https://mailchi.mp/2a12b39699f1/schmidt-homestead-remedies, https://spot.fund/SchmidtRemedies

Schmidt Homestead Remedies, Butlerville, IN (2026)

06/24/2026

Scientists Discover Fungi Can Destroy “Forever Chemicals” in Contaminated Soil

A new generation of bioremediation technology is harnessing fungi to tackle one of agriculture’s most persistent pollution problems: PFAS, often called “forever chemicals.”

Researchers have found that certain fungi, including white rot fungi, produce powerful enzymes capable of breaking apart the extremely strong carbon-fluorine bonds that make PFAS so difficult to destroy.

Instead of merely containing the pollutants, these fungi can help transform them into less harmful compounds, offering a promising new tool for cleaning contaminated farmland.
Scientists are also exploring practical ways to deploy the technology at scale. One approach uses agricultural waste such as corn stalks and cobs as a living delivery system, providing both a habitat and food source for PFAS-degrading fungi. Other studies have focused on beneficial root-associated fungi known as arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF), which can enhance soil health while helping remove environmental contaminants. Researchers say the strategy works best alongside regenerative farming practices such as cover cropping, reduced tillage, and limiting fungicide use, allowing beneficial microbial networks to grow and spread naturally throughout the soil.

Source (APA):
Jin, L., Wu, S., Luo, S., & Xing, B. (2025). Fungal-mediated remediation of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in soil environments: Mechanisms, challenges, and future prospects. Journal of Hazardous Materials, 479, 136089.

06/20/2026

Gotu kola is one of those little plants that does not look powerful at first glance, but when you learn its history, you realize why it has been treasured for so long. This creeping green plant, also known as Centella asiatica, Indian pennywort, Asiatic pennywort, and sometimes called Brahmi in certain traditions, has been used for generations in Ayurveda, Traditional Chinese Medicine, and folk herbalism. It is not related to kola nut, and it does not contain caffeine. Gotu kola is a low-growing, spreading plant with round, scalloped leaves that loves moisture, rich soil, and partial shade. It makes a beautiful living groundcover, but its real value is in the leaves and stems.

Traditionally, gotu kola has been known as a plant for the mind, skin, circulation, and connective tissue. Herbalists have used it for memory, focus, calmness, stress support, wound healing, skin repair, veins, swelling, and overall tissue strength. In old herbal systems, it was often looked at as a plant that helped restore and rebuild rather than force the body. It has been used as a tea, tincture, powder, fresh green, infused oil, salve ingredient, and food herb. This is the kind of plant that reminds us that not every medicine in creation is harsh or dramatic. Some plants work gently, slowly, and deeply.

Scientifically, gotu kola is known for compounds called triterpenoids, including asiaticoside, madecassoside, asiatic acid, and madecassic acid. These compounds are one reason gotu kola has been studied for wound healing, collagen support, skin repair, inflammation response, circulation, and vein health. Research has looked at gotu kola for chronic venous insufficiency, swelling in the legs, skin healing, scar support, and cognitive function. That does not mean we claim it cures disease, but it does mean this plant has real scientific interest behind the old traditional uses. The old people were not guessing when they valued plants like this.

Gotu kola is also edible. The fresh leaves can be eaten raw in small amounts, added to salads, blended into green drinks, cooked lightly as a vegetable, or made into traditional pennywort drinks. In some cultures, it is eaten as a daily green for nourishment and wellness. The flavor is green, slightly bitter, and earthy. Like many strong medicinal greens, it is best started in small amounts until you know how your body responds. The leaves are the main part used, both as food and medicine.

Medicinally, gotu kola is best known as a rebuilding herb. It is often used where the body needs support for skin, tissue, veins, and the nervous system. For skin, it has been used traditionally in poultices, oils, salves, and washes for minor wounds, irritated skin, scars, and dry or damaged tissue. For circulation, it has been used traditionally for vein support, heavy legs, and swelling. For the nervous system, it has been used as a calming focus herb, especially when the mind feels worn down, scattered, or tired. It is not a stimulant like caffeine. It is more of a steady, nourishing plant.

Growing gotu kola is simple when you give it what it wants. It likes moist soil, compost, mulch, warmth, and partial shade. It does not like to dry out. In hot summer areas, afternoon shade is helpful. It spreads by creeping stems and can root as it travels, making it easy to propagate. You can divide rooted pieces, pot them up, or let them spread as a groundcover in a protected bed. In colder climates, frost can knock it back hard, so it may need to be overwintered in a greenhouse, indoors, or under protection. In warm and humid places, it can grow fast and fill in beautifully.

Harvesting is easy. Clip fresh leaves and tender stems as needed, always leaving enough plant behind so it can keep growing. The leaves can be used fresh or dried gently out of direct sunlight. Fresh gotu kola makes a good tea, tincture, poultice, infused oil, or food herb. Dried gotu kola can be stored for tea and herbal blends. As with all herbs, the best medicine starts with clean soil, no chemical sprays, and proper identification.

Gotu kola is a beautiful example of a humble plant with a deep purpose. It creeps quietly along the ground, but it carries a long history of food, medicine, skin support, circulation support, and nervous system support. This is why we keep teaching these plants. The Father filled creation with things that nourish, repair, calm, strengthen, and provide. Gotu kola is one of those plants that reminds us to slow down, look closer, and learn what has been growing right in front of us.

06/17/2026

THE SACRED SMOKE: What Did Native Americans Actually Smoke Before European Contact?

When most people think of to***co today, they picture the commercialized, mild leaf found in modern ci******es. But long before European ships arrived on these shores, smoking across Indigenous communities was a profoundly spiritual, medicinal, and diplomatic practice—and the plants used would completely surprise most people today.

Here is a look at the True History and Botany behind the Traditional Sacred Pipe

1) The Power of Indigenous To***cos (Not Your Average Leaf)

Native Americans did not smoke Nicotiana tabacum, the mild species native to Central and South America that Europeans later mass-produced. Instead, northern and western tribes cultivated or forged much more potent and resilient wild strains:

• Nicotiana rustica (Sacred To***co / Mapacho): Prominent among Eastern Woodland and some Southwestern tribes, this plant is incredibly robust. It carries a ni****ne content up to nine times higher than modern commercial to***co. Because of its extreme strength, it was treated as a powerful entheogen—never inhaled deeply or used for casual recreation, but reserved for serious spiritual ceremonies.

• Nicotiana attenuata (Coyote To***co) & Nicotiana quadrivalvis: These wild strains were actively managed by tribes across the Great Plains, the Great Basin, and the Southwest.

Rather than planting massive fields, traditional gatherers often used controlled burns to clear brush, allowing these sacred wild to***cos to grow back stronger and more abundant.

2) "Kinnikinnick" — The Art of the Herbal Blend

Because pure wild to***co was incredibly harsh—and often a highly prized trade commodity—it was rarely smoked alone. Instead, tribes created sophisticated botanical blends known broadly by the Algonquian word Kinnikinnick, which translates to "that which is mixed."

The ingredients of a pipe blend were a direct reflection of local ecology:

• Bearberry Leaves: Often called the "Kinnikinnick plant" today, these thick, leathery leaves provided a smooth, earthy base for blends across northern and western regions.

• Red Osier Dogwood (Inner Bark): Frequently called "red willow" by Plains tribes. The inner cambium layer was carefully scraped, dried, and toasted over a fire. It added a distinct, pleasant aroma and cut the harshness of wild to***co.

• Smooth Sumac Leaves: Gathered in the autu@mn when the leaves turned a brilliant red, dried sumac added a sweet, almost fruity flavor to the smoke.

• Regional Additions: Depending on the specific ceremony and tribe, blends might also feature dried sweetgrass, sage, cedar bark, yarrow, or wild mint.

3) More Than a Habit: The Medicine of the Pipe

To understand the history, we have to understand the worldview. To***co was considered one of the primary sacred medicines gifted by the Creator.

The Rising Prayer: Smoke was viewed as the physical manifestation of breath and spirit. As the smoke rose from the pipe, it literally carried a person’s thoughts, prayers, and honest intentions directly up to the spirit world. Lying while sharing a pipe was considered an invitation for spiritual disaster.

• The pipe itself (such as the chanunpa of the Lakota) held deep cosmic symbolism.

• The Bowl: Often carved from sacred red pipestone (catlinite) or black steatite, representing the Earth, the feminine, and all living things.

• The Stem: Crafted from wood like ash or cedar, representing the sky, the masculine, and the straight path of truth.

• The Connection: Joining the stem to the bowl symbolized bringing the universe into perfect balance.

While early European traders crudely labeled these "peace pipes," they were used for all major milestones: sealing treaties, declaring war, healing the sick, and uniting families. Smoking together was the ultimate, unbreakable legal contract.

Today, looking back at these ancient practices reminds us of the profound connection Indigenous peoples held with the natural world.To***co and the sacred pipe were never about casual use or commercial consumption; they were a bridge between the physical and spiritual worlds, a testament to deep botanical expertise, and a cornerstone of tribal governance.

By understanding the true history of Kinnikinnick and native to***cos, we look past modern misconceptions and honor the deep complexity, respect, and reverence that defined pre-colonial life on this continent, as the legacy of these traditions remains unbroken.

Painting by R.B. Smith

05/28/2026

It's starting to get hot and muggy out...SO if you see me out in my hoochie daddy coveralls... Mind ya business or not...IDC 🤣

05/26/2026

YOUR BODY SECRETLY CRAVES FOR THESE 10 HERBS AND NO ONE WILL EVER TELL YOU THIS. SAVE IT!

1. Black Seed (Nigella Sativa) has been studied for over 2,000 years and reduces inflammation markers by up to 52% - more than most over-the-counter pills.

2. Boswellia (Frankincense) blocks the exact enzyme - 5-LOX - that drives arthritis inflammation, doing what many supplements cannot even target.

3. Cilantro chemically bonds to heavy metals like mercury and lead and physically removes them from your tissues.

4. Dandelion Root forces your liver to release bile, the fluid that breaks down fat and flushes cholesterol from your blood.

5. Nettle Leaf naturally blocks the enzyme that converts testosterone to DHT - the hormone behind hair loss in both men and women.

6. Triphala feeds the 37 trillion bacteria in your gut - the gut-brain axis controlling your mood, focus, and immunity.

7. Lion's Mane mushroom stimulates nerve growth factor, literally regrowing brain connections lost to chronic stress and aging.

8. Holy Basil (Tulsi) balances blood sugar, reduces anxiety, AND fights bacterial infections. Nature's triple-threat mpainkiller.

9. Moringa has 7x more vitamin C than oranges and 4x more calcium than milk - and most people have never touched it.

10. Milk Thistle is the only herb proven to actively regenerate damaged liver cells, not just protect them

05/26/2026

Looking in Jennings County. Drop off in Butlerville. Any local tree services looking to get rid of some wood chips feel free to dm.

05/22/2026

The sunchoke is the most recommended vegetable in permaculture literature and the most likely vegetable to make you regret following that recommendation. Every self-sufficiency guide says the same: plant a few tubers, do almost nothing, harvest nutritious food each autumn. What those guides leave out is what happens in year two.

Jerusalem artichoke (Helianthus tuberosus) spreads by underground rhizomes and tubers throughout the soil. NC State Extension documents that the plant is now established in all but five US states, forms colonies, and is difficult to remove once established — because any tiny piece of the plant left in the soil will sprout a new plant. The problem is not the tubers you harvest. The problem is the ones you do not find.

A single plant produces several pounds of tubers in one growing season. They are not all near the crown. Some are large and obvious at harvest depth; others are small, scattered, and distributed across a 3-to-5-foot radius. You will miss some. Those will grow the following spring. Tuber fragments from plants you break during digging also regrow. Digging, like tilling mint, multiplies what you are trying to remove.

The plant is also allelopathic. University of Wisconsin Extension documents that the leaves and stems produce phytotoxins that suppress competitor plant germination in the surrounding area. A Jerusalem artichoke colony does not just crowd neighboring plants — it chemically discourages their germination as well.

What actually works: grow it in a large container of at least 5 gallons with a closed solid base, or in a raised bed with no soil escape path at the base. Clemson University Extension specifies confined spaces or containers for anyone who does not want the plant spreading. If grown in ground soil, use a buried barrier at least 18 inches deep — and accept that complete annual tuber removal is not realistically achievable in open soil.

One secondary fact worth knowing: Jerusalem artichoke has nothing to do with Jerusalem. The plant is native to North American prairies and was cultivated by Indigenous peoples for centuries before European contact. The name is likely a corruption of "girasole" — the Italian word for sunflower. It is also not an artichoke.

Plant it in its own container and it will feed you reliably for years. Plant it in your garden bed and it will also feed you reliably for years — and everyone else in a 10-foot radius.

05/20/2026

🤍💜Passion Flower, Maypop (Passiflora incarnata)

🌿This fascinating flowering vine is native to the US, Central, and South Americas. It grows up to 30 ft long, and blooms from around July into October. There are over 400 different passiflora species, not all of them are edible, and not all of them have medicinal values. Always ensure proper plant identification before foraging.

🥝🥭🍍Maypop fruits are oval in shape and are ripe in early fall. You can eat the fleshy center as well as the seeds. The flavor has been described as being tangy and tropical-like. Many people utilize it in jams, jellies, and desserts. It can also be enjoyed plain or in a fruit salad.

🍶The flowers and aerial parts have been utilized in herbal medicine for thousands of years. Indigenous tribes would use them for pain relief, nervous conditions, and sedation. In today's herbal world it is valued for many different reasons including insomnia, toothaches, menstrual cramps, anxiety and more.

✨️Key Constituents:
-Cyanogenic glycosides (gynocardin)
-Flavonoid (apigenin)
-Indole alkaloids (trace)
-Amino acids

✨️Key Actions:
-Sedative
-Tranquilizing
-Antispasmatic

You can utilize the aerial parts dried and flowers fresh or dried. Add dried aerial parts to a tincture to help with insomnia, menstrual cramps, and toothaches. Create a tea infusion with flowers and/or aerial parts for menstrual cramps, tension, and irritability.

⚠️This does cause drowsiness. It can also affect movement and balance. Do not drive after consuming.

⚠️Passionflower should not be taken while pregnant. Do not take if you are on OTC or prescription medications for sedatives, blood thinners, or antidepressants. If you have heart conditions talk with your doctor prior to use. Make sure to consult a doctor if already on any medications prior to use.

05/19/2026

🌿 9 Medicinal Herbs You Can Plant Once and Enjoy Forever! 🌱
These perennial herbs offer natural remedies year after year—fresh, healthy, and low-maintenance.
✨ Healing Perennials:
• Bay Laurel: Aids digestion
• Sorrel: Packed with vitamin C, perfect for teas
• Chamomile: Relieves stress and promotes sleep
• Thyme: Antibacterial, supports respiratory health
• Sage: Soothes sore throats
• Mint: Freshens breath and eases nausea
• Oregano: Natural antimicrobial
• Lavender: Calms anxiety
• Echinacea: Boosts immunity
✅ Tip: Plant once and enjoy these perennial herbs as natural remedies every season! 🌿

05/19/2026

FAQ – YOUR QUESTIONS, ANSWERED 💬

Q: When will pre‑orders ship?
A: As soon as we hit $1,000 and I complete the first production run (estimated 4‑6 weeks after goal).

Q: Are your products really alcohol‑free?
A: Yes. I use honey and apple cider vinegar instead of alcohol – compliant with Indiana’s HB 1424 homestead law.

Q: Can I buy a single item without a whole box?
A: Once the campaign ends, my shop will open for individual items. But the pre‑order boxes are only available through this Spotfund.

Q: I live outside Indiana – can I still order?
A: Yes, all pre‑order boxes ship to any US address.

👉 Link in first comment to claim your reward before the campaign closes.

Schmidt Homestead Remedies

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