Pure-N-Simple Gardens

Label- Genetically Engineered Foods

2012-01-24T12:06:00.000-08:00

Please watch the following YouTube video below, and help spread the word.

Labels Do Matter.

Most of us don't know what's in the food we eat – but that can change if more of us spread the word about why we care about the food we put in our own bodies and in our children's bodies.

Already the FDA is preparing to approve genetically engineered salmon, and the (USDA) is considering a proposal to deregulate corn engineered to be resistant to 2,4-D which is an herbicide that was a major component in the Vietnam-era Agent Orange!

You can click on this link to help spread the word

Rosemary All Year Long!

2012-01-18T01:00:00.000-08:00

Rosemary officinalis is native to the Mediterranean regions which would limit ourgrowing season here in the Northeast, unless we invited this wonderful plantinto our homes for the winter. Rosemary is famous for its many uses inthe kitchen, but also has gained great recognition in the skin care industry aswell. These are the two biggest reasons we wanted to have this herbeasily available to us all year round.

We can cut fresh rosemary in themiddle of February for spicing up a delicious meal, and also have available formaking new batches of soap, such as our shampoo bar, in which one of the ingredients is rosemary, for itstimulates circulation and increases the blood supply to the skin, which is whyit is commonly found in shampoos.

Rosemary is one among many herbssuch as basil, oregano, sage, lavender and many others that do well incontainers placed in windows, that receive plenty of sun; typically a windowthat receives southern exposure.

Be sure to have your plant in acontainer that has drainage, and minimally in a 4-6 inch pot using pottingsoil, rather that soil from your garden. Potting soil will havefertilizer and all the nutrients the plant should need to get through thewinter. If however your plant looks pale you should fertilize with adiluted house plant fertilizer once every two weeks. Also make sure notto over water, letting the plant dry out between watering.

Which Tomatoes to Grow This Season?

2012-01-17T12:35:00.000-08:00

I am sitting here on a nice rainy-winter afternoon, goingthrough my favorite book on heirloom tomatoes, looking for inspiration inputting together a list of tomatoes to grow this season. I had a great seasonlast year and plan to add many new varieties to the upcoming summermarket. Any suggestions please eithercomment below or contact me via e-mail or phone.

The Botanical Interest Seed Company

2012-01-16T11:35:00.000-08:00

It is that time of the year here inthe Northeast when many gardeners are itching to get their hands in somedirt. Most of us by now have probably viewed through several seedcatalogs, and have all sorts of gardening ideas and projects running though ourminds, just waiting patiently for winter to be over, and spring to arrive.

I have been growing all of our herbsthat we use in our goats milk soap fromseed, such as Lavender, Rosemary, Calendula, Mint, and so forth, and havepurchased seeds from several different seed companies, which there are some reallygood companies out there that offer great quality seeds, and one of them is theBotanical Interest seed company. I do not limit my seed purchase to just theherbs that we use in our soaps, but grow all our vegetables from seed as wellfrom Botanical Interest.

When I had started growing from seedI had no prior experience and really had no idea what I was doing, or what toexpect. I was turned on to Botanical Interestat first, because they were very informative, I was so new to growing from seedI needed lots of information. There seed packets themselves are loadedwith valuable information on the outside and inside of the packet as well, thatguide you with every bit of information you need to know to successfully sowthat seed. They actually have an artist paint pictures of the plantsrather that use photos on the seed packets, which to me expressed theirattention to detail, and love and passion they have in what they do, and thatis provide only the best quality seeds, and to inspire and educate others tocreate beautiful gardens.

Botanical Interest offers over 500seed varieties that are untreated, using no GMOs and have signed the Safe SeedPledge. They offer a large selection of certified organic verities andhave a guaranteed germination rate. You can also sign up for their freenewsletter and visit there Blog and constantly learn new tips of the trade and get engagedin the gardening conversation.

Below you can watch a short video of a tour of the factory!

I am very pleased to have foundBotanical Interest and have had much success with their seeds, and I amconfident you will too. Check out their site and click on the about uspage and you can take a virtual tour of their factory and learn even more ofthis great company.

Herb Energetics Class

2012-01-13T08:22:00.000-08:00

For anyone wanting to learn more about herbs and how to usethem, Kiva Rose is going to be teaching an Herb Energetics class throughherbmentor.com

The class is for beginners and experts who desire to learnmore of the healing properties of plants.

Learn the properties of plants that grow around you.
Easy to learn- many practical everyday applications
http://www.herbenergetics.com/ is the link to sign up!

http://www.herbenergetics.com/

High Tunnel Project- Ready for Plastic

2011-12-03T17:59:00.001-08:00

Well I am getting closer and closer. Finished all the grading with the bobcat and got the frame up on the high tunnel. Just need to get the plastic now and then get ready to grow!

Can't Wait!

Breaking Ground

2011-11-09T02:52:00.000-08:00

Wow! I may be having just a little too much fun. A friend of mine has let me use his Bobcatand of course took him up on his offer. I figured I would try to get as much digging and grading done aspossible while I have this amazing machine.

This has made removing a stone wall and leveling off uneventerrain a piece of cake. As soon as Ifinish final grade, I will start putting up the high tunnel and order a few loadsof compost. These next few weeks are critical,as I do not know how many more nice days I will have weather wise to work with.

I am hoping that I will be able to grow in this high tunnelthis winter, but if not I am so looking forward to getting an early start forthe early spring growing season!

Winter Greens

2011-11-03T02:40:00.000-07:00

The winter greens are off to a good start and are lookinggreat. I can’t wait to see how harvesting throughout the winter will go. I had to postpone erecting theHigh Tunnel I just purchased due to the past two snow storms we had inOctober. The rest of this week looksgreat, and should be able to get out there with the bobcat and grade out myarea and get this High Tunnel up before it snows again.

I did throw some mix greens in a couple of raised beds thatI have in the green house, and they are looking great! I have one other bed in there that I need tofill with composted soil. I was thinkingabout using this third bed for spinach.

Once My High tunnel is up- I will fill it with more greens, carrots, beets, radish, Kale, and Chard. Then when early spring arrives, and I harvest all of that, I plan to fillthis high tunnel with my heirloom tomatoes, peppers and cucumbers. Depending how much space I do have available I would also like to start some herbs like sage, which would be a great companion to the carrots and we use a lot of sage in our goat's milk soap products. I am already anticipating the new growingseason, and winter hasn’t nearly begun yet!

New High Tunnel Project

2011-10-26T04:22:00.000-07:00

A while back I had mentioned that I would be experimentingwith growing throughout the winter, using the high tunnel method. I was considering building my own using thepipe bender that Johnny’s Selected Seed sells, but just recently came across agreat deal that was much cheaper that the total cost of the bender, pipes,plastic and hardware of building my own. I guess it really does pay to be patient.

I justpurchased a used 48 foot long 17 foot wide and 10 foot high tunnel. I have to dismantle the tunnel myself andplan on setting it up immediately where I already have two 50 foot covered rowsof food growing. Now I will be able toadd two more rows and they will all be under plastic this winter. Can’t wait to see what I can successfullygrow throughout the brutal winters we experience here in NY.

Hopefully I can remember how it goes back up!

And this is where her new home will be.

Chickens- Finally!

2011-10-16T17:31:00.000-07:00

We have been talking about getting chickens all summer long, and now finally it has actually happened! I never thought having these birds would be so much fun and entertaining. We really wanted to make sure we were ready before getting them, and I have to admit, I may have got a little carried away in building their coop and nesting box. We know absolutely nothing about chickens, but wanted to make sure that they at least have a nice and safe place to live. Hopefully in return they will provide us with an abundance of eggs.

I was thinking about winter and how I wasn't looking forward to having to shovel a path to the chickens to get my eggs every morning. So to solve this problem I decided to build the coop attached to the back of our barn with the nesting box accessible from inside the barn.

And of course I had to let the nieces and nephew play in the coop before the chickens moved in. They tried to convince me into letting them have it as a clubhouse and to build another coop for the chickens.

Playtime is over get those birds in here so I can start getting some eggs!

I think they are loving their new home!

A Carrot & Watermelon Surprise!

2011-10-12T17:36:00.000-07:00

Here we are early mid October and just when I thought the season was over- surprise! We where so happy to have harvested such delicious watermelon. Thanks Ella for the watermelon seeds.

As I was cleaning out the tomato plants I noticed that the carrots that I had planted to keep the tomatoes company looked like they were ready to be picked.

And boy were they delicious!

Slim Picking- But Still Harvesting!

2011-09-26T18:25:00.000-07:00

The season is almost over- so sad! The vines are slowly diminishing and the picking is slim, but were still picking. We had a great season for growing tomatoes, the entire family has enjoyed the abundance of fresh pick tomatoes all summer long. I believe the most favorable one enjoyed by everyone was the Cherokee Purple.

These Green Zebra's were new to us this year. I was asked by many at the market if they were ripe yet- yes this is how they look. Tough they may not have the look they do have the taste. We found the Green Zebra to have a mild taste, but still no match to the Cherokee Purple. So sad to see the season come to an end, but really looking forward to the fall season. I am certain that fresh tomatoes will be a major ingredient in most of our meals for the next few weeks. Just wish we had more time for canning.

The Tomato Horn Worm

2011-08-19T08:03:00.000-07:00

This little guy is not the only one who is enjoying my amazingly awesome tomato's this summer. I'd much rather have this guy and his two adorable sisters helping themselves to a nice healthy garden snack than other uninvited garden intruders. Check out these photo's below of the tomato horn worm. I have pulled at least 30+ of these little buggers, and let me tell you they can do some eating. The tomato horn worm is so incredibly camouflaged, but I have learned a few tricks for easier detection of these pest. I have also learned that if you pay your little nieces and nephews a quarter for every worm they find, can also be a productive way to eliminate these pest.

The Tomato Horn Worm

Once you do find one of these guys take a minute and listen closely- you cant hear them munching away!

Usually I will find their droppings and half eating tomato's before I actually find the worm. Pay close attention when watering, pruning and harvesting your tomato's

Half Eaten Tomato

Droppings from the Tomato Horn Worm

If you find these little black dropping and half eaten tomato's you will not need to look much further to find the Tomato horn worm, and when you do- you will want to remove them immediately.

For the longest time I wondered where these guys came from, and finally looked it up and learned that they come from the five-spotted hawk moth. The hawk moth is about the size of a humming bird with a grayish brown color and yellow spots along side it's body. After the hawk moth's mating season it will go and lay its eggs on these plants which is where the tomato horn worm comes from.

How to Get Rid of Them!

1. Hand picking them off is my personal preference. Once you have trained your eye and know what to look for, they are pretty easy to detect. Make sure to destroy them or dispose of them far, far away from your tomato plants.

2. BT spray, (Bacillus thuringiensis) This spray is said not to be harmful to animals, people or the environment, and is safe to spray right up to the day of harvesting tomato's. The spray paralyzes the worm causing them to die of starvation. You will need to spray both the top and bottom of the tomato plant leaves and repeat application every 5 to 7 days until the worms are gone.

3. The Parasitic Wasps- Introducing these bugs will help eliminate the worms as well. The (Braconid and Trichogramma) both will lay their eggs on the larva. If you see a tomato horn worm with lots of little white things on it don't kill it, that is just signs that the wasp is doing its job- their on your side!

I do hope that you all are having a blight free tomato growing season with healthy high producing tomato plants free from tomato horn worms. keep your eyes open for these guys, they blend in so well!

Happy Harvesting!

Big Cherokee Purple!

2011-08-07T06:16:00.000-07:00

I did get a late start this season getting my plants in the ground, and do wish that I had many more beautiful looking tomato's to bring to the market each week. Perhaps one more week, they are so close. I just pulled this giant Cherokee Purple the other morning that weighed 1 pound 6 ounces- THAT'S A BIG TOMATO!

To read previous post on the Cherokee Purple tomato click here.

I am currently getting the ground ready for my late fall and winter gardens, and plan on building some Caterpillar tunnels that I have been reading about on Jonny's Selected Seed's blog. This will definitely help with prolonging the growing season and getting a much earlier start for next spring.

In the photo above I have one row prepared and covered and plan on doing another right beside it. Once I receive my pipe bender in the mail from Johnny's I will then begin bending pipes that will construct a 12 foot wide, 7 foot high and 50 foot long tunnel. If this project goes well I most likely will be constructing two more that are 90 feet long- can't wait!

I am sold on Coir Pots

2011-08-02T04:30:00.000-07:00

A while back I posted on the coir pot mentioning that I was going to be trying them out this season for the first time, and would report back with my opinion. Well I am happy to report that I think the coir pots are amazing and will continue to keep on using them each growing season. I grew the healthiest looking tomato plants I have ever grown this year, and they were all in coir pots. As you can see in the photos the roots will grow right through the pot itself, which will decrease root bound. The coir pot also provides nutrients like zinc, magnesium, copper and iron, all beneficial to healthy plant growth, and its high resistance to mold is great for greenhouse growing. The best part is that they are biodegradable, plant the whole thing in the ground!

Mushroom Hunting- The Chanterelle Mushroom

2011-07-27T04:57:00.000-07:00

Since, I just recently learned of the Chanterelle Mushrooms desirable taste and demand among chefs, I had to go exploring through my woods to see if I could find these precious mushrooms. Well, not only was the exploration a success, it was lot of fun as well. I felt like a little kid on an Easter egg hunt. Not only did I find the Chanterelle, but I found many other interesting looking mushrooms, ( that may or may not be good), and plants as well. I am amazed of all the good things that we have growing all around us. This has now sparked new curiosity in me to further explore what grows on the forest floor. Here is a cool website that I came across when I was researching mushrooms. If your interesting in foraging as I am, check this site out- http://theforagerpress.com/index.htm

I snapped a few photos on my last walk through the woods. Here are some photos of the Chanterelle mushroom.

Here are some photo's of other mushrooms that I have not yet identified, but thought they looked really cool and deserving of a photo.

Mushroom hunting can be a lot of fun, but dangerous as well even deadly. It is very important to know these dangers, and to never eat a mushroom picked from the wild unless you are absolutely sure what it is. Some of these mushrooms are very poisonous and could make you very ill and perhaps kill you. So that being said always consult with an expert in mushroom identification before consuming them. Here are some helpful field guide identification books to get you started.

A Game of Cucumber-Shoes Anyone?

2011-07-26T04:10:00.000-07:00

A game of cucumber-shoes anyone? Oddly shaped, but still has that delicious crunch! The Japanese Long cucumbers are ready and should be on my table at this Saturday's market in Salem. These cucumbers are so delicious and will get to be about two feet long. We couldn't resist snapping some photos of this oddly shaped one.

I JUST LOVE CUCUMBERS!

Sorry for the lack of on-line presence this past month or so. On top of being busy on the farm, I recently moved and no longer have the luxury of high speed internet. After all of that, my computer crashed. I will be making every effort to post more frequently now that things have settled down a bit. I just wish I never got spoiled with the high speed internet.

Tomato Pruning Tips

2011-06-10T03:49:00.000-07:00

Now that most of us all have our tomato plants in the ground, here are some helpful growing tips to keep your precious plants healthy this growing season. Watch the video below to learn how to properly prune your tomato plants.

Also remember that tomato plants are heavy drinkers, but you should avoid watering them from the top. Soak the plants from the bottom and watch how quickly the soil absorbs the water. If the soil is soaking the water up quickly, then this is a good indication to keep watering, if water soaks up slowly probably good to move on to the next plant. Tomato plants are known to get leaf blight and other fungal disease when they are not properly pruned, spaced and watered correctly.

Hope this post has helped, and hope you have an amazing growing season.

Tomato Leaf Eating Beetles!

2011-05-29T05:33:00.000-07:00

Be on the lookout for this particular bug, the Tortoise Beetle. I was picking through some of my tomato plants the other day and had noticed this interesting bug. Of course I removed the little guy from my precious tomato plant and tried to identify it, but could not find this bug in any of my gardening books, so I released the little bug far away from my tomato plants.

A few days later I had noticed some holes in the leaves on one of my tomato plants- What! I started to investigate and sure enough I found my little friend helping himself to a nice meal. This time I took some photos and did a Google search and found that this bug is the Tortoise beetle.

From what I have read this beetle has been confusing when it comes to identification, as it has gone by several different names over the years.

Plagiometriona clavata (Fabricius). Fattig 1948
Coptocycla clavata (Fabricius). Boheman 1855
Deloyala clavata (Fabricius). Dejean 1837
Cassida clavata Fabricius 1798

Source- http://entnemdept.ufl.edu/creatures/orn/beetles/Plagiometriona_clavata.htm

Pictures Taken By Bob Palulis

Thanks Dad!

One good thing about this particular insect is that unlike the cabbage worm, these guys are really easy to spot and remove. So far I have only seen three of them in about a two week time span and it was after a heavy rain following high humidity. Not sure if that means anything but I figured I would note it.

Has anyone else had any dealings with this Beetle?

Here are some really great books on plant - insect biology that I have had my eyes on. I have not read them yet but considering in purchasing. Has any one read these books, and if so do you recommend them.

Ready for Radishes

2011-05-25T05:03:00.000-07:00

Yes, it’s that time of the year! Farmers markets are just around the corner, and before we know it we will be enjoying all those fresh cut greens and fruits all summer long. As for me, I have been blessed to get a bit of a head start. I have been harvesting spinach, lettuce and radishes for some time now and love every minute of it.

Radish Companion Planting

Radishes, when grown with cucumbers squash and melons, help to repel the striped cucumber beetle. They also help get rid of the two-spotted spider mite when planted near tomatoes. Both pole and bush beans grow well with radishes and having leaf lettuce planted nearby is said to make the radishes more tender.

Health Benefits of Radishes

Both the radish and the radish leaves are high in vitamin C, and loaded with tons of nutritional value. The radish belongs to the brassica group of vegetables, which would be broccoli, cauliflower and sprouts. Many studies have suggested that the brassica vegetables are protective against cancer of the lungs and alimentary tract. Radishes are also high in Potassium which is great for regulating blood pressure.

Save Your Radish Leaves

Many of us never think of saving the leaves from radishes as we harvest them, but they are edible. In fact, they are the most nutritious part of the plant, containing calcium, iron, magnesium, folate, vitamin A, C, K and many other nutrients. There are many great radish leaf recipes floating around the web such as radish soups, and pesto’s. One recipe that I came across that really intrigued me was a green smoothie recipe.

So, when harvesting or buying fresh bunches of radishes this year remember as your cutting those amazing looking leaves off, that they too are edible and very beneficial.

Sage Benefits

2011-05-22T05:18:00.000-07:00

Though sage has not gained much popularity amongst cooks today, sage is a well respected herb used for culinary, medicinal, cosmetic, and decorative applications. Sage was often used for stuffing meats to make them more digestible. As the taste of sage continued to grow, sage became a common tea; however now sage has been recently discovered to be harmful when taken internally in high quantities.

Plant sage near your cabbage and carrots. Sage helps to deter the cabbage butterfly, and said to make the cabbage plants more tasty and succulent. Also sage is know to protect carrots from the carrot fly. Just do not plant sage near your cucumbers, as cucumbers do not particularly like being planted near aromatic plants, especially sage.

Sage should be planted about 24 to 30 inches apart from each other and not near other plants that require lots of watering, for too much water will promote fungal disease to the sage plant. It is also wise to make sure your sage plants are planted in well drained soil. Sage is prone to fungal disease and particularly prone to powdery mildew. Much of this can be avoided by keeping the plants dry and not overcrowded.

Sage has become very popular in the cosmetic industry, having a stimulating cleansing effect to the scalp and hair. We harvest sage from our gardens and use it in our Citrus Sage soap bar.

Sage is a rich source of nutrients that nourish the skin and antioxidants that protect cells from free radical damage. Having excellent astringent properties and acting as a natural toner, sage is great for dry, oily and mature skin. It's antiseptic properties cleanse and tighten the skin. Rich in catechins, phenolic acids, zinc, and B & C vitamins.

Our Citrus Sage bar has become one of my personal favorites and has become one of our best selling soap bars.

Farm-Plant Stand

2011-05-18T04:59:00.000-07:00

Last year I had a cardboard sign that said Heirloom Tomatoes and herbs for sale, and some saw horses and planks. This year I focused on making my presentation a bit more appealing and safer for the plants. As for those who know me, my dream and goal is to some day have an actual farm-nursery opened to the public. Now that I am in the building stage of turning my passion into my living I am attending two farmers markets this season and have available at my house this little farm/plant stand. I am still in the process of completing the finishing touches, but the stand is up and housing plants.

I plan on using this stand to house some of my plant material in between transporting them to the markets and to also have as a produce stand come harvest season. My plants and produce will be available for purchase at this stand. If your driving by the house and see the open flag up by the mail box, swing on in and check us out. Also right across from the plant stand is our new soap shop that I had just finished building, which is now full of great smelling soaps and natural skincare products, if you are unfamiliar with our skin care products here is our site if you would like a preview of the product line we offer http://www.purensimplesoap.com/

Here is a list of some of the plant material you can expect to find on the stand that I grew from seed. Everything for sale, I personally grew from seed, and only quality seed- no genetically altered hybrids!

Basil, Broccoli, Cabbage, Calendula, Celery, Cucumbers, Cilantro, Dill, Edemame, Echinacea-Purple Coneflower, French Taragon, Kale, Lavender-Munstead, Lettuce, Lovage, Marigold, Marjoram, Parsely-Flat, Peppers, Rosemary, Sage, Thyme, Tomatoes, Zinnia, Zucchini.

I am probably forgetting to mention a few, and plan on adding a page on this site of all the plant material that I grow that is available for purchase with pricing. Until then you can always contact me via email or phone or come visit me at the farmers markets which will be starting here by the end of the month.

This has been such a fun project and can't wait to share it. I plan on doing a big edible landscaping project near the stand this summer and encourage all who live nearby to come check it out. I will be sure to take many photos and post the progress as well.

Happy Growing Everyone!

First Bed of Lettuce of the Season

2011-05-17T04:34:00.000-07:00

Earlier in the season I had wrote about the lettuce collection that I had purchased from seedsaversexchange.org and how I couldn't wait to harvest some of these new to me varieties. Well here is my first lettuce bed of the season and have to say I am most impressed and very happy with them all. Now I can totally see why Forellenschluss has earned the nickname "Speckled Trout Back".

Every single variety in this seed collection is a winner!

If you missed the posting I wrote on each of the varieties that came with this collection you can view it (here).

The Amish Paste Tomato

2011-05-15T17:05:00.000-07:00

Looking for a great sauce making tomato, one that is a heavy producer and offers a sweet taste? The Amish Paste tomato is an heirloom from Wisconsin but originated from Lancaster Pennsylvania and is one of the largest of the paste tomatoes, producing up to 12 oz deep red meaty fruit. This is my first year growing this tomato from seed thanks to a recommendation from friends. I was told to expect high yields from very few plants, and that not only are they great for sauce making but in salads as well.

I can’t wait to harvest these tomatoes this season! I would love to know your thoughts on this tomato. Have you grown this tomato before, and is the Amish Paste the best paste tomato out there- Curious to know what you think.

The Heirloom Tomato: From Garden to Table: Recipes, Portraits, and History of the World's Most Beautiful Fruit

Stinging Nettle

2011-05-08T05:40:00.000-07:00

For many years I would try avoiding this plant as much as possible when weeding and harvesting the gardens. I quickly learned how painful and annoying the sting from this plant can be. Just recently as I have been learning and exploring the medicinal properties many of these native plants that I have growing in abundance all around my yard, did I learn that stinging nettle has much more to offer other than a painful sting.

Stinging nettle (Urtica dioica) is packed full of vitamins and minerals when used in an herbal infusion. This wonderful plant is high in calcium, magnesium, iron, potassium, zinc and rich in B complex vitamins as well. Stinging nettle is believed to nourish our circulatory, endocrine, nervous, immune and urinary systems, and is known to stabilize blood sugar levels and reduce fatigue.

You may be asking yourself how do I harvest and handle this plant without being stung? I recommend wearing paints, long sleeve shirt and gloves when harvesting. You can use salad tongs when handling the plants leaves as you prepare to dry them. When harvesting stinging nettle it is key to harvest the top part of the plant before it flowers. Cut the top of the plant about three sets of leaves down. You can dry these leave out by using a dehydrator, or spreading the leaves out to dry. Once they have dried they no longer sting, and now you can take the dried leaves and crush them into a powder.

It is recommended drinking a quart of stinging nettle tea every day. We noticed quickly that it takes a lot of stinging nettle to produce one ounce of dried sting nettle for tea. If you have an abundance of stinging nettle growing around your place- great, specially if you do not mind the labor involved in harvesting and drying the leaves out. Otherwise you can order stinging nettle powder by the pound fairly cheap, considering what you would spend to get the same amount of vitamins and minerals in forms of supplements. Nettle (Stinging Nettle) Herbal Tea - 1 Pound - Loose Bulk

Here's How You Make This Infusion

1. You will need one ounce of dried nettle to put in a one quart glass jar. The plant must be dried. When the plant is dried it breaks down the cell wall which allows the nutrients to move from the plant material into the water.

2. Boil water and pour over nettles until jar in full. Placing a metal object such as a metal fork or knife will help absorb heat, reducing the risk of cracking the glass jar.

3. Be sure to stir so that all the plant material is covered by water.

4. Cap the jar and allow to steep for at least four hours, then strain- drink- and enjoy! This infusion can be drunk at room temperature or heated up as well as chilled.

Arugula

2011-05-04T09:27:00.000-07:00

Also known as “rocket or roquette”, Arugula has become a popular herb in high demand at local Farmers Markets adding that extra flavor to salad dishes. Arugula has a pungent taste, a bit of a kick to it; many either love it or hate it. I personally love it and think it’s great for adding to salads or sandwiches. It is also used as an ingredient in sauces for pasta, fish, stir-fry and vegetables.

Arugula grows and produces better in colder conditions. During the heat of summer production slows down. Much like loose leaf lettuce the leaves branch from the crown at ground level until the plant begins to mature. It then will send a flowering stalk. The flowers are edible and taste much like the leaf. When these flowering stalks begin to grow, cut back the plant to the ground leaving a few of the lower leaves. The plant will then grow another group of leaves before trying to flower again.

If you love Arugula and plan on harvesting a lot of it, you may want to plant plenty of it and schedule to reseed every couple of weeks or so. The plant should reach harvestable size in 30-45 days and only about two to four leaves can be harvested from each plant a week.

It is best to sow your Arugula where you plan on growing it. Arugula does not like to be transplanted. You can get away with it when the plant is small but try to avoid disturbing the roots. You can grow Arugula in containers but does best planted in outside beds.

If you have never tried Arugula before be sure to search this wonderful herb out this summer at your local Farmers Market. Arugula is a great addition to any salad mix.

Growing Lovage

2011-05-02T17:23:00.000-07:00

Though not highly sought out amongst the majority of American cooks, Lovage is a staple in some European countries. This hardy perennial is easy to grow; withstanding severe winter conditions and offers a strong sweet celery aroma and flavor. Lovage is commonly used to flavor stews, soup, poultry and vegetable dishes.
You can read the rest of this article by clicking on the link below to learn more about this wonderful herb Lovage.

Growing Lovage

Cherokee Purple Heirloom Tomato

2011-04-29T03:43:00.000-07:00

I had never been a big fan of tomatoes until someone had introduced to me a few of the purple heirloom tomatoes. They did not look like the perfect tomato to me but they sure did taste perfect. Since then I have been growing a variety of purple heirloom tomatoes and I am very excited to try the Cherokee Purple this year. This tomato was recommended to me from a friend who manages a local farmers market and is a grower himself, so I can’t wait to harvest this wonderful tomato this season!

The Cherokee Purple is considered to be one of the best tasting heirloom tomatoes and is a famous rival of the Brandywine tomato. Should ripen in about 80 days and will produce a dusty rose colored 12 oz fruit. The Cherokee Purple tomato is believed to have originated from Tennessee, and was cultivated by the Native American Cherokee tribe, hence it’s name.

I have not had the privilege to taste this tomato yet, but have been told that it has a remarkable sweet taste. I can’t wait to harvest this one. Have you had this tomato before? If so I would love to know what you think of the Cherokee Purple, is it better than the Brandywine?

Golden Milk: An Ancient & Healing Remedy

2011-04-26T05:06:00.000-07:00

by Rosalee de la Forêt

Turmeric has been used for thousands of years for countless ailments. In recent years it has also caught the attention of western researchers and there are many studies touting its many benefits.

Some benefits include...

Digestion and the liver (Ulcers, diverticulitis, flatulence, leaky gut)
Heart health (High blood pressure, unhealthy cholesterol)
Immune support (Cancer, colds and flu, bronchitis)
Musculoskeletal strength and flexibility (Joint disorders, arthritis, pain)
Nervous system (Pain, Alzheimer's)
Wound healing and healthy skin (Eczema, psoriasis)
Diabetes and Menstruation difficulties

Turmeric is pretty astonishing!

I learned this basic recipe from Karta Purkh Singh Khalsa and I often suggest it to my clients with a lot of success.

K.P. Khalsa has a new course coming out this week called Culinary Herbalism. http://www.culinaryherbalism.com/

This recipe is in two parts. First we make the paste and then we’ll explore how to use it.

To make the turmeric paste you’ll need:

1/4 cup of turmeric powder
1/2 teaspoon of ground pepper
1/2 cup of water

Measure out the ingredients. The additional pepper makes the turmeric more bioavailable, meaning that you use less for better results. At these measurements the pepper is about 3% of the mixture.

Next add the powders and the water to a small sauce pan and mix well. Turn the heat to medium high and stir constantly until the mixture is a thick paste. This won’t take long!

Let this mixture cool and then keep it in a small jar in the fridge.

Now we’ll look at a variety of ways to use this mixture.

Golden Milk

To make Golden Milk you’ll need...

1 cup of milk (or milk substitute if you don’t consume dairy)
1 teaspoon almond oil, ghee or olive oil
1/4 teaspoon or more of turmeric paste
honey to taste

Combine all the ingredients (except honey) in a saucepan and while stirring constantly heat the mixture until just before it boils.

Add honey to taste.

Other suggestions... this could be made into a smoothie. When blended it creates a beautifully foamy drink. Fruit could be added. Cinnamon can be sprinkled on top, etc. Experiment and enjoy!

Other options for turmeric paste

Add a small dollop of the paste on top of crackers and cheese.
Spread the paste on sandwich bread and continue with sandwich ingredients.

The best way to get our medicine is in our food.

Please check out this new course with K.P. Khalsa ALL ABOUT Culinary Herbalism. There is a video on making this recipe in the Culinary Herbalism course. http://www.culinaryherbalism.com/

The Stupice Tomato

2011-04-25T17:27:00.000-07:00

, to
Last year I had tried growing some different heirloom tomatoes and started out with some of the dark purples, such as Carbon, Black of Tula and Black Cherry. They were all amazing and did really well for me at the farmers markets. This year I am wanting to try a few more varieties. One of the new tomatoes that I am starting this year which is not one of the delicious dark purples but is an early starter is the Stupice Tomato.

The Stupice tomato, pronounced (Stoo-Peech-Kah) is an heirloom originating from Czechoslovakia. I have never grown this tomato but friends of mine who grow it every year recommend it and asked if I would grow it this year. So I am excited to try this wonderful early starter out this season. The Stupice tomato should ripen in 55 + days producing two - three inch red fruit with patio leaf foliage and will continue to produce high yields all summer long. It has been said by many that the Stupice tomato is one of the best tasting early tomatoes, which is why I must try this one out this season.

Have you grown this tomato; if so I would love to know your thoughts about this tomato? Is this the best tasting early tomato or not?

Stupice Tomato Seeds (6ct)

Natural Ways To Control Cabbage Worms

2011-04-05T04:59:00.000-07:00

Natural Ways To Control Cabbage Worms

Healthy Benefits of Lavender, (Lavandula angustifolia)

2011-04-03T06:21:00.000-07:00

Healthy Benefits of Lavender, (Lavandula angustifolia)

Earth Friendly- Biodegradable Plant Containers

2011-03-29T05:33:00.000-07:00

This year I am experimenting with a new container that I haven't used before the Coir Pot. Just a little bit more expensive than the plastic containers that I have been using, but are much better for the environment and the plant as well.

You do not have to worry about disposing these containers, they are biodegradable. Plant the entire thing right in the ground. The coir container itself is very beneficial to the soil and roots of the plant. These Coir pots are also great for container gardening and will hold their form for up to 5 years.

Unlike other jiffy pots, Coir pots wick moisture off so they hold up longer. Also Coir pots retain more moisture, promote faster plant growth and a strong root system. Coir containers are made from organic material having no harmful impact on the environment. Coir is the outer husk of the coconut that consists of both coir and fiber. These containers also have a higher resistance to mold - great for the greenhouse environment, no fungicides needed. Some other performance benefits that these wonderful containers provide are that they are rich in nutrients like iron, copper, zinc, and magnesium, benefits that are all absent in plastic containers.

This year will be my test I have used other biodegradable containers before in the past and was not very impressed, for one I noticed that the other styles of biodegradable container, pulled moisture away from the plant, they dried out much faster, and majority of my plants did not grow well in them. I am excited to try these new Coir Pot containers this year, and will report back with hopefully a successful report.

Edemame- Growing a Healthy Snack

2011-03-27T21:07:00.000-07:00

After learning that over 90% of all soy grown in the United States is genetically modified to be resistant to the toxic herbicide Roundup, did I decide that I this year I am going to grow my own. I know that soy is not as healthy as we have been told it is, through aggressive marketing and advertising over the past few years by big soy companies, and that we should avoid soy that is not fermented.

Read this articles Dangers of Soy to learn more about fermented soy

Even though Edemame is not on the list of fermented soy it typically is not eaten as a main meal but often offered as a snack/ appetizer before a meal, and I can think of many unhealthier snacks.

I love snacking on Edemame! This healthy snack not only is a source of protein but is also

High in vitamins A and B
Calcium
Iron
High in fiber
Contains essential fatty acids

It is not recommended to start Edemame indoors but to start outside, and is best to soak the seeds in water for 3-4 hours before planting. Edamame seeds do not store very well, so it is best to store your seeds in the refrigerator if you do not plan on planting them right away upon purchasing your seeds, or to buy new seeds every year.

Edemame Pods can be stored in the fridge in a sealed bag up to 1 week, or 3-4 day in a kitchen basket. You can also blanch and freeze your Edemame as well. Have you ever grown Edemame? If so I would love to hear your success or unsuccessful stories. If you have never grown Edemame before and would like to give it a "gro" this year check out Botanical Interests today and order your seeds before its too late.
Happy Growing!

Artemisia- Curing Malaria

2011-03-26T07:24:00.000-07:00

I have a friend of mine who lives in Mozambique who was sharing with me the wonderful medicinal properties of the Artemisia plant commonly known as mugwort. This plant is being used in many parts of Africa and other places where malaria is a serious threat. Of course this has intrigued me to want to research the topic some more. I have found these two videos on You Tube that I would like to share. I am always in awe of what is naturally provided to us by our Creator, who takes care of our every need. God truly does plant good things.

I have just begun my research on this amazing plant, and have ordered some seeds and will be growing Artemisia this year. I hope that you have enjoyed the videos and encourage you to share below in the comment sections if you have any experiences with using Artemisia, or can add any useful information and or tips in harvesting and uses of this incredible plant.

One Of My Favorite Seed Companies, and Here's Why

2011-03-25T19:52:00.000-07:00

When I had first decided I wanted to start growing my own herbs and vegetables from seed I searched the internet for heirloom seed companies, and one of the sites that really impressed me was Botanical Interest Seeds. Since I was so new to seed sowing I was not only searching for great quality seeds but was searching for information. How to start from seeds, which varieties to choose from and why, growing conditions, this site had it all and more. So I purchased my first order of seeds, and in a very short time received them in the mail in a very nice box, in which I still use to store all my seeds from year to year in the fridge

Leader of the Packet

My information search was satisfied even more as I opened my first seed packet and surprisingly found more useful information, such best sowing recommendations, growing and harvesting tips, plant history, recipes and so much more. I quickly realized why and how they greatly earned the title “leader of the Packet”. Their goal is not only to offer the best quality seeds but to inspire and educate the gardener in every one of us.

Botanical Interests has signed the Safe Seed Pledge, they do not buy or sell genetically engineered seeds or plants- No GMO’s. They offer over 500 varieties of high quality seeds to choose from in which many of them are heirlooms and USDA certified organic seeds. All their seeds are untreated and germination rate is tested before they are packaged and sold, their germination rate is guaranteed.

There are only a few seed companies that I rely on and Botanical Interest is top on the list. I highly recommend this company to every one whether your a seasoned gardener or just starting out Botanical Interest offers a great product, outstanding service and provides an abundant amount of very valuable information for free. Check them out today, you'll be glad you did.

Goodbye Winter!

2011-03-24T05:48:00.000-07:00

I took these photos just about a week ago or so as I was snow shoeing the property. Such a beautiful sight but hopefully the last of this snow! What an amazing winter it has been. I can not recall the last winter we have had when we have had a constant snow covering from early December to the end of March. I am definitely ready for spring and to be walking this property without my snow shoes.

Greenhouse is up, I will be experimenting with a wood stove this year to help supplement the cost of propane. We shall see how it goes. Spent the entire day yesterday installing stove pipe the length of the greenhouse and will hopefully finish up today making sure everything is sealed up tightly. I will of course be doing a couple of trial runs before moving all my plant into the greenhouse. I am concerned about two things. One- pipe getting too hot and melting the plastic, and Two- greenhouse filling up with smoke, don't want that to happen. Hopefully after these next couple of days I will have a good report.

Sweet Basil

2011-03-23T02:26:00.000-07:00

Genovese Basil

Genovese basil is one of the most productive and most popular large leaf basil's amongst chefs and cooks, making it a desirable variety to plant for growers. As you can see this year I am recycling yogurt containers to house my basil seedlings before transplanting them to the garden.

Growing Tips

Start seeds indoors 6-8 weeks before transplanting outdoors.
Slightly bury seed with a high quality growing mix and dampen soil.
Cover seedling with a plastic dome or plastic wrap to retain moisture so that soil does not dry out.
Once seeds have germinated removed plastic dome and be sure that plant receive the right amount of watering and sun light. If you do not have a window that receives plenty of sun light fluorescent lights work well.
Avoid watering at night, and be sure that your basil plants have good air circulation. Basil is prone to fungal disease. Having an osculating fan on the these plants from time to time will help.

Disease and Pest

Basil is known to attract aphids, all sorts of worms, white flies, spider mites and very susceptible to fungal disease like Pythium and botrytis stem rot. One really bad fungal disease that only attacks sweet basil is Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. basilicum also known as Fusarium wilt. This is a soil born fungus that can linger for up to 12 years in infected growing areas. The basil plant will appear to be normal and grow fine until it reaches the height of about 6 to 12 inches and then will start to drop leaves, wilt and quickly die. It is important not to compost these plants or contaminated soil, but to disregard them far away from your desired growing area. You should avoid growing any herbs from the mint family in these infected areas. Mint will not show any signs of the disease, but will carry the fungus from year to year.

You can learn more about growing and harvesting basil by following this hub,

http://hubpages.com/hub/Basil-Growing#comment-5256059

Harvesting German Chamomile

2011-03-07T13:48:00.000-08:00

Chamomile Rake

Purchasing a German chamomile rake from Johnny's Select Seed is one of the best garden tool investments I have made. For anyone who has spent many hours harvesting this wonderful plant for preparing the most relaxing and soothing teas there is, will agree that this rake is worth every penny. What once could take hours can now be done in minutes with less bending, squatting and chance of cutting yourself with sharp shears.

This rake is handcrafted in Maine and designed by Johnny's using the traditional German pattern. The chamomile rake has an aluminum collector that is 7- 1/2" wide, 6" deep, and 3" high with 3- 1/2 " spring steel teeth.

When to harvest German chamomile

The best time to harvest chamomile is mid day when plants are dry and opened. If you are harvesting chamomile for making tea it is the flower your are after and not the stems. The flower should be pinched or cut from the stem, and the chamomile rake does this so efficiently and quickly in just one swath. Without the rake you would be picking and cutting these flower heads individually, or using your fingers as a rake. This at times can be very enjoyable, smells wonderful but can be very time consuming.

Drying Chamomile Out

After you have dried your chamomile out in a warm dark place with good ventilation, you can store the dried flowers in a sealed glass jar to use as needed. I take one teaspoon of the dried flowers and let them soak in hot water for about 5 minutes and then strain. I have found these tea strainers to be very handy.

Adagio Teas 0 16-Ounce Ingenuitea Teapot

This Strainer fits so perfectly over any standard size ceramic coffee/tea mug. Sipping a chamomile tea has many therapeutic properties, and I find is always much more enjoyable when harvested from your own garden. Chamomile tea is known to be a calming tea, can induce sleep, and great for digestion problems.

If you haven't added this wonderful herb to your garden yet I highly recommend you do. Chamomile is very easy to grow, and can be sown in the ground in early spring or late fall. If starting indoors you should start seeds 8-10 weeks before last spring frost. Seeds are very small and should be buried ever so lightly beneath the soil. Though chamomile is an annual it does reseed very easy and you may find it coming back every year in areas that you have grown it.

Recommended Lettuce to Grow

2011-02-26T07:05:00.000-08:00

There are so many different varieties of lettuce to choose from, making it at times difficult to decide what to grow. When browsing through the many colorful seed catalogs one can easily come across over 50 different kinds of lettuce they can grow. Now of course we are not going to grow that much lettuce for just one household, so what lettuce should you grow.
There are several factors to consider, such as growing conditions, it either may be too hot or too cold where you live to grow certain varieties. Much of it is also is preference, which does take time trying different things each year, and then stick to what you like and grows well for you. If you are just getting started and would love to grow some great salads this season I recommend Seed Savers Exchange Heirloom Lettuce Collection.
The Heirloom Lettuce Collection is a mixture of their most popular heirloom lettuce which include six different varieties of different loose leaf and Romaine lettuce. Each seed packet is full of 250 seeds, enough to keep you growing all season long! The collection is priced at $13.50, saving you $3.00 if you were to buy each seed packet individually. The mix contains the following varieties.
Amish Deer Tongue Lettuce, Bronze Arrowhead, Crisp Mint, Forellenschluss, Red Velvet, and Susan's Red Bibb.

The Amish Deer Tongue

This lettuce is very popular amongst market growers, and does well as a cold and heat tolerant lettuce. Has a sharp taste, heavy production- cut and come again loose leaf lettuce. An Heirloom going back to the mid 1700's. (45-55days)

Bronze Arrowhead

The Bronze Arrowhead, know for winning the bronze medal at the 1947 All American Selections, display excellent color and is a delicious loose leaf lettuce to have growing in your garden. (40-45days).

Crisp Mint

Crisp Mint, mint like leaves with an outstanding taste! This Romaine head of lettuce will grow as high as 10 inches a real eye catcher! (45-55 days).

Forellenschluss

Forellenschluss, has also been given the name "Speckled Trout Back", an Austrian heirloom with superior flavor. This Romaine is also heat tolerant and is considered to be a favorite to many growers. (55 days)

Red Velvet

Red Velvet, has amazing color, leaves are a solid maroon,great for adding color to your salad mix, and taste great as well. (55days).
Susan's Red Bibb

Susan's Red Bibb, a curled leaf lettuce with beautiful red leaves tinged with dark lime green. This loose leaf lettuce offers a mild flavor. (50-60 days).

This is the Seed Savers Exchange Heirloom Lettuce Collection, a great value and a great selection of lettuce.

Have you grown any of these varieties before? If so I would love to know your input and or any other lettuce varieties you recommend growing.

A Fun Way To Learn Medicinal Herbs

2011-02-02T17:14:00.000-08:00

A Fun Way To Learn Medicinal Herbs

Seed Sowing Time Again- Yeepee!

2011-01-26T18:42:00.001-08:00

Here it is almost February, and already I can’t wait to get in the garden. The past few weeks I have been diving into seed catalogues, and strategically planning out my seed purchases and garden design for this upcoming season. I have sowed my first batch of seeds just a few days ago. You may be thinking isn’t that kind of early? Not for celery. Celery is slow growing and requires 12 to 16 weeks of indoor growing time before average last frost date. I have them under Fluorescent lights in which I will be adding many more seed trays these next few weeks. Other plants that you could start early that require between 8-10 weeks before average last frost day are

1. Artichokes

2. Onions

3. Kale

4. Chamomile

5. Leeks

6. Lovage

7. Peppers

8. Rosemary

9. Parsley

10. Thyme

Here are some reputable seed companies that I have personally used and recommend. Huge selections of high quality heirloom seeds, no gmo’s

Baker Creek Heirloom seeds

Botanical Interests

Seed Savers Exchange

Hurry though; the earlier you get your seeds, the quicker you get growing!

10 Great Reasons Kids Should Garden

2011-01-22T16:16:00.000-08:00

The following article not only gives 10 great healthy benefits kids obtain from gardening, but shares a really neat and fun gardening project that the whole family will enjoy!

Gardening for Kids

Celery

2011-01-11T17:14:00.000-08:00

For all those indoor growers out there who are looking for spring in January, and are wondering which slow growing plants to start first, you may want to consider growing Celery beings it needs between a 12-16 week growing period indoors before your last average frost date. So get out those Fluorescent Lights and let’s get growing! Make sure to have clean growing containers with proper drainage holes, a high quality growing mix (soil), and that your Fluorescent lights are hung between 1”-2” above the seedlings for about 14 hours a day. Celery will germinate quickly when temperatures are between 70-75°F and consistently moist soil. When maintaining constant moist soil indoors often your soil can form fungus, this can be prevented by using an osculating fan on plants to help prevent fungus, and promote stronger stems.

Celery belongs to the Umbelliferae family which is also home to carrots, fennel, dill and parsley. This biennial grows between 12 to 16 inches having long stalks topped with conical shaped leafs. Celery is most often used in soup and salads in which the stalks are most sought out for, however celery leaves, roots and seed can also be used for food, seasoning and medicinal use.

Celery contains zero calories and is very rich in vitamin C as well as many other health benefits such as lowering blood pressure. Though celery can be purchased all year round it is best to buy it is fresh and grown locally, and taste even better when it comes from your own garden. One great thing about it coming from your own garden is you do not have to worry about nasty pesticide residue. According to a report in 2010 by the Environmental Working Group, Celery is one of twelve foods that pesticide residues have most frequently been found.

Myrtle Essential Oil

2011-01-04T19:38:00.000-08:00

Now here is an herb that is not mentioned too often in aromatherapy text however is often used in aromatherapy to help treat acne, oily skin, colds, coughs, infections, bronchitis and asthma to name a few. Myrtle is often used as an antiseptic also contains astringent, bactericidal, expectorant, and anti- depressant properties. I myself have just personally used some Myrtle essential oil to naturally treat a stuffy nose , and I can testify that it miraculously worked. I couldn’t believe it, just a couple of drops on a Q-tip and a little swab in each nostril and wa-la!

Myrtle is an evergreen shrub or small tree that grows up to 3 ft in height with pointed leaves, white flowers, has black berries and is native to North Africa. Its Latin name is Mytrus communis and comes from the same family as eucalyptus. This pale yellow oil is extracted from the plant by steam distillation of the leaves and twigs. Its scent is very similar to eucalyptus.

This essential oil is considered to be a gentle oil that is non- toxic, non-sensitizing and non- irritant. Its principle chemical component is alcohol which is what makes this oil a safe gentle oil to use on children and the elderly, especially for coughs and chest symptoms.

Unfortunately I cannot grow this one in my garden but do keep a bottle of Myrtle essential oil in the medicine cabinet, as I highly recommend others to do the same. These old time natural remedies are a wonderful gift from our Creator.

Growing Herbs All Year Long

2011-01-02T16:41:00.000-08:00

Unfortunately for those of us who live in four season climates are unable to harvest fresh cut herbs from the garden all year long. We are forced to pay little extra for those out of season greens at local markets and grocery stores. Most often by the time they arrive to many of the big grocery stores they are already between 5-7 days old, not exactly freshly cut anymore, are they. Wouldn’t you love to be able to pick what you need when you need it without ever having to leave your house all year long?

You can read the rest of the article by following this link http://hubpages.com/hub/growingherbs

Garden Sage

2010-06-13T16:37:00.000-07:00

This wonderful herb can be used for culinary, medicinal, cosmetic and decorative applications. Scientific studies have proven sage to have astringent properties, which is the ability to cause biological tissue to contract or draw together, making this herb very popular in the medical and cosmetic industries. Astringents are used in internal medicine to shrink mucus membranes, and found in products such as calamine lotion to help relieve skin irritations. Sage is also known to have both stimulating and cleansing effects on the scalp and hair.

Most people will dry out sage but the flavor is much more superior when used fresh, and is great to use with poultry, cheese, butters, and sausage. I have read that some will place the leaves on pizza just before baking; adding some extra flavor while others will lightly bread fresh leaves and deep fry them. One thing is for sure, and that is that this is a beautiful herb to have added to your herb garden, whether you decide to use it for culinary, medicinal, cosmetic or to just enjoy its beauty and scent.

What Can I Use Yarrow For?

2010-06-01T09:05:00.000-07:00

Yarrow is a wonderful herb for adding color to the garden from June to Sept. It does best in well drained soil that receives full sun. Make sure not to over water. This native is also known as Milfoil, Knight's Milfoil, Soldiers Wort, and Nosebleed. I have been asked several times this week what is yarrow good for. There are several things this plant can be used for. I just recently read that you can make a yarrow tincture and use as a natural bug repellent. You will need to cut some yarrow flowers and place them in a glass jar with vodka and seal it shut for a few weeks until it turns a darkish color, and that's it. Simply strain out the liquid from the flowers and pour into a spray bottle, and you have a natural insect repellent.

Yarrow has also been used throughout history to stop bleeding, hence the nickname "nosebleed", and today we see it being used to help fight off colds and flu, and has found it's way into many herbal cosmetics as well. Yarrow was a commonly found in the past as a component in military first aid kits, because it was known that by rapping yarrow on a wound to staunch bleeding. It has also been known to lower blood pressure and can promote digestion and improves circulation by acting as a vasodilator.

Having yarrow in the garden will also attract beneficial flies such as the Syrphid fly. This fly sort of resembles a yellowjacket, they are bright yellow or black and orange. These fly are harmless to you and I but in the Larval stage they consume many of the harmful insects such as aphids in the garden. These flies generally feed much earlier in the season before most of the beneficial insect do. Another great reason to have yarrow in the garden.

These are just a few ways you can use yarrow, and one really good reason to have it in your gardens. I am a huge fan of attracting the beneficial insects as to depending on pesticides to deal with insect damage to crops.

There are several other uses of yarrow, and if you have a yarrow remedy that you would like to share, please do. I would love to hear what others are using this wonderful herb for.

How To Grow and Harvest Cilantro

2010-04-23T04:53:00.001-07:00

Since ancient times the herb Cilantro has been used for both medicinal and culinary purposes. The botanical name for Cilantro is Coriandrum Sativum, and is commonly mistaken as flat leaf parsley, and is often referred to as Chinese parsley. Some key attributes that separate the two are one; the distinct aroma Cilantro produces which is a lingering aroma that even after several washings can remain and secondly Cilantro has rounder shaped leaves than Parsley.

Cilantro is a short lived annual that goes to seed very quickly. The leafy part of the plant is called Cilantro and the seed is referred to as Coriander. They are both used for culinary purposes, and have two completely different tastes; the leaf is typically in higher demand. Cilantro is best used when fresh, and will lose its flavor when dried or cooked. As the plant matures it will send forth feathery leaves which are not desired for harvesting, for they have a bitter taste, as do also the short stems after second cutting. You should be able to get two cuttings from Cilantro, after the first cutting re-growth does diminish and the plant begins to go to seed. Because Cilantro is a cool seasoned plant it can be difficult to grow in the heat of the summer, and should be planted in a section of the garden that receives afternoon shade. If planting in such hot conditions you may only get one cutting.

The best way to plant Cilantro is by direct seed, they do not take to transplanting very well. If you do decide to start seed indoors, you should consider using Jiffy Pod containers. These containers will dissolve when planted in the ground, so you never have to transplant, just stick the plant and container in the ground and you are all set. Be sure to bury the seed about a ½ inch beneath the surface, you should expect seed activity within 7-10 days. Remember to always keep the soil moist. You should be able to start harvesting your first cutting of Cilantro 6-8 weeks after germination, and 10-14 days after that for second cutting.

Getting Closer!

2010-03-25T21:59:00.003-07:00

Today I got the plastic on the greenhouse! This is not any easy task to do alone, and should definitely not be done with even just the slightest wind. I was fortunate to grab my brother for a few minutes before he headed into work to help me get the plastic up and over the hoops, but then he had to go, and then the wind picked up and nothing was lining up! At first I thought I had ordered the wrong size poly, but it just barely made it, with less than an inch to spare in either side. I think for future reference I rather spend the few extra dollars, and get a few extra feet in a roll of poly than to cut it close.

I just have to finish up some framing before the greenhouse is all sealed up, rearrange my raised beds and build some benches. Then the fun begins. All my little seedlings can’t wait to see their new home!

Growing In A Heatless Greenhouse

2010-03-22T06:06:00.000-07:00

These past few days I have been trying to get my greenhouse up and going. Although I've had this greenhouse for years, I never put it up until last year. I am amazed how simple it was to put up and how effective having a greenhouse can be. This year I am moving the hoop house into one of my gardens, and will be experimenting on how long I can grow into the winter months using no heat. I have heard that by planting cold climate plants and using a double layer greenhouse effect, you can produce fresh produce in December and January without having to heat the greenhouse. The double layer greenhouse effect is not referring to the two sheets of plastic that air is typically blown through to inflate a greenhouse. Instead, this method uses one sheet of plastic, which creates the ability to retain more sun. Then, another little greenhouse barrier is built just above the plants themselves inside the greenhouse. So basically it is two greenhouses; a little greenhouse above the plants, and a larger greenhouse on top of that.

I am almost ready for plastic, and hope to have this greenhouse all sealed up by this weekend. All my seedlings are getting big and are taken up space in the house. They will need to be transplanted very soon. I will have to rearrange my raised beds inside the greenhouse to get the most use of the space, and set up some benches to hold my containers as I prepare for the market season.

For the summer months, I plan to grow some of the more heat loving plants in this greenhouse. These include: tomatoes, peppers, the loofa gourd that I grow to make sponges, and herbs like Rosemary. As fall approaches I will be filling some of these beds with different lettuce, spinach, kale and so forth to see how long I can go into the winter months without having to heat the greenhouse. I am so close to getting this greenhouse sealed up and I cannot wait to get growing!

The Armenian Cucumber

2010-03-18T08:04:00.001-07:00

The Armenian cucumber was big hit at the Farmers markets this past season as well. Again most folks who visited my booth had never seen or heard of this cucumber, and by having this photo printed out led to many sales. Doesn't this look delicious!

The Armenian like the Japanese Long cucumber grows between 18- 36 inches long. This cucumber is a great burpless slicing cucumber that has a sweet crisp taste, and is thin skinned not needing to be peeled before eating. The Armenian is not recommended for pickling and is best eating fresh. They can be grown on the ground, but recommended to have this vine to grow on a trellis or fence. The vine can reach lengths as long as 8 feet. This particular cucumber is more heat tolerant than other cucumbers and will produce fruit when it is too hot for other varieties. The Armenian is slow growing which will have you harvesting well into the fall.

Cucumbers generally do not like to be transplanted, so if you are starting from seed, I recommend using Jiffy pods and start 4-6 weeks before last frost. Soil temperatures should be at least 65 degrees for planting outside. Remember to give yourself plenty of room between plants 4 feet apart should be plenty. I planted some on the ground and some on a fence line last season, and noticed the plants that were trellised did much better. When the fruit is lying on the ground I noticed they can rot, vs. when they are hanging on a vine. Plus they are much easier to harvest when they are trellised.

Corno di Toro Rosso a Great Market Pepper!

2010-03-15T08:13:00.001-07:00

Last year was my first year selling potted vegetables and herbs at farmers markets and I wanted to offer unique plants that you typically would not see at markets. Just about every farmers market you go to you can easily find Brandywine and beefsteak tomatoes, and bell peppers; which are great, and I hope that they continue to be available at the local markets. However, if you are new to growing for markets I will share a little bit of advive and my success story with you. Offer products that are unique that no one else is selling! I was amazed at the response I received last season by bringing new products to the market, and educating the consumer of the uniqueness and qualities of the plants. Of course this stimulates curiosity, and just about everyone wants to try something new and healthy.

One of the plants I grew that were not commonly found at our local markets was the sweet pepper, Corno di Toro Rosso, also called the “Red Bull’s Horn”. This is a very popular heirloom in Italy, and is used in Italian sauces. This 8 inch red pepper brought a lot of attention to my booth and just about everyone had to try one. It has a crisp and spicy- sweet tang to it, and is great for frying.

Peppers are warm and sun loving plants that should be planted at least two weeks after threats of frost, and 18 inches apart in well drained soil that receives plenty of sunshine. Peppers like tomatoes and eggplant, are warm seasoned plants that thrive on heat. Last year many of us did not have a great start with these plants because it rained just about every day for over a month. We had plenty of water, just not enough heat and sunshine.

Hopefully this year growing conditions will be much better. So if you haven’t tried these peppers, and you happen to see them at your local market I highly recommend giving them a try. If you are growing for markets I can testify that this pepper is for sure a winner.

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2010-03-14T19:25:00.000-07:00

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2010-03-14T18:47:00.000-07:00

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Purple Tomatoes

2010-03-13T06:14:00.000-08:00

I have never really been very fond of tomatoes. As early as I can remember, I just never acquired a taste for them. Every year I would try one because they looked so good. I'd think, "maybe my taste buds have changed by now", but every year it was still the same. Every year except last year, when I was working at a local farmers market and one of the vendors insisted I try some dark heirloom tomatoes. To be honest, I thought they looked rotten and should have been tossed out. It was explained to me "that’s just how they look". So not only did I tried some, but they were like no other tomato I had ever tasted before. They were so delicious! This year I ordered some purple heirlooms from Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds, and can’t wait to share these tomatoes with friends and family. The following are this year’s tomato addition that I will be adding to our garden and having available for sale at local markets.

Black Cherry Tomato

These tomatoes have been described as looking like large purple grapes with a very rich flavor, and are very popular among market growers. I cannot wait to snack on these all summer long. I started some of my seeds on Feb.25 to transplant in the greenhouse so that I could have a much earlier start this year. Because of the tomato blight that spread last year, destroying just about everyone’s tomatoes, this year I will have two crops. One will be in the garden and the other will be in the greenhouse.

Black from Tula Tomato

This tomato is an old heirloom from Russia which has become extremely popular over the years amongst many seed savers. They proclaim this as being one of the best tasting dark tomatoes, with a sweet and spicy taste. This is a large tomato that varies between 8-12 ounces and displays a deep brown, purplish color.

Carbon Tomato

This heirloom takes a little longer than the Tula and black cherry requiring 90 days. I have not yet tasted this tomato, but after reading up on it I am very curious and can’t wait to give it a shot. This tomato has won many taste awards from all over the world and is one of the darkest of the purple type tomatoes producing between 8-12 ounce tomatoes.

I am very exited about this new addition to our garden, and cannot wait to indulge in such amazing tasting tomatoes, especially those black cherries. One of my favorite things when working in the garden is to pick and snack as I work. These black cherries look like they will be a wonderful snack to pick while working in the garden. If you have grown these tomatoes I would love to hear your experience with them, as well as any other favorites you would like to recommend. Please do!

The Edible Landscape

2010-03-04T06:51:00.000-08:00

Although a tomato plant may not be as aesthetic as the many flowering annuals that are planted in the garden each year; just because you have a vegetable, and herb garden does not mean it’s suppose to be boring. Many vegetable and herbs are just as beautiful as the many perennial and annuals we use each year in the landscape around our homes. Herbs like Calendula will produce blooms all summer long, and Echinacea make great accents. Cinnamon Basil has a dark purple that you could use to replace coleus, and spices like oregano and thyme make great ground covers.

I guess it’s just the landscaper in me, but when I decided to get into growing vegetables and herbs I did not want to have a separate spot for herbs, and a separate section for vegetables, but wanted to create an edible landscape, one that I could enter into the garden and enjoy its beauty while still benefiting from the harvest. I am sure that there are some things that will do much better planted with or without certain other species, I still have a lot to learn on companion planting, but so far I have had much success mixing my herbs, and vegetables together, creating pleasant landscapes.

I believe landscaping should both compliment the architecture of the home, and serve a practicality for the lifestyle of the homeowner as well. I still use raised beds and have each bed designated for different plants, because of the practicality they serve. The raised beds are easier to work from, and I can contain certain plants like mint that are extremely invasive, and do not want taking control of the entire garden; however I do not limit my self to just a row of raised beds. To me the fun part of gardening is not only trying to grow the best possible plant that I can, but to arrange or design the garden in a way that is aesthetically attractive, practical and fun as well. Like for example last year I wanted to grow a lot of string beans, and had already used up much of the fence that surrounds my garden with the loofah gourds, so I decided to build a giant Tee-Pee. This worked out great, I drew a lot of attention and the kids loved it. We also had plenty of string beans all season long.

Growing Sponges

2010-03-03T05:28:00.000-08:00

My family and I were fascinated when we learned that the loofah sponge does not come from the ocean, but can actually be grown in the garden. This sponge is very popular in the skin care industry used to exfoliate dead skin cells. We mold our goat’s milk soaps into the loofah sponges we grow, making wonderful loofah filled soap bars . It’s a natural soap bar and skin exfoliation all in one package!

The loofah, (aegyptiaca) is a gourd that is native to places like Africa, having a much longer growing season, which is why the loofah should be started from seed indoors and then brought out to the garden for us who do not live in such tropical conditions. They love full sun and heat, and should be planted along a fence or near a trellis. The loofah is a vine growing plant that can grow up to 30 feet long, and produce green fruit called gourds that grow up to two feet long and 3 inches in diameter.

I am going into my third season here in Upstate NY, growing loofah sponges, and selling them at local markets with our soaps, and of course we always get the same intrigued, and amazed responses from many folks like ourselves who at one time thought these sponges came from the sea.

Growing loofah gourds in not that difficult, and can be a lot of fun as well. First things first are to get some seeds. Once you have successfully planted loofah you can harvest your seeds from your best producing gourds to re-grow for the next season. I purchased my loofah seeds from Botanical Interest and had a lot of success, not just with this plant species, but with all the seeds I purchase from Botanical Interest. The loofah is slow growing at first but then really takes off. You will need a good four months for the fruit to mature. If you want to grow this gourd for food you will want to harvest the gourd when it is immature, about 3 months. I personally have not tried eating this gourd yet, but am curious; perhaps this year I will give one a shot.

Harvesting these gourds for sponges, can be very time consuming but well worth it. I wait until after the frost has killed the vine. The gourds will begin to turn a brownish color, and the skin should easily crack when you give it a gentle squeeze. Once you have peeled the outer shell off you will need to shake out all the seeds. If the gourd is not completely dried out the inside will be filled with a wet fluid. I clean them out in the sink, spraying warm water and squeezing all the seeds and inside substance completely out. After this procedure is complete all you need to do is just let the sponge dry out for a day or two. If the sponge is dark in color, you can soak it in a diluted solution of bleach and warm water for about 5 minutes.

This is a wonderful addition to add to your garden this year. Not only will have something to talk about when friends and family are visiting, but come harvest season you will have wonderful sponges that you can give out as gifts, or perhaps even sell, and if you really want to draw attention to your garden build a Tee-Pee for this vine to grow on. Garden Tee-Pees always get heads turning, and they are a lot of fun for not only the kids, but for everyone.

Whats Growing On Under Those Lights?

2010-03-02T07:27:00.000-08:00

For many of us, especially those who live in the Northeast; it is getting to be that time of the year, to get our seeds started. This is my second year starting all my vegetable and perennials from seed, and I do admit it is very addicting, very rewarding and very cost effective as well. I love seeing those first few seedlings pop up, it really jump starts my anticipation for the arrival of spring by just a few notches.

Since I do not have much window space that receives southern exposure, I had made a seed starting shelf with fluorescent lighting. This worked out very well for me last year, and I have made some adjustments to my seed starting shelf this year, that I believe may be very helpful advice for anyone who wants or needs to do same. I have seen seed starting shelves like the one I built; sell for over $700.00 on different sites and catalogs, but for just a fraction of that cost you can build your own. You can view my step by step instructions on how to build a seed starting shelf here. This is a very simple building project that will allow you to easily assemble, and disassemble your shelving unit each year without having to unscrew or re-nail a single board.

The first mistake I made was, not knowing what my dimensions needed to be, which therefore resulted in wasted space. Considering I am using fluorescent light fixtures that are 4 feet long, I redesigned my shelf to be 4 feet long. I had also noticed that last year the seedlings on the outer edges of the containers were growing at an angle, stretching towards the light. So this year I had added another light fixture, and evenly dispersed them over the seed containers.

Another change that I had made this year was painting the shelf a high gloss, white paint in efforts to reflect more light. It does seem to be much brighter. I had also purchased for just a couple of dollars, one of those emergency blankets that you see in survival kits. They basically look like a giant sheet of tin foil. My thought was that by draping this over the shelf would not only reflect more light, but retain heat as well, and this also has been a success.

The very last change that I had made this year with my seed shelf was I re-designed it in a way that makes disassembling and reassembling very simple, without having to re-nail or screw any boards. When the sowing season is over, I can very easily dismantle my shelf and store out of the way until next season.

One experiment I am going to try this year is the type of bulbs I use. I had purchased the more expensive aquarium/ plant bulbs that supposedly are better for growing plants, but I have just recently read and have been told that any white fluorescent light bulb will do. So I have designated a shelf using just regular bulbs, and will see if there is any difference.

Remember that when growing under lights, to keep the bulbs no further than 3 inches away from the plant, so that they do not grow skinny and lengthy, in efforts to reach for the light. You should leave the lights on no less than 10 hours a day. It is actually recommended for plants growing under lights to have about 16 hours of light exposure, but I have done less and my plants came out fine; however I would not go any less than 10 hours.

The Natural Poison Ivy Antidote

2010-03-01T21:33:00.000-08:00

As I have been exploring my five acre lot of property for native plants and their many medicinal and culinary values; I was very blessed to stumble upon Jewelweed which is a great plant to have nearby for treating Poison Ivy and stinging nettles, among many other skin irritants that I will mention later. As soap makers we were very pleased with this new discovery of Jewelweed on our little five acre lot that has been developing into a wonderful herb garden. We have wanted to experiment making different soaps and salves with the jewel weed oil for some time now. As we have been researching plants like St. John’s Wort and Jewelweed, we laugh because of the abundance we have of these plants in our own back yard that we never acknowledged in years past. As I have been paying closer attention to the native plants that grow in abundance all around me, like Rhubarb, Yarrow and Burdock to just name only a few, I am so motivated and excited to learn all that I can of each plant and to take advantage of every natural use each offers, as they have been freely given to us for food and nourishment.

Jewelweed comes from the impatient family and there are two types of flowers. One blooms yellow which is called Pale Jewelweed and the other blooms orange. The orange which is often referred to as Spotted Jewelweed, or “touch me not”, is more commonly used for treating Poison Ivy but I have read that the yellow has medicinal value as well. Both the yellow and the orange have earned the name “touch me not” because when you slightly touch the seed pod they explode, or perhaps ‘pop’ is a better use of word to describe. This is really fun to show your kids or anyone who you want to introduce to gardening. Another fasinating feature of this plant is its water proof leaves. This is another neat experiment you can share with the family. The leaves have microscopic hairs that trap a small layer of air on the leaf’s surface. If you completely submerge the leaf under water you will notice a grayish color from the trapped air that is surrounding the leaf. Then when you take the leaf out it is surprisingly dry. When I read this I was curious, tried it out, and found it to be true, but it is unknown to what purpose this feature has for the plant.

Jewelweed is famously known as the Poison Ivy antidote, but has also been proven to effectively treat Stinging Nettles, Poison Oak, and other rash inducing plants. Folk remedies of poultices and salves of Jewelweed were used to treat bruises, burns, cuts, eczema, insect bites, sprains, sores, warts, and ringworm. Jewelweed grows in wet, wooded areas and once you have been able to identify it you will notice they are very invasive. Jewelweed is commonly found along road banks and the edge of creek beds and it has been said that wherever you will find Poison Ivy you will find Jewelweed. That is not true considering Poison Ivy will grow in dry sunny locations and Jewelweed will not. However, I have noticed Poison Ivy growing near my Jewelweed, so I am guessing it is safer to say that you will most likely find Poison Ivy growing near Jewelweed and not Jewelweed necessarily growing near Poison Ivy. Jewelweed blooms May through October in the eastern part of North America. The plant will grow 3 to 5 feet tall and has a bamboo like stalk with oval shaped leaves. The flower is shaped like a trumpet and hangs from the plant. I have read that this is how it got the name Jewelweed, as the flower hangs like jewel from a necklace. I have also read that it might have got its name from the way the morning dew sparkles off the plants leaves early in the morning, giving the appearance of precious jewels.

What is it about this plant that makes it so effective in treating rash inducing plants? Well Jewelweed counter -reacts the chemicals in other plants; it neutralizes the Poison Ivy’s oil antigen called Urushiol so that it can no longer spread by scratching and rubbing.

To treat Poison Ivy, Stinging Nettles and or other rash inducing plants, all you need to do is to take a section of the plants stem and slice it open or just crush it until the juicy oil inside comes out, then rub this on the exposed area. You can also get the oil from the plants leaves as well. Infusions are often made also by boiling water with chopped Jewelweed until the water turns an orange color. The water will not turn orange with yellow Jewelweed and I have read will not be as effective as the orange. Once you have boiled the Jewelweed and it has turned an orange color you then need to strain the liquid and pour in to ice cube trays. The Jewelweed cubes will last up to a year in the freezer to have readily available for the unexpected encounters with Stinging Nettles and Poison Ivy.

"The Results of a Clinical Study, in which a 1:4 jewelweed preparation was compared for its effectiveness with other standard poison ivy dermatitis treatments was published in 1958 (Annals of Allerty 1958;16:526-527). Of 115 patients treated with jewelweed, 108 responded ‘most dramatically to the topical application of this medication and were entirely relieved of their symptoms within 2 or 3 days after the institution of treatment.' It was concluded that jewelweed is an excellent substitute for ACTH and the corticosteroids in the treatment of poison ivy dermatitis. The active principle in the plant responsible for this activity remains unidentified." by Varro Tyler, PhD in his book HERBS OF CHOICE

Isn’t it just amazing what we can find growing in our own backyards? I love learning of natural antidotes such as Jewelweed. I am shocked as I learn of the medicinal history of herbs and how it was less than a century ago that herbal treatments were common practice passed down from generation to generation, and how in just a short period of time we have become so dependent on the pharmaceutical industry. Everything has its place and I am sure that there are some drugs out there that actually help treat and cure some serious illness, and I am thankful for modern medicine in that regard. However I feel it is important to not lose sight of the natural treatments that are available to us and most likely have far few side effects than what we would particularly see in prescribed medications.

I hope you have found this article informative and if unaware of Jewelweed prior to reading this article, that you were as impressed as I was. I hope you find yourself some Jewelweed and have a blast popping seed pods and making your own Jewelweed cubes, and as always I do hope that you make that pure and simple choice.