Logical thinking cannot
yield us any knowledge of
the empirical world;
all knowledge of reality
starts from experience
and ends in it.
Propositions arrived at by
purely logical means are
completely empty of reality.
~ Albert Einstein
English: Albert Einstein Français : Portrait d’Albert Einstein (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
by the Buffalo Field Campaign
“Here at Wild Horse Freedom Federation our primary concerns lie with the government’s full blown assault against our free roaming wild horse and burros on public lands and trust me, that in itself is a full time job. But with that being said we are not blind to the similar plights of other fellow passengers on Spaceship Earth such as whales, dolphins, wolves, coyotes and in the case of this information Bison.
Right now, there is massive concern over what is happening to the wild Bison in Yellowstone and the information below speaks to this issue. We share this story, not to dilute our work with the wild equines but to further demonstrate the abject stupidity of government be it local, state or federal. It is a shame that the court system does not allow us the capability to sue such entities for the simple cause of just being “STUPID”. If that were possible the courts would be clogged beyond imagination and I would be first in line with case in hand. Keep the faith.” ~ R.T.
The horror of what is happening daily to these buffalo families are events that could fill thousands of pages…
The very same government who declared the American bison our National Mammal with such pomp and ceremony is hell bent on destroying the last wild, migratory population. Approximately 190 Yellowstone buffalo have been trapped by Yellowstone National Park employees who wear the image of buffalo on their badges. These and hundreds more of the world’s most beloved and important buffalo are destined to be reduced to meat within the cold walls of slaughterhouses. Just this week, however, Montana Governor Steve Bullock issued an executive order prohibiting Yellowstone from moving buffalo through Montana to slaughter until Yellowstone finds a “temporary home” for the forty young buffalo who have been held captive in Yellowstone’s trap since last February. These buffalo don’t need a “temporary home.” They have a home, the Yellowstone Ecosystem, where they roamed freely until last winter. While this executive order may stall the slaughter, it will not prevent it, and will likely result in the nearly 200 buffalo who have been captured for slaughter being confined in the trap for a longer period of time. This is a game of political chess being played with the sacred buffalo used as pawns in an attempt to push a quarantine (domestication) plan through. Quarantine is not a solution, and does not prevent slaughter; it is part of the larger problem of control and manipulation of wild, migratory buffalo which results in buffalo being repeatedly tested, many slaughtered, and survivors living behind fences until they are reduced to meat or die in captivity. Some quarantined buffalo have even been sent to zoos. Yellowstone’s trap serves a livestock model paradigm — quarantine and slaughter — and is an extreme danger to these wild gentle giants, the last of their kind. Buffalo who are able to evade capture by slipping past the trap face another imminent danger just a mile north of the trap at Yellowstone’s north boundary, and also along the park’s west boundary, in tiny portions of southwest Montana where so-called hunting is taking place. At least 185 buffalo have been stopped dead in their tracks with bullets. By the time you read this, that number will likely have risen.
he horror of what is happening daily to these buffalo families are events that could fill thousands of pages, and while we can’t share every detail, here is some of what has been happening to the buffalo:
The other morning we supported a solitary bull buffalo who was walking along dangerous part of U.S. 191. Following at a safe distance with our hazards on, we stayed with him to warn traffic. There is so much snow piled up on the sides that it is very difficult for any buffalo to vacate the highway, so on he went. Unfortunately, a group of passing state hunters spotted him too, and they immediately positioned their truck just ahead of the bull, moving at his speed, their exhaust blowing in his face. This part of the highway runs through Gallatin National Forest, so the hunters only needed to get him to move a few feet off the road in order to kill him. Their opportunity came when he got spooked by a passing vehicle. The bull jumped into the snowbank and the hunters — if you can call them that — parked their truck (illegally, it turns out) and the man with the tag grabbed his rifle and post-holed though the deep snow after him. We mistakenly thought they needed to be much further off the road before they could shoot, and we told them so. They yelled at us, saying we were interfering, and the man with the rifle screamed “I’ve waited fifty-seven years for this!” and pressed on, trudging a few more feet after the bull who had moved a little deeper into the tree line. But the bull got away. At least for the moment. Authorities arrived and gave the hunters a warning for parking illegally, and asked us to move on. We were elated in thinking that this handsome bull who had struggled so hard to just walk down the road had escaped with his life. Disaster narrowly averted. Or so we thought. Afternoon patrols took over, and when they came home they shared the bad news that the hunter had gone after the bull again, shooting and injuring him without pursuing him. Instead he sat in the warmth of the truck waiting for him to emerge from the forest. How could the hunter anticipate where the wounded buffalo might go and how could he not pursue him? The bull did emerge again, limping. He kept falling and getting up, disoriented and badly hurt. He was heading down a road that leads to the town dump, where he could not legally be shot. Authorities arrived, and, because the bull was so badly wounded, the hunter was given special permission to kill him in the road. He took four shots at close range to finally end the life of this bull he had injured earlier…(CONTINUED)
http://buffalofieldcampaign.org/bfc-news/our-national-mammal-under-fire-act-now
gave the hunters a warning for parking illegally, and asked us to move on.
Source: Our National Mammal Under Fire: Bison Slaughter | Straight from the Horse’s Heart
As always when using herbs … Check for contraindications for any prescription drugs.
Adaptogens are natural substances that work with a person’s body and help them adapt; most notably, to stress. Adaptogens are a natural ally in dealing with persistent stress and fatigue because they work with regulating important hormones.
Adaptogens offer several other health benefits, including…
All these benefits can come from something as simple as adding adaptogens into your regular diet. While there are a number of ways to increase your adaptogen intake, consuming adaptogenic herbs is arguably one of the best.
There are a number of naturally adaptogenic herbs that you might consider trying on for size. They can be taken in capsulated supplement form, brewed in teas, or simply cut up and used to spice up a meal. For maximum health benefits, it’s best to include a healthy variety of these herbs in your diet. Here are some of the most popular adaptogenic herbs and their traditional uses.
This herb, also called Panax Ginseng, supports physical endurance, mental clarity, and has antioxidant properties that support heart health and your immune system. Studies show it’s safe to consume.
A member of the mint family, this herb has soothing properties and has been used for centuries for good health. Its antioxidant properties support heart health and normal lipid profiles. It’s also a powerful weapon against stress.
The active compound in milk thistle, silymarin, supports liver health and metabolism that helps manage the hormones associated with stress.
Also called Indian Ginseng, studies from India shows that those who take this herb enjoy dramatic improvements in how they handle – and feel – stress. It’s also taken to keep the mind sharp, and for energy.
This herb is popular among the Sherpas who work on Mt. Everest because of the way it supports regular energy levels and fights altitude sickness. Studies also show it helps encourage normal cortisol levels as well as energy levels.
Commonly called Siberian Ginseng, the Eleutherococcus senticous is known for not only its adaptogenic properties but also as a natural energy booster.
You’ve probably used rosemary in your cooking, but this herb does a lot more than add flavor and fragrance to your meals. Research shows two of its compounds, caffeic acid and rosmarinic acid, support heart, digestive, and liver health. Traditional medicine from around the world has used it for centuries to relieve stress.
Researchers have taken renewed interest in aloe vera as a powerful herb and superfood. Two of its compounds, acemannan and aloctin A, support immune and adrenal health.
Long used in both traditional Indian and Chinese medicines, this herb stimulates blood flow, helps reduce swelling, and is a powerful antioxidant.
The Chinese have used astragalus traditionally to encourage good health and fight stress. Its active compound, called TAT2, protects against aging, supports detoxification, and is nutrition for the kidneys.
The seeds, leaves, roots, and oils of the Moringa Oleifera plant are used throughout Southeast Asia an ingredient in many common dishes. As part of traditional medicine, it supports the immune response, eases swelling, and promotes energy and adrenal health.
This herb has been used in traditional Chinese Medicine to promote good health and overall wellness. Research shows it has powerful antioxidant properties that help your body stay balanced.
This popular Ayurvedic herb has been used for centuries to support brain health like memory, focus, and thinking.
This herb has traditionally been used to promote many aspects of wellness, including normal metabolic function.
Now that we’ve mentioned some common herbal sources for adaptogens, let’s take a look at how adaptogens actually work. First of all, it’s important to understand that stress is only meant to exist in short bursts. It is a hormonal response that may have been responsible for helping some of your own ancestors escape from hungry lions (or maybe even face them!). Think about stress as what is commonly called your “fight or flight” response.
Today, most of us don’t have to worry so much about lions. However, most modern-day stresses are ongoing. When your adrenal system remains in a constant active state, it throws your body out of balance. Constant stress can wreak havoc on your body, especially on your digestive system and energy levels.
Adaptogenic compounds help mitigate the stress response. They work to bring the hormones of your adrenal system back into balance and overcome adrenal fatigue, a common condition of chronic stress. Studies show adaptogens like Rhodiola Rosea and Schisandra reduce the presence and effect of stress hormones. In this way, they help endurance during physical stress like exercise and return your body to normal when you’re faced with chronic stress.
Think of adaptogens like a thermostat. The keep your body’s stress response at a desirable level, much like the way a thermostat keeps the temperature from becoming too high or too low. They’re good for you all the time, not just when you have a high level of stress.
Adaptogens have broad-ranging effects, but this is mostly because they affect adrenal hormone secretion. In general, we can think of adaptogenic herbs this way: they set an “upper limit” on the signals the nervous system can send to the adrenals, making it harder for the body to crank adrenal response up to 100%. Some herbs, like licorice, keep adrenal hormones in the bloodstream longer: this lets the brain know that there’s plenty of response happening, and it doesn’t need to stimulate more. Others, like Rhodiola and eleuthero, help balance out excessive adrenal stimulation while at the same time containing chemistry that supports the activity of attention- and alertness-enhancing brain pathways. The net result: we feel more alert, but at the same time don’t produce excessive, unhealthy levels of adrenal hormones. Contrast this to the action of stimulant drugs (like amphetamines, or even caffeine): they increase brain alertness, but also crank up adrenal secretions. This is why stimulants make us feel awake, but also sometimes jittery, cold, and clammy: these last effects are the result of excess adrenal hormone secretion, and you’ll never feel them from adaptogens like Rhodiola or eleuthero.
Other adaptogens are more calming in nature: they still help set an “upper limit” on adrenal hormone secretion, but also encourage deeper, more refreshing sleep and lack any of the activity on alertness pathways in the brain. By supporting more effective recovery during times of rest, adaptogens such as ashwagandha and Schisandra allow the body to bounce back and we can really notice this during the day: a balanced mood, energy level, and inflammatory response. It’s interesting to note that these herbs won’t ever make you “sleepy” directly: their effects, due in part to limiting the body’s ability to “overdo” the stress response and make sure our adrenals secrete hormones at balanced, healthy levels, are to get us into a more restful place during the evening and nighttime hours, so recovery and sleep can actually take place.
Source: What Are Adaptogens? – Crooked Bear Creek Organic Herbs
A major new initiative called Stop Operation Soros (SOS), a movement dedicated to stopping the evil machinations of Nazi collaborator billionaire George Soros, has taken off in Macedonia.
The SOS founders called on citizens around the world to “fight against one-mindedness in the civil sector, which is devised and led by George Soros.” The movement has been set up to expose the ‘subversive activities of all of George Soros’s organizations. Hungary has also taken to steps to clamp down on Soros funded organizations by banning them from the country.
‘Stop Operation Soros’ movement begins in Macedonia
RT, 19 Jan 2017 15:36
A new initiative, Stop Operation Soros (SOS), dedicated to countering the influence of American billionaire activist George Soros, has been launched in Macedonia.
In a press conference on Tuesday, the founders of the group called on all “free-minded citizens,” regardless of ethnicity or religion, to join them in the “fight against one-mindedness in the civil sector, which is devised and led by George Soros,” the Vecer newspaper reported. The movement says it will first focus on uncovering ‘subversive’ activities by Soros-funded NGOs.
According to Nikola Srbov, a columnist for pro-government news portal Kurir and co-founder of SOS, Soros-funded NGOs have monopolized civil society in Macedonia and used their position to suppress dissenting views.
“We’ve witnessed the takeover of the entire civil sector and its abuse and instrumentalization to meet the goals of one political party. That is unacceptable and goes beyond the principles of civic organizing,” Srbov said at the press conference.
“The Open Society Foundation, operating under the Soros umbrella, used its funding and personnel to support violent processes in Macedonia. It has monopolized the civil society sector, pushing outside any organization which disagrees with the Soros ideology,” he stated.
Another co-founder, Cvetin Cilimanov, editor-in-chief of the state-run MIA news agency, accused Soros’s Open Society Foundations of undermining Macedonian sovereignty by working not only with the opposition center-left SDSM party, but also with outside interests. By cooperating with foreign embassies and organizations such as USAID, Cilimanov believes Soros-backed groups have interfered in the political process of Macedonia.
“This is unacceptable and has largely contributed to a feeling in the public that the traditional relations of partnership Macedonia enjoyed with some countries are being undermined,” Cilimanov told journalists.
A third founder of the initiative and editor-in-chief of the Republika news portal, Nenad Mircevski, declared that the group would work towards the “de-Soros-ization” of Macedonia, echoing a speech made by former prime minister and leader of the ruling VMRO-DPMNE party Nikola Gruevski in December. In the speech, Gruevski accused foreign powers and Soros-backed organizations of meddling in Macedonian politics.
Opposition figures have expressed concern at the rhetoric used by Gruevski, fearing the start of a crackdown on dissent and advocacy groups.
The Open Society Foundation (OSF) was set up by Hungarian-born Soros between the mid-1980s to early 1990s with the stated aim of helping former Eastern bloc countries transition from communism. However, aside from its support for progressive causes such as drug policy reform, the OSF has also been involved in political activities and Soros publically supported the violent overthrow of the legitimately-elected government in Ukraine during the ‘Euromaidan’ revolution. This has earned him the ire of Russian authorities, which in 2015 banned Soros and his foundations as a threat to national security.
Soros and his foundations have come under scrutiny elsewhere as well. In an interview with the internet portal 888.hu in December, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban said that 2017 would bring about “the extrusion of George Soros and the forces symbolized by him.” Orban has accused Soros of undermining European borders and values by helping facilitate the flow of refugees and asylum seekers from the Middle East and elsewhere. During a Reddit AMA (Ask Me Anything), WikiLeaks’ Julian Assange also blasted the Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project, funded by Soros, for focusing “exclusively on negative stories about Russia and former Soviet states.”
By Elaine Nash
The hearing regarding final resolution to the ISPMB case- which was first scheduled for January 27 and then changed to January 26 and 27, has now been canceled. The State Attorney decided to make a deal with ISPMB, allowing them to keep some of the horses- from 12-30, we’re told. The terms will be official by the close of business today, we’re told Fleet of Angels and our partner organizations didn’t participate in the deal making, and had no voice in the negotiations. We will release an official statement as soon as we receive our copy of the new court order, so that we’ll be providing the most accurate information possible. In the meantime, the final points of the deal are being worked out between ISPMB attorneys and State Attorney. Anything said by others in the press or on social media right now is based on speculation.
We’re preparing to pick up the rest of the horses and relocate them to a new, much more appropriate adoption hub. That’s our big news, really, and we’re eager to share the details ASAP!
Although this new deal comes as a surprise to us, we are pleased that by the end of this mission, we will have been able to save approximately 96% of the ISPMB horses. Think about that- 96% of the horses will be leaving ISPMB very soon. With YOUR help, we’ll keep them fed and cared for while we work to get them to their new adoptive homes!
Source: Update on ISPMB Wild Horse Hearing | Straight from the Horse’s Heart
Bessie Coleman broke multiple barriers when she took flight in 1921, and became the first African-American woman to earn a pilot’s license.
More than 100 years after Harriet Quimby broke down barriers as the first woman to earn a pilot certificate, there are still very few women who choose flying as a career.
Source: The women pilots that history shouldn’t forget – CNN.com
CBD has been used in trials to fight epilepsy. © Mario Anzuoni / Reuters
The new classification means products containing CBD can now be legally distributed across the UK. Gerald Heddel from MHRA told Sky News that the change came about “based on the fact that we noted that people were making some quite stark claims about serious diseases that could be treated with CBD.”
Alongside Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), CBD is one of the main components of cannabis, accounting for 40 percent of the marijuana plant’s extract. Unlike THC, which is psychoactive, CBD is non-psychoactive, antipsychotic and does not cause anxiety.
READ MORE: Marijuana use jumps among pregnant women in US – report
The compound’s lack of a high makes it less appealing to recreational users but of particular interest to the medical community, with campaigners claiming it aids in easing pain related to diseases including cancer, depression, Crohn’s disease, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
“It was clear that people are using this product with the understandable belief that it will actually help,” Heddel said.
Source: Cannabis medicine will soon be legally available in UK : RT Question More. – DWPExamination.
Crammed into pens and repeatedly forced into pregnancy, these are the pitiful horses whose blood is extracted on horrific “vampire” farms to boost meat production.
Tens of thousands of mares have giant needles stuck into their jugular veins to suck out a powerful fertility hormone which is later injected into other animals so they can have more babies much quicker.
Meat sold in Britain comes from animals that have been given the hormone, known as Pregnant Mare’s Serum Gonadotropin.
It is used in the farming of pigs for meat products such as bacon, sausages and chops.
Sign the petition (here).
In concentrated form the powerful hormone is more valuable than gold.
Known as pregnant mare’s serum gonadotropin (PMSG), it is injected in to pigs to speed up their natural fertility cycle.
It brings females back in to season just two days after their piglets have been taken away from them giving their bodies little time to recover.
PMSG is used mainly in pigs but also sheep and cows to increase production of a wide range of meat products.
There is no obligation on farmers or supermarkets to declare which products were produced using the hormone drug, where it was produced and under what conditions.
It is unclear how widespread PMSG use is in the UK.
Campaigners and politicians are now demanding a transparency and a legal requirement to reveal what meat sold on our supermarket shelves was prduced using it.
Kerry McCarthy MP, former shadow environment secretary, said: “Consumers quite rightly want to know what is going into the food that they eat, and it is wrong that such controversial practices can be kept secret.
“Many meat-eaters would not eat meat produced in this way by choice, but they are being kept in the dark.
“We also need to look at the animal welfare issues and impact on human health. We cannot do this unless we are told what is really going on.”
Tens of thousands of horses are thought to be on blood farms, based mainly in rural Uruguay and Argentina as well as Chile.
Campaigners say horses are forced in to stalls where a large bore needle is inserted directly in to their jugular vein.
The hormone can only be found in the blood of mares in their early pregnancy.
When the mares can no longer fall pregnant they are slaughtered and sold as meat.
The Mirror can reveal seven PMSG products are now being sold here in Britain.
Five of the seven UK registered PMSG injections are for use on pigs on farms. The other two injections can also be used on sheep, goats and cattle.
The National Office for Animal Health (NOAH) said suppliers undergo audits and ensure veterinary supervision of horses.
It insisted suppliers “adhere to blood collection limits” but would not specify what these were.
But campaigners have questioned the ethics of keeping mares continually pregnant to harvest their blood at facilities largely hidden from international scrutiny.
The EU does not require farmers to record amounts of PMSG imported or used on factory farms.
Reports in German media from 2015 estimated that 80% of pork farmers there use PMSG.
The body representing the UK animal medicine industry claims it is “not widely used in the UK” but there is no national record.
Wendy Higgins, spokeswoman for Humane Society International, said: “Consumers are often unaware of the animal suffering hidden behind their food choices, particularly in factory farming.
“But the hideous suffering of horses to enhance bacon and pork takes such suffering to a whole new level that will surely shock British shoppers.
“The lives of deprivation and distress that these perpetually-pregnant horses seem forced to endure is obscene.
“Awareness of how animals can suffer for our food is the first step towards avoiding it.
“Knowledge is power and with it consumers can refine their diets to avoid the worst factory farming practices.”
Since the use of PMSG was revealed in mainland Europe a campaign has been launched to have the import of pregnant horse blood products which involve cruelty banned from the EU.
In a fortnight since animal welfare campaign group Avaaz launched a petition more than 1.6 million have signed up.
Oliver MacColl, Avaaz campaign director, said: “It sounds like something from a vampire film, but pregnant horses are having their blood drained to supply a gruesome global trade.
“Now this sickening secret is out more than a million people are demanding that the EU ends this horse horror show for good.”
German-based AWF, which first exposed the horse bleeding practice in 2015, obtained footage at horse blood farming facilities in South America showing staff beating mares with boards and electric rods to force them in to stalls.
It also showed horses so weak they fall down as their legs give in.
One mare is seen resting her head on railings still trembling. A worker climbs the railings and kicks her three times in the face before she collapses.
The AWF claims up to 10 litres of blood can be taken a week per horse on some farms.
This the risk of anaemia, hypovolemic shock, miscarriage and death.
The investigation by AWF also found horse bones and a dead mare on land linked to a blood farm which it claimed provides PMSG for European pharmaceutical firms.
Former workers reportedly told the AWF that 12 litres could sometimes be taken in a single extraction.
European safety guidelines state between 3.4 and 4.5 litres should be taken in a single sitting. Extracting too much can lead to hypovolemic shock and even death.
The European Union does not have specific legislation on standards for drawing blood from pregnant horses.
It is believed mares are bought at livestock auctions in South America and start being ‘bled’ when they are three years old.
Some foals are delivered to ensure a steady supply of horses while others are miscarried or aborted.
The UK National Office for Animal Health said: “Animal welfare, supported by high standards of animal health, is a primary concern of NOAH and its member companies.
“Whilst blood plasma products are not widely used in the UK, such products are available for both human and animal health and provide therapeutic benefits for a range of conditions.
“The principle of recovery of the natural hormone from horses is an authorised practice around the world.
“Member companies employ suppliers, who are experts in blood plasma collection, and have to ensure veterinary supervision and adhere to blood collection limits.
“Audits of suppliers take place to ensure they meet these standards, which includes checking animal health and welfare, both during the collection process and the conditions in which they are kept.”
A spokeswoman for the National Pig Association said: “We are aware that a small number of products containing PMSG are authorised for use in pigs in the UK for the induction and synchronisation of oestrus.
“However, our understanding is that these products are used very little, if at all, in UK pig production as good management of pigs negates the need to use them.”
A spokesman for Defra said: “The import of PMSG is agreed at EU level. The Veterinary Medicines Directorate assesses veterinary medicines to assure their safety, quality and effectiveness.”
What happens on the vampire farm?
Blood bags and drain lines
Pregnant mares secrete PMSG from their endometrial cups between 40 and 130 days into their gestation.
Once their blood is removed the plasma is extracted, deep frozen and developed in to PMSG drugs by European pharmaceutical firms.
This drug, often in the form of an injection, is then used alongside progestogen to induce ovulation in livestock.
As soon as the young livestock are separated from the mother after weaning she is injected to bring her back “on heat”.
Critics of this intensive factory farming practice argue it does not give mothers’ bodies time to recover naturally.
Pharmaceutical companies promote PMSG as a way to “synchronise oestrus” and reduce none productive days (NPDs).
It can also be used in fertility drugs for humans.
Legal grey area abandons animals without protection
Sabrina Gurtner, project manager at Animal Welfare Federation (AWF), was one of the investigation team who travelled to South America to first expose the practice of horse blood farms in 2015
As one of the team who travelled to South America to expose these horse blood farms in 2015, I can say categorically that an animal-friendly production of PMSG is not possible.
The production of PMSG has been moved to South America because that is the only way to keep it profitable for the companies involved.
Pasture is cheap while the horses are half-wild and not used to human handling.
Production in the EU in compliance with the animal welfare standards would be far more expensive. Only by force can they be moved into the extraction stalls, and only by force can the cannula be inserted into the jugular vein.
PMSG is produced in a legal grey area where no specific legislation for the protection of horse blood mares exists.
The mares stay in production for up to 11 weeks. During this time, blood is drawn from the pregnant mares once or twice a week, at a rate of around 10 litres in 10 minutes. Far too much for the mares to stay healthy.
EU regulations for the maximum blood extraction per mare and per month do not exist.
Source: Equine Vampire Farms Exposed! | Straight from the Horse’s Heart
A new book from my longtime online acquaintance, Natalie J. Case. I’ll be ordering my copy soon, but just want to let everyone know this is a great story … There might have been a sneak peek a while back …
We’re getting closer to the release date of February 1st, and you can pre-order your Kindle version of Through Shade and Shadow right now. You can also get a paperback from Amazon right now. If you have Amazon Prime, you could be reading it this weekend!
I find it a little amusing that I don’t even have my first copy of it (I should have it soon) and there are people who have purchased it and are reading it.
I wanted to do a local book launch party in February, but haven’t been able to secure a location yet. I will, however, have a table at the Bay Area Book Fair in June in Berkeley. For my Pagan fans, I will be at Pantheacon in San Jose February 17-20 and I’ll likely have copies on me, so if you see me and want one, please ask.
If you want a signed copy and aren’t local, I am working on getting a system set up to order directly from this site. I hope to have it up and functional by the time I get my box of books.
I also have a giveaway set up on Goodreads. It will open on the first of February.
And if you want to chat, come by my facebook page or hit up my Goodreads inbox.
.…
Source: start your engines
If you taste echinacea’s powerful root, you’ll be surprised by the tingling sensation that soon follows. While many herbalists enjoy echinacea’s root, the entire plant can be used for its immune boosting properties.* The alkyamides in echinacea help stimulate the immune system, but this is only one set of constituents that work in harmony with many others in the plant. Perhaps this is why it is one of the most studied plants in Western herbalism. The true identity of all the active principles still remains open, making echinacea’s true powers another plant mystery!
All the plants in the echinacea genus are indigenous to North America and originally dwelled in prairie lands. In the mid-1800s, the American Eclectic physicians began to use echinacea and its healing powers reached beyond the New World. By the beginning of the 20th century, it was one of the most frequently used herbal preparations in the United States, and overharvesting of the wild perennial flower soon followed.
Fortunately, United Plant Savers works to restore native populations of plants, and echinacea can now be cultivated in many different regions of the world. The best way to start your echinacea seeds is to have them endure a period of cold, moist stratification. What’s that, you ask? Some seeds are very hardy and lay dormant until awakened by the cold weather. Stratification either stimulates or creates winter conditions to encourage germination or sprouting. In the wild, echinacea’s dormancy is naturally overcome by spending time in the ground and enduring long winters.
The easiest way to start echinacea at home is to sow echinacea seeds about ¼ inch deep in fall, cover with a thin layer of rich compost and let nature take its course over the winter. Another option is to place the seeds in a small jar with some sawdust, vermiculite or peat moss. Then moisten and place the jar in the refrigerator for about a month. Once spring arrives, the seeds can be planted a ¼ inch deep into a large pot or directly into the soil. These purple coneflowers enjoy partial to full sun, ample water (but can handle some drought) and good drainage. You can expect the perennial to bloom fully by the summer of its second year.
The leaves of Echinacea purpurea sometimes have “covering trichomes,” which are hairs, emerging right from the skin (or epidermis) of the leaf. Our microscopist helps to identify plants and saves photos like the above to deepen our knowledge of key plant identification features.
If you think you have found this plant in the wild, you will be able to identify it by some of its most pronounced features. All members of the Echinacea genus are perennials that bloom with both disk and ray flowers. The purple ray flowers attach to a round, high and spiky cone – hence the common name “purple coneflower.” Technically speaking, this thick and spiky cone is actually hundreds of more flowers, all tightly packed together.
So when you’re feeling like you need a plant ally to give you a boost, think of echinacea.
Now when you see a beautiful echinacea flower while you are out and about, its radiant purple flowers and sturdy structure will remind you of just how powerful this plant really is.
Cold Stratification of Seeds for Growing Echinacea PurpureaAttract goldfinches and butterflies to your garden with a healthy stand of Echinacea purpurea, or purple coneflower. The plant is a native perennial that thrives in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 3 through 9. Purple coneflower grows from 2 to 4 feet tall, depending on variety, producing purple petals around a cone-shaped center in late summer that first draws butterflies, then finches as it becomes a bristly seed head. Once established, the plant is easy to care and readily self-seeds in place. When starting purple coneflower from seed indoors, you’ll get the best germination rates if seeds are cold stratified.
Cold stratification is a seed treatment developed to help gardeners mimic the winter conditions many seeds need to break dormancy and germinate. Many plants, both perennial and annual, that grow in a cold-winter climate evolved winter seed dormancy to keep them from sprouting when conditions are too cold or dry for sprouts to survive outdoors. Some seeds need only dry stratification — exposure only to temperatures between 33 and 50 degrees Fahrenheit — to germinate, while others need moisture in addition to the cold treatment. The length of stratification required also varies by plant species.
Purple coneflower seed germinates best with moist stratification. Mixing the seeds with a small amount of sawdust, vermiculite or peat moss inside a plastic zipper bag or small jar for cold stratification keeps the seeds moist without hindering germination later. Seeds are sown one-quarter inch deep in containers of moist potting soil and covered with plastic to retain moisture. These containers go inside a refrigerator or other area where the temperature is consistently between 33 and 60 F for the entire stratification period. The temperature experts specifically recommend for E. purpurea coneflowers varies from 40 through 59 F, with the majority at the lower end of the range. Gardeners in areas with winter temperatures consistently in this range can place trays outdoors. Packaged seed often is pre-stratified and does not require any chilling to germinate.
The time required for stratification to be effective varies as well, from as little as two weeks up to a month for the seed to break dormancy. Planning for four weeks of cold prevents any question, as chilling for too long is not harmful to the seeds. Stratification time should be figured into your propagation time so that seeds are removed from chilling when it is time to sow. Seeds germinate in 10 to 30 days at 65 to 70 F and are often ready for transplanting within 30 days. The higher the temperature for both the seed and the seedling, the faster the germination and early growth. Purple coneflowers prefer slightly cool temperatures as seedlings and can be planted out just after the last predicted frost. Stems may be stronger and develop more flower buds when they experience cool temperatures of about 40 F after planting out.
Purple coneflowers grow in full sun to partial shade — dappled shade is ideal — in pH neutral, well-drained soil. Plants started from seed may not bloom for two years after planting. Transplants need at least 15 inches between them for the air circulation necessary to avoid disease, but no more than 24 inches to avoid spindly growth that requires staking. They are drought tolerant once established, but low to moderate water throughout the summer results in the prettiest plants. Like most natives, coneflowers have low fertilizer requirements, although a slow-release, high nitrogen fertilizer, like a 12-6-6, is beneficial in early spring as new growth begins. Deadheading keeps the plant blooming and compact and prevents self-seeding. Basal foliage is evergreen in zone 9 but can be cut back in early spring if it needs to be refreshed.
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