Broadleaf Plantain

Broadleaf Plantain is one of my FAVS! I love everything about these gifts Momma Earth blesses us with each year. This is one of the ways I like to use Broadleaf Plantain. I posted the recipe at the bottom that I make er’year with this amazing gift! I also added a bit of information about this dope plant. Now of course with er’thang I share you need to do your own research light and life🤟🏾!

Have you seen these plant!? It’s called Broadleaf Plantain and it grows especially well in poor, rocky soil (such as driveways) and is often seen alongside dandelion. More often than not, you will see plantain growing in gravel pits and construction sites as nature seeks to regenerate the soil. 

Plantain has often been the go-to remedy for hikers plagued by mosquitos. Because it draws toxins from the body with its astringent nature, plantain may be crushed (or chewed) and placed as a poultice directly over the site of bee stings, bug bites, acne, slivers, glass splinters, or rashes. Bandage the area and allow the plantain to work its magic for 4-12 hours. 

Plantain may also be used to create a balm for emergency kits, or an infusion used as a skin or general wash. It is also a notable, soothing remedy for hemorrhoids.Plantain is renowned for its healing effect on the digestive system. This is especially useful for anyone who has been damaged by antibiotics, anti-inflammatory or pain medications, food allergies, or Celiac disease. 

Both leaves and seeds specifically target the digestive system for healing. The leaves may be steeped as tea, added to soups, or dried with a sauce similar to kale chips. The seeds – a type of psyllium – can be ground or soaked for bulk mucilage or absorbable fibre, which, consumed before meals, may help with weight loss.

Because plantain is a gentle expectorant and high in silica, an infusion can be helpful for lung problems, coughs, and colds.

Plantain is almost a panacea for the human body, treating everything from all menstrual difficulties, all digestive issues, to nearly all skin complaints, and even arthritis. 

Add to salads, chew to ease thirst, or enjoy in stir fries. This versatile wild vegetable will keep you in good health for years to come! Of course with er’thang I post do ya own research. What has worked for me and mines for years may not for you🤟🏾…

Broadleaf and Chickpeas 

Whatcha Need:

2 cups of plantain leaves rinsed and finely chopped 

1/2 cup of cabbage finely chopped 

2 cups of cooked chick peas 

1/2 cup of onion thinly chopped

1 celery stalk finely chopped 

1 garlic gloves finely chopped 

1 knob of ginger sliced thin

1/8 cup olive oil

1/8 cup wine vinegar 1 tsp himalayan salt

1 tsp basil 

1 tsp thyme

1 tsp oregano 

1/2 tsp sage 

1/2 tsp paprika 

1/2 tsp parsley 

1/2 tsp. crush red pepper(for a lil heat)

How it’s Done:

Mix all the above ingredients(except the oil and vinegar)in a large bowl and refrigerate. Once chilled,add the oil and vinegar. If you find the salad a bit dry,then increase the quantity of olive oil and wine vinegar equally until you have the desired texture. 

Enjoy over rice, on pita bread, quinoa,or couscous.

Babies First Foods

​My youngest son was exclusively breastfed until he turned 1! For his first 5mos of eating it was only avocados mixed with a few drops of coconut oil and breastmilk and bananas. 

Him was always so juicy! Him has always been big for his age. He was ready to eat his avocado(lol the pic with the bite mark!).

The benefits of avocados as a first food is an ideal for babies especially due to its high concentration of healthy monounsaturated fats,which are essential for brain development and energy. Its creamy texture is easy to swallow and digest, while its nutrient density including potassium, fiber, and vitamins E and K supports overall growth. 

It is also low-allergy,sugar-free, and requires no cooking. Here are a few important facts to consider this simple fruit for babies👶🏽…

• Brain and Physical Growth: The healthy fat composition is similar to that of breast milk, promoting healthy brain development and providing high-calorie nutrition needed for small stomachs.
• Rich in Nutrients: Avocados provide fiber for digestion, along with vitamins C, E, K, B6, and Folate, which support immune function and iron absorption.
• Perfect Texture: Its soft, buttery texture is ideal for babies learning to eat, as it can be easily mashed for spoon-feeding or served in chunks for baby-led weaning.
• Gentle on Tummies: It is highly digestible and rarely causes allergic reactions, making it a safe choice for early solids.

Lol he couldn’t wait to enjoy his avocado he took a bite right out of it🤣…

Sweet Taters and Birthing

​I know there’s a lot of things posted on social media that make ya go 🤔 hmmmm lol. However not all of it is hogwash lol. This here is true and factual! Our Ancestors didn’t have all the bells and whistles however one thang they did know how to do,is do things naturally and holistically! 

This here is one of those thangs. 

I’m always promoting dates to help with birthing but did you know sweet potatoes have a similar effect. Yeppers good o’l taters. 

I was in labor at home with Masai's Fresh Garden Eats from Dirt to Dish/Holistic Living Made Easy for 17 1/2 hrs and this is the exact dish I cooked with homemade challah for me and my birthing team. 

I had a smoothie of dates and taters as my pain medication. Now I’m not saying it’s the go to for er’body. However it’s a tried and true method for me and many birthing Ancestors before😉…

Yellow Watermelon

​Yellow watermelon isn’t “unripe” red watermelon. It’s actually the older variety. Early African and Middle Eastern watermelons often had pale yellow flesh before selective breeding popularized the red types we see today. Yellow watermelon traces back to older African melon varieties, where pale and golden-fleshed melons were cultivated long before the red varieties became dominant in American markets. 

When Africans were brought to the Americas, seeds, agricultural knowledge, and cultivation practices traveled with them. Watermelon became both food and field crop in the South, with yellow varieties preserving older genetic lines. By the 1700s and 1800s, watermelon—red and yellow—was widely grown in Black farming communities. 

It provided hydration during extreme heat, natural sugars for quick energy, and minerals like potassium to replace what was lost through sweat. In hot Southern summers, melon wasn’t just refreshment—it was practical survival against dehydration and exhaustion. Our people have been growing and eating watermelon for centuries as seasonal nourishment that cooled the body and restored fluids. It wasn’t eaten year-round… it was respected as summer medicine. Yellow watermelon reminds us that ancestral foodways carried deeper agricultural memory, even when the color changed.

#ItsInOurROOTS

#PsalmsandPotions

#BackyardHealing

Healing Honey 🍯

🤎Sage & Honey - Make a soothing tea for sore throats and digestion.

🤎Rosemary & Honey - Infuse in warm water for a brain-boosting tonic.

🤎Holy Basil (Tulsi) & Honey - Stir into tea to reduce stress and support immunity.

🤎Lemon Verbena & Honey - Add to warm water before bed for better sleep.

🤎Hibiscus & Honey - Mix with cold water for a refreshing heart-healthy drink.

🤎Fenugreek & Honey - Blend into smoothies for digestion and blood sugar balance.

🤎Calendula & Honey - Use as a natural skin salve for wounds and inflammation.

🤎Yarrow & Honey - Brew into tea for fever relief and circulation support.

🤎Lemongrass & Honey - Add to warm water for digestion and detox support.

🛑 Always do YOUR own  research especially if you have any underlying or pre-existing conditions etc! Natural remedies so beneficial and powerful. They can also be dangerous when mixed with different pharmaceutical…light and life🤟🏾!!!

Winter Herbs 🌿

​

1. Ginger

Heals: Colds, inflammation, bloating, nausea

Use: Tea, soups, stir-fries

🤎Warming + boosts circulation

2. Turmeric

Heals: Joint pain, gut inflammation, immunity

Use: Golden milk, curries, smoothies

🤎Powerful anti-inflammatory

3. Tulsi (Holy Basil)

Heals: Respiratory issues, stress, low immunity

Use: Herbal tea

🤎Adaptogen + lung support

4. Thyme

Heals: Cough, sore throat, infections

Use: Broths, roasted veggies, tea

🤎Natural antibacterial

5. Rosemary

Heals: Brain fog, fatigue, inflammation

Use: Soups, potatoes, infused oil

🤎Improves circulation + focus

6. Sage

Heals: Hormone imbalance, sore throat, digestion

Use: Tea, sautés

🤎Especially helpful for women’s health

Rosemary 🦶🏾 Soak

​Soaking Your Feet in Rosemary Water: What Happens? 🦶🏾🌿

1️⃣ Relax tired feet fast

Warm rosemary water helps your feet unwind after a long day. Perfect for those “I stood too long” evenings 😅

2️⃣ Helps fight foot fungus

Rosemary has natural antifungal properties that support foot hygiene. Great if your feet live in socks all day 👟

3️⃣ Boosts circulation

The warmth plus rosemary can gently improve blood flow, which may reduce that heavy, tired feeling in feet and ankles.

4️⃣ Natural antiseptic support

Small cuts or cracked skin benefit from rosemary’s cleansing effect. Just don’t expect miracles overnight 😉

5️⃣ Stress melts away

The scent alone is calming. Many people are surprised how relaxing a simple foot soak can be after a stressful day.

Relatable mistake 🤟🏾

Most people make it too complicated. You don’t need fancy oils or 20 steps—hot water, rosemary, and 15 minutes is plenty.

Simple takeaway ✨

A rosemary foot soak is an easy, natural way to relax, refresh, and care for your feet using something many kitchens already have 🌿