July 2014

Fourteen Medicinal Herbs

July 27, 2014 // 1 Comment

Aloe: Apply the fresh gel from the leaves to minor burns and sunburn, blisters, scrapes, and minor wounds. Helps to promote healing and prevents infection. Do not take internally. Arnica: Make an tincture of the flower heads and apply as a poultice or compress. Witch Hazel and apple cider vinegar make the best [ ...click to read more ]

The Back Porch

July 18, 2014 // 1 Comment

A generous friend stopped by this morning and brought me 4 dozen ears of Silver Queen corn. For those who have never tasted sweet, organically grown corn, you’ve missed out on something special. Perfect, pearly rows of delicious goodness, so fresh when you press down on the kernels, you can see the corn [ ...click to read more ]

Vacations and Gardens

July 11, 2014 // 0 Comments

Nothing is sadder than coming home from vacation to a yard full of dead flowers, vegetables and herbs. Unless you’re lucky enough to have family, neighbors or friends look after the plants, then you’ll have to make some preps before you leave. The day before you leave, water everything deeply. Hopefully, [ ...click to read more ]

It’s About Thyme

July 6, 2014 // 0 Comments

There are some 350 species of thyme. They share much in common, sun-loving perennial shrubs, or tiny, creeping plants that grow between rocks and stones. Garden or common thyme [ T. vulgaris ] is the principal culinary thyme. The leaves are tiny, gray-green and highly aromatic. Thyme requires good drainage and [ ...click to read more ]

How to Air Dry Herbs

July 3, 2014 // 2 Comments

Harvesting and drying: Herb leaves should be cut when the plant’s essential oils are at their highest levels. Leafy herbs like basil, chervil, marjoram, lemon balm, parsley, rosemary and sage should be pruned just before blossoming time. Pruning or cutting should be done around noon, after the dew has [ ...click to read more ]