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Gardenmedicine growing in a sidewalk raised bed.

Gardenmedicine growing in a sidewalk raised bed.Did you know that a lot of flowers are edible? These, from a plant in the mustard family, add both spice and color wherever they go.I thought they looked lovely friend against bare earth with a border of baby lettuce. A salad that feeds the visual as well as the physical.Are your mustard plants – kale, collards, broccoli, mustard, arugula – starting to flower yet?

Forest boa.AKA Wednesday in Cascadia.

Forest boa.AKA Wednesday in Cascadia.

It’s sure is looking a lot like spring.Whereve

It’s sure is looking a lot like spring.Wherever you are, try getting out for a walk today if you’re able.

Don’t forget to feed your nervous system!We ca

Don’t forget to feed your nervous system!We can lock good memories into our nervous systems, but that takes a bit of attention and intention.Let me backtrack for a sec: Humans evolved as we have in part because we learn from our mistakes.We learned that fire and hair don’t do well together. We learned to seek high ground in a flood. We learned that pointy sticks can hurt or kill.And because these things are life threatening, our nervous system learns them quickly, deeply and often on the first try.Our nervous system holds these learnings and watches vigilantly to see if anything similar looks to be returning. So we’re ready in a heartbeat if we need to be.That has kept humans alive as a species, and kept us safe(r) as individuals.But living in a constant state of hypervigilance wears us down emotionally and physically.We have to feed our nervous system some calm options, because we need those on hand, too.That takes more intention, since our nervous system learns the good things much more slowly.I took this photo on an 8-mile hike in the heart of the Sonoran Desert. There was literally no one around, just me and the inhabitants of this wild place.As I walked, I reminded myself that this was a time out of my day-to-day life. I worked intentionally to soak the quiet in the calm into my skin, into my heart, into my mind, into my nerves.It’s far enough away that I can’t just pop over when I need a dose; I had to imprint it on my nervous system so I could come back.And you know what? It actually works.Standing on my front porch today I closed my eyes and went right back there. I could feel the sun on my face, the dryness in my nose, and the calm connection that comes from walking in wild places.Do you have a favorite place that you have imprinted on your nervous system and can visit when you want to? I’d love to know where you go.And if you haven’t tried this yet, please do and let me know how 👇🏼it works for you!

My friend Gayle and I have been to this park sever

My friend Gayle and I have been to this park several times, and when I get excited about the nettles here she points out that they’re not the usual stinging kind. I have confirmed this in the past by touching, carefully, with no discernible consequences.So now I always look at these nettles slightly askance, thinking, “You are not who I wish you were.”As always, nature reminds us: Don’t get cocky.So I saw these yesterday and gingerly touched them. The real thing! With real sting!It’s been nearly 24 hours and I’m still feeling it. I am enough of a plant cake to find this pleasing.But even though these are the real deal, I don’t harvest here for several reasons.❇️It’s a city park, here for all of us. So let’s leave it for all of us.
❇️It’s a city park, with lots of dogs running around peeing and pooping and doing their job things. Don’t need that on my medicine.
❇️It’s a city park, which means my tax dollars go to spraying poison chemicals around. Something else I don’t need on my medicine.
❇️Despite this being a city park, no one is doing much about the poison hemlock growing everywhere here. (See my stories for details.) That makes it not the best spot to harvest something you plan to ingest.
❇️It’s a city park, which means it’s surrounded by city. Various insects use these leaves to lay their eggs, and they don’t have many other options with all the concrete around. I have no problem harvesting nettles in the country, but in the city it’s better to leave them alone.Remember, though, cutting a plant is not the only way to get its medicine. Seeing it, hanging out with it, touching it (ouch!), enjoying it, all of those are medicine, too.Why nettles?They famously help calm allergies, support the kidneys and adrenal glands, and are a great source of minerals and vegetable protein.The flower essence is one of my go-to for overwhelm — something that’s a pretty high priority these days.I love using dried nettle leaf to make strong, daily tonic teas. When I can get it fresh, I will add it to cooked foods in place spinach. And blanched, fresh nettles make THE BEST pesto.Are nettles a part of your world? LMK in the comments👇🏼.

The brassicas are bolting all over the neighborhoo

The brassicas are bolting all over the neighborhood.They’re both beautiful and edible – garden medicine in all the ways.What’s happening in your garden right now?

Neighborhood plant walk 3/11/21. In which I talk a

Neighborhood plant walk 3/11/21. In which I talk about artichokes, cauliflower, rosemary, Daphne and hopeful new research.#GardenMedicine #WalkingWithOrna #OptOutside #GoForAWalk #JoyIsMedicine #PlantsMakePeopleHappy #LoveThePlantsYoureWith #plantvocacy @gardenmedicine

Spring weather in Oregon will always try to fake y

Spring weather in Oregon will always try to fake you out.We had moments of T-shirt temperatures over the weekend, along with several attempts at hail.The warm weather gets Oregon gardeners giddy, but it’s really too early to do some of the most exciting things.I’ve been focusing on cleaning up the yard: trimming back the peony and oregano flower stalks, digging up plentiful plants to share with friends, moving done prolific growers (spearmint) around.I also picked up a bunch of straw bales to mulch my pathways. It’s amazing how that brightens things up during these still-dark days.They are also pretty heavy, and I had to move them in shifts. Feeling pretty proud of myself😎.Pictured here are me and a couple of those bales, successfully shifted to their final destination.Did you do any gardening this weekend, either in your head or in the actual dirt? I’d love to know what you’re excited to grow this season — tell me in the comments below👇🏼!

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