mullein: heal the earth with cowboy toilet paper

http://www.permies.com

Mullein (mullan, Verbascum thapsus) is a biennial plant with fuzzy leaves. Often called "cowboy toilet paper" or "the butt wipe plant". It will grow in the worst soils, including gravel piles, rock piles, and the video will show it growing in asphalt. Mullein generally doesn't compete with anything, so it improves the worst soils wherever it goes.

Brian Kerkvliet of Inspiration Farm in Bellingham, Washington says that he might take some mullein out, but usually leaves it in. He thinks it has a lot of good roots for building the soil. Good biomass, bee food and the dried stalks help with aerating compost piles.

Tulsey Latoski mentions the lore that mullein fights off evil spirits, then shares information about how mullein can be used as an ear ache medicine; As the foundation for tallow torches; roadside toilet paper.

Norris Thomlinson talks about how goldfinches and downy woodpeckers like the seeds.

Toby Hemenway, author of Gaia's Garden, A Guide to Home-Scale Permaculture, starts off by confessing that mullein is "the world's greatest toilet paper", then explains how mullein heals the worst soil problems: it has a "spike root" which will break up compacted soil, bringing minerals up from deep in the soil. "Removing 'weeds' stops nature from healing the soil." Mullein grows in sand, gravel and rock piles, is an early pioneer stage plant, and "once the soil actually gets better ... the mullein often leaves of its own accord. It's not something to stick around once the soil gets well developed ... it's one of those plants that comes in and very politely bows out once its job is done."

Our official mullein spokesmodel, Forrest, was available for this video really cheap. It turns out that he doesn't actually speak (which you would think would be required of a SPOKESmodel) and he appears always disshelved (the "model" part). But he does convey information on the size of mullein, what it looks like when it is dead, and the bit about how a mullein leaf under your pillow is supposed to give you great dreams.

Dov Shoneman, licensed acupuncturist and herbalist, likes mullein's latin name of Verbascum thapsus and admits to the most common name of "the toilet paper plant". He suggests that the leaves remind him of lungs - therefore, good lung medicine; a tea will help facilitate the function of the lungs; the flowers can be put in olive oil with garlic for two weeks as the best ear infection medication - anti-bacterial and anti-viral.

Gordon Hogenson (thanks to Gordon and Jeni Hogenson for giving me the video clip. Jeni did the filming) shows off a massive specimen and reminds us that mullein is from eurasia. Gordon mentions how it is an impressive architectural plant in the garden.

Bud Papin, Polson, Montana assures us that this is the official American Indian "butt wipe plant" (native americans adopted mullein quickly and found many uses for it not covered in this video). Bud also shares that it is wise to "go with the needles, don't go against the needles" (the fuzz on older plants can cause discomfort if you "go against the fuzz").

Kelly Ware of BigFork, Montana confeses to using the plant for ... uh ... paperwork ... earlier in the day.

Michael "Skeeter" Pilarski is a renouned wildcrafter and permaculture instructor. He harvests and sells parts of mullein every year. He sells the flowers, the leaves and the roots. Skeeter mentions how drying the leaves can be tough because of how the fuzz "is a drought resistant strategy". He then talks about different kinds of torches that can be made. "If you make a big pile of gravel, mullein is the first thing that will colonize the gravel pile." "Mullein loves humans. Humans and mullein have a love affair. We disturb the soil and hurt the planet, and mullein comes along and tries to repair things."


Relevant threads at permies:
http://www.permies.com/permaculture-forums/9082_0/permaculture/mullein-in-per...
http://www.permies.com/permaculture-forums/5423_0/resources-seeds-plants-hone...
http://www.permies.com/permaculture-forums/4751_0/homestead/alternatives-to-t...

music by Jimmy Pardo

Category:

Science & Technology

Tags:

• mullein
• plant
• toilet
• paper
• farm
• weed
• earth
• green
• eco
• permaculture
• organic
• sustainability

[OzaawaaMigiziNini]

I wouldn't suggest this as toilet paper, as the hairs are very well known for irritating sensitive skin, such as the colon. Some describe it as a hemorhoid feeling.

[paulwheaton12]

@OzaawaaMigiziNini did you see bud's important tip? there is much more about this at permies.com.

[OzaawaaMigiziNini]

@paulwheaton12 Yep, though the direction of the fuzz is irrelevent as it is the same in all directions. The tip Bud made I would relate more towards branches or leaves of other plants, such as fir, ferns and the like. Mullein, as a "fuzzy-leaved" plant has the same reaction to the colon or rectal lining as wipe in any direction. It is still a highly useful plant, and I am now in the works of harvesting the flowers for the oil process your wonderfull video suggested. But not for toilet paper.

[paulwheaton12]

@OzaawaaMigiziNini and yet millions continue to not have problems. did you read the thread at permies?

[Rhinoch8]

So you can actually use it as a toilet paper for sawdust toilets?

[paulwheaton12]

@Rhinoch8 yes

[nluedtke]

Forrest is awesome. Still waters run deep! Paul, you did a great job editing this.

[cursedwyvern]

you wipe your colon? that's a heck of a deep tissue wipe!

[EarthElla]

Good video, learned alot, love Forrest...Thank you for this video.

[attiliocg]

Thanks so much for this wealth of info on Verbascum thapsus! I had been wondering what we could use at "One Community Ranch" as a sustainable, natural T.P. Now I know! For others out there looking for support with your sustainability project/s, search out: sustainabilitynonprofitDOTorg and let's work together to create open-source blue-prints for a sustainable civilization. Much LOVE, Respect & Gratitude to Paul and to all of us doing everything in our power to BE the change we desire to see!

[OccupyPsyche]

Mullen is awesome, and I'm so grateful to have this helping me revive my yard and life!

[OccupyPsyche]

I use a water bottle to wash off, for those of us with flush toilet

[wenrolland]

One of the nicest video I've seen in a while! A concentrate of knowledge on a precise subject. I love it. And funny :)

[Adawg4008]

i like these plants because the leaves are really soft. i like to rub them on my face. i call them "bunny ears"

[iamearthbornami]

i love this plant