Weeds

I champion the weeds.

When I started learning about herbal medicines —

The world was vast.

So many medicinal plants.

Then I became aware that using plants

Could use them up.

Goldenseal and ginseng —

Once available freely in my eastern woodlands —

Are now threatened by overharvesting.

..

From AgroForestry:

"Overharvesting of goldenseal has caused serious reductions in populations. . . . In 1997, goldenseal was listed on Appendix II of the Convention for International Trade on Endangered Species (CITES), an international treaty monitoring trade in threatened and endangered species. Designed to protect the species, this listing imposed controls on goldenseal trade. This has not stopped people from collecting it, however, and populations continue to decrease."

..

From US Fish and Wildlife Service:

"American ginseng (Panax quinquefolius) is a native plant that occurs in deciduous forests of the eastern United States from the Midwest to Maine. In the 1700s, ginseng roots became one of North America's first international export commodities.

Due to concerns of overharvest, this species was included in Appendix II of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora in 1975. CITES is a global agreement to ensure that international trade in listed plants and animals doesn't threaten their survival in the wild. Because of the CITES listing, an export permit is required to ship ginseng internationally. This includes whole live or dead plants, whole and sliced roots, and parts of roots (including root fibers), but excludes powder or manufactured finished products (e.g., teas, capsules, extracts, and confectionary or sweets), and seeds.

Without your help, wild ginseng could disappear from our forests. . . . "

United Plant Savers was created to focus attention on "at risk" plants.

You can join here: United Plant Savers - Home

https://unitedplantsavers.org/

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My response to understanding my ability to threaten plants

Has been to focus on weeds

The plants least likely to affected by my use.

Stinging nettle is a weed.

It now grows worldwide: in the Americas, Europe, Asia, and Africa.

From north to south, east to west.

"Invasive."

That's my kind of herbal medicine.

No matter how much I harvest,

There's always more.

Oats is a weed.

"Oats are a weed of the cereal domesticates such as wheat. They survived because Neolithic people and early farmers found it hard to distinguish them from the primary crop."

It grows all over the world,

especially on roadsides in Australia and California.

That's my kind of herbal medicine.

No matter how much is harvested

There's sure to be more.

Comfrey isn't a weed,

Until you plant it.

Three cuttings a year.

Protein for you, your animals, your garden.

That's my kind of perennial.

Always abundant.

Red clover?

It's a weed too.

"Red Clover is listed in the Invasive Plant Atlas of the United States."

It is planted as a crop.

But it — gasp — escapes.

That's my kind of herbal medicine.

Growing where it wants to.

I love so many weeds.

Dandelion

Burdock

Purslane

Amaranth

Lamb's quarter

To name but a few of my favorites.

This past week, I studied up on a new weed:

Bacopa.

I'll be growing it next year.

What's your favorite weed?

Why?

Weeds are beautiful.

We breathe in a giveaway dance with the weeds.

Our hearts are weedy hearts.

They beat as one with the earth's heartbeat.

Green blessings grow like weeds.

Gratitude to the weeds.

Joy