The flowers can be yellow, orange and deep red. Not just a pretty face both the leaves and flowers of the nasturtium plant are packed with nutrition and contain high levels of vitamin C. They are a decorative addition to a salad providing a pungent and peppery flavour. Products: Add fresh flowers and leaves to salads, to vinegars, add to pestos, stuff flowers with soft cheese, dried flowers too salts.
Benefits: Improve the immune system, tackling sore throats, coughs, and colds, as well as bacterial and fungal infections.
spring explore
Winter indulgence is over – time to get off the couch and get with a new season – the weather is warmer, and the garden calls.
The commencement in November of the 2020/2021 Apprenticeship Programme will start with the wonderful nutrition that plant medicines offer us. The first flush of spring plants like miners lettuce, dandelions, chickweed, fat hen and cleavers are all providers of fantastic nutrition. The spring apprenticeship classes with explore wild plants and how they can improve our nutrition and keep us well. Prevention is better than cure.
PHYTOFARM SPRING TIPS FOR MAKING YOUR OWN MEDICINE GARDEN
Time for an exploration of the garden, what has happened in the garden over winter. Take note of any garden beds that need to be cleaned out – we did our peppermint house. New soil, compost and dug up and cleaned the peppermint plants of other weeds, replanted and sorted the watering system.
Look for any landscape elements that need to be done – we are making new raised beds down the right-hand slope of the garden – for purple sage, lemon balm and arnica.
Keep a good hygiene standard by removing any diseased plants or leaves with clean, sharp pruners. Cut back and divide clumping perennials where necessary.
Examine the soil for humus and nutrient content. Top dress garden beds with an inch or two of compost and prepare for dry summer periods with a thick layer of pea straw to help retain moisture.
our tisanes
immune support tisane
Drink this tisane to increase the T-helper cells that boost your immunity. It improves the functioning of the immune system.
sleep well tisane
Drink this tisane for the benefits of all these wonderful quietening, calming and sedative plants that help empty the head and prepare you for sleep.
lung health tisane
Drink this tisane to strengthen and warm with mullein, hyssop and thyme. Marshmallow provides valuable mucilage for the lungs, especially for dry coughs.
pick me up tisane
Drink this refreshing tisane as a caffeine substitute for those low energy moments. With Kawakawa, a versatile plant pharmacy in itself.
herb of the season
nasturtium
products
Enjoy our luscious herbal body butters and creams, delightful tasting teas, infused medicinal oils, tonics and healing salves.
workshops
Seasonal workshops and tours designed to explore the changes in the garden and use of plants to make fabulous products.
apprenticeship
This programme offers a thorough instruction in the growing, harvesting, processing & manufacture of herbal products.
retreats
Retreats to empower you with a feeling of wellness & inspire you to feel good about yourself. Think beach, spa resort & daily yoga.
events and dates
OCTOBER
A 10 year celebration of the apprenticeship programme – graduates are gathering for a re-connect, re-unite at Phytofarm. A plant immersion indulgence, native bark infused oil for use in skin products. Gathering and using plant resins in topical preparations. Jill Mulvaney will do a guide to botanical drinks, sterile production of hydrosols, reality of essential oil production, sustainability of commercial oil production and the risk of inappropriate use. A memory lane of Phytofarm culinary delights.
A 10 year celebration of the apprenticeship programme – graduates are gathering for a re-connect, re-unite at Phytofarm. A plant immersion indulgence, native bark infused oil for use in skin products. Gathering and using plant resins in topical preparations. Jill Mulvaney will do a guide to botanical drinks, sterile production of hydrosols, reality of essential oil production, sustainability of commercial oil production and the risk of inappropriate use. A memory lane of Phytofarm culinary delights.
NOVEMBER
Learn to make and manage your own medicine garden with our Apprenticeship in Herbal Medicine.
”Loved the hands-on learning in a small group.“ KIMBERLEY EDDY
2020 Spring Well Being Workshop EXPLORE
In spring the workshop will focus on edible plants that grow in both our medicinal plots and wild plants from the meadow. It will highlight how medicinal plants offer you nutritionally dense food.
Tuesday 17 November FULLY BOOKED
Sunday 22 November FULLY BOOKED
Thursday 3 December
Saturday 19 December FULLY BOOKED
Other times for workshops and garden tours can be negotiated. Please contact Valmai or Andrea to discuss.
Kimi ora retreats
Retreat at Kimi Ora 9-13 October is FULLY BOOKED!
Retreats at Kimi Ora for Autumn 2021 & Spring 2021 will be posted in November 2020.
Summer Retreats 2021 at Phytofarm will be announced in December.
Retreats at Kimi Ora for Autumn 2021 & Spring 2021 will be posted in November 2020.
Summer Retreats 2021 at Phytofarm will be announced in December.
our favourite
rosehip oil
The wild dog rose grows in dry conditions and produces bright red fruits called rosehips we use for this oil, which are rich in valuable nutrients for the skin. The five wonders of Rosehip Oil are that it hydrates, moisturizes, brightens the skin, aids collagen formation and reduces inflammation.
$ 30.00
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