Frequently Asked Questions
Where are you located?
In September 2015, 1849 Medicine Garden was asked to leave our site for over three years (and a site of urban agribulture for nine years!). We are hopping to find a new location of a similar size and structure - space was about 1200 sq ft - a large back yard in the Mission. We are seeking a work/trade host who welcomes us, a sunny yard or extra lot in a sunny part of San Francisco. A welcoming landlord, someone who would enjoy having a community based project - a medicine garden - grow in their space. In exchange for use of land and water, we would offer the following to our host.
What would I receive in exchange for 1849's use of my space?
- Free Landscaping services in exchange for use of land and water
- Membership to our monthly Community Supported Agriculture
- Attendance to herbal classes held in the space
- A unique relationship with a very special urban agriculture project
- Possible other perks depending on agreement
How did the garden start?
The garden was started in 2007 by friend and farmer Brooke Budner when she got on the roof of her apartment building and could see a relatively large patch of land being unused. She contacted the landlord of the building and promptly encouraged her to cultivate the land. He welcomed her and farmer Caitlyn Galloway to begin their urban agriculture project Little City Gardens. In 2010 Little City moved production to a larger space in the Mission Terrace neighborhood of SF and our site was planted with perennial, culinary herbs. In 2012 the space was revitalized as a space for growing medicinal herbs and in spring 2014, 1849 Medicine Garden, got hip to the quickly changing world that surrounds her and even got an Instagram!
What do you grow?
We grow over 50 plants used in traditional plant medicine, primarily of the european tradition, or from the materia medica of Western Herbalism. We focus on plants that will thrive in our mild mediterranean climate; Calendula, Catnip, Chamomile, Comfrey, Dandelion, Echinacea, Elecampane, Garlic, Grindelia, Lavender, Lemon Balm, Marshmallow, Meadowsweet, Motherwort, Mugwort, Mullein, Nettles, Passionflower, Raspberry Leaf, Rosemary, Spilanthes, St. Johns Wort and Valerian to name a few. We also grow a few plants well suited to our bioregion used in Traditional Chinese Medicine, for example Chrysanthemum. There are a handful of “at-risk” medicinals, Black Cohosh and Goldenseal, that are less suited for our bioregion, but we are giving our best effort at growing to see if we might aid in reducing their possible extinction.
Do you need volunteers?
We welcome eager hands Wednesday mornings, however please get in touch with us beforehand so we know when to expect you.
How can I get involved?
Support us! I am often asked about how to support urban farming or resources on herbal medicine. Depending on factors of your time and budget, there are a variety of ways to show us how much you like what we are doing!
Free - We learn best by getting our hands in soil. Contact us about coming to a volunteer day. Bring a sunhat and water bottle.
$25 - Come to a class at the garden
$84 - Join our monthly CSA program for three months
$240 - Join our CSA for a year!
Do you offer tours?
Yes! Please get in touch regarding scheduling, theme and pricing.
How did you learn about herbs?
I grew up in the city and developed asthma as a child. I used steroid inhalers and other pharmaceutical inhalants on a daily basis. As a young adult I moved to Olympia, WA and started hearing about people using plants to heal themselves. I took time off from school and devoted my time to starting a garden and studying the use of medicinal plants. After a bit of study, I blended a tea to strengthen my lungs which I drank every morning. Within three months I got stopped having symptoms of asthma and never again have used an inhaler. I ride my bike, pet cats, breath cold air but none of these triggers effects my lung capacity the way growing up in a city had stifled my breath and pharmaceuticals would never cure.
I was sold; when I moved back to San Francisco I became obsessed with working in gardens and reading books on herbal medicine from city libraries. I traveled to Southern Oregon to study and work on an 80 acre herb farm. I continue to study with master farmers, take classes, read books and sit with plants.
Why 1849?
Eighteen Forty Nine was the year gold was “discovered” in California. This year shifted the landscape of this land in everlasting ways and connects all of us, in some way, as to why we are here now. And yet the impact of the gold rush was really nothing to be celebrated, it meant major destruction to the natural world, racial and ethnic cleansing, slavery, displacement and development. These are lessons we must learn from, and so our name pays homage to the people, places, animals and habitat we lost in order to gain what we call San Francisco and Northern California today. Could we learn from these mistakes and put an end to gentrification in San Francisco today?
What is a tincture? Does it expire?
A tincture is a liquid extract of a plant. It is usually made with alcohol, although there are alcoholic free tinctures made with glycerin. The process takes about a month, and will last if stored properly in a brown bottle, out of direct sunlight, away from electronics possibly on an alter, for ten years.
Do herbs really work?
Yes.
What herbs do you suggest to a beginner?
The language of plants is not obvious to a beginner. But if we want to learn, we must experience the plants for ourselves. Many health issues derive from improper nutrient uptake, and Bitters are a great way to kick-start digestion when taken 15 minutes before eating. Most San Franciscans are stressed out and have trouble sleeping, where Catnip and Passionflower are often used. In case of the onset of a cold, it’s best to have Echinacea on hand, in purse or in our medicine cabinet. Each plant acts slightly differently in each person, read below to learn about dosing.
A plant knows you, as much as you know the plant.
How much should I take?
Each person reacts to a plant differently, and each plant requires a different dosage. However, a good way to start is to take two drops. See how that feels. If you did not feel it, or desire more of the effect, take two more drops. See how see how that feels. Repeat.
In September 2015, 1849 Medicine Garden was asked to leave our site for over three years (and a site of urban agribulture for nine years!). We are hopping to find a new location of a similar size and structure - space was about 1200 sq ft - a large back yard in the Mission. We are seeking a work/trade host who welcomes us, a sunny yard or extra lot in a sunny part of San Francisco. A welcoming landlord, someone who would enjoy having a community based project - a medicine garden - grow in their space. In exchange for use of land and water, we would offer the following to our host.
What would I receive in exchange for 1849's use of my space?
- Free Landscaping services in exchange for use of land and water
- Membership to our monthly Community Supported Agriculture
- Attendance to herbal classes held in the space
- A unique relationship with a very special urban agriculture project
- Possible other perks depending on agreement
How did the garden start?
The garden was started in 2007 by friend and farmer Brooke Budner when she got on the roof of her apartment building and could see a relatively large patch of land being unused. She contacted the landlord of the building and promptly encouraged her to cultivate the land. He welcomed her and farmer Caitlyn Galloway to begin their urban agriculture project Little City Gardens. In 2010 Little City moved production to a larger space in the Mission Terrace neighborhood of SF and our site was planted with perennial, culinary herbs. In 2012 the space was revitalized as a space for growing medicinal herbs and in spring 2014, 1849 Medicine Garden, got hip to the quickly changing world that surrounds her and even got an Instagram!
What do you grow?
We grow over 50 plants used in traditional plant medicine, primarily of the european tradition, or from the materia medica of Western Herbalism. We focus on plants that will thrive in our mild mediterranean climate; Calendula, Catnip, Chamomile, Comfrey, Dandelion, Echinacea, Elecampane, Garlic, Grindelia, Lavender, Lemon Balm, Marshmallow, Meadowsweet, Motherwort, Mugwort, Mullein, Nettles, Passionflower, Raspberry Leaf, Rosemary, Spilanthes, St. Johns Wort and Valerian to name a few. We also grow a few plants well suited to our bioregion used in Traditional Chinese Medicine, for example Chrysanthemum. There are a handful of “at-risk” medicinals, Black Cohosh and Goldenseal, that are less suited for our bioregion, but we are giving our best effort at growing to see if we might aid in reducing their possible extinction.
Do you need volunteers?
We welcome eager hands Wednesday mornings, however please get in touch with us beforehand so we know when to expect you.
How can I get involved?
Support us! I am often asked about how to support urban farming or resources on herbal medicine. Depending on factors of your time and budget, there are a variety of ways to show us how much you like what we are doing!
Free - We learn best by getting our hands in soil. Contact us about coming to a volunteer day. Bring a sunhat and water bottle.
$25 - Come to a class at the garden
$84 - Join our monthly CSA program for three months
$240 - Join our CSA for a year!
Do you offer tours?
Yes! Please get in touch regarding scheduling, theme and pricing.
How did you learn about herbs?
I grew up in the city and developed asthma as a child. I used steroid inhalers and other pharmaceutical inhalants on a daily basis. As a young adult I moved to Olympia, WA and started hearing about people using plants to heal themselves. I took time off from school and devoted my time to starting a garden and studying the use of medicinal plants. After a bit of study, I blended a tea to strengthen my lungs which I drank every morning. Within three months I got stopped having symptoms of asthma and never again have used an inhaler. I ride my bike, pet cats, breath cold air but none of these triggers effects my lung capacity the way growing up in a city had stifled my breath and pharmaceuticals would never cure.
I was sold; when I moved back to San Francisco I became obsessed with working in gardens and reading books on herbal medicine from city libraries. I traveled to Southern Oregon to study and work on an 80 acre herb farm. I continue to study with master farmers, take classes, read books and sit with plants.
Why 1849?
Eighteen Forty Nine was the year gold was “discovered” in California. This year shifted the landscape of this land in everlasting ways and connects all of us, in some way, as to why we are here now. And yet the impact of the gold rush was really nothing to be celebrated, it meant major destruction to the natural world, racial and ethnic cleansing, slavery, displacement and development. These are lessons we must learn from, and so our name pays homage to the people, places, animals and habitat we lost in order to gain what we call San Francisco and Northern California today. Could we learn from these mistakes and put an end to gentrification in San Francisco today?
What is a tincture? Does it expire?
A tincture is a liquid extract of a plant. It is usually made with alcohol, although there are alcoholic free tinctures made with glycerin. The process takes about a month, and will last if stored properly in a brown bottle, out of direct sunlight, away from electronics possibly on an alter, for ten years.
Do herbs really work?
Yes.
What herbs do you suggest to a beginner?
The language of plants is not obvious to a beginner. But if we want to learn, we must experience the plants for ourselves. Many health issues derive from improper nutrient uptake, and Bitters are a great way to kick-start digestion when taken 15 minutes before eating. Most San Franciscans are stressed out and have trouble sleeping, where Catnip and Passionflower are often used. In case of the onset of a cold, it’s best to have Echinacea on hand, in purse or in our medicine cabinet. Each plant acts slightly differently in each person, read below to learn about dosing.
A plant knows you, as much as you know the plant.
How much should I take?
Each person reacts to a plant differently, and each plant requires a different dosage. However, a good way to start is to take two drops. See how that feels. If you did not feel it, or desire more of the effect, take two more drops. See how see how that feels. Repeat.