BY RACHAEL DUPREE
RACHAEL DUPREE; XPIXEL/SHUTTERSTOCK; WASANAJAI/SHUTTERSTOCK
Living in the country, the nearest drugstore can be quite a haul and might not be open when you need it. The beauty of living on a farm surrounded by land untouched by buildings or roads is that you have some of the best medicines right outside your doorstep. When choosing herbs or weeds for medicinal purposes, be sure you know how the plants were grown. Avoid those contaminated by pesticides and other chemicals, and never pick from roadsides. If foraging forests or pastures, take along a trusted guidebook or foraging friend; never ingest a plant unless you’re absolutely sure of its ID.