Building an Herbal Garden from Scratch: Growing Food, Medicine and Beauty

Are you dreaming of building an herbal garden, or just curious what it actually looks like to begin?In this cozy solo episode, clinical herbalist, Elliott Brinkley shares the story of building a brand-new herbal garden on raw land- starting with compact clay soil, active deer, harsh sun, and a big dream. After years of focusing on building their home, Elliott and Aaron are finally in the process of creating a garden ecosystem filled with medicinal plants, food crops, flowers, and a future gathering space.This episode is part practical garden journal, part love letter to the plants. Elliott walks through the full process: observing the land, choosing the garden site, building raised beds, improving soil drainage, starting seeds indoors, setting up drip irrigation, planting food and medicinal herbs, and learning through plenty of trial and error along the way.In this episode:Building raised beds and garden infrastructure from scratch on raw landWorking with compact clay soil, drainage issues, deer pressure, and dry climate gardeningStarting seeds indoors with wooden seed boxes, sheep’s wool, grow lights, and lots of patience spritzingGrowing both food and medicine, including squash, potatoes, greens, culinary herbs, calendula, nettle, valerian, elder, comfrey, violet, elecampane, echinacea, and milky oatsWhy fresh milky oats are such powerful nervous system medicine, and why dried milky oats are not the sameThe beauty of creating a garden as a place for nourishment, plant relationship, community gatherings, and future classesLinks & Resources:Medicinal Plant Sale at Dancing Willow Herbs June 5th, 6th, and 7th from 11am–4pm with Crystal from Growing Creations Herb Farm. Come early Friday for the best selection of medicinal plant starts.Spring Garden Party Recipe Ebook A seasonal recipe collection inspired by the Dancing Willow Herbs team garden dinner, with recipes like beet-pickled deviled eggs, spring salad, lemon balm cucumber lemonade, marinated olives, and lemon posset.Milky Oats Tincture One of our favorite fresh plant nervines for replenishing the nervous system, especially during seasons of depletion, stress, and feeling stretched thin.Summer Seasonal Herbal Collection A collection of herbal allies for summer travels, outdoor adventures, sun-soaked days, bug bites, gardening, and seasonal wellness.Crystal’s Previous Podcast Episode Listen to Elliott’s conversation with Crystal of Growing Creations Herb Farm for more inspiration on growing medicinal plants and tending relationship with the herbs.Listen in for an honest, earthy, and inspiring look at what it really takes to build an herbal garden from the ground up- and why the process is just as nourishing as the harvest.Stay ConnectedIf you enjoyed this episode, subscribe, leave a review, and share with others who would love it.Support the podcast by making a purchase with Dancing Willow Herbs!Website: www.dancingwillowherbs.comInstagram: @dancingwillowherbsco