backyard: summer update from above

Dennis McKenna Interview

 http://matrixmasters.net/archive/Various/266-DennisMcKennaWKCR2011.mp3

Discussing brain evolution, plant complexity and psychedelics.

Thanks Andrew!

weeds speak

Walking to the studio today I came across an abandoned lot absolutely chalked full of medicinal and edible plants. I looked to my other side and saw even more in the open sidewalk patch. While the heavy metals from either toxic soil or car exhaust makes these herbs sketchy for consumption, I'm taken aback by the abundance and availability of these plants. There is a much higher concentration of all these medicinal plants in open lots, as well as along the paths in the park than deeper in the woods. This brings up an idea that has been extremely inspiring to me; the weeds that grow prolifically in urban areas have medicinal properties that directly address the ailments of people living in the urban landscape. I see more and more proof of that everyday.
Some of the plants shown above: red clover, mugwort, chickweed, hedge mustard, shepard's purse, plantain, burdock, nettle, violet, dandelion, common mallow and wild garlic.

Wild Thing

Since going on a foraging expedition in Prospect Park with the Wildman himself, Steve Brill, I've been obsessed. I've been reading and researching about many wild medicinals, but there is nothing like experiencing the plant and it's surroundings in real life. I was amazed at the abundance, the nutrition and of course, the medicine.

Just a few things from the park... burdock root and stem, wild raspberry leaves, pineapple weed, chickweed, plantain, Shepard's purse, yellow wood sorrel, lamb's quarters and the amazing black locust blossom (tastes like a jasmine and vanilla flavored pea pod). Yum.  

Just Peachy

The magic of the compost continues to surprise us all. The latest find is an eaten and composted peach pit which, after a good journey through the compost bin, found it's destiny as a budding peach tree.
So it was planted by the more established peach tree in hopes it would be inspired by the example. Indra claims to be the peach eater....

Spring in my world

Oyster mushrooms harvested from our backyard. Since then, garden giants came up (but got eaten up before I got any!) and the shaggy mane mushrooms just emerged. Overhead view of our yard in Brooklyn and Jesse's permaculture design. Kale, kiwi, calendula, peach, lavender, catnip, gooseberry, Siberian pea, Jerusalem artichoke and much more!