An essential component of The Root Flower is Plant Medicine. Plant Medicine is defined by two primary components: 1) noun, the healing nature of plants as medicine 2) verb, growing plants which act as medicine. The goal is to plant medicine to have plant medicine as a resource for our communities. While this includes the wide spectrum of intriguing botanical specimens, Hippocrates helped to establish food as medicine and medicine as food; therefore garden based food is a foundational pillar of Plant Medicine. We each can contribute towards increasing the awareness of healthy food and medicine production in our own way.
How do you know what you can grow?
Step 1
Take the time to familiarize yourself with your USDA Plant Hardiness Zone. The plant hardiness zone map below will help you to identify your growing zone. By organizing the natural temperature ranges into recognizable numbered zones, the map acts a reference point for plants. It tells growers what zone ranges a plant can tolerate and hints towards what provisions will be needed. Simply Google your plant of choice with 'growing zone' - that number range will then tell you what plant hardiness zones the plant will grow best in.
Enter your zip code on https://planthardiness.ars.usda.gov/ for specific zoning information. Accessing specific seasonal guidelines to your growing zone will also provide greater insight when growing food crops.
Step 2
Once you have your hardiness zone, be sure to check the plant's growing zone for compatibility. Next by identifying where your plant is native, in association with its growing habits and soil preferences, you will be able to secure a balance between plant selection and accommodations you are capable of. When you know what you can grow and when you are to grow it, you will have a reliable base to build upon.
Growing tutorials ranging from pots in an apartment to permaculture will be available on YouTube @TheRootFlower. Subscribe to be notified of the latest release.
Why Grow?
One plant can make the difference. Today we simply need more growers. Wild-harvesting has become more challenging as environmental mismanagement and over harvesting continues. This brings into focus the increasing the necessity of growers to begin to replace those plant populations in both private gardens and public spaces.
Accessibility to beneficial plant based compounds, known as phytonutrients or phytomedicines, is becoming of increasing global importance. Currently more than 80% of the world population trusts phytomedicines for their therapeutic needs as it presents with few side effects and is more economically accessible. As pathogens begin to evolve, medical researchers are in search of effective solutions and have continued to turn to plants. The adaptogenic impact phytonutrients have upon the immune system in conjunction with their antiviral and antimicrobial constituents continues to increase the value of medicinal plants on the market.
Let’s work together to improve the availability and accessibility of medicinal plants via increased local cultivation. The healing nature of plants can effectively support our families and communities as we each take the step, one plant a time. It’s time to Plant Medicine.
References
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7811807/pdf/IJBMS-23-1501.pdf
Join the conversation with your perspective. Peace & Blessings.