Annual
Helianthus annuus
Family: Compositae/Asteraceae

History

The sun-worshipping Aztecs of Peru decorated their temples with wrought-gold sunflowers and crowned their priestesses with sunflowers.

Introduced into Europe by Spanish explorers in the 16th century, sunflowers are now extensively grown for oils and for ornamental value.

Little gets wasted; the stems yield a paper-making fibre, the seeds produce a low-cholesterol oil, and the leaves are used for herbal tobaccos and cattle fodder.

The growing plant is an excellent soil improver, and is also effective in draining water-logged soils.

Bees get wax and nectar from the flowers, which also yield a yellow dye.

Uses

Medicinal: The seeds have diuretic and expectorant properties and have been used to treat coughs, colds and bronchitis.
Culinary: The seeds are high in protein, minerals and vitamins and can be eaten fresh or used as a flour.

Cultivation

Easy to grow, especially in manure-rich soil and with plenty of sun and water.
Harvesting & storage: The seeds are ripe when the flowerheads droop. Cut off heads and leave to dry. When dry the seeds will easily fall out. Store in cool, dry place until needed.

Our modern monoculture farming traditions have created great swathes of pasture dominated by a mere two or three species.

Animals need as much variety in their diet as humans, and they instinctively know what to nibble or browse to correct dietary deficiencies.

While it may be an impossible task in the short term to convert existing pastures. it is easy enough to create smaller areas devoted to short-term grazing by planting fenced-off areas with suitable perennials and self-seeding annuals.

On smaller homesteads, it would be of value to grow herbs in quantity especially for your livestock and pets.

Photograph by Mark Hanna

Here is a short list of tried and tested beneficial herbs: For poultry, dogs and cats, try mixing small amounts of chopped herbs in with their regular food, for larger stock, simply feed them the whole plant. Always remember not to overdo it.

• Anise is good for colic and digestive disorders, and has high levels of phosphorus.
• Lemon balm increases milk supply and has a calmative effect.
• Borage also increases the milk supply, is high in potassium and is good for the respiratory system.
• Chives are a good food supplement for poultry, and aid worm removal.
• Comfrey is a good substitute fodder, and is high in chlorine, iron, potassium and sodium, and is good for the bones.
• Dandelion is a much maligned herb that is a superb food for goats, and is high in calcium, copper, iron, magnesium, potassium and silicon.
• Dill increase milk, and has fair amounts of phosphorus and sodium.
• Fennel also increases the milk supply, and it is good for worms and colic.
• Garlic is superb for worms and liver fluke, high in copper, flourine, iodine, sodium and sulphur, and an antibiotic. Too much, however, could flavour the milk.

Other good wormers are honeysuckle, mustard, parsley, nasturtium, wormwood and thyme.