Farm Life in Maine and New Hampshire
What is a scratch and sniff bee and butterfly garden you ask? A scratch and sniff bee and butterfly garden is a garden full of aromatic plants that you can walk by, touch and fill the air with pleasurable aromas. It is a garden that not only pleases our senses, but pleases the bees', butterflies' and hummingbirds' senses as well. It is filled with colors that attract bees … [Read more...]
Many people think that growing organically is some sort of newfangled idea or fad, but that is far from the truth. It is neither newfangled, or a hot new fad. Our ancestors and forefathers farmed organically for generations, upon generations. They knew how to use crop rotation and other natural methods of farming to help keep bugs at bay. Crop rotation also helped feed … [Read more...]
Poison ivy (Toxicodendron radicans) is a plant that contains the oil urushiol. Contact with this oil is what can cause the itchy rash people contract. The rash is considered considered to be contact dermatitis. Urushiol is an allergen. The rash that occurs from touching a poison ivy plant is an allergic reaction to the oil. In an allergic reaction, the immune system is … [Read more...]
Farming was deep in my roots on both sides of my family. “It'll be easyâ€, I thought. “You just plant some seeds, and watch them grow.†Was I in for a big surprise. No one ever told me about bugs, and pests, and plant diseases. No one ever told me about the weeds, and how weeding will cause you to go gray before your time. Oh, and the animals. Other than a dog, I had … [Read more...]
It seems like yesterday, but it's been 15 years now.... Back in December of ’99, a little convenience store closed, and it was the best thing that could have happened. I needed a new place to get coffee and ended up with a dinner date. Michael’s a bit of a geek, while I’m a nature girl. I’d tell him to get off the computer, and he’d tell me to get my feet out of the … [Read more...]
Origins of Pumpkin Pumpkin is native to North America, and is a gourd-like squash. It is from the cucurbitaceae family of plants. The word itself comes from the Greek word pepon, which means large melon. In France the word was adapted into pompon, which then the British changed to pumpion. The early American colonists later changed it to pumpkin. Pumpkin seeds dating back … [Read more...]
Healing From Nature Did you know from weeds such as the common dandelion to easily grown flowers such as calendula or mint, you can have a natural medicine chest growing in your own backyard? Below you will find a list of 10 common weeds and garden herbs that you can plant and harvest right out of your garden. If not in your garden, then these healing herbs can be found on a … [Read more...]
PMS (pre-menstrual syndrome) has a wide variety of symptoms. You don't have to let these symptoms control your life. Herbal treatments and some lifestyle changes can help you reduce and manage your symptoms of premenstrual syndrome. Herbs to Help Manage PMS Black Haw (Viburnum prunifolium) has been used for thousands of years to treat menstrual cramps. It was used by the … [Read more...]
A Wonderful "Weed" To Let Grow Red Clover (Trifolium pratense) is a common plant that grows in meadows. It is a member of the legume family. Red clover is well known by it's beautiful purple blossoms. While it can be used internally for coughs, upper respiratory health issues. Red Clover oil is a wonderful herb for healing eczema and psoriasis. Red Clover grows is most … [Read more...]
A simple, yet delicious condiment. This recipe takes very little time to make, yet the results are purely delicious. You can melt a little, and drizzle onto your favorite vegetables. The butter flavor mixed with the lemon will make your vegetables pop in your mouth with pure deliciousness. It is simply delicious with asparagus on toast. Spread on the butter, and top with … [Read more...]
