Medicinal Plants Garden

Sweetgrass has long narrow leaves that reach 30cm and emits a pleasant vanilla scent when dried. The top of the leaves is green, while the bottom near its roots is red. To maintain a healthy population, sweetgrass, along with cedar, sage, and tobacco, is regularly burned or harvested during mid to late summer. North of the medicine wheel is designated for sweetgrass, and dried sweetgrass is often twisted into braids to create objects like baskets. Additionally, it is used in various ceremonies and serves medicinal purposes, while creeping juniper is often found in the same regions.

East of the medicine wheel, tobacco is an annual plant whose leaves are used for spiritual purposes such as praying, ceremony, and the sacred pipe. Our garden is transitioning from commercial tobacco to more traditional varieties, featuring lower height and smaller-sized leaves. In addition to tobacco, we also cultivate cedar, creeping juniper, sage, and sweetgrass. Each fall, we collect tobacco leaves and seeds from the flowers, drying the leaves to be sent to local indigenous groups while the seeds are saved for the next year.

Sage represents the west side of the medicine wheel and is harvestable throughout the year, except in winter when it is dormant. Similar to creeping juniper, sage is a low-growing shrub with long olive leaves, approximately 10cm in length and 2.5cm in width. It radiates in all directions, typically branching once from the soil and emitting a sweet aroma. Pollinators like bees are attracted to its white flowers. Additionally, sage is used in smudging ceremonies, alongside sweetgrass and tobacco, to heal the spirit, a practice valued by the Mi'kmaq.

Cedar trees grow up to 15m and are strategically located throughout the garden to provide shade with their fan-shaped leaves. Originally, the cedars were planned to be grown in two of the eight raised beds, but due to their massive size, we decided to relocate them along the border of the medicine wheel. So far, four cedar seedlings have been planted, and we plan to introduce several more in the upcoming months. Cedar represents the south of the medicine garden, where all its parts, from the fragrant leaves to the barks, are handled with care. The leaves are often burned for smoking, while canoes, an important method of transportation, are crafted from its barks. In addition to cedar, we also cultivate creeping juniper, sage, sweetgrass, and tobacco, enriching the diversity of our medicinal garden.

As an alternative to cedar trees, creeping juniper was chosen for the southern section of the medicine garden. Unlike other plants, its low green body spreads horizontally, effectively covering the soil. Creeping juniper emits a strong pine-like aroma and produces blue seeds shaped like a crotal bell. This resilient plant serves a similar purpose to cedar and is often paired with sage, sweetgrass, and tobacco in traditional practices. The berries of creeping juniper are collected during the winter season to be brewed into a tea, offering a fresh and delightful taste.