Back to the very beginning
Thursday, June 18, 2009
Corn Mother
Open Pollinated White Corn Arrives
While having one of our various stimulating discussions about organic gardening, farming and community and such during the weeklong Strawbale Build, Kevin (from the border of Ohio and Indiana who was our
“Super-Carpenter in residence” for the duration) mentioned that he has some Open-pollinated white corn from his Grandpa and family farm that he grew out to save.
In this time of huge agro-corporations such as the “M”-word ( no I won’t give that company any free advertisement) trying to take away the power of the people and the farmers who grow our food by creating atrocities such as round-up ready this -and -that and seeds that cannot be saved to grow out a new crop the following year, saving seed such as open-pollinated anything is a revolutionary act.
So the seed saver in me jumped at the prospect of adding to my collection and
I asked Kevin if he would send me a few of those seeds.
So a few weeks after that, I was back here at Blue Rock Station and talking to my Mother on the telephone. “A weird envelope came in the mail for you today. It feels like a rosary, or some seeds”. My heart leaped in excitement and I tried to explain that it was probably the corn that Kevin had promised and that it was special because it was heirloom and open-pollinated and that it’s the kind of corn that companies like “M” do not want for us to have at all, all in one breath.
I plan to save some of my new corn collection and plant some of it here at Blue Rock in the fashion that I have always grown corn.
The “Three sisters” method of planting in the old way is the Mother of all companion planting that flows through my Cherokee DNA. Some of the original inhabitants of this continent grew corn, beans and squash (or pumpkins) all together in little hills. This was done right on the west bank of the Scioto River by the Mingo , in what later would become downtown Columbus ( central Ohio’s first town and the part of town that my ancestors on both sides migrated to from Appalachian Ohio, Franklinton really). First I plant the corn in the hills along with the squash or pumpkins. Then when the corn gets tall enough , I plant beans to grow up the corn stalks. The squash tends to block out all of the weeds , the ears of corn grow tall and strong buffering each other in a circle against the wind and the beans eagerly grow up the slender built in bean-poles.
Here’s more wisdom from Linda Hogan:
“She, the corn, is called our grandmother. She’s the woman who rubbed her palms against her body and the seeds fell out of her skin. That is, they fell from her body until her sons discovered her secrets. Before she left the world, she told them how to plant the beans and corn together, plant their little sister squash, between them. This, from an oral tradition, came to be rediscovered hundreds of years later, almost too late, by agriculturists in their research on how to maintain the richness of farm soil”.
While having one of our various stimulating discussions about organic gardening, farming and community and such during the weeklong Strawbale Build, Kevin (from the border of Ohio and Indiana who was our
“Super-Carpenter in residence” for the duration) mentioned that he has some Open-pollinated white corn from his Grandpa and family farm that he grew out to save.
In this time of huge agro-corporations such as the “M”-word ( no I won’t give that company any free advertisement) trying to take away the power of the people and the farmers who grow our food by creating atrocities such as round-up ready this -and -that and seeds that cannot be saved to grow out a new crop the following year, saving seed such as open-pollinated anything is a revolutionary act.
So the seed saver in me jumped at the prospect of adding to my collection and
I asked Kevin if he would send me a few of those seeds.
So a few weeks after that, I was back here at Blue Rock Station and talking to my Mother on the telephone. “A weird envelope came in the mail for you today. It feels like a rosary, or some seeds”. My heart leaped in excitement and I tried to explain that it was probably the corn that Kevin had promised and that it was special because it was heirloom and open-pollinated and that it’s the kind of corn that companies like “M” do not want for us to have at all, all in one breath.
I plan to save some of my new corn collection and plant some of it here at Blue Rock in the fashion that I have always grown corn.
The “Three sisters” method of planting in the old way is the Mother of all companion planting that flows through my Cherokee DNA. Some of the original inhabitants of this continent grew corn, beans and squash (or pumpkins) all together in little hills. This was done right on the west bank of the Scioto River by the Mingo , in what later would become downtown Columbus ( central Ohio’s first town and the part of town that my ancestors on both sides migrated to from Appalachian Ohio, Franklinton really). First I plant the corn in the hills along with the squash or pumpkins. Then when the corn gets tall enough , I plant beans to grow up the corn stalks. The squash tends to block out all of the weeds , the ears of corn grow tall and strong buffering each other in a circle against the wind and the beans eagerly grow up the slender built in bean-poles.
Here’s more wisdom from Linda Hogan:
“She, the corn, is called our grandmother. She’s the woman who rubbed her palms against her body and the seeds fell out of her skin. That is, they fell from her body until her sons discovered her secrets. Before she left the world, she told them how to plant the beans and corn together, plant their little sister squash, between them. This, from an oral tradition, came to be rediscovered hundreds of years later, almost too late, by agriculturists in their research on how to maintain the richness of farm soil”.
Wednesday, June 17, 2009
Alicia/Dragonfly's Picture
Yeah! It finally worked for at least one picture anyway.
...This is me standing next to Alicia a.k.a. Dragonfly's
Dragonfly creation on the side of our Mayapple Strawbale shack- creation at the end of the weeklong Strawbale Building workshop held here at Blue Rock Station www.bluerockstation.com
This was an extraordinary gathering of folks and I hope that the others will be inspired ( yes I know you all are busy with your lives) to add their pictures from that week as well. Peace, Annie B.
Mayapple(podophyllum peltatum)
Mayapple aka American Mandrake
from "Peterson Guide to Eastern/Central Medicinal Herbs"
Perennnial; 12-18 in. Leaves Smooth, paired , umbrella like; distinctive. A single white flower, to 1 in. across, droops down from crotch of leaves: April-June. Fruit is globe shaped to egg shaped, about 2 in. long; edible but relished by rodents who collect as soon as ripe, robbing humans of a wild food ( me: heaven forbid they should do that, have we robbed them? sarcasm)July, -August, woods, clearings S. ME to FLA; Texas to Minn.
Uses: American Indians and early settlers used roots a a strong purgative, "liver cleanser", emetic, worm repellant; for jaundice, constipation,hepatitus, fevers, and syphilis. Resin from root, podophyllin ( highly allergic) used to treat venerial warts. Extract active against herpes,influenza, and vaccina viruses.
Podophyllotoxin, an important lignan from the root has anti-cancer and anti-malarial activity. Two semisynthetic derivatives, etoposide and teniposide are used in chemotherapy against several cancer types. Sales of the compounds exceed 200 million per year; etoposide is used in combination with other compounds for testicular cancers and as a primary treatment for small lung cell cancer. Also for various forms of leukemia. Teniposide is used for certain childhood leukemias. Fruits edible. Warning: Tiny amounts of root or leavess. Powdered root and resin can cause skin and eye problems.
Mayapple is everywhere in these Appalachian foothills and I am so very happy to be back here where the medicine plants are starting to come back and thrive again. Kinda like we herbalists and folks who choose to "Heal Ourselves", we are starting to remember what our ancestors knew.
"The Cherokees believed that every tree shrub and herb, down even to the grasses and mosses, agreed to furnish a cure for some one of the diseases". Sarah H. Hill from
"Weaving New Worlds"
Me , I believe in the HMO: Herbal Medicine Only.
Here is a simple liver tonic from Rosemary Gladstar( my personal herb goddess):
try www.sagemountain.com
or Search Rosemary Gladstar
Blessed Liver Tea Blend:
3 parts Nettle Leaf
2 parts Dandelion leaf,
1 part Alfalfa
1 part Chamomile flowers
2 parts Red Clover
2 parts Lemon Balm
pinch of Stevia for taste
Boil water
put all herbs into a glass container and steep
As a general rule: Leaves are for steeping, roots are for simmering ( at least 30 minutes)
This is all a part of The Simpler Method of Herbal Medicine
Peace and Happy healing, Annie B.
from "Peterson Guide to Eastern/Central Medicinal Herbs"
Perennnial; 12-18 in. Leaves Smooth, paired , umbrella like; distinctive. A single white flower, to 1 in. across, droops down from crotch of leaves: April-June. Fruit is globe shaped to egg shaped, about 2 in. long; edible but relished by rodents who collect as soon as ripe, robbing humans of a wild food ( me: heaven forbid they should do that, have we robbed them? sarcasm)July, -August, woods, clearings S. ME to FLA; Texas to Minn.
Uses: American Indians and early settlers used roots a a strong purgative, "liver cleanser", emetic, worm repellant; for jaundice, constipation,hepatitus, fevers, and syphilis. Resin from root, podophyllin ( highly allergic) used to treat venerial warts. Extract active against herpes,influenza, and vaccina viruses.
Podophyllotoxin, an important lignan from the root has anti-cancer and anti-malarial activity. Two semisynthetic derivatives, etoposide and teniposide are used in chemotherapy against several cancer types. Sales of the compounds exceed 200 million per year; etoposide is used in combination with other compounds for testicular cancers and as a primary treatment for small lung cell cancer. Also for various forms of leukemia. Teniposide is used for certain childhood leukemias. Fruits edible. Warning: Tiny amounts of root or leavess. Powdered root and resin can cause skin and eye problems.
Mayapple is everywhere in these Appalachian foothills and I am so very happy to be back here where the medicine plants are starting to come back and thrive again. Kinda like we herbalists and folks who choose to "Heal Ourselves", we are starting to remember what our ancestors knew.
"The Cherokees believed that every tree shrub and herb, down even to the grasses and mosses, agreed to furnish a cure for some one of the diseases". Sarah H. Hill from
"Weaving New Worlds"
Me , I believe in the HMO: Herbal Medicine Only.
Here is a simple liver tonic from Rosemary Gladstar( my personal herb goddess):
try www.sagemountain.com
or Search Rosemary Gladstar
Blessed Liver Tea Blend:
3 parts Nettle Leaf
2 parts Dandelion leaf,
1 part Alfalfa
1 part Chamomile flowers
2 parts Red Clover
2 parts Lemon Balm
pinch of Stevia for taste
Boil water
put all herbs into a glass container and steep
As a general rule: Leaves are for steeping, roots are for simmering ( at least 30 minutes)
This is all a part of The Simpler Method of Herbal Medicine
Peace and Happy healing, Annie B.
Sunday, June 14, 2009
Wednesday, June 10, 2009
Rain, rain and photos now available with a copy/paste
I tried to set up a slideshow on the blog to make it easier for folks to add photos. Snapfish (Thanks Connie for trying) won't seem to allow us to save to computer....so please use flicker and or send directly to annie, jay or myself..so we can all share and see. The best of all scenerios is to upload them directly from your camera to this blog under Create new post. Well I did try this and it works. Copy /paste link below and you can see connies photos. This Luddhite will keep trying to get them onto the blog slideshow directly. It's been pouring buckets here for 3 days...has put a hold on the mudding that is my project focus for this internship. I had finished the Scratch coat on the tire layer of the Firefly before it started...so hope to finish the scratch coat there today. Then I will move onto starting the finish coat for our mayapple. I should have a picture of the chia pet effect of the Mayapple (yes the plant namesake is all one word)later today..if the rain stays away. We need it for all of the beautiful growing things and to clean these rivers of Ohio...but after a while it gets to you. I was able to see Joad's yesterday (Thanks to Annie W.) and it's a really wonderful version of any natural foods store I have been in, but a heck-of-alot cheaper.
So nice to see this store in this region, due largely to the Amish and Mennonite population who still have amazing food choices despite 50 years of mainstream food degradation influences around them.
I also got to build a gate for one of the stalls in the barn. A challenge, (and time) but I thought as my friend Charla Bowers in Olive Hill (r.i.p.), Kentucky always said " Might as well, it's too wet to plow". After a few hours and drilling my thumb... I think it is the fort knox of a goat stall...and really good feeling of accomplishment.
http://www1.snapfish.com/thumbnailshare/AlbumID=658109012/a=105216447_105216447/
So nice to see this store in this region, due largely to the Amish and Mennonite population who still have amazing food choices despite 50 years of mainstream food degradation influences around them.
I also got to build a gate for one of the stalls in the barn. A challenge, (and time) but I thought as my friend Charla Bowers in Olive Hill (r.i.p.), Kentucky always said " Might as well, it's too wet to plow". After a few hours and drilling my thumb... I think it is the fort knox of a goat stall...and really good feeling of accomplishment.
http://www1.snapfish.com/thumbnailshare/AlbumID=658109012/a=105216447_105216447/
Hey Y'all,
I have been back here at Blue Rock Station since yesterday and the first thing I did was go down to see our Mayapple baby . The walls are covered with sprouts of grass in and out. Per Annie W. the seeds wait in the shafts of the oatstraw and sprout later. There was already grass growing between the stones that Susan put on the floor too. Kinda funny to see. I will try to use the Warmke camera and take a picture of it. No pictures on this site yet. Connie ( brownie points) has been the only one to send them to me yet...but being the Luddhite that I am I can't figure out how to get Flicker to allow me to load them onto the blog. Time will tell. It seems easier to do by directly uploading froma camera. So here are the directions again.
1. You got into this blog, yer doing great.
2. At the top right corner click on "Sign in"
3. put in my email address annie.siemer@gmail.com
4. Enter Jp's nickname as password
5. This should get you to The Dashboard
6. Click on mayapple Strawbale Blog ( as opposed to my annie b's eddy one)
7/. Click on "create blog or new blog or new post ( I can't seeee it:)
8. In this screen you can click on the little phot icon
9. Upload photos
10. Scroll down to publish post
11. After that goes through you can View blog...
see 11 easy steps:) Annie B.
I have been back here at Blue Rock Station since yesterday and the first thing I did was go down to see our Mayapple baby . The walls are covered with sprouts of grass in and out. Per Annie W. the seeds wait in the shafts of the oatstraw and sprout later. There was already grass growing between the stones that Susan put on the floor too. Kinda funny to see. I will try to use the Warmke camera and take a picture of it. No pictures on this site yet. Connie ( brownie points) has been the only one to send them to me yet...but being the Luddhite that I am I can't figure out how to get Flicker to allow me to load them onto the blog. Time will tell. It seems easier to do by directly uploading froma camera. So here are the directions again.
1. You got into this blog, yer doing great.
2. At the top right corner click on "Sign in"
3. put in my email address annie.siemer@gmail.com
4. Enter Jp's nickname as password
5. This should get you to The Dashboard
6. Click on mayapple Strawbale Blog ( as opposed to my annie b's eddy one)
7/. Click on "create blog or new blog or new post ( I can't seeee it:)
8. In this screen you can click on the little phot icon
9. Upload photos
10. Scroll down to publish post
11. After that goes through you can View blog...
see 11 easy steps:) Annie B.
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