Torch Ginger: A Living Beacon at the Edge of GreenDreamerFarm

At the edge of our permaculture farm, where the soil is nourished not by synthetic inputs but by the quiet wisdom of nature, the torch ginger (Etlingera elatior) stands tall—radiant, resilient, and deeply rooted in tradition. Grown without chemical fertilizers, this plant thrives on the simple practice of chop-and-drop mulching, embodying the regenerative spirit we live by.

A Visual Symphony in Red

The torch ginger’s bloom is nothing short of theatrical, clusters of vibrant red flowers burst forth from thick, fleshy stems, some in full bloom, others fading gracefully—reminding us of the plant’s natural cycle and the beauty in every stage, from the image zooms in on a single flower, its layered petals forming a rosette with intricate symmetry, flanked by buds waiting to unfurl. These flowers don’t just decorate—they captivate.

Cultivation: Let Nature Lead

Torch ginger is surprisingly low-maintenance when grown in harmony with nature:

• Location: Plant in partial shade or dappled sunlight—edges of food forests or garden borders are ideal.
• Soil: Prefers rich, well-draining soil, but adapts well when supported by organic matter from chop-and-drop mulching.
• Watering: Keep the soil moist, especially during dry spells, but avoid waterlogging.
• Propagation: Divide rhizomes during the rainy season and replant directly into the ground.

Once established, torch ginger becomes a self-sustaining part of the ecosystem, offering shade, biomass, and biodiversity.

Benefits Beyond Beauty

This plant is more than ornamental—it’s a powerhouse of utility:

• Culinary Uses: The flower buds are prized in Southeast Asian cuisine, adding citrusy zest to sambals, curries, and salads.
• Medicinal Value: Traditionally used to aid digestion, reduce inflammation, and support circulation.
• Pollinator Magnet: Its nectar-rich blooms attract bees, butterflies, and beneficial insects.
• Biomass Generator: Regular pruning provides mulch material, feeding the soil and suppressing weeds.

A Symbol of Regeneration

At GreenDreamerFarm, torch ginger isn’t just a plant—it’s a symbol. It represents our commitment to working with nature, not against it. It reminds us that beauty, utility, and sustainability can coexist when we trust the land and let it speak.

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火炬姜：绿梦农场边缘的活灯塔

在我们永续农业农场的边缘，土壤的滋养并非来自人工合成，而是来自大自然静谧的智慧。火炬姜（学名：Etlingera elatior）巍然屹立，光芒四射，坚韧不拔，根植于传统。这种植物无需施用化肥，只需简单的碎土覆盖就能茁壮成长，体现了我们赖以生存的再生精神。

红色的视觉交响曲

火炬姜的花朵绽放得美轮美奂。图片中，一簇簇鲜红的花朵从粗壮多肉的茎秆中绽放，有的盛放，有的优雅地凋谢——提醒着我们这种植物的自然循环和每个阶段的美丽。图片放大了单朵花的轮廓，层叠的花瓣形成一个对称复杂的莲座状花序，两侧是静待绽放的花蕾。这些花不仅能装饰，还能让人着迷。

种植：顺应自然

火炬姜与自然和谐共生，维护成本极低：

• 种植地点：种植在半阴或阳光充足的地方——食物森林的边缘或花园边界是理想选择。

• 土壤：喜欢肥沃、排水良好的土壤，但如果有切碎覆盖的有机质支撑，也能很好地适应。

• 浇水：保持土壤湿润，尤其是在干旱时期，但要避免涝渍。

• 繁殖：在雨季分株根茎，然后直接移植到地里。

一旦扎根，火炬姜就会成为生态系统中一个自我维持的组成部分，提供遮荫、生物量和生物多样性。

超越美感的益处

这种植物不仅仅是观赏植物，更是实用价值的源泉：

• 烹饪用途：其花蕾在东南亚美食中备受推崇，可为参巴酱、咖喱和沙拉增添柑橘的芬芳。

• 药用价值：传统上用于帮助消化、消炎和促进血液循环。

• 传粉媒介磁铁：其富含花蜜的花朵吸引着蜜蜂、蝴蝶和有益昆虫。

• 生物质发电机：定期修剪可提供覆盖物，滋养土壤并抑制杂草。

再生的象征

在 GreenDreamerFarm，火炬姜不仅仅是一种植物，更是一种象征。它代表着我们致力于与自然合作，而非对抗自然。它提醒我们，当我们信任土地并让土地发声时，美丽、实用和可持续性是可以共存的。

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Edible Aloe Vera ( Aloe Vera Barbadensis)

 

Edible Aloe Vera(Aloe Vera Barbadensis)

About:  Aloe Vera is a hardy succulent semi-tropical plant that, at the present time can almost be found worldwide. There are various types of Aloe Vera, the edible variety is Aloe vera barbadensis, and the leaves are thick and very fleshy
Nutritional Value:           Enzymes: It contains 8 enzymes: aliiase, alkaline phosphatase, amylase, bradykinase,                           carboxypeptidase, catalase, cellulase, lipase, and peroxidase.      Minerals: It provides calcium, chromium, copper, selenium, magnesium, manganese, potassium, sodium and zinc.       Vitamins: vitamins A (beta-carotene), C and E, B12, folic acid, and choline.       Sugars      Fatty acids: It provides 4 plant steroids; cholesterol, campesterol, β-sitosterol and lupeol.      Hormones: Auxins and gibberellins that help heal wounds and have anti-inflammatory action. 4.  Others: It provides 20 of the 22 human-required amino acids       Source: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2763764/
Grow and Care:
Cultivation :	Propagate by teaching younger plants from the adult plants' base or the joint root system. Aloe Vera cannot be grown by leaf-cutting
Soil:	Doing well in the draining soil, you can create your own mix using equal parts of loam, sand and compost.
Sunlight:	Give the plants adequate sunlight, prefer 8-10 hours a day.
Water :	Aloe Vera consists of 98% water, so do not water the plant if the soil is moist, water the plant only when the soil is parched.
Fertilizer:	Fertilize once a year with a low nitrogen, high phosphorous and low potassium fertilizer such as 15:30:15 or 10:40:10, do not overdo it which will cause the plant to grow in an unhealthy manner.

简介：

芦荟是一种耐寒的亚热带多汁植物，目前几乎遍布世界各地。芦荟有多种类型，可食用的品种是芦荟属植物，其叶子厚实且肉质丰富.

营养价值：

酶：含有 8 种酶：淀粉酶、碱性磷酸酶、淀粉酶、缓激酶、羧肽酶、过氧化氢酶、纤维素酶、脂肪酶和过氧化物酶。

矿物质：提供钙、铬、铜、硒、镁、锰、钾、钠和锌。

维生素：维生素 A（β-胡萝卜素）、维生素 C 和维生素 E、维生素 B12、叶酸和胆碱。

糖类

脂肪酸：提供 4 种植物类固醇；胆固醇、菜油甾醇、β-谷甾醇和羽扇豆醇。

激素：生长素和赤霉素有助于伤口愈合并具有抗炎作用。

其他：提供人体所需的 22 种氨基酸中的 20 种

种植和护理：

栽培：

通过从成年植物的基部或联合根系中培育幼苗来繁殖。芦荟不能通过叶子切割来种植

土壤：

如果在排水良好的土壤中生长良好，您可以使用等量的壤土、沙子和堆肥来制作自己的混合物。

阳光：

给植物充足的阳光，最好是每天 8-10 小时。

水：

芦荟含有 98% 的水，因此如果土壤潮湿，请不要给植物浇水，仅在土壤干旱时才给植物浇水。

肥料：

每年施肥一次，使用低氮、高磷和低钾肥料，例如 15:30:15 或 10:40:10，不要过量，否则会导致植物以不健康的方式生长。

Shui Kui Cao (Zebrina Pendula Schnizl) 水龟草

This herb grows luxuriantly under durian trees, lemon trees and mangosteen trees and some other shady areas at my farm. This herb is believed to bring many health benefits

This includes reducing swellings, also used for blood in the stools, kidney infections, and tuberculous cough. in Mexico, these herbs are used for treating diarrhoea, and urinary tract infections and for flushing the kidney.

Resource:https://www.researchgate.net/publication/330838595_Tradescantia_Zebrina_-_Mother_Nature_Healing

Many ornamental plants are more or less the same as Zebrina Pendula Schnizl 水龟草 , they are not herbs. As far as I know, the characteristics of this herb are that the surface leaf colour is green, the bottom leaf colour is purple and the stem is purple.

It can be used as health care for people who do not have health problems. once in a while, I will boil(I just boil for 30 minutes) some of these herbs to drink as a tea for health care purposes.

 Direction for use.

200g to be used each time. First, soak 15 pieces of red dates in a container, and wash the herb 3 times. Use 1.5 litres of water and bring it to a boil, put in herbs, red dates and 12 slices of ginger. Switch to low flame and cook for 1.5 hours. Add brown sugar for better medical effects. Herbs can be cooked 2nd time to get maximum benefits.

This herb is suitable for everybody young and old to detox their body of toxins! To be taken on an empty stomach for best results or 2 hours to 3 hours after food for better absorption.

Resource: http://ecogreenplanet.blogspot.com/2011/07/zebrinae-pendula-herba-traditional.html

 

Zebrina Pendula Schnizl 水龟草

Zebrina Pendula Schnizl tea

 

这种药草茂盛地生长在榴莲树,柠檬树和山竹树下 以及我农场其他阴凉树下 这种草药被认

为可以带来许多健康益处：

这包括消肿，也用于便血、肾脏感染、结核性咳嗽。 在墨西哥，这种草药用于治疗腹泻、尿路感染和冲洗肾脏。

资源：https://www.researchgate.net/publication/330838595_Tradescantia_Zebrina_-_Mother_Nature_Healing

有许多类型的观赏植物与 Zebrina Pendula Schnizl 水龟草大致相同，但它们不是药草。 据我所知这种药草的特点是表层叶色为绿色，下表层叶色为紫色，茎为紫色。

对于没有健康问题的人，可以作为保健品。 偶尔我会煮水龟草（我只煮沸 30 分钟 作为保健茶喝。

使用指南:

每次用200g。 先将15粒红枣浸泡在容器中，将香药草净3次。用1.5公升清水煮滚，放入药草、红枣和12片姜，转小火煮1.5小时。 添加红糖以获得更好的医疗效果.. 草药可以第二次煮以获得最大的好处。

这种草药适合每个人，老少皆宜，排毒！ 空腹服用效果最佳，或饭后 2 至 3 小时服用，以促进吸收。

资源：http://ecogreenplanet.blogspot.com/2011/07/zebrinae-pendula-herba-traditional.html 

Grass Jelly

 Grass Jelly commonly known as cincau in Malaysia, it created by using Platostoma Palustre plants(Chinese Mesona). Grass Jelly is a sweet dessert that is very famous and commonly consumed by Asian countries.  It is created by boiling leaves and stems from the Chinese Mesona plant and a small amount of taro starch to make this herbal dessert.

Before turning the grass jelly into a delicious dessert, Chinese Merosa plants need to dry in the sun for 3 days, dried Chinese Mesona plants can be stored for up to two years.  To make grass jelly, place the dried Chinese Mesona in a pot and boil then for about 40 minutes add taro starch to the pot to thicken the mixture.  Once the grass jelly has thickened place it in the refrigerator to chill and let the mixture set.  After an overnight in the refrigerator, grass jelly can be made into various types of desserts according to our tastes.

Fresh Chinese Mesona(Grass Jelly)

Dry Chinese Mesona (Grass Jelly)

6 benefits of grass jelly.

1. Promotes Digestive Health

Grass jelly helps your digestive system function at its optimal level as the sugar compounds in this plant have the ability to defeat the bacteria that cause stomach pain. Leaves of grass jelly have some alkaloid compounds that contain considerable amounts of vitamins B and C. When consumed, the combination of both vitamins is highly effective in preventing diarrhoea. Moreover, the fibre content in grass jelly helps clean your digestive tract, thereby alleviating stomach pain from heartburn and constipation.

2. Promotes Weight Loss

Grass jelly contains a lot of beneficial nutrients, including vitamins A, B1, C and calcium, phosphorus, and carbohydrates but low in calories. All this makes a perfect fit for your weight loss diet. High-fibre diets aid in weight loss by preventing you from experiencing the occasional hunger pangs and thus reduce excessive eating.

3. Prevents Cancer

Grass jelly contains antioxidant compounds that are potent in eliminating tumour cells in the liver, kidneys, lung, breast and cervical cancer. Thus, the consumption of grass jelly in powder or beverage makes it an effective antidote for the prevention of cancer.

4. Prevents Diabetes

Grass jelly contains bis benzylisoquinoline and chlorophyll compounds which can control the high blood sugar levels of diabetics. These two compounds ensure that sugar found in the grass jelly does not cause any form of an insulin spike.

5. Treats Fever and Sore Throat

Grass jelly is one cool remedy for fever and sore throat as it contains nutrients like alkaloids, flavonoids, saponins, andradite, and cardioplegic as well as vitamins A and B. These anti-toxin compounds are more than capable of treating symptoms of fever.

6. Speeds Up Bowel Movement

The two most basic elements for healthy digestion are water and fibre. Lack of fluids in the body can adversely impact your water balance and cause the passage of stool to be challenging. The fibre and water in glass jelly help to channel your food through the digestive tract smoothly for healthy digestion and easy defecation.

Sources: https://www.health-talks.net/2019/03/14/6-benefits-of-grass-jelly/

Elephantopus scaber

 Elephantopus scaber

Elephantopus scaber, which is known as prickly-leaves elephant's foot or di dan tou in Chinese, has a multitude of health benefits including wound-healing, fever, dysuria, hepatoprotective, anticancer, antidiabetic, and anti-inflammatory activities (Singh et al., 2005; Daisy et al., 2009;  Ho et al., 2009, 2012; Chan et al., 2015).  According to the Journal of Medicinal Plant Research, E.Scaber had been used in traditional medicine to reduce fever, eliminate bladder stones as well as treat nephritis, chest pain, pneumonia, scabies, arthralgia and leukaemia. Apart from its use as traditional medicine, this plant is also suitable for cooking soups, Di dan tou soup is a common dish on the dining table in my family, to cook soups I use the whole of this plant including the roots.

 

References:

https://scholar.google.com.my/scholar?q=elephantopus+scaber+l+benefits&hl=en&as_sdt=0&as_vis=1&oi=scholart.

https://www.researchgate.net/publication.

Torch Ginger (Etlingera Elatior)

Torch ginger is commonly known as Bunga Kantan in Malaysia. Its also known as ginger flower and torch lily.  While it isn’t used in the same way as a ginger root, the bud of the plant are edible making it an important ingredient in dishes such as nasi kerabu and laksa.  A medical study done by the Royal College of Medicine Perak also found that there were two benefits of torch ginger's essential oil.  The researchers found that torch ginger essential oil provided phytochemical screening, and photoprotective as well as anti-oxidant properties.

This plant grows well on my farm, it can grow well in shady conditions, the torch ginger plant grows best in well-draining soil that is rich in humus.  To propagate torch ginger I just divide the rhizomes as they spread over time.  Unfortunately, this beautiful tropical flower is not suitable as an indoor plant.

Herb

 herb coming soon