Herb Plants Generally Drought Tolerant - HerbFest, 2008
HerbFest, 2008 will feature special emphasis on use of herbs and perennials that are drought tolerant. John Wrenn, our herb grower, has recently received his certification as a U.S.D.A. Certified Organic Grower and will be adding organic vegetable plants this year.
Due to the drought conditons being experienced along the east coast the growers for HerbFest will be concentrating on plants that need little water, which is generally most herbs, but will also add perennials such as sedums that require little water.
In keeping with the HerbFest long standing practice of being environmentally friendly we are now adjusting to the specifics of the climate of our area.
Friday, November 30, 2007
Monday, November 26, 2007
Tea Tree Oil for Sunburn Relief
Tea Tree Oil For Sunburn Relief By Kathryn Beach
Here are some suggestions for soothing herbal sunburn relief: Tea Tree is generally available as one of the selections at the Wake Forest Herbfest held in Festival Park promoting the Graham Johnson Cultural Arts Endowment, GJCAE.
Tea Tree Oil diluted to one part with ten parts of olive oil or coconut oil and spread freely over the affected areas is soothing and pain-relieving and also reduces blistering and peeling. You can also applied tea tree oil full strength to sunburn. Personally, I find it even more soothing to combine tea tree oil with another cooling herbal, my personal favorite is aloe. I grow aloe plants and I pick and split a leaf, squeeze out the gelatinous substance, add a few drops of tea tree oil, and pat gently on the burned area. Then blowing on it or sitting in front of a fan increases the cooling sensation.
Tea tree is especially effective when paired with lavender oil. Add five drops of tea tree and 11 drops of lavender oil to three ounces of cool, distilled water. Place this mixture in a bottle with a spray atomizer attachment and mist sunburned areas whenever cooling relief is needed. Molly of Molly’s Herbals sells a tea tree/lavender oil mixture that makes this remedy really easy. Add a few drops of tea tree oil to vitamin E or aloe Vera lotion. Apply a few times a day to relieve pain, redness and inflammation. People with sensitive skin should use tea tree oil in diluted form. It can be mixed with another oil such as almond or wheat germ. Apply cold water to remove heat and then gently rub oil mixture into affected areas to help relieve stinging and later itching.
I found some wonderful after-sun skin care products that contain many of these ingredients just by searching the web, I suggest you do the same if you would rather not make your own remedies.
Kathryn Beach offers extensive information about the incredible healing power of tea tree oil on her website, “Learn About the Tea Tree Oil Phenomenon!”, and in her “Tea Tree Alerts” available by subscription on her website. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Kathryn_Beach http://EzineArticles.com/?Tea-Tree-Oil-Sunburn-
Here are some suggestions for soothing herbal sunburn relief: Tea Tree is generally available as one of the selections at the Wake Forest Herbfest held in Festival Park promoting the Graham Johnson Cultural Arts Endowment, GJCAE.
Tea Tree Oil diluted to one part with ten parts of olive oil or coconut oil and spread freely over the affected areas is soothing and pain-relieving and also reduces blistering and peeling. You can also applied tea tree oil full strength to sunburn. Personally, I find it even more soothing to combine tea tree oil with another cooling herbal, my personal favorite is aloe. I grow aloe plants and I pick and split a leaf, squeeze out the gelatinous substance, add a few drops of tea tree oil, and pat gently on the burned area. Then blowing on it or sitting in front of a fan increases the cooling sensation.
Tea tree is especially effective when paired with lavender oil. Add five drops of tea tree and 11 drops of lavender oil to three ounces of cool, distilled water. Place this mixture in a bottle with a spray atomizer attachment and mist sunburned areas whenever cooling relief is needed. Molly of Molly’s Herbals sells a tea tree/lavender oil mixture that makes this remedy really easy. Add a few drops of tea tree oil to vitamin E or aloe Vera lotion. Apply a few times a day to relieve pain, redness and inflammation. People with sensitive skin should use tea tree oil in diluted form. It can be mixed with another oil such as almond or wheat germ. Apply cold water to remove heat and then gently rub oil mixture into affected areas to help relieve stinging and later itching.
I found some wonderful after-sun skin care products that contain many of these ingredients just by searching the web, I suggest you do the same if you would rather not make your own remedies.
Kathryn Beach offers extensive information about the incredible healing power of tea tree oil on her website, “Learn About the Tea Tree Oil Phenomenon!”, and in her “Tea Tree Alerts” available by subscription on her website. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Kathryn_Beach http://EzineArticles.com/?Tea-Tree-Oil-Sunburn-
Saturday, November 24, 2007
Friday, November 16, 2007
Rosemary Preservation - If Necessary
Preserving Rosemary
Rosemary is quite cold hardy, but nonetheless, you might want to trim some to insure a supply through winter, especially in zone 7 and colder. You can store the cut stems as they are by hanging them or propping them in a vase (no water) so that the leaves air-dry naturally indoors. Then just pluck a few as you need them. They will fall off very easily as they dry.
After a few weeks, you may need to collect the little leaves in a jar because it will seem that they fall if you even look at them.
If you cut big pile of stems, avoid piling them up on top of each other to prevent mold, especially if they are in a garage or basement. Spread them out over a table or screen if possible.
Extra tip is to take some of the fresh leaves, stems and put in jar with top in hot water, steep in refrigerator for couple of days then strain into spritzer bottle. You can now spritz your hair, or your pet's coat, and the rosemeary essential oil will add sheen to your hair or pet's coat. In summer the oil is also an insect repellent for your pet.
Rosemary is quite cold hardy, but nonetheless, you might want to trim some to insure a supply through winter, especially in zone 7 and colder. You can store the cut stems as they are by hanging them or propping them in a vase (no water) so that the leaves air-dry naturally indoors. Then just pluck a few as you need them. They will fall off very easily as they dry.
After a few weeks, you may need to collect the little leaves in a jar because it will seem that they fall if you even look at them.
If you cut big pile of stems, avoid piling them up on top of each other to prevent mold, especially if they are in a garage or basement. Spread them out over a table or screen if possible.
Extra tip is to take some of the fresh leaves, stems and put in jar with top in hot water, steep in refrigerator for couple of days then strain into spritzer bottle. You can now spritz your hair, or your pet's coat, and the rosemeary essential oil will add sheen to your hair or pet's coat. In summer the oil is also an insect repellent for your pet.
Thursday, November 15, 2007
Drought Conditions and Herbs
The Beneficial Plants - Herbs For Drought Conditions
As much of the East Coast is now experiencing drought conditions and some forecasts predict that will be the state of the climate for several years to come, it's time to look at alternate planting methods and plants to use.
Obviously most grasses are used solely for eye comfort to hide bare dirt. Little else is gained by the most popular grasses. You can not smell them unless they are cut down, no taste, not healthy, no crafting, not medicinal, and high water consumption. The question begs itself, why plant them?
One very useful and practical class of plants to put in your yardscape is the "Mediterranean " herbs, ie. basil, oregano, rosemary, thymes to name but a few. These plants are drought tolerant, require little if any maintenance, and are "beneficial" plants for human and animal use. This group of plants desire very little water, hardly any cutting except for personal use, are highly aromatic, culinary additions to most dishes you make, and beautiful low maintenance plants to enhance your yard.
It is very hard to duplicate what it's like to walk over a ground cover of spearmint, pineapple mint early at dawn and have the delightful fragrances wafting around you. It is truly a lifesyle enhancer that is unmatched in the experiences of many of us and our kids. To sit at night on your deck beside a blue spire rosemary as the breeze blows through the leaves and smell that wonderful fragrance while sipping your favorite white wine lightly dusted with sweet woodruff is a moment to savor.
As the winter sets upon us, take the time to help preserve the use of our water and plan on incorporating the mediterranean herbs in your landscape next spring for the years to come. It not only will make your life more pleasurable but is also good for our environment and as we all know, quite fashionable!!!
Bob Johnson
As much of the East Coast is now experiencing drought conditions and some forecasts predict that will be the state of the climate for several years to come, it's time to look at alternate planting methods and plants to use.
Obviously most grasses are used solely for eye comfort to hide bare dirt. Little else is gained by the most popular grasses. You can not smell them unless they are cut down, no taste, not healthy, no crafting, not medicinal, and high water consumption. The question begs itself, why plant them?
One very useful and practical class of plants to put in your yardscape is the "Mediterranean " herbs, ie. basil, oregano, rosemary, thymes to name but a few. These plants are drought tolerant, require little if any maintenance, and are "beneficial" plants for human and animal use. This group of plants desire very little water, hardly any cutting except for personal use, are highly aromatic, culinary additions to most dishes you make, and beautiful low maintenance plants to enhance your yard.
It is very hard to duplicate what it's like to walk over a ground cover of spearmint, pineapple mint early at dawn and have the delightful fragrances wafting around you. It is truly a lifesyle enhancer that is unmatched in the experiences of many of us and our kids. To sit at night on your deck beside a blue spire rosemary as the breeze blows through the leaves and smell that wonderful fragrance while sipping your favorite white wine lightly dusted with sweet woodruff is a moment to savor.
As the winter sets upon us, take the time to help preserve the use of our water and plan on incorporating the mediterranean herbs in your landscape next spring for the years to come. It not only will make your life more pleasurable but is also good for our environment and as we all know, quite fashionable!!!
Bob Johnson
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