Back To The Earth Company

A healing garden is all about sharing your plants with others.  Back to the Earth is a very special place that was built so that people could come together and enjoy nature and the company of like minded people.  Healing gardens have plants that help people.  Many road side wild flowers are actually healing plants and they grow at Back to the Earth too!  Most of us pull these flowers out thinking they are “weeds”, in actuality there are few weeds and many wonderful treasures that pop up naturally depending upon the terrain of the property. Many Ontario wildflowers offer medicinal remedies or a food source if you know what you are looking at. There are also some very poisonous flowers, leaves and roots- so you must be very careful.  Back to the Earth will be labeling flowers, trees and shrubs next spring and summer so guests may see the actual plant and learn about the properties that they have been historically used for. Here are just a few examples:

Back to the Earth has vast amounts of St.John’s Wort growing naturally along the drive and walk ways.  Just recently, St. John’s Wort has been given medicinal attention because of its reputed anti- depressant effects.  It is prescribed for millions of patients in Europe – namely Germany instead of the very dangerous Prozac and other anti depressants.  This plant can be used for treating all sorts of skin problems such as sunburn, burns, bruises and varicose veins. In addition, it is believed that it helps treat symptoms of cough, digestion, menstrual problems, flu and ulcers.

Back to the Earth has lots of incredible trees!

There is a large area of the property that is canopied by Hemlock trees who love the rocky terrain.  These are powerful trees can live up to a 1000 years!  The sweet inner bark although an acquired taste has been used for food by the First Nations as a staple.  Tea from the Hemlock has the taste of fragrant evergreen and has been used for all sorts of uses some include mouthwash, toothpaste rinse, settling stomachs, tuberculosis, grippe, scurvy, abdominal pain, clear up diarrhea, colds, fevers.  A strong tea has antiseptic properties and helps heal sores, eczema,stings and abrasions.  Hemlock gum was used for a poultice and was applied to treat heart trouble.  Hemlock has many other uses including making dye, doors, wooden floors, staircases etc.

The Birch tree produces a large amount of sap straight from the tree in the spring that can be used as a beverage.  The tap can be used year after year without disturbing the trees health or growth.  The twigs and branches are steeped to make a delightful tea that tastes like spring time. These have to be used fresh and should not be stored for very long. Depending on the time the tea is steeped will determine its strength and medicinal properties. Five to ten minutes creates a mild skin wash that can be used for bee stings, poison ivy and other rashes.  A stronger tea medication up to seven minutes gives you a good nights sleep as it is a mild sedative and has a calming effect.  At ten minutes it can be used for severe skin problems and has been said to be better than over the counter acne medication and some even more effective than prescription acne drugs.

Back to the Earth Company has just recently started the first season of mushroom farming! Under the shelter of the Boreal forest we have installed mushroom “tents” made from oak and maple logs in tipi form. These have been injected with Organic Shiitake and Oyster mushroom spawn. They take several months to bloom and we are excited to see how our experiment works out. If all is successful we will double the farm size next year!

Here is a little information about the amazing mushrooms. They will make a great addition to our ‘healing garden”!

Mushrooms are among the most medicinal of all foods! Chances are if you have a disease there is probably a mushroom that can help treat or prevent it. They are neither a vegetable or fruit but a fungus. Mushrooms have no seeds, leaves, root or flowers. We would not have the landscape we enjoy today if it were not for mushrooms both below the soil and above. Roots would not be able to grow for the trees without mushrooms even if they are not seen and the vegetation would be ‘sky high’ because they break organic matter down. They are in a biological ‘kingdom’ all their very own!

Using Shiitake mushrooms can be easily dated back for more than 6,000 years as being used by the Chinese medicinally. Considering our knowledge of “world history” is about the same age it would be fair to say that it was probably much further back that in our ‘real world history”. Mushrooms have incredible health promoting properties and hence are the ancient symbol for longevity in Asia and Egypt. The 5,000 year old “Ice Man” who was discovered in Europe was carrying dried mushrooms in his medicine kit.

Not only do Shiitake mushrooms taste great with their rich smoky flavor they also have been found to be a cancer fighter! The vast amounts of research show they have the power to fight tumors and viruses and also enhance the immune system. Studies from all around the world agree that the lentinan extracted from the shiitake fight cancer tumors in varying degrees as it stimulates the immune system and activates certain cells and proteins that attack the cancer. Only a small amount is digestible when eaten and must be injected because of its large molecular size.

When eaten raw, cooked or dehydrated they have other properties that are impressive namely they have the ability to reduce cholesterol levels with eritadenine, inhibits platelet aggregation(reducing blood clots) .  As a food source their protein contains all the essential amino acids and are rich in vitamins and minerals.

Oyster mushrooms have almost the same protein quality of animal derived protein!   They also contain carbohydrates, fiber, lots of minerals especially iron and most mineral salts that are required by the human body, vitamins C,B1,B2 and an antioxidant.  They lower high cholesterol and show activity in fighting against cancer!  Oyster mushrooms have an antibiotic, anti tumor, immune response, anti-inflammatory and antiviral property!

Lavender has slender leaves and spikes of small mauve to purple flowers on an evergreen shrub. The Benedictine monks are believed to have introduced Lavender to Europe from its native homeland of the western part of the Mediterranean.  These plants do very well in Ontario.The flowers are used to make teas, ointments and essentials oils.

Lavender is credited for being a deodorant, decongestant, antiviral, bactericide, antidepressant and analgesic. With its antiseptic qualities it helps prevent infections. It has cytophylactic properties that help reduce scarring and increase the healing of skin in general and especially burns.  For Centuries Lavender has also been used for acne, headaches, migraines, sunburn, stiff joints, cuts, bruises, insect bites and stings, athlete’s foot and sore muscle relief.

Echinacea has daisy-like purple flowers; however it’s the creeping root that holds the medicinal properties in this plant.   Externally, Echinacea treat insect bites and stings, burns, cold sores by making an ointment.  Internally, it may be taken to help reduce the symptoms of urinary track infections, sore throat and stomach upset.