Multi Purpose in the Garden

Discover some useful plants that can support healthy garden crops; and then provide food and health for your home. Companion planting is often done planting flowers among vegetables in a garden; they add beauty and benefits such as repelling insects and pests.

Companion planting is important for understanding how plants work, which insects and pests are repelled, and which beneficial predators are attracted. In the plant world what we see is only a portion of what is going on beneath the soil, once we understand this there is another aspect of companion planting we can harness.

Beneath the soil plants trade nutrients and phytochemicals (plant chemicals we use for medicinals). This relationship harnessed in permaculture is a garden design technique that makes use of the many complex and symbolic relationships among plants, insects, and animals.

Making use of all aspects of companion planting give us the most vibrant and productive plants and soils. Why not try planting mutually beneficial crops together and give them equal attention in our gardens, kitchens, and medicine cabinet. Below are examples of good companion choices.

Borage Borago officinalis 

In the garden borage is a favorite companion for strawberries, squash, and tomatoes. An annual that self seeds and is said to strengthen nearby plants, as they tend to concentrate trace minerals in the soil.

In the kitchen the leaves of borage taste a bit like cucumber and are wonderful in salad, although some people don’t like their slightly prickly texture. You can also make a spread for veggies or bread by chopping the leaves finely and combining them with a soft cheese.

In the medicine cabinet borage is the highest known plant source of gamma linolenic acid, an omega-6 fatty acid that is believed to be anti-inflammatory. The leaves are said to lift the spirits and support the health of our endocrine systems.

Red Clover Trifolium pratense 

In the garden this member of the bean family fixes nodules of nitrogen around its roots, increasing the soil fertility. Red clover is especially helpful at making the soil less compacted, and less acidic.

In the kitchen red clover can be enjoyed raw as an addition to vegetables and salads; this may bring back memories of sitting in a field sipping wild clovers sweet nectar, and you are really doing your body a favor red clover is a source of many nutrients including calcium, chromium, magnesium, potassium, and vitamin c. For an adult treat through a handful of the red flowerets plucked from the flower head into warm rice with a pat of butter, and you’ll be delighted!

In the medicine cabinet the red clover flower is rich in minerals and vitamins, and is a well known blood thinner which can help prevent blood clots. It’s often used as a tea to improve the condition of our kidneys and liver.

Elderberry Sambucus nigra

In the garden the soil underneath your elderberry will become much more aerated, and it also tends to work as a compost activator assisting in breaking down kitchen and yard refuge. The leaves can be made into a tea and sprayed to control aphids.

In the kitchen elderberries are the current foodie hot crop; the main stream has finally caught on to how delicious the berries are in jams, jellies, syrups, wines, and more. They are a bit of work to harvest, making prices climb, but they are incomparably delicious!

In the medicine cabinet the elder plant is one of the most sought after plants for cold and flu season, as it is known to combat 8 various strains of the influenza virus. The berries are used for this purpose; often tinctured, and is so delicious it’s better in teas and syrups.

Garlic Allium sativum 

In the garden garlic is your superstar if you have fruit trees or roses, as it is repellant to aphids, borers, codling moths, root maggots, snails, and even deer. A mix of garlic oil diluted with water is an effective spray to repel aphids, fungus gnats, and whiteflies; and can also be helpful to deter brown rot in stone fruits, and late blight in potatoes and tomatoes.

In the kitchen garlic makes a flavorful, healthy and savory addition to every meal, and there are unlimited ways to use it, fresh, roasted, oil infused. Try oven roasting whole heads of garlic; remove the excess outer skin, and trim off the head just to expose the cloves, drizzle with olive oil and place in a 300 degree oven until soft and brown, then squeeze out the garlic paste to make any dish more flavorful.

In the medicine cabinet fresh garlic is one of the worlds superfoods, its antibacterial, antifungal, antioxidant, and anticarcinogenic, and antiviral properties. Garlic stimulates the immune system; and is used to fight high blood pressure, colds, earaches, flus, and intestinal bugs, soar throats, and even helps ward off cancer. Eating garlic raw is the best way to use it for stimulating your immune system.

Yarrow Achillea millefolium 

In the garden leaves of yarrow are used in biodynamic agriculture as a compost activator. It also helps draw beneficial insects to your garden. And when planted close to your favorite plants it increases their aromatics.

In the kitchen yarrow is similar to tarragon and can be used where tarragon is called for. You might also mix it with other delicately flavored herbs such as tarragon, chervil, and parsley.

In the medicine cabinet yarrow is an anti-inflammatory and a styptic (stops bleeding). It’s commonly used for first aid of minor cuts and scrapes to reduce bleeding and for its antibacterial properties.

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