COLUMNIST: grass roots remedies
With Ostara having just passed on the Celtic Wheel, the clocks have sprung forward, giving us brighter evenings and so many seeds to sow and grow. Soon we’ll be pricking out, hardening off, and transplanting our delicate seedlings into hopefully, warm enough soil. As herbalists, particularly with an interest in permaculture, where we can, we also look to the cycles of the moon when considering our planting and harvesting schedules.
The cycles of the moon are often less familiar to us than the seasonal cycles. Below is a simplified outline of how permaculture principles work with the moon cycles.
The cycle starts with the Dark Moon, when there is no moon visible in the sky and we think of resting and resetting, perhaps enjoying quiet time in our homes or gardens, perhaps by candlelight.
Shortly after, when we start to see the first tiny sliver of the moon, we have the New Moon, a time for starting to make plans and to think of the rest of the cycle.
We call the time from the Dark Moon to the point when it is half full the First Quarter, and we refer to this as the Waxing Moon. At this time, sap is being pulled upwards and it is best to plant leafy annual veg with edible leaves and stems such as lettuces.
From the First Quarter to the Full Moon, the sap is continuing to rise and there is the best energy for planting annuals such as edible fruits like tomatoes.
Then as the Full Moon moves to the Third Quarter, the sap is starting to move downwards so root plants or fruiting perennials are best planted, perennials need strong roots to last through the winter.
Finally, from the Third Quarter back to the Dark Moon, it is useful to pause and tend to the soil as the sap falls again and energy is lower.
We certainly don’t always manage to work precisely with the Moon’s phases - in Scotland sometimes you just need to get out there and plant things in the gaps between rainstorms. Despite this, keeping those lunar cycles in mind can provide another way to connect with plants and the land. We explore this with our Plant Allies students through journaling with the lunar cycle, connecting to one medicinal plant each month, and following our direct experiences over the cycle. As we move into summer, we’ll be seeing more of the moon as we have long enough evenings to enjoy outside spaces later in the day.
As well as working to the moon’s cycles in growing and harvesting plants, we also look to the moon for some herbal preparations. In spring, the often overlooked young growth of cleavers (Galium aparine) can be prepared as a moon bath. Cleavers is commonly used in spring as a lymphatic herb, aiding the body in moving fluid and relieving congestion, especially after a winter of snuffly coughs and colds.
It is traditional on the Full Moon, taking care to pick somewhere away from the road or where there is a busy path for people and/or dogs, to place a small handful of cleavers, or sticky willy as it’s commonly known in Scotland, in a clean glass jar with a lid. Cover the plant with cold water, place the lid on the jar, and leave on a windowsill overnight. The moon will infuse the cleavers in the water, creating a light, refreshing drink. Cleavers can also be prepared as a hot infused tea, with subtle differences in the flavour and sensation between the two types of drink.
As the season moves on and we come to the next cycle of the year with Beltane and May Day, many spring plants like cleavers will have started to form flowers and the energy, flavour, and therapeutic nature of the leaves will be diminished. Rather than regretting the passing of the tasty leaves, we welcome the beauty of the flowers and think of the seeds to come, many of which are perhaps even more tasty and nutritious than their spring counterparts.
Ground Elder (Aegopodium podagraria) seeds, as another example, have an extremely distinct taste which can be described as fragrant and perfumed - we’ve had students describe them as “posh celery” or “spicy parma violets”. Ground Elder seeds are phenomenal when eaten fresh, a truly seasonal treat available for a relatively fleeting moment.
In this way, observing or foraging wild plants connects us to the seasons and the rhythm and cycles of the land.
Catriona Gibson (she/her), has a herbal clinic at Woodland Herbs, Glasgow, and is a medical herbalist and foraging tutor with Grass Roots Remedies Co-operative.
Grass Roots Remedies shares practical knowledge about growing, foraging, and making remedies with abundant local plants and also runs an award winning low-cost clinic in Wester Hailes, South Edinburgh. Their current Plant Allies to focus on in Spring/Summer 2025 are rose, pine, and borage. To find out more about courses, including seasonal foraging and home remedy making, click HERE. For more information on the work of Grass Roots Remedies, including volunteering opportunities in Edinburgh and Glasgow, email hello@grassrootsremedies.co.uk.