Love this so much! Great spring tonic . 🌿 Cleavers (Galium aparine) — Materia Medica Wendy’s Wild Remedies 🌱 🌱 Common Names Cleavers, Goosegrass, Sticky Willy, Catchweed, Velcro plant 🌿 Identification Thin, sprawling vine-like plant that climbs and sprawls over everything Leaves grow in whorls (circles) of 6–8 around the stem Covered in tiny hook-like hairs → sticks to clothes and skin Produces small round burr-like seeds that cling to animals 👉 You’ll often feel it before you see it — it grabs you as you walk by 🌼 Energetics Cooling Moistening Gentle but persistent mover 🌿 Key Actions Lymphatic tonic (moves stagnant lymph) Alterative (blood cleanser) Mild diuretic Anti-inflammatory Skin supportive 💚 What It’s Known For ✨ Lymphatic Support (one of the BEST wild herbs for this) Swollen lymph nodes Congestion in the body Breast tenderness / fluid stagnation ✨ Skin Healing Eczema Psoriasis Acne “Backed up” skin conditions ✨ Urinary & Kidney Support Gentle flushing of the system Helps reduce water retention ✨ Detox & Spring Cleansing Supports the body in clearing waste Often paired with nettle or dandelion 🍵 Preparations 🌿 Fresh Cleavers Tea (Best Method!) Handful of fresh cleavers Pour cool or warm (not boiling) water over Let sit 2–8 hours (overnight infusion is beautiful) Strain and sip 👉 Cleavers loses potency when dried, so fresh is gold 🌿 Juice (Powerful Spring Tonic) Blend fresh cleavers with a little water Strain Take 1–2 oz daily 🌿 Tincture (Fresh Plant Preferred) Use fresh herb in alcohol Great for lymphatic stagnation 🌿 Poultice Crush fresh plant Apply directly to skin irritations or swollen areas ⚠️ Cautions Very gentle overall May increase urination Best used fresh for strongest effect Avoid heavy use if severely depleted or very dry constitution 🌸 Pairing Ideas Nettle → mineral-rich + blood building Dandelion leaf/root → liver + detox support Violet leaf → lymph + skin soothing 🌼 Wendy’s Notes 🌱 Cleavers is one of those plants that shows up right when we need it most… early spring, when everything in us is ready to move, wake up, and clear out the heaviness of winter.

@Paula Boggan awesome glad to hear

Yes we dehydrate all kinds of things. Last year even some hot peppers like that! But my favorite thing to do is collect the apples and pears and make sauce out of them and fruit roll-ups. But then you're getting into the orchard not the garden...

@Paula Boggan The best way to preserve the fruit. Makes it go from not so neat to grab and go. Make applesauce and pear sauce spice it with star anise, clove, cinnamon, nutmeg and cardamom ♥️ Dehydrate and enjoy!

That's like I've been doing the past couple of years. Works great

@Paula Boggan possibly the White Current from Baker Creek but they are really yellow and fruity sweet! Low acid.

Very cool! Wish I could get Rosemary to grow like that!!

@Paula Boggan I found my soil at That Community Garden has issues. High PH I'm waiting for the rest of the results to come back. I'm sure once we figure that out or try a different location it could be different.

I have a few seeds that I would love to share with you! What are your favorite things to grow? I have a pretty good size seed library. I will work the weekend on finding you seeds and plan on mailing everything on Monday.

@Shannon Johnson if you are interested in swapping seeds feel free to drop me your address and I'll get some in the mail to you too!