THE HOMESTEADER HERBAL HANDBOOK

A manual focuses on the biological benefits of natural herbal remedies.

From her homestead hobby farm, Rempel and her husband, Dave (who tills, waters, and helps with harvesting), believe wholeheartedly in the simplicity of living a beneficial lifestyle through organically grown food, including medicinal herbs that “inspire and create health.” While in her 40s, the author, who admits she “grew up a city girl and never thought about where my food came from,” sought a naturopath after several enduring illnesses and adopted natural and herbal solutions to the things that plagued her health. The book’s introductory sections present the history of the pre-pharmaceutical use of herbs juxtaposed with their modern, conventional-medicine counterparts. Rempel’s herb tour begins with the most popular home remedy—aloe vera—and touts its leaf gel for burns and as a mild anesthetic and recommends consuming it as a “juice” to relieve digestive issues. Less recognizable yet equally intriguing plants follow, like the ancient Indian immune booster Ashwagandha, or hyssop, and moringa. More recognizable herbs and cooking spices include chamomile, echinacea, ginger, garlic, parsley, turmeric, and the multifaceted mint family. The author shares the herbs’ origin stories and range of uses as well as precautions about potency and possible side effects. What makes them accessible even to the amateur gardener is the inclusion of a five-step method to each herb’s cultivation, growing needs, and harvesting protocol. Rempel’s mindset revolves primarily around the belief that there is relief just a garden plot away since “healthcare systems worldwide are put under more and more pressure.” She touts the importance of traceability, stressing that knowledge about where a person’s food comes from is essential to improved wellness and vitality and less consumption of environmental toxins. Also helpful are scannable QR codes offering color photographs and enhanced media with instructions on creating a natural first aid kit at home. The book concludes with a generous recipe chapter putting all these homestead herbs right into tempting homemade savory main dishes, sauces, desserts, and cocktails, making the volume inviting and accessible to even those with just a passing interest in herbalism.

An enthusiastic, useful, and proactive guide to increasing wellness through home herbal agriculture.