Hey Earthlings,

Today, we’re diving into the magic of garlic (Allium sativum). This mystical herb has been part of human history for over 5,000 years, originating in Central Asia. Ancient Egyptians even used garlic as currency, while Native American tribes and Celtic communities also cherished it. Garlic isn’t just flavorful; it’s a medicinal wonder. During WWI, Irishwomen used garlic-soaked sphagnum moss for surgical bandages, saving countless lives. Garlic has been known to cure snake bites, aid digestion, revive the faint, and combat a variety of diseases. Currently, studies are investigating the effect that garlic or garlic supplements can have on heart health by effectively lowering blood pressure. Most studies used garlic powder but a few used extracts or oil.  

Garlic in Folklore

Folklore gives garlic a heroic status. It’s believed to ward off evil, protect against the evil eye, and even fend off vampires. In many cultures, people wore garlic cloves around their necks to keep bad spirits away. Athletes chewed it for victory, and warriors believed it spurred them in battle. 

In European folklore, garlic has always been a go-to remedy against dark forces. The myths extend to the origins of garlic itself. One tale suggests that when Satan was expelled from Eden, garlic sprouted from his left footprint, while onions sprang from his right. This association made garlic a staple in magical potions and amulets against the devil. Garlic’s pungent smell was believed to confuse and repel malevolent spirits, making it a key ingredient in many protective rituals.

One legend says planting garlic at the full moon produces a single, giant clove. Although this might or might not be true, planting crops on a full moon can have an effect on how they grow. 

This ancient magic is backed up by science, since Garlic’s allicin content offers numerous health benefits, including cholesterol control and improved metabolism. It’s a vermifuge, antiseptic, bactericidal, hypotensive, immunostimulant, and cardioprotective. It may even prevent neurological diseases.

How to Plant Garlic

There exist about 700 species of garlic but you are mostly going to find softneck garlic variants in your local supermarket. The other category, hardneck variants, are also fine but they are less adaptable to changes in the weather and they grow smaller or less bulbs. Garlic needs little maintenance apart from watering in dry spells and weeding to prevent overcrowding. Most varieties are best planted in late autumn or early winter, as the cloves need a period of cold weather to develop into bulbs. Make sure your soil is clear of weeds and not too compact. It helps to create little mountain-like rows of soil; you can plant the garlic cloves at the tip of these “mountains.” Make a thumb-sized hole and stick a single clove (it can already have a growth) in it, with the green growth facing up.

Companion Planting

Companion planting is a great way to grow plants without harsh chemicals, and garlic is a fantastic companion plant. Simply intersperse garlic throughout your garden to maximize its benefits. 

Companions for Garlic:

Garlic acts as a natural pesticide, making it ideal to plant around other crops like fruit trees, dill, beets, kale, spinach, potatoes, carrots, eggplants, tomatoes, peppers, cabbage, cauliflower, broccoli, and kohlrabi. Garlic can repel pests like fungus gnats, snails, spider mites, ants, rabbits, and deer. Lastly, I just want to note that garlic is toxic for pets like cats and dogs, so be careful with your furry companions.

Plants to Avoid Near Garlic:

Some plants don’t thrive near garlic. Keep asparagus, peas, beans, sage, and parsley away, as their growth can be stunted. Also, avoid planting garlic too close to other alliums like onions and leeks, as it can attract onion maggots.

Harvesting Garlic

Harvest garlic in summer when the leaves turn yellow. Lift bulbs gently and let them dry in the sun for a couple of days. You can also use garlic straight from the soil if you prefer. After harvesting, you can braid the bulbs together to keep them in one place and hang them on your door or create necklaces for luck and protection. 

Foraging for Wild Garlic

Another option to planting is to forage. While it’s not the same species, wild garlic, also known as ramsons or forest leek, offers a fantastic alternative. When spring arrives in Europe around mid-April, the foraging season begins. Wild garlic tastes like a mix between garlic and leek and is great in pesto or soup. It also freezes well, keeping for over six months.

Nutritionally, wild garlic boosts hydrogen sulphide production in the body, which helps relax blood vessels and muscles, increases blood flow, and may combat aging and age-related diseases. Historically, wild garlic leaves were boiled to make a disinfectant. Its smell is said to repel cats. Despite its strong scent, wild garlic has a mellower taste than conventional garlic. Be careful not to confuse it with the poisonous Lily of the Valley before it flowers. Lily of the Valley has several white flowers that resemble bells and a distinctive sweet scent. Wild garlic flowers are at the tip of a long stem, bunched into an umbel, looking like little flower balls made of stars with six petals each.

If you’re new to foraging, wild garlic is a great place to start. It’s easy to identify, prolific, and delicious. In spring, you can find wild garlic in woodlands or along riverbanks throughout Europe. Remember the ⅓ rule when you harvest, meaning that you should always leave at least ⅔ of any garlic-covered area behind to ensure there will be enough left for the coming seasons. You will want to keep your wild garlic spot thriving for years to come, so it is important not to overpick. If you are not 100% sure that it is wild garlic, make sure to ask an experienced forager. Look for it in damp areas with abundant green leaves on single stems. Avoid foraging near busy roads to prevent contamination from exhaust fumes.

Here are some of the best places to see and smell wild garlic in Europe:

• Black Forest, Germany: Renowned for its lush woodlands, perfect for wild garlic foraging.
• Ardennes, Belgium: This dense forest region offers an excellent habitat for wild garlic.
• Vosges Mountains, France: Known for its rich biodiversity, wild garlic is plentiful here in spring.
• Trentino-Alto Adige, Italy: The forests in this region are a great place to find wild garlic.
• Białowieża Forest, Poland: One of Europe’s oldest forests, it’s an ideal spot for foraging wild garlic.
• Fragas do Eume, Galicia, Spain: This ancient forest is rich in biodiversity, offering an ideal habitat for wild garlic.
• Urkiola Natural Park, Basque Country, Spain: Known for its dense woodlands and lush valleys, perfect for foraging wild garlic.

Enjoy your foraging adventures, and remember to forage responsibly!

Some Garlic Recipes

Regularly eating garlic is extremely beneficial, especially when used raw. While cooking garlic is good for your health, using it raw is more potent for emergencies. You can juice it and add it to other juices, or swallow a clove whole like a pill when you feel you’re getting sick. Raw garlic recipes, like hummus and garlic tea, are great examples of “eating your medicine.” Healthy meals with antiviral and antibiotic properties are optimal. If you’re already sick, cooking garlic into your soup is one of the best options.

Garlic Soup

Ingredients:

• 12 to 16 garlic cloves, sliced
• 1 pinch of cayenne pepper
• Olive oil
• 1 piece of bread
• 8 tablespoons of tomato sauce
• 1 pinch of sweet paprika
• 2 liters of hot water
• Salt

Instructions:

1. Start by heating oil in a large pot over low heat, adding a dried chili and the sliced garlic cloves.

2. When the garlic begins to fry, add thinly sliced bread, stirring constantly with a wooden spoon until golden brown.

3. Add paprika and, after a few seconds, incorporate the tomato sauce.

4. Next, add the hot water.

5. Season with salt and let it simmer for 15-20 minutes.

6. Let it rest for a few minutes so the bread absorbs the soup and thickens. Serve hot. Enjoy!

Garlic Oil Immunity Remedy

You can add this to your pasta or salad, but you can also rub it on your feet before you sleep (you might get garlic breath in the morning).

Ingredients:

• 1 cup oil (Vegetable Oil or Light Olive Oil)
• 20 garlic cloves

Wild Garlic Pesto

Ingredients:

• 200g wild garlic leaves, washed
• 50g parmesan or vegetarian/vegan hard cheese, grated
• 1 garlic clove, diced or finely chopped
• Juice of 1 lemon
• 50g pine nuts or walnuts, toasted and finely chopped
• 100ml extra virgin olive oil (rapeseed oil can also be used)
• A pinch of coarse sea salt
• A pinch of pepper

Method

1. Wash the wild garlic leaves carefully to remove any soil or dirt. Dry and roughly chop or tear the leaves.

2. Using a food processor, blitz the wild garlic, garlic clove, hard cheese, and pine nuts while slowly adding the olive oil and lemon juice until it becomes a smooth paste. Taste and add the salt and pepper to season. You may wish to add a little!