Fortunately, there are sustainable sources out there and a few alternative, more abundant plants you can smudge with instead. You may choose to grow particular plants in your garden specifically to use for smudge or to collect them from the wild. . Air-dry harvested Sage by hanging it upside-down. The plants do best in full sun, though they can tolerate a little bit of shade. NOTE: Make sure whatever herb you’re using for smudging isn’t toxic when burned AND has purifying effects. Most garden shops and catalogs offer only the gray varieties. Garden sage, if dried and bundled correctly, could have cleansing effect, but I believe the best way to use this type of sage is internally as a medicinal ally. It is a ritual cleansing. It Repels Garden Pests. I love the amazing aroma, how enthusiastically it grows, the lovely tropical red flowers it’s produced even in a colder climate! 3. Learn exactly how to grow, cultivate, and harvest in this guide. You don’t need to make them yourself. Harvesting and Using Sage. Make sure the herbs you use are dry. Tricolor sage care is extremely easy. However, if you can't wait for the blooms, you can harvest and dry sage at any time during the growing season. Are The Herbs In Perfect Condition? My kids and I recently made smudge sticks with the herbs and flowers from our garden. This sage has a beautiful pineapple aroma, and every time I walk past it I can’t resist crushing a leaf and smelling the pineapple scent. Sage leaves, like most other fresh herbs, are at their most flavorful when the plant is just blooming. The practice of smudging homes has become more widespread, but with that comes issues: white sage is now an at risk species due to over harvesting in the wild. It grows extremely fast, and varieties like ‘Tri-Colour’ are very attractive. Sage’s name hints at its nature: sometimes called S. salvatrix (sage the savior), the second half of Salvia officinalis refers to its medicinal use—according to Wikipedia, the officina was the storeroom of a monastery where herbs and medicines were stored. I’ve had Pineapple Sage growing in my garden for years. It grows spikes of spring flowers in different colors, including purple, blue, white, and pink. Harvest: Anytime. By the end of summer, an established plant can reach a height of 5 feet with a nearly equal spread; by size alone, it commands a significant presence in the garden. The end is lit into a slow smolder, releasing thick smoke. Herbs have a stronger flavor once dried, so realize that when harvesting sage for immediate use, you will need to use about twice as much for a recipe that calls for dried sage. There are many herbs for smudging. While a sage plant is in its prime, it makes an attractive addition to both herb gardens and ornamental borders. To make smudge bundles the best herb to use is garden sage (Salvia officinalis) although other herbs such as thyme, and lavender and mugwort can be included in the bundles. Dry sage by bundling 6 cut stems together and tying them to create a bunch. The burning of various medicine plants to make a smudge or cleansing smoke is used by the majority of Native North American peoples. You also want to grow this type of sage because it is one of the best at repelling mosquitoes! Growing Pineapple Sage. To harvest sage, collect the entire stem by cutting it off near the plant stalk. After the herbs are dry, light up the smudge stick and blow the fire just as you would do with an incense. In subsequent years, harvest sage as you need it, year-round. It Smells Beautiful. Smudge sticks can be made in minutes and are a fresh new way to put your garden herbs to use. Harvesting regularly is advised to keep the plant in a firm bushy form. Sage is a perennial plant. Frequent harvesting and pruning help to reinvigorate sage plants. Harvest as needed. Sage quickly becomes a small woody shrub that can need replacing every three to four years. At least twice during the growing season, cut six to eight inches from the plants’ top. 7) Russian Sage (Perovskia atriplicifolia) Russian sage is one of my absolute favorite perennials in my pollinator garden. Dry harvested sage by hanging bunches of stems upside-down. Negative energy, feelings, and emotions are lifted away. You can use it for turkey stuffing, butternut squash, and breakfast sausage. Green Garden Sage. As the smoke rises, our prayers rise to the Spirit World where the Grandfathers and our Creator reside. Burning sage (also known as smudging) is an ancient spiritual ritual. Green garden sage is the most popular in cooking. Sage can be harvested about 75 days after transplanted to your garden. If you don’t want it for culinary purposes, simply growing tricolor sage plants in the garden as ornamentals works too. You will find as your Sage grows your garden or window sill will be filled with its aromatic smell which you really can’t miss. This herb was used as a medicinal plant by Native Americans, but is also used for culinary purposes. You can retain more flavors by harvesting the leaves at this stage. Mar 25, 2020 - Learn how to grow sage with these tips for harvesting and using sage. To give new foliage time to fully mature, leave 2 months between your last big harvest and the first frost of the season. In some areas, you can purchase a cutting or wild-crafting permit for a small fee. I wrote about how to make smudge sticks, and as promised, wanted to write a bit about smudging herbs and some of the best plants to use. Make sure you plant the edible variety of sage, such as Garden Sage, Purple Sage, Tri-color Sage or Golden Sage. Select the fully mature leaves, which will be identifiable because of their greater size. A few plants will easily supply plenty for yourself as well as your neighbors. There are many pre-packed or pre-bundled smudge sticks you can buy. If you cannot harvest the herbs in your garden for smudging, don’t worry. Smudge Tips: A cypress smudge stick can take up to 6 weeks to fully dry before use. This year we made most of ours out of sweet Annie, sage… Let them dry for a few hours. Definitely easy to grow, sage prefers a sunny spot in the garden and is not overly particular about soil conditions. It has soft, silver-green leaves and is the best type of sage to be used in cooking. For example, I grow rosemary in my garden. The most-used sage types have antimicrobial properties. Herbs Garden. Instead of buying white sage and adding to the over-harvesting issue, grow your own smudging herbs in your garden (or in pots in a window). Cut an entire stem if desired, or just pinch a leaf at a time. It is also one of my absolute favorite smudging herbs. How to Grow White… 2. Strip the dry leaves from the stem and store in an airtight container. Step 2 Dry for later use. Tricolor Sage Care. Go to a herb specialist for the less common types. 3. This is very important since damp herbs or those with moisture will not produce the right kind of smoke that’s needed in a smudging. Pineapple Sage. The leaves are used fresh or dried to flavor a variety of dishes including beef, pork and poultry. Common garden sage, however, mixes better with other plants if you are combining them as white sage can sometimes overpower the other plants. Be sure to stop your herb harvesting in the fall, so that the plants are given adequate time to harden off for the winter. Sage is the most commonly used method of cleansing/ smudging, however you can mix your Sage with many other Herbs as well, which simply adds the additional benefits to your normal smudging/ cleansing routine. If you use white sage, please be conscious about your sourcing. The plant has become endangered and irresponsible harvesting practices here in the US to supply the recent pop culture interest in smudging is causing damage to First Nations … Harvest from your garden, wildcraft or buy organic herbs. Harvesting Sage When to Harvest Sage. Sage, a member of the vast mint family, is a versatile and easy to grow herb. Some of the best herbs to use for smudge sticks: Garden sage; Lemon balm; Lavender; Sweet grass; Rosemary; Mint; Pine; Eucalyptus ; Basically any herb or plant that smells delicious! The leaves have an intense flavor and, when dried, it can be even more potent. Not all sage varieties are culinary; the most popular kitchen sage … Smudging with sage is accomplished by acquiring a sage bundle or smudge stick. The botanical name is ... You can harvest sage after about three months, but in the first year, you should harvest very lightly. Grow Garden Sage if you live in a climate that gets long periods of cold and snow! Native Americans burn dried sage as part of sacred ceremonies and believe that its smoke purifies the environment. Consider growing sage. Smudging (also called “saging”) is a practice which involves the burning of herbs that are bundled, braided, or loose (for our purposes today we are taking about bundling, creating smudge sticks). For smudging purposes, it is probably best to stick with White Sage, which has been dried and bundled specifically for smudging rituals. Sage is a hardy perennial with pretty, grayish green leaves that like as good in a perennial border as they do in a vegetable garden. For those who prefer the flavor of dried sage and do not regularly harvest fresh leaves, you can easily cut from the plant and save for later. They tend to grow to between 1 and 1.5 feet tall and wide. To harvest sage, simply remove leaves as desired. You can also strip off leaves, chop, and add to recipes. To make smudge sticks, you will need herbs, natural string (or twine) and scissors. Article from ehow.com. How to Harvest Sage | Hunker. I make this sage cleansing spray with garden sage. Depending where you live, you may be able to find sage growing around your neighborhood. It’s good in an ornamental garden as well as your herb garden. White sage grows as a perennial in those zones, but can also be grown as an annual in other zones. A popular herb in desert areas such as the low desert of Arizona, sage is tolerant of … Use entire stem in recipes, tied into a bouquet (which makes it easy to remove before eating.) Garden sage is the edible sage found in the average home and garden. Hang it dry in a well-ventilated area away from light. After that, you can harvest as you need. Sage Harvesting. If you keep an herb garden, you may want to cultivate your own sage plant to ensure a steady … You can pinch off one leaf at a time or cut an entire stem if you want to. Learning how to grow white sage is easy as this herb can be planted by seeds, requires minimal upkeep, and is great for attracting beneficial insects to your garden! Try to harvest sage on clear days where the dew has dried on the leaves, so that the oils present are at their height. Ask for permission before harvesting sage on private property, or within the bounds of a state park. The mature leaves of a white sage plant are smooth and white, while the leaves of garden sage are gray or gray/green. Also white sage is slightly larger, growing 4 to 5 feet tall compared to garden sage… This fragrant herb is native to Central & Southern America and is considered a tender Perennial here in North America. Though the herb is generally listed as hardy to Zone 8 or 9, the roots of pineapple sage overwinter in my Zone 7 garden under 3 to 4 inches of winter mulch, producing a larger clump of shoots each year. You can also have great success planting sage in containers. 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