Fermented plant extracts

[CC_2U]

Let's say a person took 1 acre of land (43,560 s.f.) and you planted a Yarrow plant every 2' on center, i.e. each plant would have 4 s.f. of area. This would give you just under 11,000 plants.

And let's say that at the end of the growing season you harvested all of these plants and let's say you grossed 10 lbs. of biomass per plant. That would give you over 100,000 lbs. of material to work with.

So how much Yarrow essence/extract could you come up with irrespective of the cost of extraction?

You couldn't help but make money - assuming you could find enough people to actually buy it.

CC

 

[Amber Trich]

Instructables: How to make a steam distiller from a teapot and some plumbing parts

rose essential oil (bulgarian) $388 1/2 oz
lemonbalm $200-250 1/2 oz
neroli $200+ 1/2 oz
chamomile essential oil $77 1/2 oz
st johns wort $62 1/2 oz
sandalwood $60 1/2 oz

essential oils take a lot of plant matter but for yarrow, st johns wort, even lemon balm they grow pretty wild.. although they are dry.

cannabis probably has WAY more essential oils per volume though.. in a wide aromatic range

 

[Scrappy4]

Let's say a person took 1 acre of land (43,560 s.f.) and you planted a Yarrow plant every 2' on center, i.e. each plant would have 4 s.f. of area. This would give you just under 11,000 plants.

And let's say that at the end of the growing season you harvested all of these plants and let's say you grossed 10 lbs. of biomass per plant. That would give you over 100,000 lbs. of material to work with.

So how much Yarrow essence/extract could you come up with irrespective of the cost of extraction?

You couldn't help but make money - assuming you could find enough people to actually buy it.

CC

On the proverbal other hand, if you spent 10 cents on every dollar on yarrow and 90 cents on advertizing, (you know fancy bottles with super cool graphics) you would have much more money.......scrappy

 

[organicterra]

Could someone tell me if this looks like stinging nettle?
Still learning how to id plants.
Thanks.

 

[GoneRooty]

Organicterra, the easiest way to tell if it is stinging nettle is to just touch a leaf and see if it stings.

 

[CC_2U]

Could someone tell me if this looks like stinging nettle?

Still learning how to id plants.

Thanks.

OT

I'm not an expert on Stinging Nettle varieties but the Stinging Nettle that is all over Oregon (Urtica dioica) and is the same type that was included in a seed pack that I purchased have serrated leaves - quite pronounced.

Here's a photo:

HTH

CC

 

[GoneRooty]

Here's a little more on identifying stinging nettle,
"Stinging nettle's (Urtica dioica) rather stout, ribbed, hollow stem grows 2-4 feet tall. The somewhat oval, long-stalked, dark green, opposite leaves are a few inches long, with a rough, papery texture, and very coarse teeth. The leaf tip is pointed, and its base is heart-shaped."

 

[CC_2U]

Nettle Tea in France

Nettle Tea in France

This article from FrenchGardening.com about the Nettles and the prominent role they play in organic gardening.

Here's an interesting bit of information:

Partaking of nettles in every possible way seems to verge on an act of patriotism for the French. There is an Association des Amis d'Ortie (Association of the Friends of the Nettle) who have annual meetings, and of course, the requisite Fête des Orties, or nettle festival, where you can listen to lectures, meet with other impassioned nettle users, and of course, indulge in nettle gastronomy.

Here's a method of making and using Nettle Tea:

Here's how to make purin d'ortie:

1. Cut the nettles at about half their height. Remember, wear gloves!

2. Mix the cuttings with water in a large container such as a large plastic garbage can. You'll need a lid, because nettle tea smells absolutely disgusting. Use a non-chlorinated source of water, such as water from a rainbarrel or cistern, as chlorine inhibits the fermentation of the tea. Mix 1 gallon of water with every pound of fresh or 2 ounces of dried nettles. Cover with the lid!

3. Allow the brew to ferment from one to three weeks. The length of time necessary will depend on ambient temperature. Obviously, the hotter it is, the quicker the process. (However, place your barrel in the shade during summer to prevent the mixture from overheating and killing the necessary fermenting bacteria.) The tea is ready when fermentation has ceased. Test for this by stirring. Avert your nose to avoid the fumes, then sneak a peak. No more bubbles? It's ready to use.

4. Strain the tea as soon as fermentation has stopped. Store the infusion in clean plastic or glass containers in a cool spot.

5. Remember, unless you want the herbicide effect, dilute the tea before using. For soil applications, dilute to a 10% solution (1 cup of original infusion to 10 cups of water) or 5% for foliar feeding.

CC

 

[pinecone]

Could someone tell me if this looks like stinging nettle?
Still learning how to id plants.

Me to. I posted the following picture in another thread for an id. It is young nettle. Hope it helps.

Pine

 

[GoneRooty]

Dang CC you're quick with this stuff! Thanks for the Nettle Tea recipe. I know you can also make nettle tea to drink. Pick and clean young fresh nettle (young nettle isn't as bitter) add to a pan with enough water to cover the nettle and bring to a boil. Then simmer until the water becomes a light green color and strain out the nettle. Sweeten the tea to your taste. And from what I've heard, if you add lemon juice to the nettle tea, the change in pH will cause the tea to turn from green to pink.

 

[organicterra]

Thanks guys, I'm thinking no on my pic. Not enough seration on the leaves. The stocks are covered with spikes though.
I have mostly thistle species around me. I may need to take a hike and look for nettle and comfrey.

 

[pinecone]

I may need to take a hike and look for nettle and comfrey.

Make sure you don't go to far out or you will lose your smart phone network access and won't be able to pull up google images to help with those identifications.

BTW I found that nettle in my yard.

Pine

 

[jaykush]

NO THAT IS NOT NETTLE, the flowers are a dead give away, nettles dont have flowers in the way most people think of a flower. and the ultimate test is if it doesnt sting you its not nettles.

I may need to take a hike and look for nettle and comfrey.

i would rather look to identifying the local plants/weeds instead. chances of finding wild comfrey unless your in Europe are far and few between. nettles and comfrey are not the only useful plants out there.

 

[organicterra]

Thanks jaykush,
I will get pics of some local wild plants and see if they're something I should try.
I'd like to make some FPE's with some of them.

 

[mad librettist]

In my neck of the woods, the thing to have with you is the book "weeds of the northeast".

it gives you illustrations of the veg and immature phases, not just flowering. SO you don't need to wait for flowers for positive ID.

 

[jaykush]

Thanks jaykush,
I will get pics of some local wild plants and see if they're something I should try.
I'd like to make some FPE's with some of them.

while your at it, when you have identified a local plant, look up to see what other uses the plants have. a lot of the times the plant will be very useful in many other ways.

 

[organicterra]

Yeah i need a book.
Here are a couple plants near my house. Some kind of thistle.
This whole area is covered in 18" of bark mulch. I think landscape companies are dumping there. I could easily grab some of this for my compost pile.

 

[mad librettist]

Imagine where we would be if we all worked as hard as canada thistle?

 

[jaykush]

thistle - mustard - wood chips - more wood chips.

 

[organicterra]

thistle - mustard - wood chips - more wood chips.

Thanks. I'll keep lookin..