If only I could share, apart from the pictures, all the aroma and the scent of this day!
Harvesting oregano is one of the most pleasant tasks of our farm life! Actually it is a walk on the wild side of the farm where we let local herbs and wild vegetation flourish without our intervention!
If you think that it is different than the oregano plants you have seen, you are probably right since this is a native Cretan variety! It grows on its own on the mountains of the island and the best time to pick it up is just before it blooms, usually at late spring.
When I harvest a plant I barely take 20-30% of the branches in order to allow it to complete the natural circle of blooming and seeding. It is more like pruning rather than harvesting but that way I know I'll find more the next year and the years to come. Wild plants are priceless and we should treat them with respect. I get furious when I see people cutting from the ground or even worse, uprooting non-cultivated herbs to sell them for profit. The vegetation of the mountains is our common legacy and should always be protected.
Oregano's importance is way more that adding taste to our food. The essential oil has countless pharmaceutical uses and here in Crete we often use oregano in tea mixtures for the cold and stomach problems. In order to maintain the maximum of it's properties I let it dry hanging from the ceiling at a spot with no direct sunlight and when it can be ground by hand, I save it in glass jars.
What about you? I would love to hear where you get your oregano from, on the comments and who knows you may even get a juicy upvote due to the Be POSH, Engage and help Hive Thrive initiative by @blocktrades, @theycallmedan, @threespeak and @ocdb.
Thank you for reading and if you want to know more about me you can check out my introduction post.
Commenting, upvoting and rebloging are highly appreciated!
Oh my.. there is nothing better than naturally grown herbs! My mum has a huge bush growing in her garden and she picks lots every year.
We have our almost from a wild place. There is a spot in a farm where it grows on its own. Among the trees and grasses. So it is partially wild maybe?
Funny that I always thought it is the leaves that are supposed to be dried (like with other herbs). But it is the flowers!
It is a blessing to have herbs in your garden! And if they are grown on it's own and you don't water them, they are as good as the wild ones!
We use the oregano flowers (before they open) and the leaves too :)
Oh, I am so freaking upset I can't come to Greece. you know how I was looking forward to it so much. Maybe you can fly me down as an essential worker. I can smell the oregano from here! i do have a alot of it in my garden in Australia. Great photos as always!
Thanks a lot!
Greece wants to open it's borders (because we are going to starve without tourists) but who knows how things are going to evolve. Maybe you'll be able to come in June...
Ah yes, we really need better education in the Public School System on foraging and how to do it ethically.
I myself am sprouting some oregano seeds as we speak to grow a bit myself. What I wouldn't do to have a natural source of this plant.😀
The wild ones are the best ones but a herb garden is also of great value! Good luck with your sprouts and thank you for stopping by @notconvinced!
Wonderful to see the wild oregano (beautiful pictures!)
I am only familiar with the garden cultivated variety that I use for flavoring in cooking although I do buy oil of oregano which I use when I feel a sore throat coming on or for colds - that is from the wild oregano in the Mountains in the United States.
I could just imagine the aroma with all those bundles hanging from your ceiling - marvelous!
Thanks for sharing and caring about the protection of the wild herbs!
Ah yes, the first couple of days is like entering an oregano bath :)
Thanks for checking out my post!
What stunning images!! I adore Cretan oregano. Are you familiar with Yiannis Psillos on Crete and his work at the distilery? His ex-wife is one of my best freinds and often brings me amazing Cretan oregano and Dittany when she visits me in Thailand.
6 degrees of separation? Probably only 3.
Simply beautiful images. And respect for the self-seeding renewal process of natural medicine.
#POSH
Thanks!
No, I don't know him. Do you know at which part of Crete he is?
Yianni is in Kritsa, Agios. His business is called Salvia Cretan Distilery & Herbs. Awesome quality. I say that as someone who runs a boutique & organic herbal company here in Thailand. ❤️
Great, he is not too far!
I'll look for him :)
#ProofOfShare #POSH
Nice pics I can smell it!
Thanks :)
@tipu curate :)
Thank you, for one more time :)
Looking good!
Thank you for stopping by Old Dog!
Thanks for sharing pictures of Crete! Every single trip to the island is a taste of oil and oregano!
Thank you @mcgonagall, I am glad to be here and having the opportunity to take those pictures :)
That's really interesting, the timing of harvest. I saw the flowerbuds and immediately thought, too late! But I was wrong. Cool post!
Ah yes, the timing. You can harvest a little earlier or a little later but just before blooming it's the best!
Thank you :)
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