Manitu here, some people call me Miss Vicky, or Auntie Vicky, so here is the game: Stump Auntie Vicky START by reading the disclaimer and the rules, then Come play in the dirt with me. Here is the deal, I have been in the garden since I could tell the difference between a weed and a vegetable. ----I'm counting on my fingers--- Over 50 years - I grew up with a traditional garden - I fed my own family from a small raised bed garden - I have operated a market garden - For the last 20 or so years, I have been container gardening while traveling from show to show in an RV I don't consider myself to be an expert in the plants or every technique. I promise, It's not that hard to stump Auntie Vicky. I am an expert at resiliency, because I have had to be. That means that I am an expert at: - Doing research and figuring it out - Experimenting without breaking the bank - Making messes and cleaning it up RULES: - It must relate to plants, gardening on a small scale, or tools - I will not give health or treatment advice that you should get from a doctor, herbalist, or other professional - You need to provide any clear photographs that are needed for identification. - My answers are my honest opinion based on my experience and research - One Stump Auntie Vicky question per member per month One winner will be chosen each month from the questions that Stump Auntie Vicky

Digging the blackberries out of the garden was a chore, But it served dual purpose. I am still chipping blackberry root to make medicinals. You don't need fancy equipment. Just a bit of grit and creativity to turn problems into abundance. What problems have you turned into abundance? We could all use more ideas.

While I prefer to use simple, but high quality tools, they do need care and attention while you are working with them. One of my favorite gardening tools is a soil knife. You can find them in a number of places. But be aware, that they can be dangerously sharp. I ran across this picture taken in November of this year. I did this when I was cutting roots out of the crates so that I could clean them up and move them. It was just a minor nick, but still... Get good tools, but use them carefully. My finger slipped onto the blade as I was cutting roots.

Many years ago, when I was just starting to learn how to use herbs, I picked up a book called 20,000 Secrets of Tea by Victoria Zak. It is a beautiful little paperback that I picked up at a discount at my local Barnes and Noble book store. That may have been one of the best investments that I ever made. I now have many books in my library on herbal medicine, but I still start with 20,000 Secrets of Tea. It is an excellent thumbnail view of a range of widely available herbs and their safe use. If you are looking for a quick reference to get you started, check it out. I can still find it if I look for it. Start with second hand book sellers. New copies are available from a number of outlets. A quick Google search will lead you to several sellers.