The HomeGrown Herbalist School: How It Began & Where It’s Going!

As a boy I was always a nature lover. I spent my youth exploring creeks and woods and wild places in Iowa, Pennsylvania and South Jersey. I became very interested in edible plants, wild foraging and primitive skills. Euell Gibbons and Larry Dean Olsen were my heroes. After high school I went to Peru as […]

The New Mystery Disease In Dogs: What You Need To Know

A New Disease Syndrome! A new disease syndrome in dogs has recently emerged in the United States. Cases have shown up in several states and it’s likely to spread quickly. The illness is characterized by a severe, hacking cough much like Kennel cough but much more serious. Infected dogs also tend to run a fever […]

If You Don’t Have It When You Need it….

Life is unpredictable. Things can be puttering along just fine one minute, and the next moment, everything changes. In cases of illness or injury, the speed of our response can often have a significant impact on outcome. And, the immediate availability of the remedy for the problem is often critical to a good outcome. Let […]

Exploring The World Of Chaga: Uses, Harvesting, And Safety

There’s a parasitic fungus growing on your birch trees…and you should be really excited! I’m talking about Chaga, a black, woody lump that really can change your life. In the world of herbal remedies, few species can claim the same level of medicinal diversity and utility as the Chaga mushroom, scientifically known as Inonotus obliquus. […]

Will Your Herb Garden Meet Your Emergency & First Aid Needs?

doctor Patrick Jones and Melissa K Norris reviewing emergency herbs video thumbnail

A few weeks ago, I drove from Idaho to Washington state for a workshop I was putting on with Melissa Norris. Melissa is doing wonderful work educating folks on how to live a simpler more self-reliant life. Her YouTube channel, Melissa K. Norris – Modern Homesteading and her website MelissaKNorris.com are wonderful educational resources for […]

Look Beyond The Label! The Amazing Actions Of Medicinal Plants

Look Beyond The Label! New blog Post

“Sleep when the baby sleeps”. This is a little nugget of wisdom that all mothers spout, and no mothers ever actually practice. It’s nonsense. Baby naps are golden! When these rare and miraculous moments present themselves, I always attack my dishes with the panicked, frenzied desperation that stems from the realization that my freedom could […]

How To Mow Your Lawn Like an Expert Herbalist!

Teenage boys are the most wonderful things. I have a particularly nice one: Marty. He’s turning fourteen this December. He’s terribly handsome, kind, smart and protective to his three little sisters. He’s the best boy in the world. I can speak with authority on this, being his professional mother and therefore a completely unbiased expert. […]