Selling What You
Make, Online
In my own life the internet has become the perfect compliment to low-tech
simple living.
How to Save a
Bundle on Loan Interest"... at the
end of the loan you’ve saved $280.95 in interest paid, and you’ve retired
your debt three months early! All this for a hundred bucks."
The nursery catalogs are arriving in the mail. All of us are entertaining
grandiose gardening plans. This year, while planning your food gardens,
consider adding some plants that can also be used as medicine. I know, I
know, it's more fun to think of spring and all its loveliness, but with
the current health care issues, it's helpful to remember that winter and
sickness always rolls around again. Adding medicinal plants to your garden
might be the best insurance.
Garlic (Allium sativum)
Aren't we lucky that one of the most powerful and all around useful herbs
is also delicious? Garlic is one of the most effective antimicrobial
plants around since it fights bacteria, viruses, and parasites. In the
respiratory system, garlic helps with infections that cause bronchitis,
recurrent colds, influenza, and congestion. In the digestive track, garlic
supports the proliferation of healthy bacteria while attacking pathogenic
bacteria and parasites (don't ask me how this wondrous plant knows the
difference). It can also be used externally to treat ringworm and
threadworm.
Throwing garlic into your meals will give you a preventative daily dose. If you feel a cold or congestion coming on, take ˝ teaspoon of garlic oil
every hour. To make the oil, mash one or more bulbs of garlic into enough
apple cider vinegar or olive oil to cover and mix well. Allow to stand for
one or two days. Strain the oil through cheesecloth or a thin cotton
towel, wringing and squeezing the garlic until you have collected all the
juice. Store in the refrigerator. This oil can also be added to food. Furthermore, a few drops warmed and placed in the ear can help with ear
infections.
Garlic grows best in rich, moist, sandy soil in a sunny spot. Divide the
bulbs into cloves and plant each clove about two inches deep and six
inches apart. Try to keep the bed free of weeds and occasionally mound
soil over the bulbs. Plant in February or March if you want to harvest the
garlic in August or September. Garlic is ready to be harvested when the
leaves begin to wither and fall over.
Chamomile (Anthemis nobilis)
Chamomile is the quintessential herb for teas. It has a pleasant, sunshine
taste, it's gentle enough for children and elders, and it has a host of
benefits. Drink chamomile frequently to add peace to your body and your
day. Chamomile calms the body, particularly the nervous and digestive systems. In part, this is because chamomile is high in calcium
and magnesium. As such, it is helpful for dealing with muscle tension,
headaches, bellyaches, flatulence, colic, insomnia, and achiness due to
colds and flu. Chamomile's anti-inflammatory properties also aid in the
treatment of sore throats, hemorrhoids, sore eyes, acne, wounds, ulcers,
and conjunctivitis.
To make an herbal tea, place two teaspoons of dried herb into one cup of
boiling water. Cover and steep for 15-20 minutes. Strain and sweeten
with honey, if desired (do not give honey to children under the age of
one). With gentle herbs such as chamomile, more herb can be used to make a
stronger, more therapeutic tea.
Chamomile likes a sunny place in sandy soil. The “Roman” variety, Anthemis
nobilis is a perennial while the “German” variety, Matricaria, is an
annual. Both have similar uses but the German variety is sweeter, with an
apple taste. Chamomile is hardy and can withstand some foot traffic. However, it sometimes attracts aphids; take care of these pests by
encouraging a visit from the ladybugs and by hosing the plants with a
strong spray. Harvest the flowers on a dry morning after they have fully
bloomed.
Garlic (Allium sativum)
Chamomile (Anthemis nobilis)