care, etc. But this is only scratching the surface of herbal use in cultures around the world. The variety of edible and medicinal herbs is an endless resource for plant education and better health.

When people began recording histories, herbs local to their areas were already in use:
    Ayurveda (East Indian tradition) counts 2000 species as medicinal
    Chinese Pharmacopoeia lists over 5000 plant-based medicines
    Allopathic (Western) has 500 or so medicines derived from plants.

We can improve our quality of life with herbs. It is a process of small steps that have long-term benefits.
Expanding our knowledge will help us to incorporate them more often for healthy life maintenance.
Reading ingredient labels is a great way to expand an understanding of use and combinations.

Allopathic, or Western medicine, derives many of it's drug formulas in plants, attempting to chemically recreate the active compounds. Historical evidence from many cultures describes the use of those herbs found in their environment. Health solutions often come from nature, and there is much proof demonstrating the effectiveness of herbs. Plants of the same type can be found in multiple countries, and are used in a multitude cultural traditions.


Details.
Methods of extracting the benefits from herbs go from the simple to the very complicated processes:
infusions (hot teas or tisanes), decoctions (boiled teas), tinctures (alcohol and water extracts), and macerations
(cold-soaking). In indigenous Indian medicine systems, medicine men or shamans, use these same methods in addition to others. Others include preparing plants in hot baths (in which the patient is soaked in it or bathed with it), inhalation of powdered plants (like snuff), steam inhalation of various aromatic plants boiled in hot water, and aromatherapy.

When integrating herbs into a daily routine, use a simple method to begin and be sure of its safety!

The biological or therapeutic activity of a medicinal plant is closely related to the plant chemicals in it. These chemicals can be classified into major groups of chemicals such as essential oils, alkaloids, acids, steroids, tannins, saponins and so forth. Each one of these classes of chemicals may have a preferred effective method of extraction which facilitates getting the chemicals out of the plant and into the herbal remedy that is being prepared.

Research the connection between your health concern, and the natural chemical compounds that help it. This will assist in focusing your study of the condition, appropriate herbs and a long-term approach.

This is the reason why some plants are prepared in one manner to treat one specific condition, yet are prepared in a different way to treat a completely different condition. For example, preparing a tea of a plant might extract a delicate group of anti-inflammatory plant steroids to treat arthritis (and leave behind other non-water soluble chemicals). Yet when the same plant is prepared in alcohol as a tincture, the delicate steroids are degraded or burned-up in the alcohol but different antibacterial alkaloids (which are only soluble in alcohol) are extracted instead. This may explain why a tea of the plant is used for arthritis while a tincture of the same plant is traditionally used to treat various bacterial infections.

For those interested in history, ethnographic accounts (new and old) of herbs as medicine provide insights that can broaden our understanding through cultural context and origin.

The rainforest shaman or rural herbal healer is not a trained chemist with high-tech machines and scientific instruments at their disposal to isolate and study plant chemicals. Their knowledge has been built over time—decades of passed down empirical knowledge from trial and error, human experimentation, and even serendipity, about the best way to prepare medicinal plants into effective herbal remedies. It is often to the shaman's knowledge that scientists look for specific clues as to which types of chemicals might be present in a plant based upon the traditional preparation method used.

GREAT BOOKS:
DK Herb Society of America New Encyclopedia of Herbs and their Uses
   by Deni Brown
DK Encyclopedia of Herbal Medicine           by Andrew Chevallier
Your Backyard Herb Garden from Rodale Books       by Miranda Smith
The Green Pharmacy - The Ultimate Compendium of natural Remedies     
   by James A. Duke Ph.D.
Encyclopedia of Natural Medicine       by Michael Murray and Joseph Pizzorno
And if you haven't yet been introduced, be sure to look at one of the many books from long-standing favorite authorities on natural health, Andrew Weil and Depak Chopra

A few key thinking points:

The issue of chronic health problems makes a good match with herbal treatments as they work best over extended periods of time. The word 'chronic' is used, not because we are stuck with these problems for good, but because these issues develop over long periods of time. (Acute conditions are more suited to the 'silver bullet' approach of prescribing modern chemical drugs.)

Herbs can be very effective in small amounts, particularly when taken consistently (as recommended).

Herbs provide a means of investigating and improving our individual health concerns.

The process of learning about herbs helps to heighten awareness of our own physical condition, and listen to what our physical and mental components have to teach us.

Herbs are available to assist in the treatment of all chronic conditions.
 
Some herbs naturally treat both emotional and physical components of a problem.
 
Herbal preparations are effective in part because they utilize parts of plants that contain more than one active ingredient. Consider this in comparison to western drugs that isolate one compound and may not utilize full benefit of the herb as it grows in nature.

Herbs as a holistic means of treatment can be effective in situations where western approaches may not.

The word 'disease' more accurately refers to the idea of dis-ease, versus the meaning it has required in western semantics as a dire condition.

We can be assured that edible varieties grown at home are free of pesticides and chemical fertilizers.

The cultural diversity found in the U.S. & Canada provides a source for an herb from almost any tradition.

Some herbs should NOT be taken over an extended period of time. Ex. Echinacea or Golden Seal.

Herbs do have contraindications! Ask questions. Do research. Get a second and third opinion.

rascally rabbits and the best suggestions.
excerpts: from the County Extension Service and nursery tip sheets

Two of the most common rabbits in New Mexico are the Cottontail and the Jackrabbit. Rabbits may have as many as six litters a year, with the first litter being born as early as March or April. This means they can multiply quite rapidly in an urban setting where natural predators such as coyotes are not present to keep their numbers under control. To discourage rabbits moving in, consider using wire cages around plants when becoming establishing. Trees in particular should be protected because rabbits can do awful damage to bark. Wire cages must be at least four inches wider than the plant in diameter, leaving a two inch circumference to protect the plant.

Another approach with plants:
There are certain plants that repel rabbits. However, what works in one garden may not work in another. In fact many garadeners indicate that a hungry rabbit will eat just about anything that's green! The following list may help you to select plants that are rabbit resistant, though the rabbits will eat anything in a dry year:

PERENNIALS - Asters, Blackfoot Daisy, Campanula, Chocolate Flower, Columbine, Coneflower, Daylily, Desert marigold, Foxglove, Geranium, Lamb's Ear, Liatris or Gayfeather, Hosta, Iris, Maximillian Sunflower, Narcissus, Paperflower, Penstemon, Peony, Rocky Mountain Zinnia, Sage, Salvia, Sedum, Red Hot Poker, Russian Sage, Yarrow, and Yucca.
SHRUBS & VINES - Apache Plume, Barberry, Big Sage (A. tridentata), Blue Spirea, Fernbush, Holly, Lilac, Junipers, Skunkbush Sumac and Woodbine, also called Virginia Creeper.
HERBS - Rosemary, Tarragon, Oregano, lemon Balm, Catmint (Nepeta fassenii), lavendar and most Artemesia.

The battle cannot be 'won', but a combination of plant choices, some use of wire cages, and growing in pots that can be raised on pedestals will help. Raised beds over two feet can deter smaller rabbits, and be better for back strain. And with raised beds, a 'projecteer' could also fashion protective covers with supports: example though expensive...

plant perspectives from Mary Lou Singleton

Tree of Heaven (Ailanthus altissima)

Tree of Heaven was brought to North America by chinese railroad workers as a medicinal treatment for traveler's diarrhea. The roots and stems of this member of the Quassia family can be used to treat amoebic and bacterial dysentery, pinworms, tapeworms and diarrhea. Tree of Heaven is also used in traditional Chinese medicine to treat malaria, diphtheria and typhoid fever. PREPARATION: Harvest the lateral roots and young stems of the plant when the tree is in leaf. Chop and dry, or tincture the fresh plant in grain alcohol. DOSAGE: 5 to 30 drops of the tincture, four times a day. 1/2 cup tea four times a day, but most people find the tea nauseatingly bitter and pungent.

Bindweed (Convulvulus arvensis)

Boy, do I wish that this plant had some overt and obvious medicinal use. I also deeply wish that it would fix nitrogen. My front yard is near-monoculture of bindweed. But alas, I don't know of any practical use for this herb. Navajo herbalists would traditionally chew the leaves and apply the to spider bites. Drinking a tea made out of the leaves and stems was recommended for anyone who had recently swallowed a venomous spider that was still alive (how's that for a horrifying situation?). The plant was also used to create string nets to carry birds and small animals home from hunting. At least one study has shown that the fluid extract of C. arvensis has angiogenesis inhibiting and immune stimulation properties in animal and in vitro, meaning that it ay be useful in preventing and treating cancer. Flower essence therapists use bindweed for those struggling with obsessive thoughts or feeling trapped by outside circumstances. [Mary Lou did mention on an urban herb walk that the Japanese were doing research on this plant as an anticarcenogen.]

Storksbill (Erodium cicutarium)

Storksbill is a mild and safe diuretic, astringent, and hemostatic herb. It is useful in treating urinary tract infections, water retention and gout. Traditional herbalists have long used storksbill as a postpartum remedy to lessen bleeding after birth and hasten uterine healing. The tea can also be used as a douche for cervical infection, leucorrhea and inflammation. Storksbill combines well with yarrow to help stop menopausal flooding and excessive menstrual flow. The young plant is tender and full of micronutrients and can be eaten with mixed greens in a salad. PREPARATION: Gather the whole plant and dry it in a paper bag. DOSAGE: Standard infusion as tea, three or four times a day.

Wild Lettuce (Lactuca serriola)

Wild lettuce became one of my best herbal friends a few years ago when my family came down with whooping cough. This antispasmodic, mildly narcotic herb works well any time someone can't sleep because they can't stop coughing. Wild lettuce also serves as a good herb for those suffering from insomnia. It's narcotic properties can be helpful for treating the muscle aches of the flu as well as the growing pains experienced by children and adolescents. I've used this plant to treat menstrual cramps, painful prodromal labor and intestinal spasms with good success. Wild lettuce is a safe remedy for children, the elderly, and everyone in between. PREPARATION: Harvest the whole plant while it is blooming, before it has gone to seed. Wear gloves because it's very prickly. Chop it up and either dry it or stuff the fresh plant in a jar and cover with grain alcohol. DOSAGE: 1/4 to 1 cup tea as needed (the tea tastes very bitter); 1/2 to 2 teaspoons of the tincture up to every 2 hours.

Henbit (Lamium maculatum)

This cute little member of the mint family makes a nice salad green. Henbit is high in calcium, chlorophyll, magnesium and fiber. Pick the tender young plants when they have just started to flower and add to mixed greens. You can combine them with lambs quarters, amaranth, storksbill and wild mustard if you want an entirely feral salad experience. The flowers taste sweet and will make a nice garnish.

Mallow (Malva neglecta)

Years ago I had the privilege of discussing herbalism with Emma Estrada, one of New Mexico's treasured grandmother midwives who passed away in 1997. Emma told me that she used to use many herbs in her practice, but now "I mostly use the mallow." The more I study and practice plant medicine, the more I appreciate the wisdom of Emma's focus on this particular herb. Mallow heals inflammation and gently stimulates the immune system, making it a useful ally in nearly all illnesses and injuries. Think of this herb any time the body is experiencing heat, pain, redness, swelling, or dryness. The tea is useful in treating chronic or acute bronchitis, sore throats, urinary tract infections, digestive complaints, irritable bowel and colitis, and can be applied as a poultice to skin injuries, rashes, and sores. Mallow tea also has been used for centuries to facilitate childbirth. The plant contains mucopolysaccharides which stimulate immune function and promote macrophage activity making allow a useful remedy for both chronic and acute infection . PREPARATION: Gather the whole plant and wash well before drying. DOSAGE: Standard infusion. One cup tea as needed. You really can't drink too much. Like all mucilaginous herbs, it makes a slimy cup of tea. I recommend adding a bit of mint to the tea, which will help take your mind off the slippery texture.

Scarlett Globemallow (Sphaeralcea coccinea)

Scarlet Globemallow is not an invasive species, but is a New Mexico native plant that has adapted well to humans overtaking the landscape. The pretty little salmon-colored flowers of this plant can be seen all over town from May through October. I love scarlet globemallow and believe that it deserves great credit as a healing herb for countless conditions. I've had success with this herb in helping to get rid of lingering infections and chronic conditions that just weren't responding to other treatments. Think of scarlett globemallow when you're on your third week of coughing and can't seem to shake that chest cold or when you have a sinus infection that keeps coming back despite a combination of acupuncture, antibiotics, and repeated near-drowning experiences with the Neti pot. Scarlet globemallow is soothing to all inflamed tissues, and is a useful adjunctive herb in treating IBS, colitis, sore throats, urinary tract infections, and vaginal irritation. It makes a nice poultice for skin injuries, infections and rashes. I recommend the tea (and lots of it) to folks who know they are in the process of passing a kidney stone. The sliminess seems to help lubricate the stones and make their passage more tolerable. Scarlett globemallow is a good kidney tonic in general, and makes great medicine for people with symptoms of kidney deficiency (ie. frequent and clear urination, dizziness when standing too quickly, low blood pressure). The whole plant is high in mucopolysaccharides, making it a lovely immune system tonic and stimulant for people with chronic fatigue, fibromyalgia, and any other of today's tiring conditions that threaten the vitality and quality of life of so many people. PREPARATION: Gather the whole plant, preferably when it is flowering. Wash well and dry. DOSAGE: Standard infusion. One cup of tea as needed.

Dandelion (Taraxacum officinalis)

I'm always amused to see people paying $10 or more for a pound of dandelion greens or roots at the health food store. ONe of my rules of herbal medicine is "Don't pay money for anything that you can gather for free in the parking lot." Just about everyone has access to free dandelions. Chances are someone might even pay you to remove the plants from their yard. Dandelions are good medicine for everybody. The leaves are high in chlorophyll and potassium and serve as a gentle diuretic to cleanse and support the kidneys. The roots are bitter and stimulate the liver, gall bladder, and gastrointestinal tract. The entire plant can be ingested for "spring cleaning" purposes, to help detoxify and support the organs of elimination. The herb is especially helpful for anyone suffering from eczema, psoriasis, allergies, edema or chronic illness. I like to eat the pickled roots and feel like they help my body cleanse itself of the toxins and stress of too much civilization. The greens can be eaten raw or steamed with spinach, kale, or collards. If you're feeling adventurous or wishing to slip some medicinal greens into the diet of your reluctant family members, try adding a few dandelion greens to a big bunch of basil when making pesto. PREPARATION: Gather the leaves to eat fresh or dig the whole plant to dry and use as tea. DOSAGE: Leaves-- standard infusion, up to three cups a day. Roots -- decoction, one to three cups a day.

Salsify (Tragapogon dubious)

Like dandelion and burdock this plant was brought purposefully to North America by European immigrants for use as food and medicine. Sometimes salsify is called "oyster root" because it supposedly tastes like oysters when cooked and eaten. The root is high in insulin, making it a good starchy vegetable for diabetics and other people who are watching their carbohydrate intake. The yellow-flowered salsify that grows in the Albuquerque area is bitter and somewhat stimulating to gastric secretions, making it a good food herb for the digestive system. PREPARATION: The roots can be added to stir fry or combined with sunchokes, parsnips, potatoes, etc. in a root roast. It can be grated and mixed with egg and bread crumbs then fried to make mock oysters.

Goat Head (Tribulus terrestris)

This bane of bicyclists and barefoot walkers can be put to use in healing many ailments that plague our post-industrial society. Goat Head seeds, and to a lesser degree the leaves and flowers, have been shown to lower blood lipids and cholesterol. This plant also helps lower the blood pressure in cases of mild hypertension. Goat Head also has endocrine effects in the body. It increases FSH levels in women, triggering the body to produce more estrogen, making it a useful herb for menopausal symptoms. Goat Head is a traditional remedy for increasing libido and erectile function in men. Goat Head should not be used in conjunction with pharmaceuticals unless directed by an integrative health practitioner well-versed in herb/drug interactions. PREPARATION: Gather the whole plant when the seeds are green. Dry in a paper bag then grind in a blender or coffee grinder. Encapsulate the powder or store in a jar in a dark, temperature-stable place.

Siberian Elm (Ulmus parvafolia)

It's hard to believe that people actually once planted elm trees in Albuquerque on purpose. This species has been incredibly successful in adapting to our bioregion. Every spring, the trees produce millions of little round seeds just in time for the seasonal winds to blow them all over every inch of hospitable soil in town. The seeds apparently have a 100% germination rate (at least in my yard that seems to be the case), and soon you have countless little deep-rooted el trees competing with your intentional landscape. The good news is that elms provide food for both people and livestock. My goats and chickens love elm saplings. The green seeds can be eaten by people before they dry and blow off the trees. The dried seeds can be sprouted and the sprouts are actually quite tasty. (I definitely had elm seeds in mind as something I was planning to feed my family in the Spring of 2000 when our Y2K food ran out. Now I have them on my list as a post-peak oil or apocalyptic food source. Not that I'm worried or anything.) The inner bark of more mature Siberian elm trees is highly mucilaginous and can be used as a substitute for slippery elm. Slippery elm is a commercially popular plant that is currently in danger of extinction from over-harvesting. We can take some of the pressure off of this threatened plant by using our invasive elms as a sustainable alternative. Elm is useful as a demulcent, emollient, anti-inflammatory, and immune stimulant. It can be helpful in treating diarrhea, diverticulitis, indigestion, sore throats, irritable bowel syndrome, colitis and immune deficiency. PREPARATION: Remove the bark from elm logs that are at least three inches in diameter. Scrape the inner bark away from the outer bark. Store the inner bark in a paper bag and put in a clean, cool place to dry. Once dried, the bark can be powdered in a blender or coffee grinder. DOSAGE: Standard infusion or the powder can be eaten in applesauce, jelly, etc.

Other beneficial plants, sometime native, local to ABQ neighborhoods:

Agastache, Bee Balm, Blue Flax, Catmint, Vitex or Chasteberry tree, Desert Willow, Evening Primrose, Germander, Lavender, Lemon Verbena, Mesquite tree, Mexican Elder, Mints, Purslane, Tansy, Yarrow and Yucca(root).

Mary Lou Singleton gives talks and teaches medicinal herb workshops. Check for upcoming classes at GG.

find GG: open 11am-7pm Wed–Sun & by appointment Monday and Tuesday. 3222c central se, albuquerque nm 87106

or email to G'G: info@gardenersguild.org