DRIED COMFREY
((Symphytum x uplandicum)
Comfrey, Revered For Centuries.
Comfrey has been a trusted staple in gardens for centuries. It is celebrated for its rich supply of vitamins and minerals that nourish both soil and plants as well as for its medicinal healing properties. Throughout time gardeners around the world have cherished this "all around" plant for its hardiness, versatility and proliferation characteristics. Because of its many uses it is still considered a staple in many gardens today.
-
MEDICAL: As a traditional herbal medicine many people use it to making a Comfrey compress for soothing aching muscles. Comfrey contains allantoin, which promotes cell regeneration, so making salves to support skin health is another use. It is a very powerful healer and will close broken skin quickly. It is advised that it not be used on open wounds, but if it is used be sure it the wound is totally cleared of infection because the Comfrey will seal the infection in and cause a serious medical problem (it is not an antibiotic). Although a great healer, it also contains pyrrolizidine alkaloids (PAs) which may cause liver damage, or other life threatening side effects, so in 2001 the US FDA banned Comfrey for internal consumption in consumer products. While the limited use of topical preparations are not banned, topical use on open wounds is highly advised against. *Always consult a physician or veterinarian before use.
-
FODDER: It is used as fodder for many types of animals, in both fresh and dried forms. *Always consult your veterinarian before use as fodder.
-
FERTILIZER: Today, however, it is most commonly used as a fertilizer, soil amender, compost activator or to attract pollinators.
FRESH COMFREY VS. DRIED COMFREY
There are a wide variety of ways Comfrey can be processed to accomplish fertilization goals.
FRESH COMFREY AS FERTILIZER
There are several methods to turn freshly cut leaves into fertilizer.
Concentrates are very popular. Tea concentrates are made by placing the leaves in a closed container with water until they rot. Drip concentrates are made by placing the leaves in an upside down bottle to decay and letting the by product drip into a collection receptacle.
Broadcasting the leaves is another method. Fresh leaves can be broadcast by chopping and spreading or by laying them whole on top of the ground to rot and be mixed into the soil by rain, man or animals. The leaves can also be placed in compost piles as an activator to speed decomposition within the pile..
DRIED COMFREY AS FERTILIZER
Dried Comfrey can be used for all the same purposes as fresh and in the same ways (except the fresh drip method). It is an excellent fertilizer for vegetables, flowers, shrubs and trees. It is also a very convenient plant food because it is it’s easy to prepare, easy to use and easy to store. The main difference is that dried Comfrey may be stored to accomplish fertilization goals at a later date, perhaps when fresh Comfrey is not available. This scores a big plus for Dried Comfrey!
GROWING AND GATHERING COMFREY
At Mountain Fable, the Comfrey is responsibly sourced. It is naturally grown. No synthetic or organic fertilizers or pesticides are used, just Mother Nature doing her thing! When it is time to gather a crop for drying all care is taken to ensure pollinators, who love Comfrey when its flowers are in bloom, are not disturbed. The Comfrey is cut when the flowers are at the end cycle of their bloom, which happens several times during a normal season.
Can you tell I love taking pictures of the bees when the Comfrey is in full bloom? Not only do I love taking pictures, I also love hearing them. There's a steady, pleasant humming or drone as they spend the day moving from flower to flower, busily shopping for and collecting their fleeting prize. Hence, two of my nicknames for Comfrey are Bumble Bee Shopping Plaza and The Bumble Bee Store. Watching them one can tell that this is truly a shopping trip that the bees enjoy! They are working hard but they look very happy and content. Perhaps even frenzied with excitement because of the abundance of fresh blooms! But I'm not a bee so who knows? They look happy to me though!
It is actually healthier for the plant to be cut back during these "wilt down" periods. Cutting allows the plant to put all its energy and resources into producing the new growth of leaves. Also, aesthetically it keeps the area clean and fresh looking. It also saves nearby plants from being smothered and choked out.
When the flowers have died down, the Comfrey is cut before it droops and falls to the ground. (The dead flowers and the big leaves become very heavy and the stems can't support the weight so they droop, as seen on the below.)
The stem and leaves are then cut before they droop and fall to the ground. Then they are bundled and hung in an open air - outdoor setting to dry slowly, as in nature when they wilt and fall to the ground. Because this process follows flowering, it also happens several times during a normal season! Depending on the weather, if it is very rainy they may be moved into an airy greenhouse to finish drying.
EFFICIENT DRYING METHODS FOR NATURAL FERTILIZER
Dried Comfrey leaves vary in color depending on the method used to dry them. The method chosen to dry the Comfrey is often based on the intended use.
GREEN SHADES OF DRIED COMFREY
Hanging in very small bundles or laying out flat, one leaf at a time, produces a greener colored product. For the most pure green the leaves cannot be overlapped. The shades of green vary, once again depending on the drying method. This method is very good for individuals who are storing their Comfrey for personal use. These smaller batches are often used for medicinal purposes. This method is generally hung or spread out indoors. Using a dehydrator is another method of drying small quantities.
BROWN SHADES OF DRIED COMFREY
Hanging plants in larger bundles is an effective technique when process in large quantities. This method produces a rich brown colored finished product, mirroring the natural aging process of stems and leaves as they fall to the ground to rot. (The first picture shows natural drying while the stem is still on the plant.) The brown tones may vary in intensity.
This method is particularly suited for situations where the end product is intended for use as fertilizer or fodder. These uses required substantial quantities making small bundles or single leaf drying impactable. Mountain Fables specializes in drying large quantities of Comfrey using this approach. This method not only produces a product comparable to Comfrey dried in its natural habitat, it also respects the environment by reducing energy consumption, as it eliminates the need for electricity. No electricity, less manpower and less space means significantly reducing production costs. This translates to more affordable retail prices for consumers.
THE FINAL STEP
INSIDE THE PACKAGE
The final processing step in readying the dried Comfrey for market is packaging. Once dry the Comfrey stems and leaves are ruff chopped by hand. "Ruffed chopped" means they are unevenly cut. Chopping is said to aids in the release of minerals. The stems are used because they are the transport system to the leaves and therefore are rich in minerals also.
USES
Comfrey intended for fertilizer, fodder or external medical use is not sifted. It is not processed for consumption or for internal medicinal use. Although "cut clean", (cut while still green and before touching the ground), it has not undergone any washing process.
PACKAGE SIZE
After chopping the Comfrey is packaged and sold as a dry measure. The available sizes are listed below.
Brown Comfrey:
- One (1) gallon freezer bag. (1 dry gallon equals 148.94545 ounces). Bags are not weighed. The bags are generously packed as tightly as possible without poking holes or tearing.
RESTING COMFREY
The final growth of the season is left to wilt in place for a winter slumber. By spring last seasons leaves lay on the ground beside the Comfrey. Now dry, most have detached from the plant. The dried debris slowly rots and is eventually worked into the soil by rain or the motion of man, animals, reptiles or insects. This leafy plant matter is a great soil amender, creating a beautifully textured rich soil. Leaving the final growth to fertilize the soil around the Comfrey is important because, even Comfrey likes to be pampered with a little "self soil amending" ----- "AKA"..... A bit of Comfrey "me time".
