why permaculture folks love comfrey
Sign up for my daily-ish email, or my devious plots for world domination: http://richsoil.com/email.jsp http://permies.com Comfrey may be the most talked about permaculture plant. It is commonly planted under fruit trees because it does not compete with tree roots, but it does compete with plants that do compete with tree roots. Alexia Allen of Hawthorn Farm tell us how she like using it as a poultice. We get to see bees and ants racing for the nectar of the comfrey blossoms. She also feeds it to her animals. Toby Hemenway is the author of "Gaia's Garden: A Guide to Home-Scale Permaculture." He calls comfrey "the queen of the multi function plants." He talks a little about how easily it can spread when you don't want it. And then he talks about how he is able to get rid of it through mulching - but why would you not want it? It's a beneficial insect attractor; it is able to heal wounds; a dynamic nutrient accumulator; good for under fruit trees; good for a comfrey tree for soils; a huge biomass accumulator. Tulsey Latoski of Portland, Oregon tells us about how comfrey makes a great green manure and living mulch. Mostly due to the tap roots that will pull nutrients up from down deep. She also shows us two different types of comfrey. Norris Thomlinson of Portland, Oregon shares some observations about how comfrey fares as chicken feed; edible plant for humans; medicinal plant for humans; Michael Pilarski is a famous wildcrafter and permaculture consultant. http://www.friendsofthetrees.net He tells us about how comfrey sluff material off into the soil to make for a richer soil. Apparently earthworms love comfrey! Michael tells us how comfrey is sometimes called "knit-bone" because it proliferates cell division - a great healer. His spring salads are loaded with comfrey leaves and blossoms. Michael talks about Dr. James Duke says that one bottle of beer has the same level of dangerous alkaloids as 100 cups of comfrey tea. Matt from Feral Farm shows an understory heavy with comfrey. Brian Kerkvliet of Inspiration Farm in Bellingham, Washington, talks about the challenges of getting comfrey out of an area where you don't want it. He uses a hot compost pile on top of it. He also shares the idea that if you have comfrey, that's a great place to plant a fruit tree! Then he shows a permaculture guild that includes comfrey. Samantha Lewis describes how to tell the difference between comfrey, foxglove, mullein and borage. Toby Hemenway wraps up with who is the king of the permaculture multifunctional plants (spoiler: bamboo!) Relevant threads at permies: http://www.permies.com/t/10864/organic-sustainable-practices/comfrey http://www.permies.com/t/1174/permaculture/value-comfrey http://www.permies.com/t/6888/permaculture/Comfrey-cultivars-life-expectancy http://www.permies.com/t/11140/permaculture/Corn-Comfrey-Large-scale-polyculture music by Jimmy Pardo
Comments
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What are the names of the two different comfrey types that you are growing?
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my mom planted comfrey years ago. now its rampant. it does have a nice flower and it attracts a lot of pollinators. my favorite is the humming bird moth. how do you make comfrey tea?
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i have been putting it through the jucer and experimentaly spraying it watered down on brassica leaves and potatoe leaves to encourage growth. seems to work without fermenting.
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Can you share the video of how to plant a field of comfrey with pigs?
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is your advice regarding getting rid of comfrey with pigs also applicable to trying to get rid of roses with pigs?
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My most favorite plant ever!!!
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The more I watch and learn about Toby Hemenway and the whole of what he has done and stands for the more I idolize him. He's truly a badass.
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please can I get some of the comfrey seed ?
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Very nice. Thanks
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paul wheaton do you or any of your viewers know if comfrey naturally displaces cogon grass? We are highly organic and see possibilities to that horrible invasive but feel overrun with it on our 5.5 acres. Some things like Jerusalem artichoke and milk weed seem to hold their very nicely amidst the invasion. Not so much our food garden :( Thanks much for any help here.
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Please i cant get comfrey in az can i buy some from u
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Comfrey is amazing. I broke my toe and put comfrey on it as soon as I could get some. All pain was gone in 15 minutes. I was able to walk without any discomfort, and the break healed in half the time it took other toes I have broken in the past to heal.
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I HAVE BEEN INFORMED THAT U CAN USE THE PLANT AS A MOUTH WASH COMBINED WITH EATING CRUSHED EGG SHELL TO HELP REPAIR TEETH IS THIS RIGHT?
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HI GREAT VIDEO PLEASE CAN YOU TELL ME IF THIS PLANT GROWS IN THE UK AND FRANCE? HAVE TRIED LOOKING BUT ALL COMES UP AS RUSSIA AND AMERICA THANKYOU SHARON
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The man in the video said he eats the comfrey in his salad. Can you tell me which kind to plant that I can eat. Thanks Terri
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7:30 wow...Michael Palin from Monty Python!
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Hello, i have watched your video before, thank you, can you advise me, i live in Battleground Washington, is there a way to have some control over this plant, not evenn sure where to buy this plant. I try to do all organic gardening. Thank you. Rick
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I am going to try and make a body cream to heal muscle, ligaments, and bones. My family are farmers I'm going to see if they can give me a little piece of land to grow some :) ThxSoMuch again. I am not comfortable eating it yet due to everything I have read about it except for here but I will keep looking and researching. Great video thank you
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