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When we think of leaves, we often picture them as the green parts of plants that we compost or occasionally toss into the cooking pot. However, many leaves offer a wealth of unique benefits beyond simple culinary uses. They can help improve soil health, provide natural pest control, serve as crafting materials, and even support herbal remedies—all while promoting a more sustainable homestead.

In this episode, we’ll explore leaves that can bring unexpected advantages to your homestead. From traditional garden herbs to trees and even lesser-known plants, you may discover a new favorite way to put greenery to work!

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Disclaimer: Always properly identify plants before using them. Some leaves may be toxic if ingested or can cause skin irritation. If you plan to use leaves in herbal remedies, consult a qualified healthcare professional or reputable herbal resource for safety guidelines.

Comfrey

Comfrey leaves are beloved by permaculture enthusiasts for their powerful soil-building properties. These large, fuzzy leaves draw nutrients from deep in the ground and concentrate them in their foliage.

• Soil Amendment: Chop and drop comfrey leaves around the base of plants as a natural mulch. As they decompose, they release nitrogen, potassium, and phosphorus, enriching the soil.
• Compost Booster: Add comfrey leaves to your compost pile to kickstart decomposition and create a nutrient-dense compost faster.
• Herbal Salves: Traditionally, comfrey has been used in salves and poultices to support skin health. While many homesteaders swear by comfrey’s soothing properties, always exercise caution and do your own research before using it medicinally.

Links

• Comfrey in the Garden | USU
• Comfrey: A Clinical Overview – PMC

Plantain

Often regarded as a common lawn weed, plantain (Plantago major or Plantago lanceolata) actually has an impressive history of homestead and herbal uses.

• First Aid Leaf: Plantain leaves can be crushed or chewed (a “spit poultice”) and applied to bee stings, mosquito bites, or minor cuts to help soothe irritation.
• Soil Health Indicator: Plantain prefers compacted soils. Its presence in your yard can signal that the soil needs aeration or amendment.
• Beneficial Insects: If allowed to flower, plantain can attract pollinators, adding to the biodiversity of your homestead.

Links

• Therapeutic Efficacy of Great Plantain (Plantago major L.) in the Treatment of Second-Degree Burn Wounds: A Case-Control Study

Rhubarb

Though most people focus on the tasty stalks, rhubarb leaves themselves have a few surprising uses—just remember they’re toxic if ingested and should never be eaten!

• Natural Pesticide Spray: Rhubarb leaves contain oxalic acid; you can boil them and then dilute the strained liquid into a homemade spray to help deter pests like aphids.
• Garden Bed Barrier: Lay them around plants you want to protect. Slugs and snails tend to avoid rhubarb leaves due to their bitterness and toxicity.
• Composting Caution: You can still compost rhubarb leaves. The oxalic acid breaks down in a hot, well-managed compost pile and won’t harm your garden soil once fully decomposed.
• Crafts: The large leaves can be used to make bird baths

Links

• Controlling Pest Insects in the Organic Garden
• Rhubarb Leaf Birdbath : 6 Steps (with Pictures) – Instructables

Tobacco

Tobacco leaves aren’t just for smoking—though you’ll need to handle them with caution because of their nicotine content.

• Natural Insecticide: A mild tobacco “tea” can deter pests such as aphids, caterpillars, and thrips. Simply soak tobacco leaves in water, then strain and spray. Be careful, as nicotine can affect beneficial insects too, so use sparingly.
• Animal Repellent: Scatter dried tobacco leaves around the perimeter of your garden beds to help repel certain critters, but keep pets and children away from these areas due to toxicity.
• Crafting: Some homesteaders use dried tobacco leaves for decorative crafts, though you’ll want to store them properly to avoid pests and moisture.

Links

• Tobacco.

Mint

Mint is known for its vigorous growth and refreshing fragrance, but it has more to offer than just flavor for your tea.

• Pest Deterrent: Crush or scatter mint leaves around your garden to help ward off ants, mosquitoes, and flies.
• Aromatic Companion Plant: Planting mint near cabbage, kale, or tomatoes can help mask the scent of those crops from pests. However, keep it in containers or controlled beds—mint can quickly take over a garden.
• Homemade Cleaning Solutions: Infuse mint leaves in vinegar for a naturally scented, mild antiseptic cleaner for countertops and floors.
• Soap Aroma: Dried or fresh mint leaves can infuse soap with a bright, invigorating scent.

Links

• 12 Uses for Mint Leaves, for Health and Home

Mullein

Tall and fuzzy, mullein has been used in traditional herbal medicine for centuries, particularly for respiratory support.

• DIY Torches: The tall flower stalk, once dried and soaked in wax, can be used as a makeshift torch.
• Cough Remedies: Many herbalists steep mullein leaves for tea or create mullein-infused oils, though proper identification and preparation are crucial.
• Soil Conditioner: The large leaves can be chopped and laid on top of the soil to slowly add organic matter as they decompose.

Links

• How Mullein Benefits Your Lungs

Willow

Willow trees are often associated with shady streams and ornamental landscaping, but willow leaves—and especially the bark—have potent properties.

• Rooting Hormone: Willow leaves and twigs contain salicylic acid, which can encourage root growth. Soak chopped willow branches or leaves in water to create a rooting solution for plant cuttings.
• Crafting Material: Willow branches, leaves, and bark can be used for weaving baskets, garden trellises, or simple crafts.
• Livestock Feed: Tree hay for animals (small homestead goats)
• Chop and Drop: for biomass and mulch, they do well with coppicing so they can be used this way.

Eucalyptus (USDA Hardiness Zones 8–11)

Known for its fresh, distinctive scent, eucalyptus leaves provide more than just a pleasing fragrance.

• Aromatherapy: Hang fresh eucalyptus leaves in the shower to release a spa-like aroma with the steam.
• Invigorating Scent: Eucalyptus leaves or essential oil add a clean, spa-like aroma to soap.
• Antibacterial & Decongestant: Known for its antimicrobial properties and sinus-clearing fragrance, eucalyptus soap is especially popular during cold and flu season.
• Natural Insect Repellent: The strong scent can deter mosquitoes and other bugs. Eucalyptus oil is also popular for this purpose.
• Ornamental & Decorative: Dried eucalyptus leaves are a favorite in wreaths, bouquets, and floral arrangements.

Links

• Eucalyptus Leaves’ Benefits and Ways to Use Them

Grape Leaves

While grape leaves are often prized for making dolmas (stuffed grape leaves), they have homestead uses beyond cooking.

• Pickle Crispness: When canning pickles, placing a fresh grape leaf in each jar helps maintain a crisp texture. The tannins in grape leaves prevent the cucumbers from softening, keeping them crunchy as they cure.
• Mulch & Compost: Like most leaves, grape leaves can add organic matter to the garden if you prune your vines.
• Weed Suppressor: Lay them (fresh or dried) around the base of plants as a weed-blocking mulch.
• Livestock Feed: Some animals, like goats and chickens, enjoy nibbling on grape leaves. Just be sure to monitor the quantity and quality of what you feed them.

Links

• Pickled Grape Leaves Recipe (Fermented) – Forager | Chef
• Grandma’s Dill Pickles | Jennifer Cooks

Mulberry

Mulberry leaves famously feed silkworms, but they also have a place in a diverse homestead system.

• Silkworm Rearing: If you’re interested in small-scale sericulture (silk production), mulberry leaves are essential feed for silkworms.Insect meal as a feed ingredient for poultry – PMC.
• Fodder for Livestock: Chickens, rabbits, and goats can benefit from the protein in mulberry leaves as occasional forage.
• Nutrient-Rich Compost: Like other leaves, mulberry leaves break down into nutrient-dense compost. They’re also fairly high in minerals.

Links

• Mulberry Leaf: Uses, Benefits, and Precautions

Yarrow

Often found in wild meadows, yarrow’s feathery leaves have a history of medicinal and garden-helper uses.

• Wound Care: Historically, yarrow was nicknamed “nosebleed plant” and was used to help slow bleeding. Some modern homesteaders still use a dried yarrow leaf poultice on minor cuts.
• Compost Accelerator: Yarrow’s high nitrogen content can help speed up compost breakdown when added to the pile.
• Beneficial Insect Haven: The small white flowers attract predators like lacewings and ladybugs, which in turn help control pests in your garden.
• Mild Anti-Inflammatory: Yarrow-infused soap can help gently soothe dry or irritated skin.
• Natural Color & Texture: Dried yarrow leaves and flowers can add a speckled, rustic appearance to bar soaps.

Links

• Yarrow: A Natural Insect Repellent

Nettle

Stinging nettle might be intimidating to handle, but its leaves are a powerhouse for your garden and more.

• Natural Fertilizer Tea: Steep nettle leaves in water for several days to create a nutrient-rich “tea” for watering plants. Be sure to wear gloves during harvesting.
• Fiber Source: Historically, nettle fibers were used to make fabric similar to linen. Crafty homesteaders may enjoy experimenting with this traditional process.
• Pollinator Support: Once nettle flowers, it can provide pollen for certain pollinators—another reason to leave a patch undisturbed (and handled with care).
• High Mineral Content: Nettle-infused oil brings beneficial minerals and vitamins to your soap, making it a favorite for skin-nourishing recipes.
• Natural Green Colorant: Nettle can lend a soft green shade to your finished bars.

Links

• The effect of adding stinging nettle (Urtica dioica) haylage to a total mixed ration on performance and rumen function of lactating dairy cows – ScienceDirect
• SUPPLEMENTATION WITH PELLETED STINGING NETTLE IMPROVES HEMATOLOGICAL PARAMETERS, AND REDUCES TOTAL PARASITE LOAD AND GUT ESCHERI
• Video: Nettles for Textiles!

Aloe

While often considered a succulent, aloe leaves are essentially thick, fleshy blades packed with beneficial gel.

• Soothing Gel: Fresh aloe leaf gel is beloved for easing minor burns and skin irritations. Keep a potted aloe plant near the kitchen for quick relief from cooking mishaps.
• Natural Moisturizer: Some homesteaders blend aloe gel with oils or beeswax to create hydrating lotions and creams.
• Propagation: Aloe is easy to multiply. Simply remove and plant the “pups” that grow at the base of a mature aloe, increasing your supply for household and garden use.
• Hydrating Gel: While you typically use the inner gel rather than the leaf itself, fresh aloe can be blended into your soap mixture to create a deeply moisturizing bar.
• Skin-Loving Nutrients: Aloe’s reputation for soothing burns and hydrating skin makes it a top choice for gentle facial or hand soaps.

Borage

Borage is a pollinator magnet, but its large, bristly leaves are also useful around the homestead.

• Mulch & Green Manure: Borage grows quickly and provides plenty of leafy material. Cut the leaves and lay them around your plants as a nitrogen-rich mulch or till them under as green manure.
• Bee Magnet: The plant is famous for attracting bees and other pollinators, improving fruit set in nearby crops.
• Companion Planting: Borage is often interplanted with tomatoes, squash, and strawberries to deter pests like tomato hornworms.

Links

• https://www.groworganic.com/blogs/articles/borage-a-beautiful-herb-with-many-benefits?srsltid=AfmBOorTxiuNfwCcwLSC-oxM_fWA9tEU6RssT_sDm9gh0sfMv5pvTxO1

Horseradish

Horseradish roots get the spotlight for their pungent flavor, but the leaves can come in handy, too.

• Fungicidal Properties: Horseradish leaves are said to have mild antifungal qualities. Some gardeners chop and incorporate them into the topsoil around susceptible plants (like roses).
• Pest Deterrent: Placing horseradish leaves around a plant’s base may help repel certain insects due to the plant’s strong scent.
• Compost Addition: Like other leafy greens, they provide valuable nutrients when composted. Just be sure to discard any diseased or bug-riddled leaves.
• Fermentation Aide: Tannins help with crunchy pickles!

Lavender

Lavender’s fragrant purple blossoms draw all the attention, but the leaves also deserve recognition.

• Aromatic Crafts: Dried lavender leaves and stems can be added to sachets or potpourris for a calming scent.
• Insect Repellent: Scatter crushed leaves in storage areas or place sachets in closets to deter moths and other pests.
• Calming Tea & Infusions: Some people use lavender leaves (along with the flowers) to make relaxing teas, though the flowers are more common. Always ensure your lavender is free from pesticides before consuming.
• Calming Fragrance: Whether you use lavender leaves or buds, you’ll get that classic, relaxing aroma that’s a staple in many homemade soaps.
• Natural Antiseptic: Lavender has mild antiseptic properties, helping to keep skin clean and fresh.

Links

• 6+ Uses for Lavender Leaves

Calendula

Though technically we often use the petals, the leaves of calendula (also called pot marigold) play a subtle supportive role.

• Companion Planting: Calendula’s leaves and flowers can help attract beneficial insects like ladybugs and hoverflies, which prey on common garden pests.
• Soothing Salves: Calendula is treasured for its skin-friendly properties. While the flowers are most commonly used, some homesteaders incorporate the leaves into salves as well.
• Natural Dye: Both calendula flowers and leaves can impart a gentle yellow hue to homemade dyes for fabrics or soaps.
• Skin-Soothing Infusions: While the petals are more commonly used, the leaves can still be infused for their mild, skin-calming qualities.
• Light Color Tint: Calendula can add soft yellow hues to soaps, giving them a cheerful, natural appearance.

Links

• Calendula Information | Mount Sinai – New York

Conclusion

Whether you’re repurposing leaves for fertilizer, natural remedies, or arts and crafts, these green powerhouses can add real value to your homestead. Experiment with different ways to use them—mulching, composting, companion planting, or herbal preparations—and see which ones fit best into your routine. You may be surprised at how versatile a simple leaf can be when you think beyond the cooking pot!

Other Links Mentioned

Harold’ Guest Host Appearance On The Orchard People Podcast: https://podcast.orchardpeople.com/episodes/pruning-to-improve-fruit-quality-with-harold-thornbro

Susan Poizner’s New Book: Fruit Tree Pruning: The Science and Art of Cultivating Healthy Fruit Trees – https://amzn.to/4iivCwa