mullein: heal the earth with cowboy toilet paper
http://www.permies.com Mullein (mullan, Verbascum thapsus) is a biennial plant with fuzzy leaves. Often called "cowboy toilet paper" or "the butt wipe plant". It will grow in the worst soils, including gravel piles, rock piles, and the video will show it growing in asphalt. Mullein generally doesn't compete with anything, so it improves the worst soils wherever it goes. Brian Kerkvliet of Inspiration Farm in Bellingham, Washington says that he might take some mullein out, but usually leaves it in. He thinks it has a lot of good roots for building the soil. Good biomass, bee food and the dried stalks help with aerating compost piles. Tulsey Latoski mentions the lore that mullein fights off evil spirits, then shares information about how mullein can be used as an ear ache medicine; As the foundation for tallow torches; roadside toilet paper. Norris Thomlinson talks about how goldfinches and downy woodpeckers like the seeds. Toby Hemenway, author of Gaia's Garden, A Guide to Home-Scale Permaculture, starts off by confessing that mullein is "the world's greatest toilet paper", then explains how mullein heals the worst soil problems: it has a "spike root" which will break up compacted soil, bringing minerals up from deep in the soil. "Removing 'weeds' stops nature from healing the soil." Mullein grows in sand, gravel and rock piles, is an early pioneer stage plant, and "once the soil actually gets better ... the mullein often leaves of its own accord. It's not something to stick around once the soil gets well developed ... it's one of those plants that comes in and very politely bows out once its job is done." Our official mullein spokesmodel, Forrest, was available for this video really cheap. It turns out that he doesn't actually speak (which you would think would be required of a SPOKESmodel) and he appears always disshelved (the "model" part). But he does convey information on the size of mullein, what it looks like when it is dead, and the bit about how a mullein leaf under your pillow is supposed to give you great dreams. Dov Shoneman, licensed acupuncturist and herbalist, likes mullein's latin name of Verbascum thapsus and admits to the most common name of "the toilet paper plant". He suggests that the leaves remind him of lungs - therefore, good lung medicine; a tea will help facilitate the function of the lungs; the flowers can be put in olive oil with garlic for two weeks as the best ear infection medication - anti-bacterial and anti-viral. Gordon Hogenson (thanks to Gordon and Jeni Hogenson for giving me the video clip. Jeni did the filming) shows off a massive specimen and reminds us that mullein is from eurasia. Gordon mentions how it is an impressive architectural plant in the garden. Bud Papin, Polson, Montana assures us that this is the official American Indian "butt wipe plant" (native americans adopted mullein quickly and found many uses for it not covered in this video). Bud also shares that it is wise to "go with the needles, don't go against the needles" (the fuzz on older plants can cause discomfort if you "go against the fuzz"). Kelly Ware of BigFork, Montana confeses to using the plant for ... uh ... paperwork ... earlier in the day. Michael "Skeeter" Pilarski is a renouned wildcrafter and permaculture instructor. He harvests and sells parts of mullein every year. He sells the flowers, the leaves and the roots. Skeeter mentions how drying the leaves can be tough because of how the fuzz "is a drought resistant strategy". He then talks about different kinds of torches that can be made. "If you make a big pile of gravel, mullein is the first thing that will colonize the gravel pile." "Mullein loves humans. Humans and mullein have a love affair. We disturb the soil and hurt the planet, and mullein comes along and tries to repair things." Relevant threads at permies: http://www.permies.com/permaculture-forums/9082_0/permaculture/mullein-in-permaculture http://www.permies.com/permaculture-forums/5423_0/resources-seeds-plants-honey-consulting-etc/mullein-seeds http://www.permies.com/permaculture-forums/4751_0/homestead/alternatives-to-toilet-paper music by Jimmy Pardo
Comments
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verbascum is not an ideal toilet paper I've been jumping in the woods a long time and used everything I avoid verbascum leaves, I'm not sure if any of these people have actually used it to wipe their butt
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cone flower growing next to it
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It's also a great fire starting plant... the dried stalks make a good lightweight friction rod. You can search out the techniques here on youtube, videos by bushcrafters Reallybigmonkey1 and also Larry Roberts.
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I'm growing mullein. At first I thought it was foxglove. I have three plants. I allowed them to go to seed last year so I'm interested to see how many I will have this year.
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top of the back yard plant mullein,thxs a lot
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Do you make the tea before or after you wipe? Or does it matter?
We've always called it lamb's ear, and it really does make great TP. So do real lamb's ears. Just leave them on the lamb, though. Ewe can clean them later. Never knew about the medicinal purposes until I saw a video of a guy swearing by it it after he smoked it. Things probably don't eat it because it's so pubescent (hairy)... and because people wipe with it. Being from rural Missouri, I'm inclined just to use the spike like a corncob. Works great. Thanks. -
I leave them for the bees, and the birds love the seeds in the winter - at least the ones that are still on the stalk. The height of the plant adds color above the wildflowers I have and I love how soft the leaves are....they make a good, quick, kneeling pad in the garden.
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Mine are about 6 ft but all yellow, very beautiful, interesting plant.
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what a waste to use it for toilet paper.. its a miracle herb...
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are you daft slocar 1?
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We called it Camper's Washcloth
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I love the video, and Forrest. :P
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Sounds like I need a lot of this to help with this hard clay I have, thanks!
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LOL'd so hard at Forest.'Forest shows us dead mullein'... (poke dead mullein). Next time they cast you for a movie, demand lines silent bob.
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My very most favorite wild plant!
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Man if he would go back to the native Americans & asked they will find thousands of ways to get by, heal & prevent sickness, but so many plants, trees are being lost due to the oil, gas, uranium mining & drilling as corporate interest come first in the halls of congress. All of this info is vital to bring back Mother Earth, Hemp is a wonder plant, but it's still suppressed in most of the states. It restores the soils PH, soaks up radiation, then how to get rid of the radiation? We need a solution now, please people think.
Thanks for this video, we seek the truth! Peace -
ok.. sooo not good for women o.o
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it is also called lamb's ear in some places
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I wonder if I can get some of this stuff to grow downunder in Perth. I love the idea of free emergency toilet paper and the medicinal benefits and uses are amazing :)
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