Thriftcrafting: Witching on a budget
Merry Meet!
Because a common Imbolc ritual is to bless seeds, the timing is right to plan a magical herb garden.
Do you find yourself buying chamomile and rosemary for magical purposes? Do you use vervain or St. John’s Wort? Would you use lavender and rue more freely if you didn’t have to buy it? Do you think you’d like to make an offering of tobacco now and then, but you don’t smoke?
Make this the year you grow your own.
If you have a garden center close by, you might be able to find everything you’re looking for there. If not, there are many places online. If you can’t get the packets in time for Imbolc, you can still set your plans in motion.
Packets of organic seeds cost from about $2.50 to $3.75 or so. Chances are, you won’t be able to use all 200 seeds, or 100 seeds, or even 20 seeds. Save money by finding more people who want to do the same thing and divide up the seeds. You might also save on potting material this way. Plant in egg cartons, tin cans and other throwaway containers, reclaimed pots or even simple ones made from newspaper.
Start simply and do a bit of research. Some seeds like to be presprouted, others do better if the hull is scraped up a bit. Once sprouted, thin out the weaker plants. Keep them watered and give them lots of light. If there are several in one container, you might want to transplant them into their own containers if the weather does not yet permit them to be put outdoors.
If you only want two or three different plants, consider buying them as seedlings. It’s more expensive than starting them yourself, but less expensive than buying the herbs fresh at farmers markets – if you can find them. Look for plant sales and seasonal events put on by your local herb association for the very best quality and selection. Ours has an Earth Day celebration in April and often a vendor or two will sell plants at our Pagan Pride Beltane Festival.
Consider reaching out to coven members, co-workers, neighbors or Facebook friends to swap seeds, seedlings or harvested herbs. Be sure to save seeds for your plants next year.
Even cheaper is wildcrafting. Learn to identify magical plants in the wild. Do your research to be sure the plant is what you think it is, and harvest it responsibly. Mugwort grows in the parking lot of my former office building, there’s mint growing wild by one of the water faucets in the community garden, and there’s a patch of violets that increases every year along the perimeter of the condominium complex. Pay attention when you’re outside. Ask for guidance. And when you are rewarded, offer gratitude.
Merry part. And merry meet again.