Think Florally, Smudge Locally

Saving summer is well worth it come winter. And the flowers and herbs fresh from your garden weather well when preserved as a homemade aromatic bundle. Traditionally used for smudging, bundles have become a thing in the world of health and wellness. Yet the popular smudging with white sage is a sacred ritual for some Native American communities. Commonly performed to cleanse negativity, many are speaking out about the harm now caused by the rampant spread of this practice and consumption of the white sage on which it centers.

“I no longer buy white sage smudging bundles because the plant is on the United Plant Savers “to watch” list,” says Aniko Zala, herbalist, teacher and owner of Wild Origins based in Columbus. “It is incredibly, unsustainably overharvested in the wild by companies driven only by profit. I like to burn plants that I have a relationship with, that I’ve grown myself or that I’ve watched grow on land that I am familiar with, am connected to, and where I have permission to wildcraft plants.”

Many share Zala’s concerns on the use of white sage. Locally harvested flower and herb bundles for personal use are proving more beneficial for many reasons.

“Practicing sustainability by using plants that are readily available, easy to grow, yet still beneficial is an act of respecting the planet, environment and the cultural practices of those we share it with,” says Katie Carothers, botanist and farmer at Old Slate Run Farm in Mount Vernon.

So gather some summer flower power. Read more on Zala’s tips below for crafting your own bundle for the home and for Carothers’s growing and seed tips for chamomile, lavender, beach rose and Sweet Annie.

BEFORE YOU BUNDLE
 

Many, though not all, aromatic plants make wonderful additions to smudging bundles. Sometimes I’ll expect something to smell great only to be disappointed by the smell of ash when I burn it. Because of that I recommend first burning a small amount of an herb in a heatproof bowl to make sure the smell is agreeable before you make a whole bundle of it.

GROW & HARVEST

Garden sage, rosemary, Sweet Annie (or another artemisia), chamomile, beach rose, lavender

GATHER

Only take a small amount from the stand of plants you can see. A good rule of thumb is to take less than 10% of the plants in one area.

CREATE

All you need are herbs and cotton string! Smudge bundles are easy to make and endlessly variable depending on how you want it to look and smell. Simply arrange the flowering stems so they are all going in the same direction. I like tying in loose rose petals, too. Tie the stems together with the string; crisscrossing the string in an X pattern works best to keep the bundle together. Editor’s Note: Avoid synthetic string, which can melt or emit toxic fumes as it burns.

GROWING TIPS FROM KATIE CAROTHERS
 

SEEDS

“My favorite seed companies are Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds and Johnny’s Selected Seeds. Both are independent, small businesses with top-quality seed. For an excellent selection on lavender, rosemary and other herbs, I like to take a trip down to Companion Plants Nursery in Athens, Ohio.” 

CHAMOMILE

If space is limited, it is easy to grow chamomile flowers in a small yard or pot. Simply sprinkle the seeds on the surface of the soil, and press them into the dirt with the palm of your hand. Allow the rain to naturally water the seeds, and they will readily sprout and come back year after year if left to set seed.

LAVENDER

The plant can be purchased from many nurseries, and also thrives well in a pot. I love “Munstead” and “Grosso” lavender for both form and fragrance. 

SWEET ANNIE (ARTEMISIA ANNUAL)

A breeze to grow from seed, but take care to harvest absolutely all of what you plant while it is in flower or you may end up with a forest of the stuff in a few years’ time. These are large, fragrant plants, and delightful for many dried flower crafts, including smudging. 

BEACH ROSES (ROSA RUGOSA)

Vigorous growers. Their flowers and dried petals are intensely fragrant and make lovely additions to herbal bundles. Plant your rose bush in an area you can easily mow around. These aren’t your finicky roses you see at the garden center. They love to grow here and require virtually no care.

Find Aniko Zala at mywildorigins.com and @mywildorigins on Instagram, and Katie Carothers at oldslatefarm.com. And learn more about United Plant Savers at unitedplantsavers.org.