Chamomile (Matricaria Chamomilla) heads are collected when they are mature and expanded, from June to August. They should be dried carefully in the shade and stored in a cool dark place.

Dyers woad (Isatis tinctoria) grows as a winter annual, biennial or short-lived perennial and ranges in size from one to four feet tall. It produces a basal rosette of leaves during the first year and a single stem that bears yellow flowers the second year. The leaves are blueish-green and range from one to seven inches in length. The small yellow flowers are found in terminal clusters on the branch tips. The fruit is a flattened seed pod that hangs from a small stalk. Initially the pod is hairless and green, but it matures to a black or dark purplish brown. The seed pod is a distinguishing characteristic, and it is used for plant identification after flowering. Each pod produces just one seed. The seeds are brownish yellow and cylinder shaped.

Healing
Garlic is full of vitamins, minerals and amino acids etc. It is an anti-infective for both bacterial and viral infections, especially respiratory and digestive tract. Also lowers blood pressure and cholestrol levels and thins the blood. Perhaps also anti-cancer and anti-oxidant properties.

Planting
Autumn planting gives the largest bulbs as it starts to grow on the shortest day and finishes on the longest day of the year.

Dotting it amongst roses and flowers is said to deter pests and diseases. It also cleanes the ground leaving it good for following crops.

Artworks
It is used in Calendric Rituals for Samhain
November (2007)
Fertile Darkness (2019)

Borage (Borago Officinalis) is a hardy annual with five petalled leaves. Native to Europe, North Africa, and Asia Minor. It belongs to the Boraginaceae family. It's close relatives include Forget-me-nots and Comfrey. Borage or borago, is reputed to bestow courage and uplift the spirits and it is thought by some plant historians to be derived from the word, corago, another word for courage. Others believe it originated from the Celtic word, barrach, meaning a man of courage. Borage is a diuretic; it may help with fevers, respiratory infections, kidney problems, rheumatic and skin problems.

Put three table spoonsful of dried chamomile into a bowl and add 100ml of boiling water

• Cover the flowers and leave to steep for 20 minutes. Strain the flowers retaining the liquid.

• Massage into washed hair and leave for 20 minutes for sunny, shiny hair.

Glorious Ninth engage in tactical gardening to recover knowledge of herbs and healing from commercial control and to share it as common knowledge.