Herbal Insect Repellants

The “Sweet 16” – Plant These For A Healthy Garden

May 11, 2017 // 2 Comments

Here are 16 plants to use strategically for a healthier garden this summer. Basil: repels aphids, flies, mosquitoes, and mites; also has fungicidal properties. Plant basil next to tomato plants to repel hornworms. Borage: repels tomato hornworms and flea beetles. Catnip: repels ants, fleas and mosquitoes. Chamomile: [ ...click to read more ]

Lavender Cotton

September 19, 2016 // 1 Comment

Lavender Cotton – Santolina chamaecyparissus – Asteraceae (Compositae) family Although lavender cotton is a member of the daisy family, it is more reminiscent of lavender with its grayish green foliage and strong aromatic scent. It is used in potpourris, insect repellent sachets and dried flower [ ...click to read more ]

The Bugs of Eden

March 12, 2015 // 2 Comments

Spraying synthetic insecticides — which contain toxins that linger in our soil, water and air — to get rid of some bugs seems like overkill to me. I think all the (safe and effective) means for insect control that we require are already present in nature, just waiting to be rediscovered. Here are some of [ ...click to read more ]

Tick Tock

June 3, 2014 // 0 Comments

It’s that time again- time to start protecting yourself against Lyme disease and its carrier. ” Don’t let a tick make you sick.” That’s good advice from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is worth heeding- June and July are the months when most people infected with Lyme [ ...click to read more ]

Essential Oils to Repel Mosquitos at your Outdoor Party

July 11, 2013 // 0 Comments

Essential oils can be bought at CVS, Rite-Aid, Walmart and most health food stores. . The best oils to spray on the lawn and surrounding areas are these: Lemon Eucalytus Oil – must be at least 70% cineole content Lavender Oil Tea Tree Oil [ possibly the best out there ] Thyme Oil Citronella Oil Rosemary Oil One [ ...click to read more ]

July in the Herb Garden

July 2, 2013 // 0 Comments

Time to: Deadhead flowers of dill, cilantro, basil, thyme, and chives to keep them producing all summer. Snip off the flowers before they have fully bloomed. Use the flowers in salads, marinades, etc. Sow more seeds of cilantro to replace the plants that will soon set seed. Once cilantro has produced a small seed [ ...click to read more ]

Herbs for Hearth and Home

February 12, 2013 // 0 Comments

Fancy that ! Add 4 drops of essential oil such as lavender, tea tree, rosemary or peppermint to a 1/2 cup of baking soda. Divide the soda into a pair of clean socks, fold them over and stuff them inside a pair of sneakers or work boots. Leave it overnight to deodorize and absorb odors. To re-use the soda, add another [ ...click to read more ]

Legend of the Four Thieves Oil

January 15, 2013 // 2 Comments

A tale of four men who robbed and plundered the houses of the dying and deceased victims of the bubonic plague. They created this blend of herbs and added virgin olive oil as a carrier base to disperse the ingredients. Each robber chose a name for which they would refer to one another during the thefts. We have listed [ ...click to read more ]

The Mighty Tea Tree

January 10, 2013 // 0 Comments

Tea Tree: [Melaleuca alternifolia] The shrub is native to Australia. The bark has a paper like feel and texture, with pointed leaves and flowers in various shades of white. Cultivation: Tea Trees are started from seed, usually in the spring. The seeds are tiny, so start them in a fine textured seed starting mix. [ ...click to read more ]

Herbs in Medieval Times

October 18, 2012 // 1 Comment

Scents of the Middle Ages… Imagine a time when there was no deodorant, shampoo, bath soap, laundry detergent, or an array of pine cleaners and disinfectants. Welcome to the Middle Ages. With no access to exterminators, medieval people made use of strongly scented herbs to discourage vermin and also to mask the [ ...click to read more ]