Herbs in Frost (January 12, 2010)

Progress Report #2 (June 30, 2009)

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I now have all the paths finished. I cleared the paths with the weed trimmer. Then I laid down a barrier fabric, used bricks to keep it down. Then covered it with hay. I have also weeded the center row. And weed wacked down all the tansy in the main area of the garden. It is still on all sides of the vegetable garden so I didn't feel I needed all of it. I wanted more space for other herbs now.

Herbs in Frost

Herbal Harvest (October 17, 2009)

So far...

Progress Report #3

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I now have all the paths finished. I cleared the paths with the weed trimmer. Then I laid down a barrier fabric, used bricks to keep it down. Then covered it with hay. I have also weeded the center row. And weed wacked down all the tansy in the main area of the garden. It is still on all sides of the vegetable garden so I didn't feel I needed all of it. I wanted more space for other herbs now.

We are making Progress

Herb Garden Stage 1

I have killed off all the grass. Now it's time to get it back into shape. Here are photos of the first stage.

The fenced in area in the background is the vegetable garden.

Watercress (may 11, 2009)

We have this growing wild in our stream in our woods. It can be used with salad greens in salad. It can also be added (moderately) to smoothies. And steamed like spinach.

Horseradish (may 11. 2009)

Yarrow (May 11, 2009)

Tansy (May 11,2009)

WARNING: This herb is Highly toxic and should not be used medicinally.



Why you might ask am I showing it here then? Well pests don't like it. Deer, bunnies and bugs don't like it so it's a good companion plant. I have it all around the fence of our veggie garden.

Shephard's Purse (May 11, 2009)

Spearmint/Mint

Warning consuming lots of peppermint/spearmint can dry up your milk supply if you are nursing.

Oregano

Mullein (Post from May 11, 2009)

These plants get huge. They bloom biannually. You make the herbal medicine from the flowers.

Homemade Cough Syrup

(coming soon)

Echinachea/Purple Coneflowers

This is one of my favorite herbs. I love watching it change colors from very pale pink to deep pink. Also the cones in the center change. But other than being pretty what is it good for?



Herbal Health-

Why it's used- Echinacea helps prevent and treat colds, bronchitis, gingivitus, cold sores, yeast and ear infections.

What parts can be used-The root generally used in tinctures or powders for almost any type of infection or inflammation; it can be especially useful for recurring kidney infections, as well as more common mucus and colds. Harvest after flowering; wash, chop and dry.

How it works- It contains a number of complex immune-stimulating substances.

Comments and Cautions- A numbing of the tongue is normal when using liquid forms. Do not use it if you have an autoimmune disease or if you are allergic to plants in the daisy family. Echinacea may trigger autoimmune disorders in pregnant women. High doses can occasionally cause nausea and dizziness.

Some History: The Native Americans used purple coneflowers to treat snakebites, fevers, and old, stubborn wounds. The early settlers soon adopted the plant as a home remedy for colds and influenza, and it became popular with the 19th-century Eclectic. In the past 50 years, it has achieved worldwide fame for it's antiviral, antifungal, and antibacterial properties, and it has also been used in AIDS therapy. Cultivated purple coneflower is usually E. purpurea, although E. angustifolia is considered more potent by some practitioners.



More to come...

Why all the Photos and no Text

I am hoping to have time to get the text/herbal helps, written up this week. So hopefully soon each entry will tell you about the herbs that I have growing in my gardens.
Patience Please! :)

Wild Violets

We are making progress (June 24, 2009)

Just had Surgery and found this interesting... (February 17, 2010)

There are Herbs that can conflict with a surgery.  You have to stop using them up to two weeks before...
The following can increase bleeding.
Stop the following 7 days before surgery:
-Ginko Bilboa
-Garlic tablets
-Ginger
-Ginseng
-Feverfew
-Bromellan
Stop the following 2-3 weeks before surgery:
-Omega-3 (fish oil)
-Vitamin E
-Dong Quai
-Saw palmetto

the following can have serious interactions with anesthesia. They recommend you stop taking these herbs 14 days before surgery.
-Ephedura-Can cause seizure, heart attack, and stroke.
-St. John's Wort- heart failure
-Kava- Coma
-Valerian- heart failure, severe confusion
-Ginko Biloba- bleeding in brain and spinal cord
-Licorice- heart attack

Now I am not saying stop taking herbs. I am just saying it's good to be aware of these issues. If you do end up scheduling surgery Give yourself at least 2 weeks to get these herbs out of your system.