Ode to Borage - The flower of courage

In my attempts to write about companion planting, my musings which began so simply started to twist and turn, passing through plants that are friends, feeding the soil, beneficial insects, deterring insects, attracting wildlife, brightening the soul, curing ailments, making ecosystems... As I sought to stay on one tangent, I realized that maybe the best way to approach such a huge topic is by paying homage each week to one special plant and its relationship in our garden- And so I bring you, my plant of the week... Ode to Borage The Flower of Courage

With its bright blue, star shaped flowers that uplift their heads, blooming in our climate from late winter through to late autumn, borage brightens any garden and gardener. Borage was used to promote bravery on the jousting field and continues to be used to bestow courage. Borage has a relaxing effect generally and is said to dispel grief and sadness (75, McIntyre). The herbalist Gerard writing in 1597 said that a syrup of borage flowers 'comforteth the heart, purgeth melancholy and quieteth the phrenticke and lunatick person.'  For as the lion finds out, where does courage lie but in the heart.

Being an edible flower, borage brightens a salad, livens up a simple glass of water and makes beautiful cake decorations.  In ayurveda, borage has a sweet, astringent taste and a cooling action (Lad, 195).  The crushed leaves smell like cucumber.  Young leaves contain vitamin C and can be added to a salad.  Borage flowers are a wonderful addition to a birthing woman's bouquet and a soothing bath.

The blue colour attracts bees, and as they are blooming from late winter, they are excellent to put near your fruit trees.  Most apple, pear, sweet cherry and plum trees cannot produce fruit from their own pollen.  They require the lovely aid of the bee to take pollen from one tree to another, providing the cross pollination necessary.  In addition to fruit trees, strawberries flourish near a borage plant as do tomatoes and squash. Borage deters tomato hornworm and cabbage worms.

Borage roots go down 2 metres, mining the subsoil for nutrients and adding organic matter (Woodrow, 147).  It accumulates silica, potassium and calcium, makes good mulch and is a great compost ingredient.  As we started this garden on a sand dune very deficient in trace minerals and humus, borage has helped us build a well balanced top soil.

Externally, the fresh juice from the leaves can be applied to burns and to draw out poisons from insect bites, stings or boils.

Boarge self-seeds easily.  It is extremely hardy, growing in shade, sun, wet or dry, but the plants are easy to remove from places where they are not welcome, so it doesn’t become a troublesome weed (Woodrow, 147).

The multifunctional quality of adding borage to our garden has been incredible.  Our soil is being enriched, the plants are healthier and happier, the garden is prettier, the fruit more prolific, our stings have been soothed and our spirit is continually uplifted. As I sit amidst a sea of borage, calendula and fruit tree blossoms,  watching funny little wasps and bees that flit through the flowers, I give my gratitude to this lovely plant and marvel at the beauty of the natural world working harmoniously.

Flower Teas - from Deb Soule

Drinking a tea of any of the following herbs serves to uplift your spirit, gladden your heart, and nourish your nervous system.

Heartsease pansy flowers- 1 part Sacred basil leaves and flowers - 2 parts Borage flowers- 1 part Lemon balm flowers and leaves - 2 parts Lavender flowers- 2 parts

Dose and Use: To make a summer tea, place whatever proportions of these fresh herbs or others you have into cool water and let them infuse in the sunlight or moonlight or slowly heat to near boiling and steep, covered, ten minutes.  Drink 2-4 cups a day.

You can also add any of these herbs to an herbal bath. As Rosemary Gladstar says, "Herbal bathing can be soothing to a weary soul.  It is a bit hard to remain depressed for long while soaking in a flower-strewn tub surrounded by plants from your garden."

-Family Herbal by Rosemary Gladstar, Gaia's Garden by Toby Hemenway,  The Yoga of Herbs by Vincent Lad, The Complete Floral Healer by Anne McIntyre, The Roots of Healing by Deb Soule, How to make a Forest Garden by Patrick Whitefield, The Permaculture Home Garden by Linda Woodrow

About Our Biodynamic Notes

As a gardener and a farmer, I have found that using a tool like Brian Keats’ Antipodean Astro Calendar, a calendar which illustrates the rhythms of the sun, moon and planets, has helped me to become more aware and sensitive to these rhythms and how we can work our farm practices into them.  There are many aspects to the Astro-Calendar, which for someone new to Biodynamics may seem daunting and confusing.  I try to remember that just like any activity which includes working within a natural system, "common sense must prevail" (Brian Keats). If it is a moist, overcast afternoon, transplant. I have approached biodynamics as the process of tuning myself into rhythms that I may not have before identified. Each time I internalise one aspect of this science, I leave room to understand and internalise another aspect and thus begin to see a dance occurring between the various aspects.  I do not use the calendar as a set "rule" as to what I "must" do.  Rather I use it as a reference to help me to perceive the nuances of the natural system with which I am honoured to be working.

From many perspectives, biodynamic practices make sense to me as a farmer.  If the soil has no life, how can the food?  For our own house garden, and for our CSA, high quality food, full of nutritional value and taste, organically and sustainably grown is of paramount importance to us.  The Andean people believe that each of us contains all that the universe contains - little mini cosmoses.  I too believe that the interconnectedness of life is incredible and boundless. So the idea that a small tiny seed, which contains all the potential to grow, prosper, produce fruit, full of life energy, that will feed me,  is a fact in my world.  My role is that of a conductor...just tuning in to the right opportunity for each piece of the orchestra to join in.

I share what I have learned about biodynamics in the spirit of having a conversation.  What I have learned thus far has made the experience of the natural world richer for me, provided us with incredible food and flowers and showed me that I have so much more to learn.  I am in no ways an expert nor do I have formal biodynamic training. I share the resources that have been useful to my learning and personal trial and error.

Brian Keats states, “We can of course, just use calendars for practical purposes, like growing plants, pruning roses and managing stock. In doing these activities, it helps to be in touch with their innate rhythms and in a quest to do so, you are invariably brought into contact with the source of these rhythms - the planets and the stars.

Maria Thun's work in Biodynamics sought to prove that the life-processes on earth are influenced by the rhythms of the planets. 'Plants are able to make visible the impulses and influences which emanate from the planets, sun and moon in their shape and structure. Protein-, fat-, carbohydrate- and salt- content are also affected." (Gardening for Life,11)  The constellations of the zodiac are of great importance for plant growth.  They work through sun, moon and the planets, which in turn pass on their own properties to the plant through the classical elements of warmth/fire, light/air, water and earth.  The sowing time, when the seed enters the earth, exerts the strongest influence.

Warmth signs are favourable for fruit plants.  These include all plants whose seed fruit we harvest: beans, peas, grains, cucumbers, squashes, lentils, corn, capsicums, rice, soya, tomatoes, zucchini, strawberries and fruit trees.

Earth signs are favourable for root plants.  These included all plants whose roots we harvest: carrots, parsnips, radishes, beetroot, celeriac, swedes, potatoes, onions and garlic.

Water signs are favourable for leaf plants.  These include all the plants whose leaves we harvest: cabbages, cauliflower, parsley, coriander, lettuce, spinach, bok choy, silver beet, asparagus and fennel.

Air signs are favourable for flower plants.  These include all the plants which are grown for their flowers, and where we want a long flowering time: garden flowers, medicinal and preparation flowers, bulbs and broccoli.

Within the biodynamic community, there are many research-based interpretations to the above-mentioned work.

In the weekly biodynamic notes I will refer to the moon being in an earth, water, air or fire (warmth) constellation. I will also refer to the waxing (new moon to full moon) and waning (full moon to new moon) cycles of the moon as well as the when the moon is ascending (when the moon is getting higher in the sky) and descending (when the moon is getting lower in the sky).

Another important note about the Biodynamic Notes posted on this site...They are all based in the Southern Hemisphere and the times mentioned are for Victoria, Australia.

Biodynamic Notes

With the full moon on Monday the 12th, we have entered the waning moon, the time between full moon and new moon. Root qualities are emphasized during the waning moon.  The moon is still descending - the earth continues its inhale, drawing forces back down below the soil surface.  This is the time for applying horn manure preparation 500, making and spreading compost, transplanting seedlings and trees, taking and planting cuttings, cultivating the soil.

Keeping in mind the moon phases, spring seeds that can be sown in the coming weeks include broad beans, beet root, broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, carrot, kohlrabi, leeks, onions, parsley, parsnips, peas, radishes, silver beet, swede and turnips.  Under protection, sow seeds of celery, cucumber, pumpkin, winter squash, sweet corn, tomatoes, basil and capsicum.

Seedlings of brassicas, lettuce, spinach, parsley, coriander, onions, beet root, chinese greens and leeks can be planted out now.

Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday until 19:04 the moon is in a water sign.  It then moves into a fire sign until Sunday at 07:52. The moon is in an earth sign Sunday, Monday and Tuesday until 19:08.  On Tuesday the 20th the moon also begins its ascension.

Spring is a great time to apply horn manure preparation 500.  500 builds soil structure and humus, attracts soil life, earthworms, azotobacteria, bacteria, fungi and increases water-holding capacity.  500 or the combined soil preparation is best applied in an earth sign, during the descending moon, after 3pm when the earth is breathing in.

As I said above, if this is all new, start with just one aspect, something you can perceive like the waxing and waning of the moon.  And make a point to look for the moon each day and/or night, observing and noticing its rhythm and changes.

Keep notes...I know that every gardening book says that but I have to tell you, it is really helpful from year to year.  And remember, it is not meant to be a hard fast "rule" or "formula".  Your gardening experience is your own garden mythology in the writing.  What works for you may not work for the friend down the road and visa versa.  That is what makes gardening so personal and so enjoyable.  And because we are all working with nature and it is always changing, our garden is never DONE until we pass on.

-Biodynamic Notes are compiled using Brian Keats Antipodean Astro Calendar; Maria Thun's Gardening for Life; Biodynamic Agriculture Australia's Biodynamic Resource Manual; Peter Cundall's The Practical Australian Gardener; and the experiences and farm practices on Transition Farm

For more information about the Antipodean Astro Calendar, Biodynamic Planting and research and more visit Brian Keats' website at http://astro-calendar.com/index.htm

For more information about Biodynamics and to purchase biodynamic preparations, I know of three organisations in Australia:

Demeter Biodynamics at http://www.demeter.org.au/index.htm

Biodynamic Agriculture Australia at http://www.biodynamics.net.au

Australia Biodynamic- Victoria Inc.  at http://www.biodynamicsvictoria.org/

Bud Swell...Bud Burst

We  have had lots of bud burst here this week-  The plums, nectarines, apricots and peaches have all started blooming-  This is the time to walk through your fruit trees and check who is pollinating who-

Plum trees usually need cross pollination, as do cherries, apples and pears-  If the trees that you planted to do that, are not flowering around the same time, cross pollination will not happen-  Even recommended cross pollinators may bloom at different times in certain locations-  So before years pass and you wonder why your healthy tree has loads of flowers and no fruit, notice the blooms this spring-  Look for bees, too!

Companion planting is great for attracting spring bees- More on that next week-

Can you taste that smell?

Being a descending moon in a fruit sign meant the perfect day to transplant our tomato seedlings.  As opposed to seeding directly into pots, we bunch some seeds in lines on seed trays.  This allows for more seeds that require warmer temperatures for germination to be on the heat pad.  Before we had the greenhouse, though, I still seeded like this to fit more seeds into our sunny window.  Once the seeds have germinated and have their first true leaves, I pluck them out and put them into pots. They are still tender and need nurturing so back into the greenhouse they go to form more roots and to grow into thick, strong seedlings.

Ohhh the smell of those tomato plants as I was teasing the roots apart-  It is one of those smells that lingers with me....a distinct smell of summer-

More about Companion Planting next time...

Get Dirty!

Our vision in purchasing this property and growing food has been to develop a sustainable ecosystem that will provide a diversity of  quality food for our family, to use sustainable practices to grow food for other families and to share resources to empower the community with the skills to grow their own food. I do not know how to use Word Press...and the farm is busier then ever-  But I want to start sharing simple pleasures from our garden, glimpses of how this system works, biodynamic notes, a seasonal farm diary-  If you are growing food, or thinking about growing food, or just want to feel more connected to where your food is coming from, I hope these posts are relevant.

Anyone can grow food-  It all starts with the soil-  Peter chose this property because it was in  "the worst" possible condition-  It was devoid of life-  Where were the worms, the fungus, the critters-  Peter felt if we could renew this soil, bring back the life, kick start an eco-system, others might believe that it can be done...anywhere!- We would love to lose families in our share program because they are growing their own food!

So please forgive me if I cannot respond to every comment or even work out how to receive them-  In the spirit of spring I have decided to jump in and and start sharing and learn as I go-

The weather turned today from the sunny warmth we have been having to a bitter wind and rain-  But the earth is warming up, the sap is staring to flow in the trees, spring equinox is approaching-  It is a great time to dig your hands in and get dirty!

It's Spring...New Beginnings

How do you know it's spring?  When I was a child, it was the new growth on the seagrapes and the delicious smell of citrus in bloom- In my twenties, it was the fading daphne, tete a tete daffodils blooming and the glorious spring "snow" as the wind blew the petals of the plum blossoms!  And here in Australia...our true measure of spring are the wattle trees- Spring is coming when the wattle trees are blooming...and the 1st of September, so the old timers and school teachers say-

Not to mention the noticeably longer days, knee high garlic, the daily measure of growth in the artichokes, blooming broad beans, budding sage, asparagus and new roots sprouting from the over-wintered carrots- Time to roast the last of those root crops and mix with the tender spring spinach and move into seedlings!

This is a warm spring- We have seeded our capsicums, eggplants and tomatoes on a heat pad...but we also did them not on the heat pad this year and they have all germinated- Our greenhouse is filling up with the beginning of the "summer" crops, like the peppers and tomatoes, as well as the leeks, onions, lettuces, spinach, celery, brassicas (broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, kohlrabi), beet root, peas for transplanting in the mandalas, herbs and flowers-  We have spring frost here-  If you do not wake to fennel leaves covered in sparkling crystals, you could start your seeds in a a sheltered sunny spot outside or a sunny inside window -

Biodynamic Notes

While we still have a waxing moon (until Full moon on Monday 12th), the moon has started descending- The earth is again breathing in, drawing growth forces back down below the soil- If you have any fruit trees left to prune, prune on fruit days- - Spread compost and spray horn manure preparation 500 on descending root sign days- Harvest root crops for storage on an earth day- Cultivate soil and transplant seedlings and trees-

I feel like this is the calm before the storm- Time to finish the last of the "winter" jobs and prepare for more seeding when the moon starts ascending again on Tue 20th-

Fruit Days Tue 6th - Wed 7th

Earth days Thurs 8th- Sat 10th

Flower days Sun11th- Mon 12th

Hoping for rain to germinate our new pasture!