First Greens of the Season: Nettles

Urtica dioica | First Greens of the Season | Traditional Roots Institutes | nettles for hayfever and allergies

By Amelia R. Cohn I was counting on gloves and long sleeves to keep me safe from the sting of nettle. The patch we were working with grows about 15 feet from a freshwater creek, surrounded by national forest. I was feeling brash thanks to my gloves, so I began to mock the plants, insinuating that they would not be able …

Fear not the Flower: Four Thoughts on Seasonal Allergies

It’s that season again, when a young plant’s thoughts turn to pollen — making an estimated 60 million people in the United States miserable. While farmers and gardeners have greater exposure to seasonal allergens, they also have great tools to prevent and treat its symptoms: fruits, vegetables and medicinal plants. If you know of seasonal trigger …