The Red Sunflower Diaries

Why Everyone Should Garden and Share Seeds

Mary Wester, who grew up near Wichita, Kansas, raises all kinds of sunflowers, tall and dwarf, yellow and red, and some the color of cherry chocolate. When Mary’s daughter develops migraine headaches, the family trades red sunflower seeds for plants that may help with health and healing.

Explore what Mary receives and why people are growing what they grow and share.

Interspersed are recipes for teas, tinctures, herbal medicines, aromatherapy, soaps, salves, and growing tips, as well as stories from the point of view of Red, the sunflower who grew all the red sunflower seeds, Mary sends out seeds to one doctor in particular and many soon to be friends all over the United States.

Enjoy a peek into Okra Jack’s window where he is brewing okra flower tea or watch from the window of an orphanage as Annette hurls seed “bombs” full of comfrey, marigolds, mullein, and daisy seeds. Discover “mean” seeds with big benefits like burdock and teasel or smuggle survivor seeds like Siberian maral root. Participate as Melanie makes fire cider to warm her body all winter long.

Decide whether Red is correct in her assessment of tulips. What good are they anyway? You can’t eat them and yes, they are beautiful but like for a minute.