DRIED COMFREY
((Symphytum x uplandicum)
Comfrey ~ Revered Throughout Time.
Comfrey has been a trusted staple in home 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 and hardiness it is still considered a staple for many homes today.
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GARDENING: Today, Comfrey is a very popular organic fertilizer, soil amender, compost activator. It is also valued because pollinators are highly attracted to its beautiful bell shaped flowers.
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MEDICAL: As a traditional herbal medicine many people use it to make compresses 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. 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.
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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
FRESH COMFREY VS. DRIED COMFREY
GARDENING
There are a wide variety of ways Comfrey can be processed to accomplish fertilization goals.
FRESH COMFREY
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.
(vs) DRIED COMFREY
Dried Comfrey can be used for all the same purposes as fresh and in the same ways (except the Drip method). It is an excellent fertilizer for vegetables, flowers, shrubs and trees. It is also a very convenient plant food because it is 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.
MEDICINAL / HEALTH AND BEAUTY
Comfrey is highly valued for its soothing and healing properties, making it a popular natural remedy.
FRESH COMFREY
-Poultices can be made with fresh leaves by soaking a cloth in the "Tea" or by lightly boiling the fresh leaves and placing them directly on an area. Or, they may be wrapped in a cloth and applied to the area.
-Liniments may be made using fresh Comfrey by infusing the leaves in rubbing alcohol.
-Infused oils, Salves, Creams and Ointments may not be made using fresh Comfrey. The Comfrey must be dried first because its water content will cause the carrier oil to go rancid.
(vs) DRIED COMFREY
All recipes for salves, liniments, creams and oils require Died Comfrey because the moisture in the live plants will cause the carrier oils to become rancid. Whether using for off season plant food or for various health and beauty recipes, Fodder or gardening, Dried Comfrey allows for year round usage. This scores a big plus for Dried Comfrey!
Fodder
Both Fresh and Dried Comfrey are viable food sources for animals. Some animals prefer it fresh, others may favor it dried, and some enjoy consuming both.
GROWING THE COMFREY
Mountain Fables, Dried Comfrey is grown and packaged in Central New York State, USA. It is naturally grown and responsibly sourced. No synthetic or organic fertilizers or pesticides are used. Just Mother Nature doing her thing!
HARVESTING THE COMFREY
When it is time to harvest 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.
The first bloom of the season is the most exciting. The bees show up in droves from early morning until dusk busily collecting the nectar.
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. Two of my nicknames for Comfrey are "Bumblebee Shopping Plaza" and "The Bumblebee 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!
When cutting Comfrey for harvest the bees are not our only consideration. We leave some choice leaves for our neighborhood foragers... wild rabbits, groundhogs - also slugs! They all love to nibble on the leaves.
DRYING THE COMFREY
When the flowers have died down, the stem and leaves are inspected and then Comfrey is cut before it droops and falls to the ground. It is actually healthier for the plant to be cut back when the flowers die down. Cutting allows the plant to put all its energy and resources into producing the new growth of leaves. The "dead flower period" is also when the plant is the cleanest, it has not drooped and hit the ground and no insects have started using the leaves for their habitat.
The dead flowers and the big leaves become very heavy and the stems can't support the weight so they droop, as seen above. An added bonus to cutting the Comfrey is that aesthetically it keeps the bedding area clean and fresh looking. It also saves nearby plants from being smothered and choked out when the Comfrey stems become too heavy and fall on top of them.
The bundles may be hung in an outdoor, open air setting to dry slowly, (as in nature when they wilt and fall to the ground), or the Comfrey may be dried in a greenhouse. It all depends on weather conditions and the weather outlook.
OPEN AIR DRYING
GREENHOUSE DRYING
DRIED COMFREY COLOR PALETTE
Dried Comfrey leaves vary in color. Drying method and weather factors have a direct impact on the shades of colors that are produced when the Comfrey is dried.
SHADES OF DRIED COMFREY
Individual Flat Drying
For the most pure green, flat shaped leaves, the leaves must be dried by laying each individual leaf out flat in a dry environment until it finishes drying. They cannot be overlapped. This technique is efficient when there is a small quantity to be dried. This method is very good for individuals who are processing and storing their Comfrey for personal use. This drying method is usually done indoors on a flat surface. It may be done outdoors if weather is agreeable for a long enough period. Mountain Fables processes such a large volume that this method would not be practical.
Dehydrating Equipment
Using a dehydrator is another method of drying small "greener" quantities. Dehydration of large quantities is possible, but the equipment, equipment space, electricity and man power required is expensive.
Hang Drying
Processing the Comfrey by "hang drying" is a more efficient and cost effective method for Mountain Fables. Hang drying 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, no bulky dehydration equipment, no extra space required to house the equipment and no additional manpower to operate it. By using the hang drying method production costs are dramatically reduced. The result? More affordable retail prices for you.
At Mountain Fables the Comfrey is hung to dry naturally, using both open air drying and greenhouse drying, as weather necessitates. The weather dictates drying time. The humidity levels in the air play a crucial role in shaping the tones that are produced. Tones range from a rich, brown colored finished product; mirroring the natural aging process of stems and leaves as they fall to the ground to "rot" / decompose slowly. However, tones often vary in hue and intensity. Depending on drying conditions the coloring may range from deep brown to muted shades of a lighter brown or a muted brownish- green to a more pure green. Each harvest presents its own color palette. Even within the harvest there is color variation. Each bunch of leaves usually produces its own varying array of colors. The first picture shows natural drying while the stem is still on the plant. The pictures that follow show varying tone possibilities.
It takes several weeks to be sure all the water content is out of each leaf and stem. If there is any moisture present the Comfrey will mold and rot when stored. The leaves must be crunchy, and the stems brittle. Once thoroughly dry the plant is ready for packaging.
THE FINAL STEP
INSIDE THE PACKAGE
Packaging is the final step in delivering premium, bulk Dried Comfrey to you. Once the Comfrey leaves and stems have dried, they are hand-cut into uneven pieces, a process known as "rough cutting." Cutting is said to aids in the release of minerals. The stems are included because they serve as the transport system to the leaves, making them equally rich in essential minerals and nutrients.
PACKAGE SIZE
After cutting the Comfrey is packaged and sold as a dry measure.
- One (1) gallon slider freezer bag. (1 dry gallon equals 148.94545 ounces).
- The contents of each 1 gallon bag will fill (5) 30 ounce Mayonnaise jars.
- Slider freezer bags are used for your ease of use and for freshness control. For long term storage, double bag or transfer to air tight jars. Store in a moisture free area.
- Dried Comfrey has a long shelf life as long as it is not exposed to moisture.
- Bags are not weighed, rather, each bag is filled by volume.
- Each bag is carefully hand-packed and generously filled to maximum capacity.
USES
Mountain Fables Dried Comfrey has many uses. If decomposed in water a "Tea" is formed. "Tea" is excellent for use as a plant fertilizer. The "Tea" is also used as; in a poultice, compress soak, a foot or bath soak, to soothe bug bites, minor burn, sunburn(where skin is not broken) and as a hair rinse. If decomposed in rubbing alcohol, witch hazel or a liniment is made. When decomposed in a carrier oil, an infused oil is made. This infused oil can be used as a body rub or as the base for making salves, creams, soaps and candles.
WARNINGS
Mountain Fable Comfrey is intended for fertilizer, fodder or for external medicinal applications such as muscle aches, minor burns with unbroken skin., bruises and body soaks.
Forms of intended use include:
- Comfrey Plant Fertilizer "Tea"
- Compresses, Body Soaks, Hair rinse
- Liniments
- Infuse Body Oil, Salves, Creams
- Soaps
- Candles
Mountain Fables Dried Comfrey is not sifted. **It is not processed: as a food product or for consumption or for any internal medicinal use. While "cut clean", (cut while still green and before touching the ground) and handled carefully, it has not undergone any special washing process. It is intended strictly for external use on unbroken skin only.
****Comfrey contains Pyrrolizidine Alkaloids (PAs) and may cause liver damage or cancer if taken internally. *Do not eat or drink. *Do not use during pregnancy or while nursing. *Do not use on children. *Not for extended use. *Do a patch test on small area of skin to test for allergic reaction. ***Always consult your physician or veterinarian BEFORE using as a medicinal application. Mountain Fables is not liable for any misuse of this product.
RESTING COMFREY
Once the season is over we all rest. I move on to other projects and whims. The comfrey also takes a well deserved break, preparing itself to thrive in the coming spring, when its growth cycle will start all over.
The final growth of the season is left to wilt in place for a winter slumber. By spring, last seasons brown leaves and stems lay on the ground beside the new, vibrantly green, emerging Comfrey shoots. Now dry, the stems are starting to brake away from the plant. They along with the leaves are stating he decomposition process. This rich brown, crispy plant matter may look dead and useless, but to the contrary, it still contains the powerful properties Comfrey is celebrated for. The dried debris slowly decomposes and is eventually worked into the soil by rain or the motion of man, animals, reptiles or insects. It is this seemingly lifeless plant matter that is known as the great soil amender, enhancing the soil’s texture and enriching it with vital nutrients to support new growth.
At the end of each season the last crop of Comfrey is left in place to droop, drop. wither, dry then decompose. The final growth creates a thick winter blanket for the Comfrey plant roots and also provides a winter home for insects that hibernate beneath leaf matter.
Lastly, leaving the final growth to fertilize the soil around the new Comfrey is also important because: Even Comfrey likes to be pampered with a little "self soil amending"!
"AKA"..... A bit of Comfrey "me time".
