Juniper

The spicy Juniper

Today I was looking online for our local co-op's phone number because it was nowhere to be found in the phonebook. (Crazy me for looking in the phonebook for a phone number!)  I wanted to call and see if they sold Herb Quarterly.  But, while I was on the site, I saw a page on herbs and found an old post on Junpier. Juniperus communis and several other species.   It perked my interest because I just got done using Juniper in a talisman I made for Healing Charms.  Juniper is a good protection herb.  It is good for attracting good health and love and a sprig of the stuff will safeguard against theft.  But as Magickal Cat http://themagickalcat.com/  suggests, locking your door is a good idea too.

What I didn't know is that some juniper is edible.  Except for its use in gin, I've never considered it as a food item.  Apparently several types is not edible--Savin Juniper Juniperus sabina and Juniperus monosperma  or One Seed Juniper,  but the rest are and can be used like pepper to spice food.  Take a look at the article by Sarajoy Van Boven  .  http://www.moscowfood.coop/content/view/374/45/

I think we have a lot of Savin Juniper in the area, so I'd best learn to identify it.

Juniper communis
Kingdom: Plantae---that means its a plant
Division: Pinophyta---A conifer plant
Class: Pinopsida---no, really, a conifer. It used to be called coniferales, but they change it to confuse us.
Order: Pinales--it has cones
Family: Cupressaceae---it is a member of the cypress family
Genus: Juniperus--it is one of about 52-67 types of juniper (depends who you talk to)
Species: J. communis ---in this case, the common juniper

So, now I'm fascinated and want to try some juniper.  But I need to make sure I know what type it is.  Safety first!

For a long time I thought the Native Americans (Navajo, I believe) used juniper as "ghost berries" they would gather them at night and use them to deter ghosts from walking the earth.  But then I heard it wasn't juniper, it was cedar.  So, I had that messed up but I think I got it now.  Maybe I'll look up cedar tomorrow!

Here is a pic of some ghost berries