Botanicals

[Carbon.Chains]

Hey everyone,

As soon as I have time I will collect various botanicals to dry, grind and store as soil amendment and tea ingredient.
I'd love to read anyone's input on my choice of plants, if anybody has used some in the list besides the popular ones and/or if one has a particular plant he/she would particularly recommend.
Here is the list:
the nutrients info is mostly from http://oregonbd.org/Class/accum.htm
Bracken leaves - K, P, Mn, Fe, Cu, Co
Clover leaves - N, P
would it make sense harvesting clover roots for a greater N concentration?
And DARC MIND at what stage of growth should clover be harvested?
Dandelion root - Na, Si, Mg, Ca, K, P, Fe, Cu
Horsetail - Si, Mg, Ca, Fe, Cu, Co
Nettle - Na, S, N, Ca, K, Fe, Cu
Yarrow - N, K, P, Cu


Would it interest anybody to see a documentation of the process as well as pictures of the finished powders? Could do that tomorrow.

 

[xmobotx]

sounds good ~i would be doing this if i werent so lazy

 

[grod31]

Dynamic Accumulators of Nutrients for Composting
thats for you guys now can someone plase share soem thought on the use of Reishi tea for plants.

 

[bigshrimp]

Anybody have experience with garlic mustard? A highly invasive plant in the eastern US, outcompeting many native woodland plants. Has alleopathic qualities, compounds exuded by roots inhibit germenation of other species.

Mustards are listed as high sulfur and high phosphorus. Moderate to low levels of other macros. A possible bloom supplement looks like.

Just getting it out there, and would like to hear others thoughts on using invasive species.

 

[DARC MIND]

would it make sense harvesting clover roots for a greater N concentration?

you can get several harvest from many legumes with proper management. but roots can be used in a quick soak, as an liquid inoculant
strain after no more then 2days and refill to then ferment (wk plus) for a more nutrient rich solution

natural farming method of culturing indigenous microorganisms is another way to collect beneficials & legume seeds do make some kick ass sprout tea's and or powders for ACT and other DIY culturing.

And DARC MIND at what stage of growth should clover be harvested?

budding stage, heading,boot & blooming
basically the stage of plant growth where the plant itself begins to concentrate on seed/head development as opposed to the leaf tissue.
leaf to stem ratio should be at its peak plus energy, vitamins & minerals are being stored

as for Reishi tea
id personally use it for my health and well being first, then work with dregs instead of discarding the tea bags
start with super dilute test at first but im sure its fine, worms and compost will always take care of things in question
like invasive species

 

[xmobotx]

Dynamic Accumulators of Nutrients for Composting
thats for you guys now can someone plase share soem thought on the use of Reishi tea for plants.

dragonflyearthmedicine.com uses it in their cocoa beverages but not in their soil preparations {botanicals} some of the living soil guys are in to mushroom cultivation & talk about possibly integrating the cultivation but have kept it separate except for occasional volunteer mushrooms {typically unknown mushrooms}