Parsley

 
There is a myth that only a witch can grow parsley, but I’ve seen many gardens housing this wonderful herb.  Personally, however, I was never successful with growing parsley until I entered my witchdom . Slow time to germination seems to be the issue here.  The seed is coated with a compound inhibiting germination.  Sprouting the seeds (like you do edible sprouts) overcomes this issue. Or just purchase seedlings from the local organic nursery.  Parsley prefers full sun or partial shade, you might be able to grow it in shade, but your plant will be less than satisfactory.  As many herbs, she doesn’t enjoy wet feet, so keep parsley in well-drained, but moist soil.  To get the best production, use an organic fertilizer. As a relative to celery, parsley is a biennial – returning to the garden year after year once established in some areas.  Because she likes temperatures from abou5 50-70 degrees best, parsley doesn’t enjoy my hot summer weather here in Florida & is prone to die as the weather gets hot.  I’m thinking of bringing her into the kitchen as a houseplant, because it’s reported she does well as one.

Brand New Swallowtail

Black Swallowtail butterflies use parsley as their host plant, so if you’re interested in visits from this beautiful creature, add some to your garden.
A medicinal herb, long before it was ever used in cooking, parsley is reported to have numerous health benefits.

“The activity of parsley’s volatile oils qualifies it as a “chemoprotective” food, and in particular, a food that can help neutralize particular types of carcinogens (like the benzopyrenes that are part of cigarette smoke and charcoal grill smoke).”

Parsley is known to benefit:

• bad breath due to it’s high chlorophyll content

Parsley is great as a garnish for barbeque, because it helps neutralize some of the carcinogens found in charcoal smoke.  High in Vitamins A, C & K, parsley is great as an antioxidant.  But, if you’re taking blood thinners, talk with your doctor before consuming a lot of parsley.  It’s also a good source of folic acid, which is terrific for heart health & protection against some cancers.
Historically, parsley was used by the Greeks in funeral wreaths (it is known to mask odors) & by the Romans during/after orgies covering the alcohol on their breath.
Bound to Mercury & air, parsley is associated with lust, good luck, communication with the otherworld, protection, purification, fertility, divination, passion, meditation & rituals for the dead.
Try using parsley as one of your herbs in a purification bath.
Parsley has a strong feminine link.  It has been reported to be a powerful aphrodisiac for women.  Recently, I used parsley in a broccoli risotto to test this property…I’ll just say it was a nice evening!
So, the next time you see that parsley garnish on your plate, go ahead & munch away.  Or, put some parsley into your kitchen witch’s cabinet & see what you can cook up!
Wild & Bright Blessings!
~*Rhi*~

The Magic is in Your Hands