Most people think of Basil only as a culinary herb. It can be used for so much more than cooking. From aiding in digestion to easing the pain of insect bites, basil is a great addition to your herbal medicine cabinet.
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This past week was busy, preparing the garden for the first frost. This is my first time trying to grow things in the winter and I wasn't sure what exactly would survive. So this led to me picking all the peppers and green tomatoes I could. I also managed to finally get the garlic and onion bulbs into the ground.
Winter is coming. It's time to harvest what you can from the garden before the bitter cold claims it. I've put together this quick tutorial of how to collect, hang and dry garden herbs. Now you can enjoy the flavors of summer all winter long.
I thought I would just share a few pictures of what's happening in the garden right now. Fall gardening is still new to me, so I'm learning as I go. I'm not complaining about the cold weather and neither are the plants. They enjoy having less bugs crawling around and it's a win, win!
Did you know raspberry leaves are used to make tea and herbal medicine? The tea is super beneficial especially for the female reproductive system and during pregnancy or if you are trying to get pregnant. Not only do I enjoy eating the delicious berries, the tea is an everyday must for a healthy cycle!
I'm so glad fall is here, I couldn't wait to get some cool weather crops into the garden. I've been growing seedlings in the basement under a grow light. Last week I hardened them off. Which is where you expose them to the outside a few hours more each day so they are not as shocked when they are transplanted. They were outgrowing their pots so I was happy to see them go.
It's the time of year when Goldenrod is in full bloom. Those beautiful yellow blooms that remind us of fall. Growing wild in most open, sunny fields and roadsides. Among many of it's qualities it is one of the best herbal treatments for urinary tract disorders.
Goldenrod usually grows wild, but can be cultivated by gathering seeds and planting in your garden. It attracts many beneficial insects into the garden such as ladybugs, lacewings and hoverflies. It can grow 3-7 feet so make you allow it enough space. So today I said to the husband, I need to write something on my blog it's been a few days. His response "What have you been doing?" Well let's back track a little, for those of you who do not know me. The more complicated part of my life involves me being a flight attendant and traveling for 3-4 days a a time. I say complicated because it throws a wrench into the life I love which is being at home with my kitties and gardening. Someone asked me at work the other day "How do you find time to grow your own food with this job?" Well I make time and sprinkler systems help. My days off are usually pretty busy, weeding, picking bugs and so on. If it's something you really want to do you will find time for it.
So every year we get this weed growing in our yard. This year I thought I would try making a wreath out of it. Not sure how well it's going to hold up because I've never made a wreath before. It looks pretty awesome though doesn't it?
Aloe can be used for all kinds of ailments other than a sunburn. Did you know the the outer skin is a popular laxative ingredient? There is more to this hardy plant then we give credit.
This morning I went out and planted some more bush beans and peas. Then collected seeds from the Morning Glory's and Marigolds, to re-plant in the spring. The tomatoes are coming along, they split a bit from all the rain we got a couple weeks ago. Those wounds have healed and they continue growing.
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AuthorI'm a tea drinking, bird watching, garden loving fool. I'm crazy about getting back to nature. Archives
January 2015
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