The Youth Farm Project is proud to introduce our Community U-Pick Garden! ​

This is our offering to the community: delicious vegetables, herbs for cooking & medicine, and flowers to decorate your homes and shrines. This U-pick will be open this Summer & Fall 2022 for low income folks and BIPOC folks in our local community to harvest from. This garden is a place for community education and access to the plants. The ability to move in this space as you want in search for joy, play, plant wisdom, and nourishment are welcome!

Keep your ear out for our Events & Skill Shares
​Follow us on social media and join our newsletter!

---

How it works!

 When the U-Pick is open for business someone in our team will help coordinate the harvests, tools and chat with folks about the plants. Summer 2022: Look forward to tomatoes, greens, okra, ground cherries, tomatillos, mixed herbs like dill, cilantro, sweet basil, lemon grass, hot peppers and beautiful flowers. We will also be growing medicinal and tea herbs such as lavender, lemon balm, sage, echinacea, tulsi and calendula!

​Summer: We will post the Community U-pick Garden Open Hours soon!

Info about the Herb Garden Plant Friends

Borage (Borago officinalis)
Parts used: Leaf, flower, seed
Preparations: Food, tea, infused oil, tincture in small doses only
Contraindications: Borage contains alkaloids that are harmful in large doses or with chronic ingestion

Tulsi (Ocimum sanctum) 
Parts used: All aerial parts
Preparations: Food, tea, honey, vinegar, oil, tincture
Contraindications: none

Calendula (Calendula officinalis)
Parts used: Flowers
Preparations: Tea, oil, tincture, food
Contraindications: none

Culinary sage (Salvia officinalis)
Parts used: Leaves
Preparations: Food, tea
Contraindications: none

St John’s Wort (Hypericum perforatum)
Parts used: Leaves and flowers
Preparations: Tincture, oil (fresh infusion)
Contraindications: Hypericum can increase photosensitivity after prolonged use and can interfere with some medications. Ask a doctor before use.

Lemon Balm (Melissa officinalis)
Parts used: Leaves and flowers
Preparations: Tea, tincture, food
Contraindications: thyroid inhibitor; those with hypothyroidism should seek a doctor’s advice.

Lavender (Lavandula spp.)
Parts used: Leaves and flowers
Preparations: Tea, tincture, oil, aromatherapy
Contraindications: avoid internal consumption in large doses during pregnancy

Horehound (Marribium vulgare)
Parts used: Leaves and flowers
Preparations: Food (especially candies), tea, tincture
Contraindications: not for use during pregnancy

Oregano (Origanum vulgare)
Parts used: Leaves and flowers
Preparations: Food, tea
Contraindications: none known

Bee Balm (Monarda fistulosa)
Parts used: Leaves and flowers
Preparations: Tea, tincture, food, oil, honey, vinegar
Contraindications: not for use during pregnancy

Thyme (Thymus vulgaris)
Parts used: Leaves and flowers
Preparations: Food, tea, tincture, oil
Contraindications: 

Anise Hyssop (Agastache foeniculum)
Parts used: Aerial parts
Preparations: Tea, tincture
Contraindications: none known

Peppermint (Mentha piperata) and Spearmint (Mentha spicata)
Parts used: Aerial parts
Preparations: Food, tea, tincture
Contraindications: none known