Harvesting Autumn Herbs- Roots

It’s Autumn, the trees are turning color, the geese are calling out as they say good-bye and head South and the roots of medicinal herbs are calling me. This is the time that with trowel and knife in hand, I head out with my harvest basket to gather the roots of herbs that can help to keep my family healthy. As I commune with the now cool and damp soil, I feel an intimacy with the earth. I can almost feel her breathe as I kneel to her, accepting her abundance and receiving her gifts of precious medicinal herbs and ancestral knowledge. Before I begin my harvest there are certain points of etiquette to observe and honor. 

Do’s and Don’t of Wild Harvesting

There are definite do’s and don’t when wild harvesting. You can read the entire article Harvesting Herbs.  Harvesting more than just a little of a plant can be harmful but even more so, harvesting roots and flowers should be done with great care. The plants potential for regeneration and establishment in the ecosystem is greatly reliant on these parts. In many cases, I cultivate the plants that I harvest. This helps to ensure that I am not over harvesting and not harvesting from endangered species. Another option is to only harvest from plants that are prolific and not endangered and to only take a little bit when you do.

Know Your Herbs

My preference is to harvest when the moon is in the waning stage in September and October but it isn’t completely necessary. In addition, it is important to know how old the plant is. Some plants are best harvested after the second year but it is often even better after the fourth year while others become too woody to use. Elecampane is one that becomes too woody while echinacea is best when 2-3 years old. These are just a few examples. I encourage you to learn more about each herb before you gather it.

If you are interested in learning, you can order our DIY Herbal Medicine Makers Kit to help you on your journey in becoming a home herbalist.

Autumn Herbs to Harvest

Some of my favorite roots to harvest in the Autumn are Dandelion (Taraxacum offininale), Yellow Dock (Rumex crispus), Oregon Grape (Mahonia aquifolium) and Elecampane (Inula helenium). Each of these herbs grow here on our farm and are used for a variety of different ways. I encourage you to follow my blog as I write about the different herbs and their common uses. Herbs are the peoples medicine. The knowledge should not be lost.

Preserve Ancestral Knowledge

Too many of our skills, our ancestral wisdom and instincts are being suppressed by the messages we receive from large corporations and government entities that tell us not to trust ourselves and to hand everything over to them. It is my hope that you will be inspired to read,  and research more about herbal medicine.

Join the Community

As always, comment below and tell us your experience in harvesting herbs and making herbal medicine. We would love to hear from you and I am sure our readers will too.

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