Plant healing herbs and plants to find good health just outside your door.
By K.C. Compton February/March 2012
(The Herb Companion) Imagine for a moment the processes that take place in our bodies as soon as we encounter even a tiny breach of the skin. A miniscule scrape draws a little blood, fends off infection and eventually heals over, involving so many processes and encapsulating so many minor miracles—none of them conscious, willed or even noticed—that the mind simply boggles.
Now imagine these processes on a scale much larger and more complex: wounds, burns, sore throats, fevers, queasy stomachs. For the seemingly endless things that can go wrong with our bodies, each of us carries an arsenal of weapons, tools and front-line soldiers ready to protect and defend against invaders, interlopers or the simple imbalances that can set us on a rocky path. If the complexity and wonder of that don’t just knock you out, what would it take to impress you?
How about the amazing fact that much of what you need to promote these processes is available in the plant world, and that you can grow these plants and turn them into not just good food, but good medicine, for pennies and without side effects?
This article isn’t intended to take the place of medical advice, but for many routine physical complaints, the garden can provide much relief. It makes sense, doesn’t it? Besides the beauty and bounty of the garden—and the exertion involved in creating and maintaining it—our bodies have been interacting with plants for millennia and know what to do with plant medicines. Herbs interact with our bodies as recognizable nourishment that helps them do what they’re cut out to do: get better. With that as a place to start—that our bodies are designed to heal and actually want to do so—we can plant a garden that gives them fuel for that endeavor.
The rest of this article:
http://www.herbcompanion.com/grow/gardening/healing-herbs-and-plants-zm0z12fmzdeb.aspx
Webmaster's Comment:
Be sure to include children near and dear to you in your gardening activities to give them a natural head start on life and an early appreciation for nature and gardening. See:
Teaching Children Gardening Boosts Their Development and Health
(Mother Earth News) 'Tis the season for harvesting leaves, the most abundant free source of organic matter available to most gardeners. Microorganisms in soil and compost transform leaves into bits of organic matter, which helps the soil retain nutrients and moisture. By themselves, leaves contain small amounts of 16 plant nutrients.
You can stockpile leaves in a bin or pen to use later as compost or mulch, but you don't have to wait until leaves decompose to put them to work. With some shredding assistance from your lawn mower, you can give your leaves useful jobs right now.
1. Turn lawn into garden. Prepare sections of lawn you want to develop into garden beds by smothering them with leaves. First scalp the grass by mowing as close to the surface as possible. Then cover the space with several thicknesses of cardboard, and cover the base layer with two inches (or more) or compost or manure. Top with 3 to 4 inches of shredded leaves.
2. Winterize hardy vegetables. Use shredded leaves to limit winter injury to kale, leeks, carrots and other hardy vegetables. Surround the planting with a low fence or burlap enclosure and fill it with up to 12 inches of shredded leaves. Mulch garlic and perennial onions with up to 6 inches of shredded leaves mixed with the season's last grass clippings.
3. Bury them in a trench. Improve the drainage and organic matter content in garden beds by digging narrow trenches, filling them with shredded leaves, and then covering them up. By late spring, the leaves will be sufficiently decomposed to mix into the soil, or you can plant right into the enriched trenches.
4. Mulch-mow them into your grass. Research done at Michigan State University reveals that when rather thick layers of leaves (to 12 inches) are shredded with a mower and allowed to rot where they fall, the grass greens up faster in spring and grows better the following summer. Just don't expect the leaves to disappear from view until the grass starts growing next year.
5. Mulch your trees. Stockpile shredded leaves until early winter, and then tuck in trees, shrubs, and perennial beds with 3 to 4 inches of shredded leaf mulch. A thick leaf mulch helps moderate soil temperatures in winter, reducing cold-related injuries to shallow roots. Beneficial soil-dwelling fungi are also abundant beneath shredded leaf mulch – one reason why Colorado State University lists mulching among its Ten Commandments of Planting Trees.
There is one precaution: Be careful with black walnut leaves, which can cause reduced growth in many plants, including tomatoes. According to Iowa State University, the juglone in black walnut leaves is usually neutralized by 4 to 6 months of composting.
Do you have other leaf-handling methods that work great at your place? Be sure to share them in the Comments section below.
Source: http://www.motherearthnews.com/Grow-It/Harvesting-Leaves-For-Mulch-And-Compost.aspx
by Tony Isaacs
A new study
conducted for Britain's Royal
Horticultural Society (RHS) has
found that encouraging children to
learn gardening boosts their
development by helping them become
happier, more confident, and more
resilient. In addition, gardening
also helps teach children patience
and the benefits of a healthy diet
and lifestyle.
The study was conducted by
researchers at the National
Foundation for Children, who
surveyed 1,300 teachers and 10
schools. Teachers who used gardening
as part of their learning experience
reported that it improved children's
readiness to learn. The teachers
also reported that gardening
encouraged pupils to become more
active in solving problems, as well
as boosted literacy and numeracy
skills. Now the society is urging
that gardening should be
incorporated as a key teaching tool
in schools regular curriculum
instead of being an optional
extra-curricular activity.
The
report said: "Fundamental to the
success of school gardens in
stimulating a love of learning was
their ability to translate sometimes
dry academic subjects into
practical, real world experiences.
Children were encouraged to get
their hands dirty, in every sense.
Teachers involved in the research
said the result was a more active,
inquisitive approach to learning.
The changeable nature of gardening
projects - where anything from the
weather to plant disease can affect
the outcome - forced children to
become more flexible and better able
to think on their feet and solve
problems."
Dr Simon Thornton Wood, director of
science and learning at the RHS,
said: "Schools which integrate
gardens into the curriculum are
developing children who are much
more responsive to the challenges of
adult life."
Sadly, gardening has become a lost
natural endeavor in much of today’s
urbanized societies. As a result,
modern man is losing out on a wealth
of natural physical and mental
health benefits. Gardening provides
aerobic, isotonic and isometric
exercise, which benefits muscles and
bones as well as respiratory and
cardiovascular systems. Such
benefits help prevent health
problems such as heart disease,
obesity, diabetes and osteoporosis.
Strength, endurance and flexibility
are also improved by gardening,
which makes it one of the best
all-round exercises.
Physical exercise such as one gets
from gardening releases endorphins,
which are natural compounds that
alleviate stress and its many
negative health consequences.
Studies have shown that simply being
in a garden lowers blood pressure.
Gardening also fosters a good
night’s sleep and exposes people to
beneficial soil microorganisms which
many believe help boost the immune
system.
Gardeners
are more likely to eat a wide range
of fruit, vegetables, salad and
herbs than non-gardeners, even if
they don't cultivate the produce
themselves. Eating a wide variety of
fruits and vegetables is essential
to a healthy diet.
In addition to the benefits of
physical activity, gardening helps
people reconnect with the natural
world from whence they sprang. It
provides a calm oasis where one is
lost in the moment and can be a
natural form of meditation that
quiets the conscious mind. It can
also be a form of self-expression;
enabling one to develop creativity
and build confidence while allowing
a healthy outlet for emotions.
Clearly, teaching our children to garden, both at home and at school, gives them a head start at living and appreciating a more natural and healthy life.
Sources included:
http://www.optimistworld.com/Children-gardening-happier-confident-Royal-Horticultural-Society-study/
http://www.biosciencetechnology.com/News/Feeds/2010/05/sections-academia-news-could-gardening-help-children-eat-more-greens-/
http://www.news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/10427338.stm
http://www.helium.com/items/910565-health-benefits-of-gardening
http://www.raysahelian.com/soilorganisms.html
Watering
the sizzling hot summer garden
Philadelphia Gardening
Examiner
Joanne
Taylor
Water, water, and water some
more...
Here in the Philadelphia region; it’s hot, fry an egg on the sidewalk hot! Usually, whether it's by fog, frost, rain, sleet, hail, ice, or snow, the Earth gets watered without the help of humans; but in between nature’s self-watering process, the garden may need a little assistance, especially this week. In the spring and fall, with an increase in rainfall and cooler temperatures, there’s not much a gardener needs to water in the established garden and landscape; but during the growing season of summer, watering is essential in many cases.
Watering Containers
First and foremost, let’s talk annuals, perennials, and vegetables planted in planters. A common mistake gardeners make is not watering planters enough. Water your container plants in full sun each morning for the next few days. Plants in containers, pots, urns, hanging baskets or flower boxes need to be watered more frequently, and almost everyday if the planter is in full sun. During the hot summer, planters heat up and dry out much quicker because the soil is shallow and the roots are not anchored in the ground. Water pots when the soil surface feels dry to the touch. Any potted plant that uses a lot of water such as a Fuschia, as well as, any root bound plants may have to be watered twice a day.
Important Rules for Container Watering
-
When watering large planters, pots and urns, remember to water in the center of the pot not on the sides.
-
Water the containers until the water flows from the drainage holes at the bottom of the pot. Too much shallow watering will lead to shallow roots; and shallow roots lead to the plant drying out much sooner in hot or drought conditions.
-
Once the water escapes from the planter, continue to water for at least another minute or two so that the pot will be drench completely, which includes the outer circumference were roots also travel. Many times a quick hit of the hose doesn’t saturate the sides all the way to the bottom.
Watering New Plantings
Watering should only be done for reasons such as drought, which usually occurs in the summertime; after newly planted bulbs, lawns, shrubs, trees, and perennials are installed, which could take a few weeks until they are established; after dividing and transplanting; and immediately after applying fertilizing to any plant, which includes the lawn. Of course, in spring, seeds, seedlings and vegetables should be watered until established.
Watering the garden too much can increase the garden’s need for water. It also kills the plants from lack of oxygen to the roots which causes root rot. Drowning the roots is a common reason why many plants die.
Watering Trees and Shrubs
Never let newly planted trees or shrubs dry out. Trees and shrubs can be very unforgiving if left to dry out, and will not rejuvenate when finally watered; whereas most perennials and annuals that dry out will bounce back if watered within a day or so. Once established in a month or so; they should be fine unless a drought occurs.
-
Water in the early morning, if possible, because watering plants in the evening can invite plant mold and mildew; especially on perennials like monarda or mums. Plants that are susceptible to flower blight or leaf spot must be watered earlier than later, so the sun has a chance to dry the leaves, which prevents disease.
-
Don’t water the foliage of any plant in the hot afternoon sun because it will burn the leaves.
-
Always water plants, shrubs and trees at the drip line.
Watering the Lawn
If you hear your grass crunching when you walk on it, ike when you're eating Captain Crunch, or if it's turning brown, water it. No cutting the lawn until we get some rain. Call the lawn service off this week.
Watering Foundation Plantings
Foundation plantings along a stone or brick wall of the house must be watered, especially in full sun, because the sun reflects off the stone and also holds in heat. You can use a soaker hose or sprinkler if the area is large. If any of the foundation plants are located under a gutter, awning, or the part of the roof that hangs over the house, then gardeners must keep an eye on them because only sprays of rain will reach the plant. If possible, avoid planting directly against the house for these reasons.
Watering on Hills, Banks, and Berms
Remember when planting on hills, banks, and berms that the water will run off before it sinks down into the plant. Water plants on slopes by applying water for a few seconds, then remove the hose until that water sinks in, then re-apply water, then remove, and then continue on and off until you feel the water has reached the roots. Many shrubs and trees die on slopes because the water immediately runs off and never gets to the roots. The water speed at which the gardener waters the plant can also result in run off instead of penetration; so don’t water using a hose on a full force setting.
Watering Gadgets
Nowadays, there are self-watering gadgets for watering houseplants, sprinkling systems for gardens and landscapes, and irrigations systems for farms; all of which make watering a no-brainer and can be performed without the human touch. But for the die-hard gardener and nature enthusiast, watering is part of the fun. Gardeners must remember that conserving water for the planet is critical. Although watering can be fun and therapeutic; if there’s no need to water, don’t. And don't forget to water yourself, keep hydrated by drinking lots of water if you do have to go outside.
Click the subscribe button above, it’s free; and I’ll take you through the entire year with up-to-date gardening news, plant information, and gardening “to do’s,” all in “real time” gardening for every month of the year. From the first sprouts, to what will bloom each week/month, to container and urban gardening, to vegetable gardening, and more; you’ll learn all you need to grow. Subscribe today! Stay in touch at www.joannetaylor.org. I'd love to hear from you.
Grow
Great Lettuce
By Roger Doiron
(Mother Earth News) Imagine that extraterrestrials have invaded and commandeered earthlings’ home gardens in order to produce energy for their fleet of veggie-powered flying saucers. Armed with hoes and digging forks and with determination in their eyes, gardeners take to the streets. To quell the insurrection, the aliens announce they will allow gardeners to grow one vegetable for their own consumption. Which crop would you choose? For me, the choice would be as easy as this scenario is far-fetched: lettuce.
You could make a good case for growing other things instead: a highly caloric crop such as potatoes, a more flavorful one such as tomatoes, or a better keeper such as carrots. I recommend growing lettuce because it’s easy, reliable, requires little space and enjoys a long growing season, allowing for multiple and continuous harvests. Lettuce is also one of the best vegetables to grow because it offers a nice mix of nutrients in a compact package, including iron, folate, and vitamins A and C. It’s for all these reasons that new gardeners should choose growing lettuce as their first step in their journey to delicious, homegrown self-reliance. For a chart with lettuce variety details, see Great Lettuce Varieties.
For the rest of this article, click HERE.
How to choose and care for these beautiful, furry creatures.
By Nancy Smith and Heidi Hunt
(
Mother Earth News) If rabbits turn your head—whether your fancy runs to whoppers like the gentle Flemish Giants, to gorgeous and easygoing Angoras or to the soft and cuddly Mini Rex—you'll find plenty of these critters for sale, at reasonable prices, all across the country. And if you decide to go a-rabbiting, keeping as few as two or three bunnies lets you tap some of the "green" contributions these versatile little animals can make to your homestead.For the rest of the article click
HERE.
Want
Milk? Get Goats
By Kris Wetherbee
Whether your property is one acre or several hundred, sloping or flat, crowded with brush or completely forested, you can still raise dairy goats for milk. Two goats will produce enough quality fresh milk—with each doe averaging 3 quarts a day for 10 months—to feed your family all year. Add a few more goats and you'll have enough milk for making cheese, yogurt or even ice cream.
(Mother Earth News) Goat milk ice cream? Some of you might he raising your eyebrows right now because you've heard goat milk tastes funny. We could blame the funny-taste fallacy on a conspiracy concocted by those comical Far Side cows. But more likely it is because someone kept the buck among the herd, especially at milking time. A buck can be quite odoriferous, and his strong, musky scent can permeate the milk. The fact is, properly collected goat milk tastes just as good as cow milk. Some people believe it tastes better.
"I have a friend whose brother refused to drink goat milk because he knew he wouldn't like it," says 20-year goat veteran Gail Damerow, editor of Rural Heritage magazine and author of Your Goats and Raising Milk Goats Successfully. Gail's friend bought a carton of cow's milk from the store for her visiting brother. After he emptied the carton, his sister refilled it with fresh goat milk. The scenario continued until a week later, when he noticed the carton looked a bit worn around the edges. She admitted he'd been drinking goat milk all week. He became an instant convert.
More of the world's people consume goat milk than cow milk. Goats are hardy animals: They adapt well to heat and cold, productively forage and graze, require little space and are inexpensive to keep. Since mature does (females) usually weigh between 120 to 135 pounds (dwarf breeds can weigh between 35 to 85 pounds), they're much easier to handle than hefty cows, which can weigh 1,000 pounds each. Goats may surprise you in other ways, as well. They're highly intelligent, remarkably friendly creatures. And, since they're active, extremely agile and very curious, their antics can amuse you for hours. With all that in mind, it's easy to see why dairy goats can he the ideal addition to today's family farm or homestead.
For the rest of the article click Here.
Best
Chicken Breeds for Backyard
Flocks
Our latest survey results can help you choose the best chickens for eggs, meat, temperament and more.
By Troy Griepentrog
(Mother Earth News) Chickens are the perfect starter livestock for your homestead — whether you have a small backyard in an urban area or 20 acres in the boondocks. Chickens provide eggs, meat and fertilizer, plus they’re small and easy to manage. Several chicken breed charts are available online and in books, but their information is often based on old data. So, to get current information on the best chicken breeds, we developed a survey of our readers who have lots of experience with various breeds. (Many thanks to more than 1,000 readers who participated in the survey.) The summaries below include only results from people who have more than three years’ experience raising chickens. And we only included breeds or hybrids if at least three people responded to questions about them.
Our survey didn’t ask which chicken breeds are prettiest. That’s important, too, but it’s subjective. If you’d like to see what each breed looks like, check out Feathersite.com or get a copy of Storey’s Illustrated Guide to Poultry Breeds by Carol Ekarius. It’s an excellent book with outstanding photos.
Pick Your Chicks
Before you decide which chicken breeds to raise, you’ll want to decide which attributes are most important to you: egg production, meat production, temperament or other qualities. If you try a breed for a year or two and decide it isn’t quite what you were looking for, try another — or try two or three breeds each year to find out which one best suits your needs.
After you’ve selected a breed, use our Hatchery Finder to find mail-order sources near you, or our Directory of Hatcheries and Poultry Breeders to find a chicken hatchery or poultry breeders. Then, ask a few questions before you place your order. Breeders and hatcheries select for different traits. For example, some breeders may select Orpingtons for egg production; others, to meet a certain “type” described in a standard for shows. All birds of a certain breed won’t have identical characteristics. Some people who took our survey said Javas lay dark brown eggs; others said Javas lay tinted eggs. That doesn’t necessarily mean someone is wrong — certain flocks may have been bred to produce darker eggs than others.
For the rest of the article click Here.
by Tony Isaacs
Gardeners who want to grow hearty tomatoes may be surprised to find that they can turn to an unusual and free source of fertilizer no further away than fireplaces and their own bladders. Scientists from the University of Kuopio in Finland recently found that wood ash and human urine perform equally as well as more expensive mineral fertilizers for tomatoes and some other crops, while being more environmentally friendly.
For the rest of this article, click HERE.
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