How To Grow And Cultivate Rosemary

Rosemary, or “rosmarinus officinalis” (dew of the sea) is a perennial herb which grows throughout the year.  Its distinct flavor is good on many dishes, and is especially used in Mediterranean cooking. It thrives in dry, sunny climates with well-draining, sandy soil and needs watering only when the soil is about ready to dry out once it is established. Patience is required, as it takes around two years for rosemary bush to mature completely.

When planting rosemary, it saves a lot of time if you start with cuttings rather than seeds. The seeds have an extremely low germination rate, and while the plant will grow from a seed effectively… it is very time consuming. Plant the seeds in April if you are going that route and plan on being very patient.

If you choose to use cuttings, make sure that it is from a new growth and cut to around…

Preparing White Sage For Smudging

There are many uses for the leaves of the white sage plant, some of which are  medicinal. The leaf florets are the ones often dried and used for making smudge sticks for burning. Lay the leaves out and once dried, wrap them in a bundle using a natural fiber such as cotton and tie it in a knot… then take the twine and wrap it around the bundle from top to bottom. Make sure it isn’t so tight that the sage won’t burn or so loose that it will come apart.

In Native American cultures, preparing the sage for smudging is a ritual itself. First permission is asked to cut the stem… and a bit of another herb or a piece of hair is placed at the base of the plant as an offering in return. The prepared smudgesticks are placed in a bowl and lit. As the smoke swirls…