One of the gifts my daughter received for her 10th birthday (TEN! How did that happen?!) was the boardgame Wildcraft. In this game, pieces move around the board to get to the huckleberry patch, and along the way pick up troubles such as splinters, scrapes, and hunger; but also harvest and collect herbs such as chamomile, nettle, and plantain. The cool thing about this game is that the cards have icons that help teach you which herbs help in which situations, and so relieve you of your “trouble”.

The game, along with the Learning Herbs website, takes great pains to be, ahhh, tolerant towards all, and completely avoids giving God any due, which is a shame. For example, a character in the gameboard story “looks to the sky” to give thanks (to what? who? the birdie flying by?), but overall, this family has done an outstanding job of making learning about herbs completely accessible and understandable to ANYONE. The kit is super easy and fun, and after making a few tinctures and salves on your own, don’t be surprised if you feel a bit, well, ripped off from the prices of these things that are packaged and sold in stores.

It was totally neat to hear my children talking over the game (and they played several times for hours): “Can you help with my fever?” “What is valerian good for?” “Oh! Comfrey is good for bruises! I have that!” Even my five year old was completely involved. Later that evening, my kids came in from putting the ducks away excited about the dandelions they found and wanted to know if they were ok to eat raw (!).

I really, really wish I had the resources this website sells/gives out freely a decade ago when I first began learning about herbs. If you’re looking to gain confidence in nourishing and healing your family with the plants practically under your nose, this would be a great place to start. Be forewarned that the author really likes Susan Weed, who, although is incredible in her knowledge of herbs, walks a bit on the “green witch” side. I finally had to toss out her “recommended” book. Even though the resources are easy to understand and definitely confidence-building, it’s too bad they completely miss the Artist. This is, unfortunately, just how it currently is in the world of natural healing and health. I, however, know differently:

Genesis 9:3   Every moving thing that liveth shall be meat for you; even as the green herb have I given you all things.

Psalms 104:14   He causeth the grass to grow for the cattle, and herb for the service of man: that he may bring forth food out of the earth

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