Climate change affects everyone, and that includes the plants. Medicinal herbs and food plants growing across the world are changing, moving – and sometimes, struggling or dying – as a result of the changing climate. As herbalists, and as stewards of medicinal plants, we need to recognize these shifts and respond in ways that will help protect & sustain our herbal allies as much as possible.

Three steps any herbalist can take in this effort include:

1. Observe & recognize the changes in the local wild plant populations, and stop wild harvesting early when you see signs of stress.
2. Cultivate & steward the plants you depend on, so that you can harvest without impacting the wild populations.
3. Work with the new plants – often designated as “invasive” – who are coming in with the changing climate. Many of these are potent medicinals, and they’re so abundant that it’s safe to harvest them freely without worrying about damaging the population.

Changing our habits – of harvesting behavior, and even of perception – is difficult. But it’s incumbent on us as humans to interact with our environments in a responsible way. Every member of an ecosystem plays a role in it, and this is ours!

Mentioned in this episode:

• Episode 77: Urban Wildcrafting Ethics & Guidelines
• Episode 90: 3 Medicinal Invasive Plants
• Episode 109: Sustainability for Herbalists
• Invasive Plant Medicine, Tim Scott

Herbs discussed include: self-heal, st john’s wort, mugwort, calendula, solomon’s seal, fleabane, evening primrose.

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Our theme music is “Wings” by Nicolai Heidlas.

This episode was sponsored by Mountain Rose Herbs. We thank them for their support!

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