Life, health, meaning in a garden

BY HEATHER DYKE

Kings County Register

Nestled in a little wooded area off Russia Road in Black Rock hides Avalon Gardens, an herbal, yoga and learning centre.

The centre has been in operation since 1986 and has grown to incorporate massage therapy, belly-dancing classes, stained glass artwork and a variety of other activities that take place in the gardens and purple studio building.

Certified herbalist Angie Jenkins moved to Avalon Gardens two months ago from British Columbia. She and her partner, Raven, run the Avalon Herbals body care line using only organic products, many of which are gathered on-site or on the seashore, not too far from the gardens. “We just try to keep the products really clean and really free from a lot of the toxic stuff that you’ll find in mainstream products,” says Jenkins.

During a herb walk June 28, Jenkins showed a crowd of avid gardeners around Avalon, explaining the practical uses of plants many would probably just pass on by. According to Jenkins, even dandelions have useful properties - aside from garnishing a salad or winemaking. The diuretic herb is especially good for kidney and bladder infections, since it contains potassium, something most other diuretics flush out of the system. Jenkins laughed as she asked if anyone would like a dandelion clipping from the Labyrinth Garden.

The Labyrinth Garden uses a system called biodynamic gardening: planting crops according to astrological indicators. It is divided into four sections: fruit, leaf, flower and root; and certain herbs are planted at particular times and days using a special calendar. According to those who work and garden at Avalon, this helps with a more fruitful harvest and ensures adequate crop rotation from year to year.

Continuing on the walk, the group learned about catnip and its use as a sedative, the ability of nettles to act as an anti-histamine and dozens of other interesting tips about the plants that grow in our backyards.

In an hour-and-a-half, Jenkins covered less than a quarter of the plants that crowd the grounds, but gardeners still left with pages and pages of notes. Some of them also left with a new plant for their garden, or an Avalon Herbals product or two.

Jenkins will be running a 10-week Wednesday evening herb class from Avalon Gardens this summer, from July 22 to September 23. To register or for more information about this and other activities held at Avalon Gardens, call 538-0724.

Garden elements

Angie Jenkins’ garden closest to the house is divided into five sections, each corresponding with one of the five elements. • The first section is the metal section, connected with the season of autumn, the emotion of grief and has plants whose uses are mostly for the large intestine and lungs. Angelica, aside from its use for the lungs, can be chopped and candied and is also used to flavour Benedictine. • The second earth section is associated with the season of late summer, the emotion of sympathy and with the stomach and spleen. • Fire is associated with the third garden section, whose season is summer, emotion is joy and organs are the heart and small intestine. Valerian, the best-selling herbal supplement, is grown here. • The wood section is the fourth section, associated with spring, the emotion of anger and contains herbs that can be used for the liver and gall bladder. • The final section of the elements garden was the water section, with plants mostly used for the kidney and bladder. It is associated with winter and the emotion of fear.