Growing under the fruit trees at Thornbush is a lush perennial with large fuzzy leaves and purple flowers. Almost tropical in its exuberence, this plant is also a workhorse at soil building. It is a dynamic accumulator of phosphorus and calcium, so its mineral-rich leaves are great additions to a compost pile or thrown into the potato trench at planting time. The leaves can be harvested three or four times a year and will grow back lustily, especially if harvested before flowers appear.

Nutrient capture by comfrey can be put to good use below chicken runs or around compost piles. The comfrey plants will just grow faster, and nutrient-rich runoff will not foul the local waters.

Chickens devour the stuff. Chicks can be taught at a young age to eat fresh comfrey, although an older hen new to comfrey may turn up her beak at the fuzziness of it all. She may very well accept wilted leaves, so let them dry a bit and then see if she'll eat them. If your hens will not eat fresh comfrey, you will be able to run chickens through your comfrey patch to weed and fertilize it for you.

Symphytum uplandicum is the comfrey of choice. There are many comfreys, but the hybrid Russian comfrey (Symphytum uplandicum) will not set seed and spread itself around your homestead. Russian comfrey will spread if you break and move the roots around, so plant it where you want it and be careful with that tiller.

We offer hybrid Russion comfrey in one gallon pots at the San Juan Island Farmers Market.