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Learn how to identify and prepare this common tree lichen that’s revered for its antibacterial properties. Its ability to clear multiple types of infections ranging from urinary tract infections to tooth, gum and mouth/throat infections (thrush, strep, etc.) makes it an indispensable part of your herbal medicine cabinet.
We are a small family living on 85 acres in an underground, passive solar house in central North Carolina. We focus on ways to be self-sufficient and live off the land, with a big emphasis on “lost skills” that were used by previous generations. We keep chickens for eggs & meat; goats for milk, soft cheese and soap; ducks, turkeys and rabbits for meat and peacocks just for fun. We also hunt deer on our land for additional meat as needed and burn our own wood in our woodstove as the only wintertime heat source in our underground home. Thanks to the cool earth behind our walls in the summer, we can get away with open doors and air circulation even in the hottest months. We enjoy growing and raising our own food, practice spring, summer and fall planting rotations and are continuously adding to our own seed saving bank so that we aren’t dependent on anyone else for what we need to grow from year to year. While we do still use and enjoy some modern conveniences, we constantly work to establish self-sustainable substitutions and implement them one by one. Another big focus of ours is the use of herbal medicine, specifically using only plants and herbs that are native to our area. We like being able to substitute nature’s remedies in place of store-bought whenever we can. I’ve been extremely lucky to be able to study with some of the smartest herbalists and “wise women” in our neighboring Appalachian mountains over the past 11 years and I’m still learning. Please join us and take a step back in time!
