Vision Principles
Nature is simple; using the simplicity of nature as a guide for our daily lives, we will be more healthy and more happy.
Are we essentially natural creatures? Or, do we require technological devices, systems, and knowledge for our survival? Man has existed for thousands of years, yet only in the past 100 years have we learned to forget our natural foundations in exchange for technology.
I have a deep-seated belief that we are natural creatures, and the further we stray from this foundation, the more pain, misery, and unhappiness creeps into our lives. As a suburban homeowner, my challenge is to walk the path back toward nature without convincing my family and neighbors that I have become a crazy recluse.
To do this, I am using my 3 acre backyard to create a more diverse natural environment by planting over 300 medicinal herbs and plants managed organically and sustainably. Some products I can offer through local farmer's markets as a way to increase awareness of our natural selves.
Honeybees are crucial to the survival of this project. In the past two years, more than two-thirds of bees around the world (responsible for pollinating most of our food supply including our fruits and most of our vegetables) have mysteriously died from a disease known as "CCD"- Colony Collapse Disorder). I plan to prove that by creating a diverse and natural habitat on three acres I can support beehives that will not succumb to CCD.
A) Hints from the Honey Bee
B) Natural Diversity Leads to Healthy Living
C) Principles of a Diverse Backyard
D) Natural Beehive, Natural Backyard
Backyard Design
Problems in the Backyard
My Langstroth and Warre Experience Thus Far
Planting Plan 2011
Backyard Bee
Collapse of the Honey Bee
Growing in the Backyard
Here is a list of the plant I have growing in my backyard. Most were planted by seed in 2008 or 2009, some were transplanted, and a few have been here for years. Living in zone 6/7, many of these may not survive but were planted nonetheless. I am working on adding information about each plant.
How do you use this list? Well, it depends what you want to do. Are you looking for
1. Plants that have certain medicinal effects - Go to any of the herb pages, and then use the search box (upper left corner) to search for the part of the body that needs help.
2. Plants to eat - Go to any of the herb pages, and use the labels listed on the right hand side.
3. Plants used for seasoning - Go to any of the herb pages, and use the labels listed on the right hand side.
4. Plants that grow in shade - Go to any of the herb pages, and then use the search box (upper left corner) to search for the word "shade".
5. Plants that grow in sun - Go to any of the herb pages, and then use the search box (upper left corner) to search for the word "sun".
If you want instructions on how to plant something, my suggestion is this: Find out a) if the plant likes sun, partial shade, or shade, b) wet, moist, or dry soil, c) is it a perennial, reseeding annual, or annual, and d) how high will it grow. Then dig up your yard and plant the seeds accordingly. You can spend your time reading books about planting, or just planting and learning that way. I like to plant more than I like to read about planting and as a result many seeds I plant do not grow but when things do grow, it is so exciting!
(Common Name)
Agrimony
Akebia
Alchoof
Alexanders
Alfalfa
Alkanet
Amaranth (Greek)
Amaranth (Warihio)
American Pennyroyal
Angelica
Anise
Apple Hawthorn
Archangel
Artichoke
Ashwagandha
Balloon Flower
Balm of Gilead
Balsam Pear
Basil (Genovese)
Bean (Jack and the Beanstalk Snap Pole Bean)
Bean (Black-seeded blue lake snap pole bean; Kentucky wonder pole bean; Dry Soup Tiger’s Eye bush Bean; Hutterite Soup Bean)
Bee Balm
Beggar's Buttons
Bergamot
Bird's Nest
Bishop's Lace
Bitter Melon
Black Lovage
Blessed Thistle
Buckwheat
Burdock
Calendula
Cardamom
Cardoon
Carrot
Catnip
Chinese Angelica
Chinese Bellflower
Chrysanthemum (Edible)
Chrysanthemum (Garland)
Chrysanthemum (Greens)
Cilantro
Cleavers
Clematis
Coriander
Cotton Lavender
Dong Quai
Echinacea
Eleuthero
Fig
Flowering Quince
Garlic Mustard
Globe Artichoke
Gobo
Goosegrass
Grape
Ground Ivy
Hedge Garlic
Honeyweed
Horsechestnut
Horsemint
Iris
Jack-by-the-Hedge
Japanese Quince
Japonica
Karela
Lappa
Lavender
Lavender Bergamot
Lemon Grass
Lime (Small-Leafed)
Linden (Small-Leafed)
Liquorice
Lovage
Lungwort
Marigold
Maral Root
Milk Thistle
Morning Glory
Motherwort (Chinese)
Mount Atlas Daisy
Mustard
Myrtle
Nasturtium
Okra
Oswego Tea
Poppy
Poppy, Himalayan Blue
Potato
Primrose
Queen Anne's Lace
Savory, Summer
Savory, Winter
Schisandra
Sea Buckthorn
Shungiku
Solomon's Seal
Squaw Mint
Soba
Southernwood
Sunflower
Sweet Woodruff
Wild Bergamot
Wild Carrot
Winter Cherry
Yerba Buena
(Latin Name)
Abelmoschus Esculentus
Aesculus Glabra
Agrimonia Eupatoria
Akebia Quinata
Alkana Tinctoria
Alliaria Petiolata
Anacyclus Depressus
Angelica Archangelica
Angelica Polymorpha
Angelica Sinensis
Amaranthus Gangeticus
Amaranthus Hypochondriacus
Arctium Lappa
Artemisia Abrotanum
Brassica Juncea
Calendula Officinalis
Cedronella Canariensis
Chaenomeles Contorta
Chrysanthemum Coronarium
Clematis Virginiana
Coriandrus
Crataegus Monogyna
Cymbopogon Citratus
Cynara Cardunculus
Cynara Scolymus
Daucus Carota
Daucus Carota Sativus
Echinacea Purpurea
Echinacea Angustifolia
Echinacea Tennesseensis
Echinacea Paradoxa (yellow)
Eleutherococcus Senticosus
Elletaria Cardamomum
Fagopyrum Esculentum
Ficus
Cynara Cardunculus
Galium Aparine
Galium Odoratum
Glechoma Hederacea
Glycyrrhiza Glabra
Hedeoma Pulegioides
Helianthes Annua
Hippophae Rhamnoides
Ipomoea
Iris Germanica
Iris Sibirica
Lamium Atropurpureum
Lavandula Angustifolia
Leonurus Sibericus
Leucanthemum Coronarium
Leuzea Carthamoides
Leuzea Rhapontica
Levisticum Officinale
Meconopsis Cambrica
Momordica Charantia
Monarda Didyma
Monarda Fistulosa
Myrtus Communis
Nepeta Cataria
Ocimum Basilicum
Papaver
Phaseolus Multiflorus
Phaseolus Vulgaris
Platycodon Grandiflorus
Medicago Sativa
Pimpinella Anisum
Polygonatum Odoratum
Primula
Pulmonaria Officinalis
Rhaponticum Carthamoides
Santolina Chamaecyparissus
Satureja Douglasii
Satureja Hortensis
Satureja Montana
Schisandra Sinensis
Silybum Marianum
Smyrnium Olustratum
Solanum Tuberosum
Tilia Cordata
Tropaeolum Majus
Vitis Riparia
Withania Somnifera
(Undescribed, so far...)
Acacia Baileyana
Achyranthes Bidentata
Actaea Cimicifuga
Agrimonia Eupatoria
Alleghany Serviceberry
Amelanchiere Laevis
Amla
Andropodon Gerardii
Anemopsis Californica
Anthemis Tinctoria
Apium Graveolens
Apple tree
Arnica Montana
Artemisia Absinthum
Arugula
Asafetida
Ash
Asian Lily
Asimina Triloba
Asparagas
Aster, New England
Aster, Purple
Astragalus
Avena Sativa
Azalea
Bachelor Buttons “Blue Boy”
Balm of Gilead
Basil
Basil, Genovese
Basil, Sweet Fine
Bee Balm
Beets
Bergamot
Bilberry
Birch
Black Cohosh
Black Cumin
Black Elderberry
Black Lovage
Black Mustard
Bloodroot
Blue Vervain
Blueberry
Borage
Boxwood
Broomcorn
Buddleia
Calendula Arvensis
Calendula, Wild
Camellia Oleifera
Camellia Sinensis
Caraway
Cardinal Flower
Carlina Acaulis
Cats feet
Cedar
Cedronella Canariensis
Cedrus Libani
Celandine
Chacruna
Chamaelirium Luteum
Chamomile, Dyer’s
Chelidonium Majus
Cherry
Chervil Vertissimo
Chervil, Sweet
Chestnut
Chicory Imaro
Chinese Aster
Chive
Chives, Garlic
Cimicifuga Dahurica
Cineraria Maritima
Colchicum
Columbia Hawthorne
Comfrey
Common Mullein
Consolida Ambigua
Corn, Blue Aztec
Cornus Alba
Cornus Cousa
Cornus Florida
Cowslip
Crabapple, Siberian
Cranberry
Cranesbill
Crocus Speciosus
Cryptotaenia Canadensis
Cucumber
Cucumis Sativus
Culvers Root
Cumin
Cutting celery
Datura Stromonium
Delphinium Centurion “Rose Shades”
Delphinium Exaltatum
Desmanthus Illinoensis
Digitalis
Dill, Anethum Graveolens
Dill, Einck
Dioscorea Batatas
Dusty Miller
Elderberry
Elecampane
Emblic Myrobalan
Emblica Officinalis
English Lavender
Epazote
Erythronium Revolutum “White Beauty”
False Unicorn
Fennel, Vulgare
Fennel, Anise
Fenugreek
Fern
Fetid Bugbane
Flax
Garden Myrrh
Garlic
Garlic, Red Tock Garlic
Garlic, Russian Red
Gayfeather
Geranium Maculatum
Geranium, Pink Penny
Geranium, Wild
German Chamomile
Ginger
Ginger, European
Ginkgo
Ginseng
Goji Berry
Golden Root
Goldenseal
Ground Lily
Ground Potato
Gynostemma Petaphyllum
Hamamelis Virginiana
Heather
Hedge Mustard
Hemerocalis “Happy Returns”
Henna
High Mallory
Hollyhock
Holy basil
Honewort
Honey Suckle bush
Huckleberry
Hydrangea
Hydrastis Canadensis
Hyndrangea Climbing
Hypericum Perforatum
Hyssop
Hyssop, Lavender
Indian Crabapple
Indigo, Blue
Ironweed
Jasmine
Jiaogulan
Jimson Weed
Kiss Me Over the Garden Gate
Ladys Mantle
Lamb’s Ear
Larch
Larkspur
Lavandula Angustifolia
Lavender
Leeks
Lemon Bergamot
Lepidium Sativum
Lettuce, Forellenschuss
Liatris Pycnastachnya
Liatris Spicata
Lilac
Linseed
Linum Usitatissimum
Loofa
Lovelia
Lucerne
Luffa Cylindrica
Lupine
Lupine, Russel
Maca, Red
Mace, Sweet
Madder
Malus Baccata
Malva Sylvestris
Maple
Marjoram, Sweet
Matricaria Recutita
Matricaria Recutita
Membranaceus
Milk Vetch
Mint
Mint, Cranberry
Momordica Charantia
Monarda Didyma
Mountain Mint
Mountain Mint, Hairy
Mountain Mint, Slender
Mugwort
Mullein
Mustard, White
Myrrhis Odorata
Nicotiana Sylvestris
Oak
Oats
Ocimum Basilicum
Ocimum Tenuiflorum
Oenothera Biennis
Onion
Onion, Egyptian Walking
Onion, Yellow Boretania
Oregano, Wild
Origanum Vulgare
Oswego Tea
Ox-Knee
Parsnip
Passiflora Incarnata
Passionflower, Purple
Paw Paw
Peach
Pear
Pepperwort
Persimmon
Peruvian Goldenberry
Phaseolus Vulgaris
Phlox Maculata
Phyllanthus Emblica
Physalis Peru
Pine
Plantago Asiatica
Plantain
Plum
Polygonum Orientale
Polystichum Makinoi
Poppy, Orientale
Poppy, Fire Engine Red
Poppy, Flanders
Poppy, Scarlet
Portulacca Oleracea
Prairie Aster
Prairie Coneflower
Prairie Lupine
Prunella Vulgaris
Psychotria Viridis
Pulsatilla Anemone
Purslane
Pycnanthemum Pilosum
Pycnanthemum Tenuifolium
Pycnanthemum Virginianum
Quercus Garyana
Quince
Radish
Raspberries
Rassiflora Incarnata
Ratibida Columnifera
Ratibida Pinnata
Red Clover
Rhodiola Rosea
Rhododendron
Rosa Hugonis
Rosa Setigera
Rose
Rose of Shannon
Rue
Rumex Acetosa
Rumex Crispus
Rupturewort Hernaria Glabra
Sage
Sage, Clary
Sage, Nemorosa
Salix Bebbiana
Sambucus Nigra
Scarlet Pimpernel
Scilla Siberica “Spring beauty”
Scotch Broom
Sedum Reflexum
Self Heal
Senecia Cineraria
Sheep’s Sorrel
Sheng-Ma
Siberian cedar
Silver Ragwort
Sinapis Alba
Sisymbrium Officinale
Skullcap
Smyrnium Olusatrum
Sorghum
Spikenard
Spinach
Spinach, America
St. John’s Wort
Stewartia
Stonecrop, Blue Spruce
Strawberry, Alpine
Sunberry
Sweet Cicely
Sweetgrass
Swiss Chard
Sylvestris Zebriana
Tall Oregon Grape
Tanacetum Vulgare
Tansy
Tea Oil
Tea, Chinese
Thistle, Carline
Thuja
Thyme
Thyme, German Winter
Thymus Vulgaris
Tibetan Gentian
Trillium Grandiflorum
Tulsi,
Tulsi, Krishna
Tulsi, Rama
Tulsi, Vana
Valerian
Verbena Bonariensis
Verbesina Helianthoides
Viola Pubescens Eriocarpa
Violet, Smooth Yellow
Violet, Yellow
Wasabi
Wasabia Japonica
Wild Bergamot
Wild Celery
Wild Yam
Willow
Winterberry
Wisteria
Witch Hazel
Wood betony
Wormwood
Yarrow
Yellow Coneflower
Yellow Crownbeard
Yellow Dock
Yellow Indian Woman Yellow Bush Bean
Yerba Mansa
Yucca Baccata
Yucca, Banana
