Hello! I’m new to the community and don’t have access to much of the content in the classroom until level 3 but I have many questions. I’m new to homesteading/oasis building/sustainable living and don’t have the space to grow a garden because of where we live at the moment. I’m needing to start with container gardening until I can plant something more permanent (hopefully next year!). My grow zone is USDA 7b. Has anyone had success with container gardening for a family of 4? Would love any of your tips!

A quick summary to what we have discussed over the last couple weeks. Going forward, at the beginning of each week I will highlight a maintainance or preventive herb or blend for us to discuss. If you have any blends or herbs you have questions about, please feel free to post for discussion. We have several herbalist in the community that enjoy talking herbs. One of the most helpful shifts in using herbs at home is learning to see them as part of observation, not just something we grab after something goes wrong. Herbs can be useful for prevention, helping a system recover, or softening a body-system issue before it becomes louder. There are still in-the-moment herbs that can be helpful. We may reach for ginger when digestion feels off, peppermint when the stomach feels heavy, thyme when the chest feels tight, or chamomile when the body needs to settle. Although as we age, our systems may not recover as quickly as they once did. Digestion, sleep, circulation, stress response, inflammation, dryness, mucus, and energy are early observations that can help us understand which system may need support. Is the body feeling hot or cold, dry or damp, tense or depleted, heavy or restless? Is this a short-term issue, or is this a pattern that keeps showing up? An herb is not magic, and it is not a replacement for wisdom, rest, good food, or needed medical care, although it can be a useful layer of support. We can choose herbs with more care, not just because something is popular, but because it fits the person, the season, and the pattern showing up. Using herbs is a lot like tending a garden. We do not just throw inputs at the soil and hope something works. We observe the system, notice what is missing or overdone, and then choose the support that helps life move back toward balance.