I cringe when I hear the word "superfood" uttered in a mixed crowd. Between GOOP and Dr Oz, health and nutrition fads fill up my Facebook feed daily, and they fade into distant memory as…continue reading 
See notes and slides from Emily's presentation at this link. Herbalist Emily Ruff presented "Swamp Medicine: Healing Plants of Central Florida" at the 2017 International Herb Symposium, highlighting medicinal plants growing in the subtropical climate…continue reading 
Insulin plant (Costus pictus) is the subject of numerous studies from the National Institute of Health for its effects on - you guessed it - hyperglycemia and diabetes. It has a history of use in…continue reading 
Maranta arundinaceae, commonly known as Arrowroot, is a beautiful herbal ally to grow here in sunny Central Florida. It loves our tropical weather and thrives in humid environments. The rhizomes of this plant have been…continue reading 
Plants that bring forth pollinators, grow in abundance, and provide food and medicine, are our favorite additions to a garden. One in particular comes to mind and that is Sambucus nigra, commonly known as Elderberry.…continue reading 
Summertime and the livin' is easy, that is until you get an awful sunburn from the scorching Florida sun! One of our favorite herbs to help ease the sting of a sunburn is Aloe vera.…continue reading 
Anamu Petiveria alliacea is an herbaceous perennial that grows up to 1m in height. Indigenous to the Amazon rainforest and tropical areas of Central and South America, the Caribbean and Africa. Anamu, aka Guinea Hen…continue reading 
Yarrow (Achillea millefolium) is a well-known plant ally throughout the United States and Europe. Yarrow is a flowering perennial, common in North America but also native to Europe and Asia. Its leaves are soft and…continue reading 
Vetiver grass is used both as a hedge against erosion in permaculture colonies, and also a medicinal herb! It forms narrow, dense hedges when planted along the contours of sloping land, slowing down run-off and…continue reading